Chapter 3

The metallic taste of blood instantly bloomed in my mouth.

Nathaniel held up his hand, which was visibly shaking, a fleeting look of guilt crossing his eyes.

"How dare you put your hands on Madeline? That woman started this by running her mouth. Is this how you were raised?"

I blinked away my tears, unable to believe the words coming out of his mouth.

Everyone loved to look down on orphans, treating us like wild, uncultured animals raised with zero manners.

Years ago, he had been the one to smash a liquor bottle across a counter to shut up anyone who dared to mock me.

When he saw my eyes pool with tears, a flicker of heartache crossed Nathaniel's features.

But Madeline threw herself into his chest, trembling. "Nate, if you hadn't gotten here right when you did, the two of them would've teamed up on me…"

Nathaniel pictured a vivid image of Madeline being brutally attacked, disgust coloring his gaze.

"Tomorrow night, you're going to publicly apologize to Madeline at the charity gala. I know what you're up to. If we don't clear her name right away, Ms. Langford is going to run around spreading lies about Madeline on your behalf."

I shook my head helplessly. "And if I refuse—"

"If you don't apologize, I'll stop all donations to the orphanage. I'll also freeze the card you use to cover Ms. Langford's medical bills," he threatened. "Think about it, Caroline. How long will it take you to find her a matching heart donor on your own, huh?"

Looking at Rebecca, who was wasting away by the day in that hospital bed, I gave in.

At the charity gala the following evening, Nathaniel shoved an apology statement into my hand.

Madeline glided over, discreetly digging her nails deep into the flesh of my arm.

The smile never left her face as she whispered, "Mrs. Cross, if you're going to apologize, you'll need to show some actual sincerity."

The next second, she drove the tip of her high heel into the back of my knee. My leg buckled, and I crashed face-first onto the floor in front of everyone.

Like a puppet on strings, I read from the apology statement.

"Ms. Langford was the aggressor in the altercation. I offer a sincere apology to Ms. Madeline Hart on her behalf, and I'll fully cover her medical expenses."

Whispers rippled through the crowd below the stage.

"What do you expect from an orphan with no parents to teach her any better? She just goes around physically assaulting people. Honestly, I have no idea how a man like Mr. Cross fell for her in the first place."

"Like mother, like daughter. Even if they're not related by blood, her behavior is just as trashy."

"Honestly, Ms. Hart looks far more refined. I wouldn't be surprised if the title of Mrs. Cross changes hands soon."

…

Their contemptuous stares burned into my skin as Madeline looked down at me, her eyes radiating the smugness of a victor.

I forced my feverish body up from the floor, swaying violently on my feet.

Nathaniel instinctively took a step toward me. "Are you sick? You look pale."

When I slapped his hand away, he cleared his throat and said, "Don't flatter yourself. I just don't want you ruining the gala."

Madeline stepped forward, pretending to help support me, only to drop her voice into a whisper beside my ear.

"Hang in there, Mrs. Cross. Though… I did just hear that the donor suddenly changed their mind and backed out of giving their heart to your precious Ms. Langford. Looks like you'll be waiting another decade.

"Oh, wait. That's assuming she can even survive until then."

Her taunting expression grew larger and larger in my field of vision. Unable to endure it any longer, I lunged forward and seized her by the throat.

"How dare you play with her life?" I thundered.

The next instant, Nathaniel spared no effort in shoving me aside.

"Are you out of your mind, Caroline?" he roared. "I forced you to apologize so you would learn your lesson, not so you could turn around and violently assault her again!"

I tumbled backward down the steps of the stage, a dense, aching pain shooting through every bone in my body.

Madeline didn't even bother hiding her triumphant smirk, mocking me from a blind spot where Nathaniel couldn't see her.

Just as I shoved Nathaniel aside like a woman possessed, getting ready to lunge at Madeline for a second time, a call from the hospital interrupted me.

"Ms. Ellis, Ms. Langford has vanished from her room!"