Ch. 1001..1010
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning by Max Charming Chapter 1001
Regardless of what happened to Jardin Corporation, Madelyn would not interfere. Zach would be fine with Cecilia there. As for Madelyn’s career, Zach had little say. He would only tell her to rest more since she was unwell.
This was the latest she had ever stayed up. By the time she finished, it was already daybreak. The conference call was still on. Besides Madelyn, Clement, and Dorian, the others did not participate in this overtime schedule.
Clement advised her, “Stop working, Madelyn. You should rest soon. Leave the rest of us.”
Madelyn assured him, “It’s fine. There’s just a little more.”
After they finished, they took a break together. Dorian told them, “I’m ordering breakfast. You live too far, Madelyn. I’ll order some for you next time.”
Madelyn replied, “Thanks.”
Just as Dorian finished ordering, someone came to the conference call and said, “Clement, something’s wrong. Dawn and Crystal got admitted to the hospital for alcohol poisoning.”
Clement asked, “What? What happened?”
Madelyn lifted her head when she heard this. The person answered, “I’m not sure. I’ve just received a call from the hospital.”
Then, Madelyn said in the conference call, “I’ll go check on them first. Both of you can finish the rest.”
Clement added seriously, “I’ll go with you.”
Clement was worried she could not handle it. Her health was poor, and they had just worked throughout the night without any rest. He might be able to assist if anything happened at the hospital. Besides, Clement was the person in charge of the studio. Should anything happen to his subordinates, he could not leave them be.
Madelyn agreed, “Okay.”
The moment Madelyn stood up, her vision turned dark. Had she not held onto the table, she would have fainted. After recovering from her dizziness, she went to her bedroom to change her clothes. With a jacket in hand, she prepared to go downstairs.
The servants had already prepared breakfast for her. They asked her in shock, “Mrs. Jardin, why are you up so early today? Do you need to go out? Why don’t you have breakfast first.”
Madelyn told them, “There is no need. I have some urgent business, so I must go out soon.”
When Madelyn reached the door, Zach’s cold voice rang from behind, “Stand right there! You’re not allowed to go outside.”
Madelyn ignored him. After putting on her jacket, she took the scarf from the rack and walked out. Jordan had already parked the car outside. When she was about to get in the car, Zach grabbed her arm and dragged her back into the house.
“Are you ignoring me?” Zach asked. His expression was ugly, and his eyes were red from burning the midnight oil. His reddened eyes came from working on the thirty billion dollar
project.
“You’re hurting me. Let go,” Madelyn demanded.
Zach let go of her and said, “You should rest after you finish your work. As for the studio…”
Madelyn interrupted him, “That’s enough! I don’t need your fake affection. Mind your own business.”
The servants saw this and left quickly. They thought, ‘Why are they fighting again?’
Before Madelyn could walk another few steps, Zach pulled her back, “I won’t repeat myself again. You’re not allowed to go out! Now, sit down and eat your breakfast!”
Madelyn calmly fought back, “Did you cause both of them to have alcohol poisoning?”
Zach kept quiet. He did not plan to speak, and Madelyn could already figure it out. “Do you do anything else besides bullying? You only got to this position because of Cecilia, yet what have you done with this power? I know you don’t like badmouthing, but that’s my issue. I didn’t care about it, so why did you interfere? What makes you think you can do that? You forced them to drink alcohol and punished them. Now, they’re in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. Are you happy now?”
Madelyn continued, “I know, you’re always the kind man while I’m the ignorant one. Had they gossiped about Cecilia, they wouldn’t have ended up with just alcohol poisoning. I’m not that fragile. I’m not so easily offended by a few words from other people. They are my studio’s employees, juniors, and Prof. Monet’s students. Do you think I can look them in the eye when I see them next time? What will Prof. Monet think of me? I know we’re not the same, Zach, but why can’t you think from my perspective for once?”
Although everyone in Ventropolis feared him, Madelyn did not. She stared deep into his eyes. Zach was shaken and replied, “Very well. I was brash this time. I will compensate them after this and try not to make it difficult for you.”
