The Love Triangle

"You'll have the test results in about an hour."The nurse's smile was gentle and reassuring as she took the vial of blood from Madeline Sanders.Madeline held a cotton swab to her arm and settled into a chair in the waiting area. She was a bit pale, but her eyes sparkled with hope. She had a hunch she was pregnant, and that hospital visit was just to make sure.Three years ago, Trevon Gibson was involved in a terrible car crash that left him comatose, with doctors saying he would never wake up.Lydia Sanders, Trevon's high school sweetheart and Madeline's half-sister, did not waste any time and jetted off abroad for her studies.Somehow, Trevon's grandmother—Edith Gibson—figured that Madeline was Trevon's lucky charm and insisted she marry him. The Gibson family promised to care for Madeline's mother, who was lost in her own world of madness. Madeline felt trapped but agreed to the marriage.Little did everyone know that Madeline was secretly in love with Trevon for years. To ev

"I was looking out for the Sanders family too," Cilix said as he sipped his water."The Sanders-Gibson family alliance is crucial. Three years by Trevon's side, and what? No kids, no hold on his heart, no benefits for the Sanders family. Now that Lydia's back, along with her bond with Trevon, these issues will vanish. I can even afford better care for your mother."Cilix's duplicity struck Madeline once more.Madeline countered, "Did you forget why Lydia left the country? Or do you think the Gibsons have forgotten too?""That's why we're asking you to initiate the divorce with Trevon," Cilix replied.Madeline saw right through their plot.She would step aside, letting Lydia take the lead, and the Sanders family would reap all the rewards.After a tense silence, Madeline broke the ice. "I'm willing to divorce Trevon, but on one condition. I want my mom's shares—the ones she's entitled to."Cilix instantly became furious.Once upon a time, the Sanders family was a picture of uni

Madeline's instinct was to snap her laptop shut. "Give me a second."She quickly ended the call and turned to face Trevon. "What's got you home at this hour?"Trevon eyed her hurried movements and washed his hands before replying, "Just needed to pick something up."Madeline responded with a noncommittal hum.His gaze landed on a nearby takeaway box. It was the sour beef and cabbage soup with noodles.It looked just like the one she had had for lunch. Was it really that tasty?A jolt of panic hit Madeline, and she blurted out, "It's for Yeneth, not me."Back when they were newlyweds, Madeline had grabbed some street sausages, and Trevon had gone into a tailspin, bombarding her with articles about the filth of street vendors and the dangers of eating out.Since then, she had avoided eating street food around him.However, she had slipped up and forgotten to stash the evidence.Trevon's chuckle was detached as his eyes drifted to a notebook on the table.Madeline's heart was p

Each word Yale spat was accompanied by a punch landing on Madeline.Madeline shielded herself with her purse, narrowly avoiding a serious injury. Blinded by anger, she had not thought things through, never imagining Yale would actually hit her.Pregnancy had left her weak, and she could only dodge Yale's vicious blows in a clumsy dance of desperation.The Sanders family seemed petrified by the spectacle, each too scared to even twitch.Cilix wanted to speak, but Skylar cut him off. "What's Yale got, a little muscle? Let her take a hit. It might teach her to listen."Cilix's face darkened as he sat back down.She had written her dad off long ago, but the sting of disappointment was as sharp as ever.As Yale moved in again, Madeline knew she was on her own. With a swift kick, she toppled a chair and snatched a fruit knife from the table, aiming it straight at him."One more step, and I swear I'll stab you!"Yale, thrown off by the chair, nearly slipped.He wiped his mouth and s

Madeline desperately reached out to him. "My stomach hurts. Trevon, please take me to the hospital."Trevon did not need her to tell him her stomach was hurting. He wanted to know why.He could wrap his head around a cold, chest congestion, and feeling sick.However, why stomach pain?Madeline's mouth twitched, and through clenched teeth, she replied, "I got my period."Trevon's face went pale in an instant. He drove her to the hospital himself.Sitting on the hospital bench, Trevon was still coming to terms with the fact that he was actually empathizing with Madeline's menstrual pain.The thought alone made his face grow even darker.He fixed his gaze on the emergency room door, wishing he could somehow open or peer through its solid barrier.Inside, Madeline was struggling for breath. "Doctor, I'm six weeks pregnant. I got into a scuffle tonight, and my stomach's killing me."The doctor took in the bruises on Madeline's face and body, his face turning serious. "Is this dome