Madeline’s head felt muddled under the influence of the drug. She vaguely thought she had heard a voice by her ear, calling her Madeline and telling her that it was going to be alright.Madeline struggled to open her eyes just so she could see who it was, but her eyelids seemed to grow heavier by the second. Instinctively, she curled toward the man who refused to let her go. Perhaps because he gave her a sense of security. This might have been the first time Madeline felt what it meant to be protected. All she had been subjected to these past few years were nothing less of torture. Every time she wished someone would help her up, all she received was more pain. It had gotten to the point where she had given up on hoping because her heart was tired from all the disappointment. Right now, she finally understood what it felt like to have someone supporting her back and it was very warm... Jeremy felt the person in his arms lean deeper into his embrace, her hands slowly slidi

Bending his finger, Jeremy was about to pull his hand back when the decisive words of Ava and Daniel echoed in his head. ‘She is Maddie!‘I refuse to believe that there are two people in this world who would like so alike!’How could they be so sure? Unless it was because they saw some sort of identifying mark? Identifying mark?Jeremy was reminded of the mole above Madeline’s left chest. Jeremy remembered how Vera’s grip on the towel had tightened when she walked out of the bathroom the time she had stayed the night for Jackson. Had she perhaps done so not out of embarrassment but out of fear of him realizing something? Jeremy’s heart rate sped up at the thought. Staring at Madeline who was still deeply asleep, one of his fingers fell on the button of her hospital gown. The first, second, and third buttons were unclasped in quick succession. Click. The ward door burst open when Jeremy’s hand was still on Madeline’s gown. “What are you doing, Jeremy?” Felipe

For a moment, Jeremy thought he heard someone calling the name ‘Jez’. This thought snapped him back to reality as his confused gaze landed on Madeline. He watched her pretty brows crease and her cherry blossom lips part as if she was sleep talking. “Why…” Madeline’s brows furrowed deeper at the sudden question. ‘Why? ‘Did she just say why?’ Starting at the look of distress on Madeline’s features, Jeremy leaned over to hear her better. “Why won’t you believe…” Bang!Just as Jeremy was about to lean his face closer to Madeline’s ear, the ward door was pushed open with a loud bang.He was interrupted right before he could hear Madeline’s entire sentence. His sharp brows were scrunched as Jeremy lifted his gaze that was filled with extreme displeasure. Eloise barged into the room in a huff. “How can you be here waiting by this woman’s bed lovingly while my daughter is still in a coma because of you, Jeremy Whitman? Not only that, but I can’t believe you ki

The previously blurry memories from right before she succumbed to darkness finally cleared, and she remembered how Jeremy had suddenly appeared to save her in time. She remembered how he had held her tightly and comforted her as well as how she had leaned into his embrace from how safe he made her feel… Madeline’s heart began to race, thumping a familiar beat in her chest. She bit her lip and clenched her fists. ‘No. How could I possibly fall for him all over again? ‘I hate him! ‘The love within me died with every push toward the deep end he forced me to take. ‘It’s like how drowning survivors would never yearn for the sea again. ‘But I promise I’ll let you know how it feels to be suffocated, Jeremy.’… Eloise returned to Meredith’s hospital room where Jeremy arrived shortly after. Eloise seemed proud of herself at Jeremy’s arrival, thinking that her words must have gotten through to him. “Took you long enough to start worrying about Meredith.” Eloise’s tone wa

To be fair, Madeline was the only woman he had ever seen naked. Jeremy remembered being completely wasted the two times he had gotten Meredith ‘pregnant’. It was only from Meredith’s words the following morning that he came to know they had slept together. Yet right now, he found himself repulsed by the vague silhouette of Meredith in the shower. “Sob, sob… Why, sob…” Meredith’s sorrowful wails sounded from inside. At that, Jeremy grabbed the bedsheets and walked into the bathroom with his gaze lowered, wrapping them around Meredith. “Come out.” Pulling her out of the bathroom, he realized that Meredith’s legs were completely fine. Displeasure swam in his cold eyes as anger began to brew between his brows. “Jeremy!” Meredith walked over as she dove into Jeremy’s chest, her arms clinging around him like an octopus. “Why, Jeremy? Why did something like this happen to me? They took turns torturing me. It hurts. Why me? I feel so disgusting, I feel so dirty! Sob…