Madelyn did not expect him to give in. She did not say anything more but assumed Zach agreed to this because of her health.
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning Chapter 1002
Madelyn averted her gaze and said, “Zach, I hope you can change your arrogant attitude. Their lives matter, too. Regardless of who badmouths me in the future, you don’t need to care. This is my business; you just need to care for your own. I can take care of myself. I don’t need a single penny from you.”
She pulled away from him and continued, “I’ll return to my room. You can have breakfast by yourself.”
Just as she took a step forward, she suddenly fainted.
“Madelyn!” Zach cried before catching her in time. His first instinct was to check her breathing as he ordered, “Call an ambulance!”
A servant replied, “Yes, sir. I’ll do it immediately!”
‘Why did she faint for no reason?’ Zach thought.
When she arrived at the hospital, Kai gave her a checkup.
“Nothing’s wrong. Madelyn’s just overly exhausted,” Kai answered. He then looked at Zach with furrowed brows, “Where have you been spending all that money of yours? You knew her health was terrible, and you still let her go through a whole night without sleep! Did you give all your money to Cecilia?”
Zach argued, “I’ve never had any ties to Cecilia. But I can’t help it if Madelyn doesn’t believe me!”
‘I can’t help it? How absurd, Zach!’ Kai thought. He pursed his lips and wanted to say something. Ultimately, he did not since Madelyn would leave Zach soon anyway. Telling him. anything would not help at all.
“You can explain it to her when she wakes up. Telling me won’t bring you any benefit,” Kai explained.
Then, Zach asked, “When will she wake up?”
Kai told him, “She’s just exhausted. She’ll be fine after some sleep. Both of you can go home after she finishes her IV drip.”
After Kai left, Zach stood by the bed, staring at Madelyn. When Kevin arrived, Zach was sitting on Madelyn’s bed, sleeping. He opened his eyes when he heard the sound of footsteps.
“Mr. Jardin, both girls are fine and will be discharged in two days. They’ve requested to join the Jardin Corporation. I’ve already had HR help them with the onboarding,” Kevin reported.
Alcohol poisoning in exchange for an opportunity to join the Jardin Corporation. It seemed the alcohol poisoning was a blessing in disguise for them since they had neither the experience nor skill to enter Jardin Corporation. However, even if they could join, they would not be able to withstand the
pressure.
Kevin continued his report, “Ms. Samford is responsible for the agreement with SkyNet Technologies. It is currently being processed. The executives have told me that a few major projects have been transferred to Ms. Samford. The documents that require your signature are also being sent to her now. The difference between your shares and Ms. Samford’s is only 15%.
We’ve also found out that she plans to buy other shares. Mr. Watson and Mr. Mason had signed an agreement to transfer their shares to Ms. Samford for unknown reasons. I suspect that she wants to take your position. If this continues, she will snatch your position away soon.
Zach tucked Madelyn to him while listening.
‘At such a crucial moment, why are you fussing over Madelyn? The most urgent business we have now is to foil Cecilia’s plan. If this goes on, the company will belong to her soon. Madelyn is Zach’s liability. She couldn’t help him in his career at all and would only drag him. down at this critical time,’ Kevin thought.
SkyNet Technologies is a company that researches processing chips. It would benefit the Jardin Corporation immensely if they could get the rights to those chips. They could save on patent fees, take control of this technology, and make giant leaps in this field within a few years. Other international tech companies were unable to take SkyNet Technologies down. If Cecilia could talk them into it, it would be an achievement for her.
It was a sure win for Jardin Corporation, earning them over thirty billion dollars. However, it also caused Madelyn to be even more disappointed with him. When you win some, you lose some. However, as a businessman, Zach was greedy. He wanted to win both the deal and Madelyn.
“Have you found the person I told you to search for?” Zach asked.
Kevin answered, “I did. Locating him will take less than a week, and I’ll bring him to Ventropolis soon after. But, Mr. Jardin, why are we looking for Forrest? His life means nothing to us. If he comes back, Frida will not have mercy on him.”
