Chapter 4
The following day, Crystal’s voice floated distinctly up to the second floor through the open window.
“Why do you still have this oil painting I did? If you like it, how about I create a new one for you tomorrow?
“It’s such a beautiful day today—come take a walk with me. The doctor mentioned I should walk more to speed up my recovery.
“I’m feeling a bit hungry, Andy. Could you prepare a meal for me? It’s been so long since I’ve enjoyed your cooking.”
Andy seldom replied, yet he met all of Crystal’s demands. He stayed perfectly still like a human model in the living room for two hours, joined her on a 30–minute walk, and then personally prepared a grand
meal.
Maddie observed everything, and through his expressions and gestures, she sensed his contentment.
Maybe this was the lasting future he desired.
Later that night, Maddie went downstairs for a glass of water. As she returned, she saw Crystal in her room, holding the watch her father had given her.
In a flash, Maddie tensed up completely. She lunged forward to
reclaim her watch.
Crystal, who was a head taller, held it out of Maddie’s reach, looking at her with a smug expression.
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“Is this old watch really that valuable to you? It must be important, right?”
Maddie responded immediately, “Yes, it is. Give it back!”
Crystal grinned at Maddie’s response. “I could return it to you–if you kneel before me. I’ll show mercy just this once.”
Maddie stared at her in shock. “Miss Crystal, I’ve already promised to leave. Mr. Loreine likes you too. I never intended to compete with you. Why are you still coming after me?”
“Why? Because you irritate me. Even though you’ve promised to leave, the thought of you monopolizing Andy all these years disgusts me. I need to release my anger. Besides, the watch is in my possession now. You have ten seconds. If you don’t do as I say, this watch will be lost forever.”
Seeing Crystal’s haughty behavior, Maddie felt only helplessness and
sorrow.
As the countdown hit one, Crystal feigned to toss the watch away.
With no other choice, Maddie reluctantly knelt.
“Is this enough, Ms. Jimmerson?”
Seeing Maddie’s humiliated look, Crystal finally appeared pleased.
But instead of returning the watch, she flung it straight down the
stairs.
Maddie’s breath caught in her throat as she hurried to pick up the watch, accidentally bumping into Crystal in the process.
Crystal fell down the stairs, blood immediately pooling around her.
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Andy saw what happened and rushed over.
“What on earth happened?” he demanded.
Crystal, trembling in his arms, tearfully lied, saying she had inadvertently damaged Maddie’s watch and that Maddie, in a fit of rage, had pushed her down the stairs.
A rare trace of anger crossed Andy’s usually indifferent face. “You’d harm someone over a watch? Maddie, have I indulged you too much all these years?”
Meeting his cold stare, Maddie was overwhelmed with grief and tried to explain through her pain.
“Mr. Loreine, she made me-”
“Enough!”
Andy cut her off angrily, refusing to hear more.
He called for the bodyguards, instructed them to lock Maddie in the cold storage to “reflect,” and carried Crystal away.
Maddie found herself restrained by her hands and feet by several bodyguards and was forcibly taken to the cold storage.
Inside the sub–zero chamber, she crouched in a corner, her clothes covered in a thin layer of frost.
It felt like her blood was freezing, and her body shook uncontrollably.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly.
Clutching a broken watch, memories of joyful moments with her parents flooded her thoughts.
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In a haze, she heard the door creak open and lifted her blurred gaze.
A figure approached slowly, and she instinctively murmured, “Mom…” then whispered, “Mom, I loved the wrong person… I regret it…”
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