Despite doing her best to explain herself, Jeremy’s eyes were filled with nothing but disappointment and doubt. “Jeremy…” “You’re nothing like how you used to be when we were young.” Jeremy scoffed. “To the point that I can’t help but think you’re not the girl I met when I was young.” Meredith’s pupils shrunk nervously at his words. “No way! I am your Linnie, Jeremy!” “Linnie.” Jeremy stared thoughtfully at Meredith as he rolled the name off his tongue before pulling his arm back. “I’ll look closer into the case. You’d better hope it doesn’t have anything to do with you.” “...” Meredith was tongue-tied as she stood rooted in place. She merely watched on as Jeremy turned and left. She clenched her jaw and stomped her leg in frustration. Jeremy could never find out her involvement in this, no matter what! ...Two days later, Madeline signed the papers for her discharge before she made a beeline for Meredith’s room. Upon reaching the door, she heard Eloise’s soft w

A smile bloomed on Madeline’s face as she looked at Jeremy, her words infuriating Meredith to the point that veins had begun to pop on her forehead. “Don’t you dare think of coming between me and Jeremy, Vera Quinn! I’m the only woman Jeremy loves, so why would he get married to you?” With that, Meredith got off the bed while feeling distressed and ran toward Jeremy, tears pooling in her eyes in a show of how delicate she was. “She’s lying, right, Jeremy? Tell me she’s lying.” “She’s not.” Jeremy did not hesitate to answer and it left Meredith gaping with wide eyes. Madeline curled her lips in satisfaction. “Who knows what would’ve happened had you not saved me, Jeremy. Are you free today? I’d like to thank you.” “I’m free,” he replied gently, turning to Madeline. “Have you fully recovered?” “Yeah.” Madeline broke into a smile before turning to look meaningfully at Meredith. “I’ll have to thank you, Miss Crawford. I would have never known just how much Jeremy care

Staring into Jeremy’s deep and complex eyes, Madeline pulled her arm back before alighting the car decisively. Her lips were tugged upward in a carefree manner when she sensed Jeremy’s eyes following her out. ‘Have you finally seen Meredith’s true and ugly nature now, Jeremy? ‘Alas, it’s too late now. ‘So late that the wounds I bear may never properly heal. You may wish to use the person I am now to comfort the guilt in your heart, so allow me to push you to your demise.’… Jeremy turned his car around after he watched Madeline’s retreating figure slowly vanish from sight. He bought a bouquet of 88 roses and made his way to the cemetery. There was so much he wanted to say, but now that he was standing in front of Madeline’s tombstone, he swallowed them all back. After a long while, he only muttered, “Perhaps I‘ll bring her to meet you should the opportunity arrive. I’m sure you’ll be surprised to find that there’s someone who looks just like you on earth.” His gaze w

A voice sounded from the bathroom. The person inside was strongly defending Meredith. Jeremy’s frigid gaze swept over like an icy storm. “You’re letting her live here?” “What’s wrong with Meredith living here? She’s your fiancée, and you two even have Jack. The three of you are a family! What’s wrong with a family living together?” Mrs. Whitman stated confidently, her attitude growing more uncontrollable. She was completely ignorant of the change in Jeremy’s expression. “After what Meredith has gone through, it’s your duty as her fiancé to comfort and console her. You’re not to spend all your time with that witch!” Mrs. Whitman patted Meredith’s shoulder caringly as she spoke, her expression hardening as she looked at Jeremy. “I know that you like to have your own opinions, Jeremy, but you have to listen to me this time. I’m your mother! Distance yourself from that woman, Vera Quinn. She’s nothing but bad news. There’s no way she didn’t play a part in Meredith getting hurt

Madeline got in, and the car sped to April Hill. The autumn sun was setting over the horizon as a salty breeze blew about from the sea. It was a taste of the past, but as little as the camphor tree had changed, it was no longer the same.Madeline had hated April Hill ever since the last time Jeremy brought Meredith over. She could still remember the words Meredith told Jeremy, how she had described their first meeting that was so similar to hers with Jeremy. Was it a coincidence, or was this another prank fate liked to pull? Pondering quietly, she twisted her head to find Jeremy opening a bottle of red wine. “What’s the cause of your distraught? To think that you would drive so far, perhaps this is a place you hold dear in your heart?” Madeline walked toward him, intentionally speaking in a confused tone. “Could it be that this was where you and Meredith got together?” The bottle opened with a pop just as Madeline’s voice fell. Jeremy lifted his gaze to meet Madeline