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A Heart Gone for Good
A Heart Gone for Good
Author: Big Bready

Chapter 1

Author: Big Bready
The brush in my hand wobbled a little, but I still managed my usual customer-service smile.

"First time here? I'll remember it next time you're here." I flipped the pancake without looking up. "Want extra cheese?"

Jeremy Grant's gaze flickered. "You always put extra cheese on my cakes. You really do..."

"This is the most expensive thing on her menu," someone interrupted, reaching past him. "But the cheese is handmade by the owner. It's pricey, but worth it."

I handed the prepared portion to the woman and smiled. "Thanks for the plug. Double on me next time."

Jeremy's expression visibly darkened.

He pulled open the car door and bent down to get inside.

I glanced at him and said flatly, "Sorry. It's a small place. No dine-in."

He held my gaze.

"I'll pay extra."

"Fine."

I turned back to my work, dusting the food with seasoning.

His eyes settled on my slightly trembling hand. After a moment, he let out a sigh.

"When you're done with this act, come home with me."

I ignored him completely, scooping up the pancake.

"Your order's ready, sir. Eat it while it's hot. I'll step out and leave you in peace."

He grabbed my wrist.

"Stop pretending, Madison Decker."

His eyes were red.

"If you've really forgotten me, then why are your hands shaking?"

I answered calmly, "A stun baton did that when I was in prison. The aftereffects never went away."

The gentleness on Jeremy's face vanished instantly.

"Jessica was spoiled her whole life. She couldn't handle that kind of suffering. I let you take the blame for her, but I'd already made arrangements. Nobody would lay a finger on you."

Unfortunately, the wrist he was gripping was exactly where my old injury was. Pain shot through it. I shook his hand off.

When I remained silent, he sighed again and softened his tone.

"You were there on the first day our son started his new school. You miss home—I know you do. You're just looking for a reason to come back.

"I'm personally here to pick you up. Isn't that enough?"

He reached out and tucked my hair behind my ear, only to find a thin layer of grease on it.

His fingers paused, and a small frown creased his brow.

He met my eyes and let out an awkward cough.

"I'm not disgusted. It's just..."

I shrugged and handed him a pack of tissues with a smile. "Two dollars. It's written right on it."

Jeremy went still for a moment. He scanned the sign behind me, then he read it out through clenched teeth.

"Beer. Sodas. Water. Small business, tiny margins. No credit."

I continued with the math.

"Alright, the pancake is 15 dollars, plus 5 dollars for the dine-in fee makes it 20, then 2 dollars for the tissues. Your total comes to 22 dollars."

The vein at Jeremy's temple bulged. He pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and threw it at my face before letting out a cold laugh.

"Madison, your adoptive mother is already dead. Who are you putting on this pitiful act for? Who do you think is going to feel sorry for you?"

The smile on my face faltered.

Jeremy's eyes reddened immediately. He reached for me and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

I stuffed the pancake into his arms and shoved him out of the cart.

I jumped onto my three-wheeled cart, jabbed a finger over his shoulder, and pedaled off, yelling, "Run! The inspectors are here!"

As I pedaled away, I caught his reflection. His face was thunderous.

"Madison, you truly are heartless!" he bellowed.

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  • A Heart Gone for Good   Chapter 9

    Jessica's expression shifted from terror to blank disbelief.She stood up, walked over to Jeremy, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her face against his chest."Jeremy, I only did it because I loved you too much."I'm a fake heiress. Before Madison came back, everyone said we were the perfect match. But the moment she returned, everything changed. I was afraid you'd forget me. I was afraid no one would want me anymore. I did those things because I loved you too much."Jeremy pried her fingers away. "I was supposed to marry the Decker family's daughter, not you. You were never a Decker."You never were."He lifted the scalpel once more. "I'll make sure you wear every scar she does."Jessica stumbled backward until she hit the wall, her eyes wide with panic."No! I'm pregnant with your baby!"Jeremy's hand paused mid-air.Sensing her only chance, Jessica hurriedly continued, "Maddie is gone. She's not coming back. But I'm pregnant with your baby. We can start over.

