Fa

bChapter /bb71 /b

With newfound bcertainty /babout Jessica’s pregnancy, Brian felt the dark clouds that had weighed on him dissipate

The following day, he said as Jacob was about to leave for school, “Jake, I’ll bring your thom home soon.

“Really?” Jacob’s eyes lit up

“Absolutely.” Brian resisted the urge to tell Jacob that he might soon have a little brother or sister.

“She won’t leave again, right?” bJacob’s /bvoice wavered, recalling how he had woken to find bJessica /bgone after the storytime. He had even cried into his

pillow,

“Never again” Brian nodded.

“Great I’ll study extra hard to show Mom my grades!” bJacob /bskipped off to school.

Sylvie, watching nearby, felt a bquiet /bsense of relief. She thought, Mr. Atkinson still loves Jessica. My refusal to cooperate with Madeline’s schemes Now seems right.‘

Brian’s rare good mood lingered through bbreakfast/b, carrying into the office.

Jackson, his assistant, immediatelyn

noticed the bshift /b

As Jackson finished his report and turned to leave, Brian said, “Hire some guards and arrange discreet security for Jessica. Don’t let her notice.”

Jackson hesitated slightly, surprised but not questioning “Got it, Mr. Atkinson.” He simply nodded and left to arrange it

That afternoon, Madeline waited for Jacob at the Hartdale International Bilingual School gate with a Superman figurine, his former favorite.

“Jake, o

over here!” Madeline waved her hand.

“Maddie.” bJacob /bapproached hesitantly, with none of his usual excitement.

Madeline’s smile bstrained /bas she revealed the toy. “Look, it’s your favorite boy. A reward for you.”

Jacob’s eyes bsparkled /bwith joy but then dimmed. “I need to focus on studying now. bThank /bbyou/b, but I can’t ept it.”

Madeline’s smile faltered. “It won’t distract you.”

Jacob shook his head and turned to get into the waiting car. Before the door closed, he waved politely. “Goodbye, Maddie

Only after the car drove away did Madeline snap back to reality, clenching her teeth in frustration.

For two consecutive days, she waited outside the school gate, trying to take Jacob out to y. But each time, Jacob declined, saying he needed to s

At Atkinson Group, Madelina’s morning passed in distracted agitation. Jacob’s recent coldness gnawed ather

Suddenly, a message buzzed on her phone. It was from her spy inside thepany. Madeline, Mr. Atkinson just entered the cafeteria.

In the cafeteria, Brian sat alone. An binvisible /bradius of empty tables surrounded him. No one dared sit too close to him.

Madeline bhurried /bover and spotted Brian immediately. Her gaze swept the cafeteria, noting several female colleagues stealing nces at him. Shemitted their faces to memory before bringing lunch and sitting bopposite /bBrian

Madeline bbroke /bthe bsilence/b. “Mr. Atkinson.”

Brian raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

“Jacob seems troubledtely” Madeline feigned concern. “is someone pressuring him about studying?”

bBrian’s /bfork paused. He thought, Jake has been devouring breakfast since hearing Jessica would return, with hardly signs of distress. As for studying? It’s not too stressful. Lendured far more rigorous childhood drills.

Madeline continued, lowering her voice, “Somehow, Jake seems upset with me. I tried taking him to the amusement bpark /bto rx, but he refused.”

She and Jacob had always been close, and they often went to parks together.

Brian replied calmly, “Jake is in a bkey /bacademic period, It’s normal for hits to feel some pressure.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is.” Madeline’s eyes brightened. “Then perhaps after finals, I could take him out.

“Hmm.” Brian’s simple response ended the discussion. Then he returned to his meal.

Madeline matched his pace, finishing her meal. When bBrian /bfinished, she moved as naturally bas /bpossible and took it from bhim/b..

“bThanks/b.” Brian released the tray.

To anyone watching their interaction spoke volumes.

No sooner had they left the cafeteria than whispers began spreading among the employees. “Madeline is ying a long game. Even Ms. Grant couldn’t dislodge her after all these years”

“Ms. Granit deserved better.”

At Grant bGroup/bb, /bJessica’s phone buzzed with a notification. She nced at her phone to find an anonymous message–a photo of Madeline and Brian having a meal in the corporate cafeteria.

In the frozen frame, Madeline’s coquettish smile paired with Brian’s bgaze /bcould almost be mistaken for tenderness

Jessica remained strangely calm. She couldn’t tell whether it was numbness or detachment.

Soon, more photos followed–Madeline clearing Brian’s btray/b.

Several messages arrived. Come back, Ms. Grant. Madeline is getting shameless!)

[That little bitch

These messages filled with outrage band /binsults aimed at Madeline. It was almost like the sender was the betrayed wile

Jessica read through them, sensing the bitterness and hostility bbehind /beach word. She didn’t reply. Her battles weren’t for strangers to wage

At Atkinson Group, Madeline basked in employees‘ newly deferential gazes. Her calcted performance in the cafeteria had paid off. The tension that had built up in her chest eased a lot.

She thought, ‘Jacob’s refusal is just because of cam stress, not because he doesn’t like me anymore.”

Remembering bhis /bbsecret /bcravings for snacks Jessica never let Jacob eat them, Madeline left work early to buy snacks and waited for him at the vi.

Madeline thought, I must win Jacob’s favor when he bneeds /bfort after Jessica’s divorce. Maybe then, for Jacob’s sake, Brian would consider letting me move into Atkinson Vi, and eventually, I may marry him.”

Mon, b9 /bJun

Chapter b71 /b

Lost in her fantasy, Madeline bought a full bucket of pre–seasoned chicken and cooked it in the vi.

Jacob arrived home and smelled the fried chicken from the driveway.

b65.77 /b

“So good!” He jogged into the vi and saw a bucket of fried chicken on the table. There were also some chips and candy bars. That snack mountain piled higher than his toy collection.

“Wee back.” Madeline emerged with a fresh batch of fried wings. “For you, Jake. Study warrior deserves rewards!”

Jacob’s mouth watered. “Fried chicken…” He inched forward but then stopped himself.

I’ll help you wash y your hands.” Madeline reached out to guide him toward the bathroom.

“It tastes as good as takeout. Come on, Jacob swallowed. He shook his head with his hands sped behind his back. “No. Mom said this stuff isn’t good for me….I can’t eat it.

Madeline’s smile froze. She gestured to the pile of snacks on the table. “There are

“No,” Jacob said firmly.

?

AD