Chapter 3

When Madeleine left the hospital and got into her car, she called Jonathan. He didn't pick up, no matter how long she waited.

After a moment's consideration, she decided to head straight to Hartley Group's office building.

In their five years of marriage, Madeleine had rarely visited, so the newly hired receptionist didn't recognize her.

"I'm sorry, but you can't see Mr. Hartley without an appointment," the receptionist said.

Madeleine didn't explain her connection to the Hartleys. Instead, she took out her phone and texted Jonathan.

"I'm in your company's reception area."

She waited for half an hour before he finally appeared, stepping out of the elevator that led directly to the CEO's office. Allison was close behind him.

Jonathan's expression was frigid. "What are you doing here?"

Madeleine had come to take him to the courthouse. "Are you free now? We should—"

"I don't have time." He cut her off monotonously before she could finish, then strode past her without a second glance.

Madeleine frowned and started after him, but Allison moved to block her path.

"Madeleine, wouldn't it be better for you to just stay home and focus on being a good wife and mother? What are you after this time, that you've even brought up divorce? Jon won't spare you any extra attention, no matter what you do."

Allison wore a red dress, her long, wavy hair complementing the polished makeup. Years of dancing had honed her figure, enhancing her entire appearance.

Madeleine noticed the contemptuous look in Allison's eyes. She said flatly, "How interesting. I'd think you'd be happy we're getting divorced, since it means you can marry him officially. Why does it sound like you're more intent on being his mistress? Does that excite you more?"

Allison was rendered speechless. Noticing the receptionist eavesdropping, she averted her gaze and scoffed.

"Madeleine, I couldn't bring myself to take away the title of Mrs. Hartley from you because I pity you. So what if you're our parents' real daughter and Jonathan's wife? Everyone around you prefers me. They despise you!"

Madeleine dropped her gaze, curling her fingers into a fist, but her expression remained calm. "Wasn't it because you were bothered that Jonathan had become blind and crippled that you gave up the title? You were afraid he might be permanently disabled, and you'd have to care for him for the rest of your life, right?"

Madeleine couldn't deny that she, raised in the countryside, was no match for Allison, who had grown up with everything she wanted and was an expert at winning people's favor.

Nine years ago, Madeleine's biological parents had finally found her after a long, relentless search—she had been switched at birth. However, they quickly came to despise her due to Allison's subtle, constant slander.

After Jonathan was involved in a car accident, the Hartleys requested that the Smiths honor their previous promise to allow Jonathan to take their daughter as his bride.

Although the Smith couple knew that Jonathan loved Allison, they ultimately decided to have Madeleine marry into the Hartley family instead.

This decision was swayed by Allison, who acted kindly and stated, "I already took away a happy life of more than ten years that was supposed to belong to Madeleine. I couldn't possibly take away the opportunity for her to have a happy marriage as well."

She sounded as if she genuinely meant well for Madeleine. Yet, truthfully…

"What… What nonsense are you talking about?" Allison averted her gaze. Naturally, she would never admit the truth.

Allison's phone rang just then. Shooting Madeleine a glare, she walked away to answer it. "Hello? Good morning, Mr. Zimmerman! Are you free this afternoon? Jon and I would like to treat you to lunch…"

Madeleine watched Allison's retreating figure, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Allison was a well-known ballet dancer who had returned from abroad six months earlier. Forced to quit due to a recurring foot injury, she was now entering the entertainment industry.

Bradley Zimmerman was one of the country's top directors. He was currently planning to shoot Transcendent, a TV series adapted from a web novel. Galaxy Pictures, a company under the Hartley Group, was one of the investors.

It seemed Jonathan would be arranging the necessary support and resources for Allison to enter the entertainment industry.

After a short pause, Madeleine took out her phone and sent a message.

"I'll accept the offer you mentioned the other day."

The reply was almost instant. "Really? I'm going to screenshot this. No backing out now. I'm holding you to this!"

Madeleine chuckled softly and typed back, "Okay."

She had been a full-time housewife for five years. Even her own son looked down on her, assuming she was an uncultured country bumpkin.

Little did Sawyer know that Madeleine had once been a famous web novel author. As it happened, Transcendent was her work.

Recently, Kristopher Lloyd, the TV series' producer and a close friend, had approached her, hoping she would join the crew as a screenwriter to help adapt the novel.

At first, Madeleine was hesitant to accept the offer since she still had to care for Jonathan and Sawyer. But now, she found it bitterly amusing how she had spent the last five years being used like a servant, only for someone else to reap the benefits of her labor.

As she left the Hartley Group's building, Madeleine received a call from an unknown number. She answered it. "Hello?"

"Ms. Smith! It's me, Tessa!" a little girl's cheerful voice chirped.

Madeleine's tone softened. "Hello, Tessa. Is something the matter?"

"Are you free this afternoon? I would like to treat you to a meal."

Madeleine wasn't expecting to hear that. She chuckled. "Why are you treating me?"

"You helped me today. Uncle Al says we should express gratitude to those who help us." Teresa paused, then added pleadingly, "Ms. Smith… you'll say yes to my invitation, right?"

Listening to Teresa's voice, Madeleine found it impossible to turn down the invitation. She accepted the offer without hesitating for long.

Shortly after, she received a friend request. The message read, "I'm Teresa's uncle."

Madeleine paused for a few seconds before approving it. She glanced at the man's profile picture. It depicted a sea of crimson maple trees. It reminded her of the stunning maples in the rural area where her foster mother lived. In late autumn, the place was so beautiful it looked like a painting came to life.

A vague image of a teenage boy's face flashed through her mind.

Seconds after she approved his friend request, the man sent her a message. "We'll see you in room 308 of The Opulence at 11:30 am. Is that alright?"

Madeleine snapped out of her reverie and replied, "Okay."

The Opulence was a high-end restaurant with a fancy yet classy interior, offering a quiet, private ambiance. It was usually difficult to get a table without a prior reservation.

Madeleine drove there and found an empty spot in the parking lot after some time. However, she struggled to park her car successfully.

More and more cars began to fill the lot, but they were all stuck behind hers, blocking the way. Soon, a line of cars formed, and impatient horns began to blare.

Madeleine grew flustered, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

Suddenly, someone knocked on her car window. A deep, husky voice came from outside. "Come out. I'll help you park."

Madeleine couldn't be happier to hear that. In her haste, she quickly got out of the car so the man could take over the wheel, not even getting a good look at his face.

As she watched the man park her car with ease, Madeleine breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then, a hand tugged at hers. "Ms. Smith!"

Madeleine looked down and saw Teresa. She smiled and crouched to meet the girl at eye level. "Tessa, you're here. Did you sneak out by yourself again?"

Teresa shook her head and pointed to Madeleine's car. "No, I came with my uncle."

It seemed the person who had helped Madeleine park her car was Teresa's uncle.

Madeleine lifted her gaze as the man closed the car door and started heading their way.

Since it was almost noon, the sunlight was intense. It backlit his figure as he approached.

As he moved closer, his features came into focus.

Her smile froze the instant she took in his face.

With dark hair and deep-set eyes, his striking features stirred a sense of familiarity in Madeleine.

She could hardly believe it was him.