Ch. 421..430
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning By Max Charming chapter 421
Sylvia had been in the operating room for three hours. Madelyn waited outside, repeatedly calling Forrest’s phone, but he didn’t answer.
Restlessly pacing back and forth, she wondered, ‘Where on earth could Forrest be?’ She didn’t have any contact numbers for Forrest’s close ones; she only had his.
Suddenly, a thought crossed Madelyn’s mind, ‘Could he be with Alex at Portsmouth Fishing Village?’ Besides that place, she had no idea where else he might go.
Madelyn quickly found the phone number for the owner of Happy Seafood Grill, Jeff Massey. While the phone was dialing, she thought, ‘Please pick up!’
Meanwhile, at Portsmouth Fishing Village, Jeff was being held captive by a group of thugs. They had driven out all the diners who were enjoying their meals. “What do you want?” Jeff asked.
Fred played with a knife in his hand. Oh, nothing much, just a little something. But you’d better behave yourself, or this knife in my hand might lose its manners. If anyone calls you and asks anything, you better answer that you don’t know. If you dare slip up, be careful about your life.”
“Okay… okay…” Jeff, despite being a burly man standing at six-foot-three, couldn’t do much against so many people. They outnumbered him, and he noticed a bulge around Fred’s waist that looked like a gun. He didn’t dare make any sudden moves.
Just as he finished speaking, the phone on the counter rang. Fred gave him a stern look, and Jeff nervously picked up the phone. “Wh- Who is this?”
“Mr. Massey, it’s me, Madelyn. I want to know if Alex is with Forrest. Or have you seen Forrest?” Jeff replied, “I… I haven’t seen him. Don’t ask me. I… I don’t know anything.
Fred took matters into his own hands and hung up the phone without warning. “You’re cooperative. Remember, if she calls again, you know what you should say?” Jeff responded, “Yes, I know… I know.”
Fred and his gang left immediately. He dialed a phone number. “Mr. Jardin, everything here is resolved.”
“Good, keep an eye on her.”
“Yes, Mr. Jardin.” In the hospital, Madelyn stared at her handphone, feeling a growing sense of unease. ‘Mr. Massey’s voice sounded so strange. He seemed really afraid. Could something have happened to him?’
Madelyn dialed Margaret’s number, asking her to come over from the Jent residence without alarming anyone else. Thinking it was an urgent matter, Margaret rushed over without finishing her meal. “Ms. Jent, what’s the emergency?”
Madelyn instructed Margaret to stay with Sylvia at the hospital. She would take care of Sylvia once she woke up. Margaret readily agreed. Madelyn needed to find Forrest.
Sylvia’s condition seemed off, and just now, the doctor had asked her to sign a risky consent form. Madelyn thought that if Sylvia really couldn’t make it through the day, Forrest would forever regret not being able to see his mother one last time.
Madelyn wasn’t one to meddle in others ‘affairs, but she knew that as a mother, even on her deathbed, a person’s greatest concern would be their child.
Perhaps Ethan might know Forrest’s whereabouts, but she dismissed the idea. Ethan’s feelings toward Forrest were nothing but brotherly animosity. She had tried calling Ethan’s phone earlier. It was switched off.
Madelyn took the last bus to Portsmouth Fishing Village. The place was remote, and by the time she arrived, it was already dark. She used her phone’s screen as a flashlight to navigate the pitch-black roads, but her phone quickly ran out of battery.
As she inquired along the way, she learned the location of Alex’s house. Alex was at a tattoo parlor, working on a client’s tattoo when she was surprised to see Madelyn. “What brings you here?”
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Madelyn briefly explained the situation to Alex. Alex paused, and her client let out a groan due to pain. She quickly said, ” Hold on a moment.” Then she turned to Madelyn, “I’ll gather some folks, and we’ll go look for him.”
Madelyn replied, “Thank you.” Alex swiftly assembled a few friends who used to hang out with Forrest.
One of the guys said, “It’s been a long time since Forrest last came to see us. Since he left here, we haven’t been in touch much. Most of the time, it was him reaching out to us. We’re not really sure where he usually goes.”
“Yeah, even though Forrest used to scavenge for scraps with me, that was a long time ago.” ‘Scavenging for scraps?’ Madelyn had never known Forrest’s life had been that difficult in the past..