  • A Heart Gone for Good   Chapter 8

    I floated beneath the ceiling, looking down at the body lying on the operating table. It was pale, emaciated, and completely lifeless. A white sheet covered it up to the chin, but I could still see the face beneath—a face riddled with scars.A bitter smile tugged at my lips. In the end, I still hadn't saved enough money to buy the burial plot next to Vera.The hospital corridor in the early hours of the morning was as quiet as a graveyard. I tried drifting through the window, but something seemed to hold me back. I could only wander aimlessly above the hospital room.Then I saw Jeremy. He strode toward the room in a wrinkled shirt, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the door. A streak of blood was still smeared across his cheekbone.The calm, controlled man I knew was gone. This version of him always came out when Jessica was involved.He paused at the doorway, then walked straight toward me. For some reason, I watched him pass right through my body.He whirled around, s

  • A Heart Gone for Good   Chapter 7

    "Bring me the security footage."Dr. Jones paused, then walked to the monitoring room. When he returned, he set a laptop before Jeremy without a word.The screen showed a black-and-white image from three years ago. Vera lay on the hospital bed, her body wrapped in bandages, her eyes closed. Then the door swung open, and Jessica stepped in, wearing a flowing dress with her hair neatly pinned. She smiled, as if she were visiting a friend.As Jessica settled into the chair beside the bed, Vera slowly opened her eyes."Mrs. Johnson," Jessica said softly. "I'm Jessica."Vera's eyes snapped open.Jessica pulled out her phone, unlocked the screen, and held it in front of Vera.The video on display was from Jeremy's operating room.Under the cold glare of the surgical lights, he held a scalpel in his hand, reshaping Madison's face.Madison lay unconscious on the operating table. Bloodstained gauze covered her face, making her original features completely unrecognizable.Vera's

  • A Heart Gone for Good   Chapter 6

    The light above the operating room was still on.Jeremy leaned against the wall, absentmindedly rubbing the sauce stain on his sleeve. Suddenly, his heartbeat seemed to stop."Pull up all of Madison's medical records, and bring me the attending physician who performed my surgery back then."A series of memories surfaced in his mind.He remembered how Madison coughed up blood whenever the seasons changed, and how he had never once asked why.He remembered her severe hemorrhage when she gave birth to Oliver, and how his only concern had been that it delayed an important meeting.He remembered the Cesarean scar on her abdomen and how he had thought it was ugly.Now it all made sense.She had tried to tell him back then that she was the one who saved him, that she could never carry another child, that she was drowning in pain.But in the end, she never got the words out.Jessica had beaten her to it. She came with a fake document and took all the credit, and he had chosen to beli

  • A Heart Gone for Good   Chapter 5

    Jeremy had no idea how the call ended.How did Madison end up with only one kidney? Someone inside the prison must have tampered with things.He stormed into his secretary Mike Wickham's office. "Find out what happened to Madison in those three years."Mike froze for a moment before quickly getting to his feet.Jeremy didn't sit down. He paced back and forth across the office, as though he was trying to convince himself. "I personally spoke to the warden back then and told them to take care of her."Jeremy had always trusted that the Grant name would shield anyone connected to it. He never imagined anyone would dare touch her. But now, a new question surfaced in his mind.Who was the boy who had called Madison "Mom?" Where had he come from?Did he know something?Mike's hands paused over the keyboard. He chose his words carefully."Mr. Grant, I looked into the boy.""Go on.""The boy's name is Zayne. He's four years old."Mike hesitated, then added, "He's not Madi

  • A Heart Gone for Good   Chapter 4

    Instinct took over before I could think. I lunged at her and wrapped both hands around her throat. "How could you? She was your mother!"Jessica leaned against the wall and laughed through reddened eyes. "So what if she gave birth to me? We were switched, and I got the better life. That was fate. What right did she have to come looking for me? Did she really think she was worthy?"Her smile grew broader. "Anyone who's ever been kind to you, Madison, deserves to die."Blood dripped from my nose.It looked like I didn't have much time left.If I was going down, she was coming with me.A vicious slap cracked across my face. My head whipped to the side, and I slammed into the wall.Jeremy stood where he was, slowly lowering his hand."Have you made enough of a scene? Jess' health has never been the same after saving my life. You spent a few years taking her place. What exactly are you so aggrieved about?"You'll always be my wife. As long as you have that title, who would dare loo

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