bChapter /bb374 /b

    Wesley looked at Brian, who was radiating cold anger. He thought of the woman who’de to his clinic with Jessicast btime. /bAfter a bmoment/bb, /bhe decided to warn Brian, “Mr. Atkinson, you should look into the people around you sometime, especially those who have designs on byou/bb. /b

    Wesley couldn’t say more than that.

    “People who have designs on me?” Brian frowned, instantly thinking of Madeline.

    He looked up to ask for more details, but Wesley had already turned and left.

    With no other option, he called Jackson and asked him to check on Madeline’s situation abroad.

    Then Brian was told that Madeline was back from her trip and resting at home. Some photos came with the update, bbut /bthey were ball /bside views.

    Brian’s brow tightened. “Send someone to knock on her door and get a front–facing photo.”

    Clearly, he was starting to doubt whether Madeline had really been abroad.

    The next day, Madeline got a message from the person filling in for her, and her face clouded over instantly.

    ‘Why would Brian suddenly suspect me? Did Jessica say something?‘ Madeline wondered.

    ‘Damn her. Acting all high and mighty, but really, she’s just leaning on Brian.‘ Madeline cursed Jessica roundly in her head.

    “I see. Keep up the pretense. Better not go out these days. I’ll handle the rest,” she said.

    After hanging up, Madeline started checking ne tickets.

    Thistest check hade just as the woman pretending to be her was putting on a face mask. That had barely gotten things pastb. /bBut if Brian sent someone again and still couldn’t get a front–facing photo of her, it would only make him more suspicious of her.

    That was not what she wanted at all.

    Madeline looked at the bnce in her bank ount, figuring out the cost of going abroad.

    Just then, someone banged roughly on her door.

    Her face darkened. She didn’t even need to open it to know it was her leeching parents outside.

    ‘I must have drawn the shortest straw in the world to get stuck with parents like this, Madeline thought.

    She grumbled under her breath but had to open the door. “Mom, Dad, what are you doing here? You should have let me know…”

    Madeline didn’t get to finish her sentence. Grace pushed her hard out of the way, and then she watched helplessly as iher /iparents swaggered into her apartment and plopped down heavily on the sofa. Then they picked up the snacks and fruit ifrom /ithe table and started eating.

    But that wasn’t all. After chomping down two cream buns, Peter turned and yelled at her. “What are you standing around for? Hurry up and get me some water. No, I want milk.”

    Madeline held back the urge to scream, went to the kitchen, and poured her leeching parents two sses of milk.

    “Mom, Dad, if you need food, just call. I’ll buy some and send it home. There’s really no need to make this trip,” Madeline bsaid/b.

    She thought, “I really don’t want to see them at all. Why couldn’t they just stay at home as I told them?”

    ?

    Watching her embarrassing parentsb, /bMadeline couldn’t stop thinking about Dereck band /bSte. The more she thoughtb, /bbthe /bbmore /bbjealous /band bhateful /bshe felt toward Jessica.

    Madeline thought, ‘Why does Jessica have such good luck? Born a rich heiressb, /bbwith /bparents who dote on herb, /bbwhile /bbmy /bbfamily /bis such a bmess/bb! /b

    The more Madeline thought, the unhappier she got. Her face fell into a long, sour lookb, /band then Peter pped her hard across bthe /bbface/b.

    Peter roared, “Who are you scowling bat /blike that? And don’t ask why we came. It’s all your fault, running off and vanishing ball /bbthe /bbtime/b. bYour /bmom and I came twice before and didn’t see you. Finally, we caught you this time, you little brat.”

    Peter snarled, grabbing Madeline’s arm and shoving her to the floor. “Give me money. We used up what you gave before. Hurry bup /band bgive /bbme /bbmore/b, or I’ll beat you senseless!”

    Madeline’s face twisted in pain, but she didn’t dare fight back. Peter meant what he said. He really would hit her.

    She bowed her head, bit her lip, and said resentfully, “Dad, don’t be angry. It’s all my fault for not taking good care of you. bI’ll /bgo get bmoney /bbfor /bbyou /bband /bMom right away.”

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