Zach closed his eyes and said in a tired tone, “It’s because Madelyn is worried for his safety. Besides her monthly donation to the orphanage, her biggest expenditure is at a private investigator company. She just wants him to come back. Instead of having him out there making Madelyn worried, why don’t we put him right under our noses? Frida would not care much about him for now.”
Kevin asked, “Could it be that Yvonne is still alive?”
If not, why did Frida suddenly disappear after the press conference? She did not even care about her company and just left Ventropolis.
“Her remains were not found in the plane crash. If Yvonne didn’t die, then he might be alive too!” Kevin deduced.
A sense of panic rose in Zach’s chest, and he ordered coldly, “Enough! Get out!”
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Cecilia was not a threat to Zach. He was more interested in the person supporting her. Whoever allowed Cecilia to become so brazen merely wanted to take control of Jardin Corporation. He had allowed her to do so just to see how much the person backing her was willing to sacrifice. The current Jardin Corporation was more complex than it seemed, and Cecilia did not have the ability to shoulder all of it.
Zach stared at Madelyn and said, “When will you give me some peace of mind? You never needed to compare yourself to her.”
His hand brushed Madelyn’s face as he felt the warmth of her body. She continued to sleep. Zach observed her while trying to etch every feature of her face into his mind. Since they received their marriage certificate, Madelyn had never worn her wedding band. She did not want to, and Zach did not force her.
When Madelyn woke up, her throat was hoarse. It was already nighttime, and she had no clue how long she had slept. As her head was spinning, a hand came and held her. Madelyn leaned into the embrace as Zach’s cold voice rang, “Why is she not well yet? Isn’t she just exhausted?” Kai replied, “You know she has a terrible immune system. Besides, we’re human, not gods. We can’t get well just by thinking about it.”
Zach could never keep his cool when it came to Madelyn’s affairs.
“Water,” Madelyn suddenly croaked. Her head was hurting from hearing them argue.
Margaret did not even manage to enjoy her holidays when she had to rush back as soon as she heard Madelyn had fallen ill. Madelyn did not expect to fall sick for so long after staying up late for just one night. She had spent most of her New Year’s Eve in deep slumber. Due to Madelyn’s sickness, the Jardin Corporation annual dinner was also canceled.
Zach had reached an agreement with SkyNet Technologies, so he would be very busy. He would rarely come and visit her at the hospital.
That evening, Zach was the center of attention at the banquet. The banquet was held to celebrate the collaboration of Jardin Corporation and SkyNet Technologies. Cecilia was by Zach’s side, socializing with all the other businesspeople. She sipped her wine and commented, “Thankfully, I was here today. If it were Madelyn, she would’ve panicked.”
Zach stared ahead as he was clearly still not present at the moment. Cecilia chuckled and said, ” However, I will apologize for delaying your wedding with her. I hope Madelyn could understand that thirty billion is not a small sum of money.”
‘I want Madelyn to see her defeat with her own eyes,’ Cecilia thought.
Zach put down his glass of wine and checked the time. He also swiped Cecilia’s hand away. She knew what Zach was going to do and where he was heading. She held onto him tightly and said, “Did you forget what happened at the press conference once you left last time?”
Zach answered, “There shouldn’t be an issue with you here, Ms. Samford. If anything happens, tell Kevin to contact me.
There were many people around, so Cecilia suppressed her emotions. She watched on with an ugly expression as Zach left.
At the hospital, Madelyn lay in bed with her eyes shut. She allowed the nurse to get her
temperature. The nurse told her solemnly, “Your fever is not gone yet. Did you eat anything else, Mrs. Jardin?”
Madelyn shook her head and answered, “I didn’t eat anything. I’ve had a weak body since I was young, so I have difficulty recovering from even flu and fevers. You should get some rest soon. I might feel better after a night’s sleep.”
The nurse nodded and said, “Just ring the bell if you need anything, Mrs. Jardin.”
