bChapter /b508

    Brian froze. “What did you just call me?”

    “My kids‘ dad. Got a problem with that?” Jessica kept her tone casual, though internally she cringed a little. But if this helped Brian rx, it was worth the slight awkwardness. The title fit their current situation–living together but not officially reconciled,

    “The kids‘ dad… Right, I’m their father, and you’re their mother. So we’re…” Brian broke into a dazed grin before biting back the rest of his thought. Otherwise, Jessica would’ve been angry.

    “Stop grinning like an idiot. Go get the car. I’m tired.” Jessica quickly changed the subject, already regretting

    her choice of words.

    “Sure.” Brian practically bounced toward the parking lot, his steps light.

    Watching his cheerful figure, Jessica sighed. She thought, ‘Maybe this is fine. Life isn’t bad as it is.‘

    As Jessica and Brian continued their peaceful cohabitation, Madeline’s parents grew increasingly frantic.

    Their search for their daughter had turned up nothing.

    The money from selling Madeline off had covered the down payment on Miguel’s marital house, but now they faced mounting expenses–renovations, furniture, the wedding, and so on. They all required hefty

    sums.

    “Where the hell is Madeline? Why hasn’t she contacted us?” Peter took an angry drag of his cigarette.

    Over the past few weeks, he and Grace had searched everywhere they could think of, yet Madeline remained missing. With Miguel’s impending wedding and the two families‘ meeting looming, Peter was

    desperate for money.

    “That ungrateful brat! Always making things difficult,” Peter spat, frustration boiling over.

    Grace, equally resentful, chimed in, “Why can’t Madeline just be reasonable? Peter, let’s ambush her at the

    Grace thought, ‘Miguel is her brother, after all, and his wedding ising up fast. Yet she’s still missing.

    “Where does she work?” Peter was past subtlety. He just wanted to find Madeline.

    “I’ll ask her friends,” Grace said.

    Conveniently, they both ignored Madeline’s past ims of being broke and unemployed.

    Soon, Grace extracted the information from one of Madeline’s friendsb. /b

    12:51 Mon, 1 Sept A

    Miguel’s face twisted in outrage. “Atkinson Group? That’s a top–tierpany. She lied about having no

    money!”

    #15

    His resentment toward Madeline deepened. He thought, ‘This selfish and cold–hearted bitch! She has such a

    good job. Why hadn’t she helped me get in?‘

    Peter nodded decisively. “Once we find her, she’s paying for your wedding. Everyst cent.” To Peter,

    Madeline’s sess was irrelevant. She was just a daughter, destined to marry out. Miguel was his real

    legacy.

    Miguel beamed, “Dad, I’m counting on you.” He spun grand promises, further cementing his parents‘

    resolve to squeeze Madeline dry.

    The next morning, Peter and Grace stormed into the Atkinson Group’s lobby.

    “Who are you here to see? Do you have an appointment?” The receptionist blocked their path, eyeing their aggressive demeanor warily.

    “Madeline Houghton. We’re her parents. Get her out here now,” Peter demanded.

    Grace chimed in, “Call her out here immediately.”

    The receptionist, already disdainful of Madeline due to past incidents, felt her contempt grow at the parents‘ entitled behavior. She said coldly, “I can’t help you. Madeline had been fired months ago.”

    Peter’s face darkened. “Fired? On what grounds?”

    “She was doing just fine here. Are you covering for her?” Grace’s voice turned shrill.

    When they tried to force their way past, the receptionist called security guards over.

    Restrained by two guards, Peter and Grace continued shouting for Madeline.

    Exasperated, the receptionist snapped, “I told you. She has gone. If you want her, go bother her newpany instead.”

    Peter and Grace refused to back down. “Newpany? We don’t know anything about that. She’s an Atkinson Group employee, and now she’s missing. Who else should we hold responsible?”

    “Get her out here now, or we’ll call the police!” Grace threatened.

    The receptionist, exasperated by their nonsense, grabbed her phone. “Fine, then I’ll call the police for you. Madeline had been terminated months ago. Whatever has happened since has nothing to do with us.”

    The idea that apany needed to be ountable for a former employee’s whereabouts was ridiculous.

    12:52 Mon, 1 Sept A

    Confronted by her unyielding stance and the towering security guards, Peter and Grace faltered.

    33

    4 3,56%

    “No need for the police. We were just upset.” Peter backtracked, his tone suddenly meek. He had always been a bully who folded under pressure.

    The receptionist scoffed, “Now you’re being reasonable? Listen, Madeline isn’t here. If you think she’s missing, file a report. Stop causing a scene here.”

    “How heartless can you be? After all, my daughter worked here for years,” Grace muttered.

    “Heartless? You have no idea what your daughter did,” the receptionist snorted, her disdain palpable. With a sharp gesture, she signaled the guards to drag them out.

    Realizing they had hit a wall, Peter and Grace slunk away. They bribed a security guard for informationter. When they learned Madeline had tried to seduce Atkinson Group’s CEO, their eyes lit up with greedy

    calction.

    Brian sneezed abruptly during his park stroll with Jessica. Rubbing his nose, he spotted a burst pipe spraying water nearby.

    “Jessi, move.” He lunged forward, pulling her to safety just as the water arced toward them.

    bChapter /bb509 /b