She asked, “Did he… used to have a tough life?” The redhead chimed in, “You bet! He used to work multiple jobs, and he was the one hauling most of the seafood from the sea. Many couldn’t keep up with him.”
This was a side of Forrest that Madelyn had never known. Alex scolded, “Why are you talking about this? Let’s get moving and start searching.” Madelyn said, “I’ll go with you guys!”
Alex replied firmly, “No, you better not. Remember what happened last time. This is not a safe place, and you’re not familiar with it. We’ll handle it; once we find him, I’ll send someone to let you know.”
“Thank you!”
“Don’t mention it. To repay you for that meal last time, it’s the least we can do.”
As they spoke, a boy of about thirteen or fourteen, carrying a cloth bag on his back, rushed over. “Alex, I found out something. Just around three or four o’clock today, a fierce-looking man with a scar across his eye, along with a group of people, barged into Mr. Massey’s restaurant. Mr. Massey’s restaurant is closed now. I went to his house, but he’s not there.” Alex speculated, “He’s probably not here; he might have gone out to sea.”
As they left, Madelyn thought to herself, ‘The man with the scar across his eye… and that phone call…’ It wasn’t difficult for Madelyn to connect the dots. She had a sinking feeling that Mr. Massey had likely been held captive by the gang.
She closed her eyes and tried to recall anyone who fit the description.’ There’s only one person who fits: Fred Turner. In broad daylight, no one else would dare do such a thing.’
Madelyn had a vivid memory of Fred. He was ruthless, and he handled Zach’s dirty work. Fred was Zach’s most loyal henchman, and everything he did was on Zach’s orders.
‘Zach… it must be Zach again!’ Madelyn’s heart sank as she realized the horrifying truth. She stood outside Alex’s tattoo parlor in the desolate alley, feeling like she was being watched.
‘But why did Zach take Forrest? What has he done to Forrest?’ Madelyn’s heart raced. To confirm her suspicions, she removed Zach’s number from her blocked list and called him.
After five seconds, the call connected. Zach remained silent, but she could sense his breathing. She even had the eerie sensation that he was right beside her. Madelyn started, “Do you know where Forrest is?”
Zach’s voice came with a hint of amusement, “Now you’re using your brain to think. Good, very clever!” Madelyn thought, ‘He’s still mocking me.’ She continued, “Tell me where Forrest is, or… I’ll call the police right now!”
“Call the police? Madelyn… Do you think calling the police will help?”
“What do you want?”
“Find me, and I’ll tell you everything. Hmm?”
Madelyn’s heart suddenly leaped. “Are you… in this village?” Madelyn couldn’t shake the feeling that everything that had happened so far had been orchestrated by Zach.
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Madelyn quickly ended the call and spotted a familiar group of people approaching her. Among them were several individuals she recognized as Fred’s henchmen.
Without wasting any time, Madelyn swiftly pulled down the storefront shutter, recalling that there was a back door. She knew she had to get out of there.
As she made her way to the back exit, she desperately dialed the Arnold family driver’s number. But her phone abruptly shut down due to a depleted battery. Madelyn’s mind raced with questions.’ Why is Zach here?’ she wondered. ‘If he’s after me, is he planning to silence me?’
Madelyn had barely taken a step toward the back door when two chilling figures suddenly appeared before her. In the moonlight, Fred’s menacing scar across his eye seemed even more ominous. He spoke sternly, “Ms. Jent, Mr. Jardin is deeply concerned for your safety out here alone, so he has sent us to ensure your protection. Please, come with us.
Madelyn’s mind raced as she considered her options. She thought, ‘ Going with them might be the riskiest choice.’ Acting swiftly, she tried to close the door, but Fred’s foot blocked it from shutting completely. Moments later, he forcefully kicked the door open, his expression growing more menacing. “If you won’t accept the offer, you’ll face the consequences. Don’t blame us!”
Madelyn, trembling with fear, cautiously retreated, her voice shaking as she asked, “Wh-What do you want? I’ll tell my father if you harm me!”
Fred’s eerie laughter continued to send shivers down her spine. “I highly doubt Mr. Jent will ever hear those words from you.”
Madelyn found herself in front of a shabby apartment door. ‘Isn’t this the place Rosario used to rent?’ Memories flooded back; it was where she had sought refuge when she ran away from home. Fred opened the door, gesturing for her to enter. “Ms. Jent, please go inside.”