It was New Year’s Eve, so Madelyn had Margaret go home during the day. On such a holiday, Madelyn hoped that Margaret could be with her family even though she did not have her own. After that, Madelyn watched the fireworks show outside. She then shut her eyes when the scene of her dying on the sickbed came to mind. It was all so familiar. She had returned to that moment again.
At midnight, Madelyn shivered as cold water ran across her skin. She had just showered in cold water. After the cold, her body felt like it was on fire. The two sensations were causing so much pain to her.
When she walked out of the bathroom fully dressed, she saw Kai’s cold expression. He scolded her, “Have you not recovered because you’ve been hurting yourself this way? Are you not afraid to die?”
Madelyn replied, “Compared to death, I’m more afraid of being connected to him in this life. I had no choice since he forced me to get the marriage certificate. I won’t let him finish this wedding ceremony.”
“So you would rather keep yourself sick and keep delaying?” Kai said furiously with his hands on his hips.
“What delay?” Zach’s cold voice suddenly rang from outside.
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning by Max Charming Chapter 1004
Kai sighed and covered for her. He placed the medicine onto Zach’s hands and advised him, ” Your wife wouldn’t take her medication and doesn’t want to get well. Talk to her. I won’t meddle in this anymore.”
Then, he whispered to Zach, “Everything can be discussed with. She’s still young, so treat her like a child.”
It was true that Zach was already more than thirty years old while Madelyn was still in her twenties. He could have been her uncle at that age. The age gap caused them to not have many common topics to talk about. Hence, Zach had no choice but to compromise.
After Kai left, Madelyn and Zach were left alone in the room. Compared to the lively atmosphere outside with fireworks and firecrackers, the room was filled with a heavy atmosphere. Madelyn poured a cup of water from a jug nearby. It was already cold, but she still drank from it. Zach furrowed his brows and stopped her. He said, “Lie down and rest. I’ll boil some water.”
Before Zach had achieved his current status, he had lived in poverty. He had stayed in basements and tried to survive with much difficulty. In order to earn money, he had to be ruthless.
go
He took off his coat and rolled his sleeves. Then, he went out to get some water to boil. Seeing that there were a few pears left in the refrigerator, Zach began to wash the pot and prepared poached pears for her.
It was New Year’s Eve, and it was exceptionally cold. Madelyn had chosen the wrong time to get sick. When she lay back in bed, her body felt like it was on fire due to the cold shower.
When Zach entered the room with the poached pears, he saw Madelyn vomited all over the bed. She had not eaten anything throughout the day, so it was all just her stomach acid. Her throat was burning while Zach patted her back. He passed a cup of water for her to rinse her mouth. Five days had passed, yet her illness had worsened.
“So fragile,” Zach chided her. Every bit of meat she had gained had disappeared these few days. While in a daze, Madelyn leaned onto Zach. He fed her something sweet and fresh, which tasted familiar to her. After that, Zach fed her the medicine and called for the nurse while staring at the IV drip.
Noises came from outside the hospital. Then, a countdown from ten started. Finally, the minute hand landed on twelve.
“Happy New Year, Madelyn,” Zach wished her.
‘This is our first new year together. It’ll also be the year we’ll start over again,’ Zach thought.
He lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. Madelyn felt uncomfortable as Zach deepened the kiss. She was running out of breath.
Under the blanket, Zach had taken off his shirt to warm Madelyn up. She felt unbearably hot, so she kept kicking the blanket away. However, her body was being held in place. It was only after her body was soaked in sweat that she lost the strength to struggle and fell asleep.
Zach touched her forehead to check her temperature. He left the bed when he made sure her fever had died down a little. He then wrapped her tightly before going to take a shower.
After sweating so much, Madelyn slept until the afternoon. When she woke up, she could feel herself becoming lighter. The nurse stood by the bed with a thermometer. The nurse cried joyfully, “It’s wonderful, Mr. Jardin! Your wife’s fever is gone. She didn’t recover after taking her medication for so many days, yet she is all well now. How odd.”
