Chapter 4

Madison was indeed in poor health, but that didn't give her an excuse to make snide remarks or act however she pleased.

I went back to my room without bothering to argue with them any further.

With a family like the Hendrickses, it was no wonder Sophie couldn't stand being here and was itching to leave immediately.

I stared at the friend request that had just popped up on my phone, wondering why Sophie wanted to add me. But in the end, I decided to accept it.

There was none of the drama between the real and fake heiresses, where we accused each other or tore off pretenses. Instead, all I got was a sincere message from her.

"Things were a little hectic that day, so I forgot to give you your gift. Also, Mom and Dad wanted to know when you're coming home for dinner."

My heart softened for a moment, then I replied, "I'd like some ribs."

Mom could have contacted me anytime, but having Sophie reach out instead helped bridge the distance between us. She wanted to see both of us getting along well.

As long as that made her happy, that was enough for me.

A knock sounded at the door, and Madison called out, "Emma, I made seafood soup. You haven't tried any."

I was getting a little annoyed, but Madison seemed determined to stay there until I opened the door.

When I finally did, she stood there, holding a bowl of still-warm soup. Her eyes lit up when she saw me.

"Emma, I made this myself today. I hope you can give me a chance to make it up to you…"

She raised the bowl higher and held it out in front of me.

I smirked slightly, looking at her amusedly. "Why do you keep coming to me? Do you enjoy deliberately approaching me so you can get humiliated?"

Madison's expression twisted for a split second, but she maintained her smile. "I don't know what you're talking about, Emma. After 20 years apart, I just want us to be a little closer.

"If you hadn't been found, I would've felt even worse for you."

But her expression didn't change as she spoke. There wasn't a hint of genuine concern on her face.

If I hadn't been found, Sophie probably would've continued being bullied by Madison.

I didn't reach for the bowl.

Just as the tension between us reached a standstill, footsteps suddenly sounded from downstairs.

The moment Madison heard that, she seemed to "lose" her balance. Her foot gave way, and she stumbled toward me, sending the seafood soup spilling in my direction.

Just before it could hit me, I grabbed Madison and pulled her in front of me, making her shield me from the liquid. She hit the floor hard, landing right in the puddle of soup.

I stepped back and shut the door without another word, listening as the voices outside grew frantic. I heard Madison's attempts to suppress her pain, along with the urgent knocking at my door.

Only then did I slowly open the door, feigning surprise. "Maddy, how did you end up on the floor? What happened?"

On the other hand, Madison cried for a while but refused to explain what had happened. She only murmured, "Emma didn't push me! I just wanted to bring her something to eat. She barely ate anything at dinner, so…"

She shot me a quick glance, then withdrew her gaze. "Sorry, Emma. I shouldn't have bothered you."

With just a few sentences, she painted me as the vicious sister without giving me the chance to defend myself.

But I wasn't about to let her pin this on me and not give me a chance to turn things around.

I raised an eyebrow, ignoring her outstretched hand and Jude's scrutinizing gaze. Instead, I said in return, "I'm allergic to seafood. Was the soup you brought me today meant to kill me?"

It wasn't as if I'd never mentioned it. On the contrary, on the very day Susan picked me up, she'd shown how much she cared about me and specifically asked about my allergies.

Even on the day I returned, one of the household staff had asked me about my dietary restrictions to make sure the food suited me.

Madison choked up. She shook her head repeatedly, but she struggled to get back on her feet. By the end, she looked utterly miserable.