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning by Max Charming Chapter 1005
“You can do the discharge procedures later,” the nurse said. Zach put on his coat and ordered Kevin, “Pack everything and prepare to handle the discharging procedure.”
Kevin obliged, “Yes, Mr. Jardin.”
Zach was looking for Madelyn’s clothes and wanted to help her change. However, Madelyn refused, “You should go out. I can change myself.”
“You haven’t fully recovered, so there is no need to be so headstrong,” Zach interrupted her. Madelyn did not resist. After he had his fun, he carried her out of the hospital.
Before they left, Kai gave Madelyn a box of medicines. He said, “You mentioned that you couldn’t sleep well. This medication can ease your symptoms while the other raises your immunity.”
Madelyn did not accept it, so Kai took one pill and ate it himself. After being assured of its safety, he put the box of medicines in her hands and said, “When you get home, take care of yourself, eat your meals, and take your medication.”
Kai tapped her forehead lightly and said, “You can go home now.”
His actions repulsed Madelyn, but she did not show it. Zach warned him, “Stop touching her.”
Kai smiled after hearing this. After Madelyn was brought into the car, she sat quietly. After a few miles, she threw the medicine box out without opening it. Zach did not stop her. He held her hand and placed it on his lap before saying, “You don’t need to take any medication if you don’t want to. The New Year’s present I’ve prepared for you has arrived at our home. I’ve also pushed back all schedules to keep you company at home. As for the wedding, it will take some time. We’ve made this decision too hastily last time.”
Madelyn did not respond. She stared out the window, watching the snow fall from the trees. Knowing she was not present, Zach kissed the back of her hand.
“Zach, I want to visit my mother’s grave,” Madelyn suddenly proposed.
Zach agreed without much thought, “Sure. I’ll have Kevin prepare for the visit. We can go in the evening.”
Madelyn turned around and stared at him before saying, “I want to go now.
“Alright, we can go now,” Zach obliged. He then ordered, “Turn around, Kevin.”
Kevin knew where Alicia’s grave was and thought, ‘Madelyn is such an erratic person.’
Before they went, Madelyn chose some flowers that her mother liked at the florist. Madelyn noticed that the road was renovated when she arrived at the graveyard.
Kevin explained, “The previous road was difficult to walk on. However, now that the graveyard is part of Jardin Corporation’s assets, Mr. Jardin had the road all renovated.”
Zach placed a black coat on Madelyn, but the sleeves were too long. He folded the sleeves for her and said, “Some of the snow has yet to melt, so I’ll carry you up there.”
Madelyn replied, “There is no need to do that. I can walk up there myself.”
Zach lifted her instantly and said, “You have a fragile body that needs to be carried.”
Madelyn did not expect such words to come out of Zach’s mouth.
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning by Max Charming Chapter 1006
Madelyn thought to herself, ‘Me? Delicate? In the previous lifetime, you never saw me like that. You always put me down back then.’
Madelyn embraced Zach, resting against him. She only did so because fighting back seemed useless. She wished things with Zach had never happened, but she had already given up on him.
Zach, worried Madelyn might be bored, chatted with her. Maybe Kai’s advice helped him. Even though there was a big gap between him and Madelyn, Zach believed he could bridge it. Zach said, “No one has ever worn those wedding dresses. I made each one myself.”
Madelyn was surprised, thinking, ‘He made them himself?’ Her heart raced, faster than the calm heartbeat she felt against Zach’s chest.
Zach continued, “I made them when you left three years ago. If I really cared about Cecilia, I wouldn’t have divorced Yvonne. You’re upset about what I did to the Arnold family, so I’m trying to fix it. Ethan’s death has nothing to do with me. The Arnold residence and
corporation are now with the Young family. If she wants to rebuild the Arnold Corporation, I won’t stop her.”
Madelyn closed her eyes, not wanting to listen Zach. She was upset. When they approached Alicia’s grave, they saw lots of snow. Many graves were covered, but Alicia’s tombstone was clear.
Madelyn’s face turned red from the cold. Zach warmed her face, and said, “Ethan is still alive.”
Shocked, Madelyn asked, “What?”
She could not believe Zach and stared at him. Zach held her hand and said. “I’ve searched for Ethan’s body. We didn’t find it, so he might still be alive.”
Madelyn, cold and shocked, held onto Zach, teary-eyed, and asked, “Is he really alive? Are you serious?”
Zach wiped her tears and said, “I’ve never lied to you. I always keep my promises.”
Zach hugged Madelyn, protecting her from the cold. He said, “The past doesn’t matter to me. Madelyn, can we start over?”
Madelyn cried, “It’s all my fault he died.”
Zach comforted her, “It’s my fault, Madelyn, for wanting to keep you. I’ll find him and bring him back.”
Zach stroked her hair as he said that. His words were tender, but his eyes were colder than the snow and wind.
After paying respects to Alicia, Zach felt Madelyn was slowly accepting him while on the way back.
Back at the South Haven Villas, Zach helped Madelyn with her snow-dampened coat and said, ” Wash up, then we’ll eat. Take your time deciding about the wedding. You’ll always be Mrs. Jardin to me.”
Madelyn, distracted, said, “I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”
“Go,” Zach replied. As Madelyn walked up the stairs, she thought, ‘Ethan is alive! He didn’t die because of me!’
In her mind, Zach’s words echoed, reminding her of the wedding dresses, their shared past, and his desire to keep her.
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning by Max Charming Chapter 1007
Madelyn knew that Zach was different in this lifetime. He no longer pushed her to the brink of despair.. She acknowledged his past actions and had even been moved by him at times. However, whenever she thought of Dalton, she told herself that it was all just his trickery, a way to manipulate her into compliance.
She had nearly forgotten that Zach’s greatest talent was manipulating emotions. Despite everything, she could not forgive him.
Back in her room, Madelyn took out a pill, thinking, ‘Zach, you’re not the only one with schemes! This is my last chance to leave. I’ve had enough of your game, pretending to comply.’
The next morning was typical for the holiday season, unremarkable compared to those moments at the Jent residence.
While brushing Madelyn’s hair, Zach said, “The visiting ladies are from our partner companies. If they bother you, we can send them away.”
Madelyn, watching him in the mirror, replied, “They brought many gifts and I’ve stored them in the warehouse. Perhaps we should return them.”
“Keep what you want, discard the rest,” Zach said.
Madelyn, feeling a headache, requested, “I don’t feel like socializing for the next few days. Their constant visits are overwhelming.”
The wealthy ladies visited frequently, either for tea or card games. They kept losing their money to Madelyn on purpose as a courtesy to Zach. The sums were substantial, enough for a down payment in Ventropolis. But Madelyn disliked the attention, as well as the fact that she felt obligated to entertain them since they had already visited.
Madelyn suddenly thought of Jadie. ‘I haven’t seen Jadie since I returned to Ventropolis.’
She asked, “When is Jadie returning?”
“She’s recovering and should be back soon. I’ll have Kevin check her schedule later in the afternoon.”
Zach replied, finishing her hair.
‘Recovering? What happened to her?’ Madelyn wondered, asking, “What’s she been doing abroad?”
“She’s been receiving psychiatric treatment,” Zach explained. “Her emotional state got worse, so I sent her abroad for her studies and treatment.”
Madelyn nodded and thought, ‘Jadie’s love for Zach was no less obsessive than Yvonne’s. Both were Zach saw Madelyn was deep in thought. He lifted her onto his lap, and reassured her, “She’ll cope. If not, we’ll send her back for more treatment.”
He tilted her chin up and kissed her. Madelyn protested, “Stop, I don’t want to mess up my clothes. I’m hungry. Get some food and send it to my studio.”
Zach left with a smile, calling her, “Yes, Mrs. Jardin.”
Finally left alone, Madelyn angrily wiped her lips, her indifferent expression reflected in the mirror.
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning by Max Charming Chapter 1008
‘Since he wants me to be an obedient Mrs. Jardin, I’ll just play the role,’ Madelyn thought to herself. When Zach left the room, Madelyn’s phone vibrated with a message from Kennedy about work. She took her phone to the dressing room.
Zach had replaced her old phone with a custom model he made for her, discarding the old one as outdated. Madelyn suspected he had installed monitoring software on this new phone to track her movements and intercept messages.
She would not have known about Zach’s intrusive tactics if Kennedy had not mentioned them, reminiscent of his behavior from five years ago. Madelyn retrieved her secret phone, filled with information Kennedy sent her.
Kennedy’s message read, [I found what you were looking for. Andrew never left the country, but the Stewart family seems to have hidden his whereabouts. The servants said he stayed home after treatment
and never left again. His medical records indicate organ failure, an incurable disease. I fear he may be dead.]
‘He’s dead? Then what’s the link between Lana and Kai? Why did she forget Andrew? They were together
for years. How could she forget the love of her life? There must be something else,’ Madelyn thought.
Kennedy promptly responded with more information, [Kai harassed Lana once. They had an inappropriate relationship, but the details are unclear. But Madelyn, why this sudden interest in them?]
Madelyn replied, [Just curious. Thanks for your help.]
Madelyn wondered, ‘How did Kai make Lana forget everything?’
Madelyn heard footsteps. She quickly hid the phone and opened the door to find Zach holding a bowl of pea soup. His face looked troubled. He asked, “What are you doing?”
Madelyn casually accepted the soup, saying, “Just felt chilly and wanted to add another layer. You go on, I have things to do.”
“No rush. I’ll wait till you’re done,” Zach insisted, sitting down and casually picking up her phone. He installed a new app and added, “This will update you on new products. Order them directly and I’ll have it delivered.”
“With no chance to go out, delivery seems pointless. The house is cluttered and I’ve had servants clear out some clothes,” Madelyn responded.
Zach, noting her subdued behavior, stroked her now longer hair and said, “Only the best for you, Mrs. Jardin.”
“Join me at a company banquet tonight. Many former Azure Corporation employees who know you will be there,” he added. Madelyn, finding the soup tasteless, protested, “There’ll be too many people. I don’t want to go.”
Zach insisted, “You have to adapt to such social situations.”
After finishing the soup, Madelyn stood up, patting his cheek playfully, “It’ll depend on my mood. Now, off you go.”
Zach, amused by her growing boldness, smiled as he left.
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning by Max Charming Chapter 1009
After leaving the room, Madelyn wiped her hand, the one she had used to touch Zach’s face, and her smile faded instantly.
In the room, Zach took out his phone and opened his monitoring program. It showed that about fifteen minutes earlier, Madelyn had contacted Kennedy for work-related matters.
Zach encrypted access to Madelyn’s frequently used email address. The trash folder was empty, but his monitoring program had a recovery function. As he was about to use it, he paused, his deep and gloomy eyes betraying no emotion.
As night approached, the company’s delayed annual banquet was about to begin. Kai had wanted to have dinner with Zach during the holiday, but Zach had coldly refused.
Zach personally picked out a suitable, warm dress for Madelyn. It was a slim, velvet long gown that covered her completely. She also wore Zach’s suit jacket over it. Despite the thickness of the dress, Madelyn looked slender and graceful.
Madelyn chose not to wear earrings, finding them too heavy. She wore a costly red gemstone ring on her finger, dazzling and luxurious. Her naturally elegant aura was unmistakable.
She was raised in a wealthy family and her every gesture radiated the grace of her upbringing. Even her simplest actions were captivating. Zach watched Madelyn adjust her skirt in the mirror and suddenly embraced her from behind, saying, ”
You’re a real enchantress. I want to hide you away, just for myself.”
Madelyn felt Zach’s breath on her ear. She knew he was being playful again. She reached back, tugged at his ear, and said, “Zach, enough. My waist still hurts.”
Zach kissed the back of her hand and replied, “I won’t let you off tonight.”
At that moment, Margaret entered with Dalton in her arms, saying, “Oh my, Ms. Jent, Mr. Jardin, you two really need to be more discreet. It’s not good for children to see this.”
Madelyn blushed and pushed Zach away. Margaret held a small wooden box and asked, “Mr. Jardin, is this what you asked me to bring?”
Curious, Madelyn asked, “What’s this?”
When Zach took the box, Madelyn noticed a fleeting change in his eyes. She wondered about its contents.
The wooden box looked old. Zach opened it to reveal a plain bracelet and suggested Madelyn try it on. He put the bracelet on her wrist. It seemed ordinary, perhaps worth only a few dozen dollars. Considering his wealth, it was an unusually modest gift.
Madelyn thought, ‘Could this bracelet have a history? I’ve never seen it before.’
In the car, Madelyn touched the bracelet thoughtfully. Zach held her hand and reassured her, “Relax. With me here, no one will dare to say anything.”
“Zach, does this bracelet have a story? I’ve never seen it before,” Madelyn asked. Zach, tracing her palm with his rough fingertips, replied, “Not even in the previous lifetime?”
Confused, Madelyn shook her head. Zach said, “It’s just an old trinket I found. It’s not valuable, so don’t think too much about it.”
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning by Max Charming Chapter 1010
Madelyn felt that there was more to the bracelet’s story than Zach had revealed. In her previous life, she had never seen such a jade bracelet on Cecilia, Jadie, or any other woman.
The bracelet appeared old, with noticeable imperfections. Coupled with Zach’s decision to keep it for so many years, this suggested it had special significance to him.
Madelyn began to question her understanding of Zach. She remembered him as a businessman focused on profit, not one to dwell on the past. She just realized there were still secrets about him that she had yet to uncover.
Upon arriving at the banquet venue, Zach’s usual suit and air of superiority were evident. His charm had always captivated women, a trait that had not changed since his youth.
Zach turned to Madelyn and said, “You’ll be fine, Mrs. Jardin.”
Each time Zach called her “Mrs. Jardin”, Madelyn felt a strange emotion. She met his gaze briefly before looking away.
As they entered the bustling banquet hall, it suddenly quieted. Madelyn, usually comfortable in such settings, felt unexpectedly timid.
The employees of Jardin Corporation, including senior executives, stood up as Zach arrived, making him the center of attention.
“Mr. Jardin is here! I won the bet! I told you he’d come,” a woman excitedly exclaimed to a colleague.
“Is that his wife? She’s so beautiful! What a goddess.”
“It’s no surprise. Ms. Jent and Mr. Jardin have known each other for almost twenty years. It’s not strange that they got married. Remember when…”
Madelyn overheard former Azure Corporation employees discussing her past crush on Zach. She was surprised they still remembered.
At the main table, two seats were cleared for Zach and Madelyn. There was a microphone on the table. Zach took it and said, “Don’t mind me, carry on with the program,”
Zach’s short speech made the initially reserved attendees at ease.
Kevin, who was overseeing the event, came over. However, Madelyn did not catch what he said to Zach because of the emcee’s voice blasting over the speakers. Kevin left for a while and returned with a lot of food.
Soon, only Madelyn and Zach remained at their table. The event, filled with performances and skits, was more engaging than Madelyn expected. When Zach peeled a grape and offered it to her, she was startled but accepted it, feeling the curious gazes of others.
“These fruits were air-flown from the south. They’re said to taste good,” Zach commented. Madelyn smiled and said, “Thank you.”
Then Madelyn turned back to the stage, trying to focus away from Zach. She found it hard to concentrate on the performance, and soon she was unable to do so at all.
Zach continued peeling grapes for Madelyn. But she protested, “I can’t eat so much.”
As Zach wiped his hands and reached for a cigarette, he paused, considering her presence. He said, “I’ll step out for a smoke and be back soon.”
Madelyn nodded and overheard someone commenting, “I can’t believe it. The cold Mr. Jardin not only smiled at his wife but also fed her grapes. It must be so blissful to be his wife. I wish I could eat grapes peeled by Mr. Jardin.”