The apartment was dimly lit, casting eerie shadows that obscured her vision. Yet, an overwhelming sense of dread filled the air, more menacing than any wild beast.
Madelyn turned to flee, but Fred, seemingly anticipating her actions, grabbed the back of her collar roughly, pushing her inside and forcefully closing the door behind her.
She fell to the floor, her eyes instantly fixating on a pair of ominous black leather shoes. The owner of those shoes bent down slightly, offering a hand toward her. Instinctively, she scrambled backward, her back finding the support of the wall. “Don’t come any closer,” she cautioned. Zach withdrew his hand casually, his gaze never leaving her. “Am I that scary?”
Madelyn got up, keeping a safe distance between them. Her eyes darted to the bed, where she noticed several sets of nearly translucent lingerie. Her heart tightened with anxiety. “Zach Jardin… What is it that you want?”
Zach advanced step by step. “What do I want? Don’t you already know?” Outside, his men were everywhere, and Madelyn felt powerless. She knew there was no escaping this predicament tonight.
“Why can’t you just say what you want? You used Forrest’s disappearance to lure me here. What’s your plan? Do you intend to kill me?”
Zach’s deep voice emitted a sinister, amused chuckle. He captured Madelyn, drawing her close, his grip firm around her delicate waist. His other hand gently traced her exquisite cheek. “Do you truly believe I’d kill you now? Didn’t you still want to further your study?”
Madelyn averted her gaze and, in doing so, caught sight of their reflections in the screen of an aging television set resting on a nearby cabinet. In the dim, flickering light of the room, she could see Zach’s eyes locked onto her with an aggressive, possessive intensity, as if he harbored a desire to consume her, piece by piece.
It was a look she had never witnessed in Zach before, except perhaps in the throes of their most intimate moments, where he would obsessively explore every inch of her body with the same possessive fervor.
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Madelyn cautioned Zach. “Don’t do anything stupid. I’ve already called Ethan, and he’ll be here soon.” Zach countered, “Donna Jolie’s return has me thinking. Do you think Ethan still cares about you?”
Madelyn wasn’t about to let him off the hook. “And what about you? Do you still have feelings for Jadie, brother?” She whispered the last word, her hand gently resting against his chest to stop him from coming any closer. Their close proximity allowed her to catch a faint whiff of tobacco on him. She wondered, ‘I thought he didn’t like smoking?
Her words left Zach speechless. Madelyn continued, her emotions bubbling to the surface. “When I had feelings for you, it seemed like you didn’t care about anything I did. Now that I’ve moved on and started dating someone else, you keep coming around, Zach…” She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and locked eyes with him. “Have you fallen for me?”
Zach’s gaze remained enigmatic. He leaned in closer, planting warm kisses along her neck. His voice grew husky as he responded, “Think whatever you want.”
“But even if Ethan leaves me because Donna Jolie is back, you and I can never be together. If you’re only treating me as a plaything, I’ll be devastated. Everything I’ve done was to distance myself from you…” Madelyn’s words hung heavy in the air, each one laden with emotion.
Zach’s actions came to an abrupt stop. He held her chin, bringing their faces close, and he whispered, “Do you need me to spell it out for you, Madelyn? You can’t escape me.”
In one swift motion, Zach pushed Madelyn onto the bed, leaving her dizzy. He pressed down on top of her, his grip firm as he kissed her forcefully. In mere moments, Madelyn found herself stripped of her clothes. Madelyn pleaded, her voice trembling, Stop… Mmm! Let me go.”
Summoning all her strength, she kicked him away. Seizing the opportunity, she rolled over, clutching the blanket tightly around her body. Several sets of lingerie scattered on the bed fell to the floor.
Tears welled up in Madelyn’s eyes as she grappled with her own emotions, thinking, ‘I’ve fought so hard to change, so why… why can’t I break free from him?’
In the evening at Portsmouth Fishing Village, the sea breeze blew strongly. The season hadn’t quite moved past, and the chilly wind rustled through her fair skin. She, so slender, shivered from the cold.
Zach watched her with teary eyes, feeling an inexplicable restlessness.” Do you think crying will solve anything? ” he asked.
Madelyn buried her face in the blanket, her mind going blank as she trembled. Zach noticed her hand tightly clutching the blanket, revealing a prominent scar on her wrist. He remembered how she had gotten that scar, never imagining it would leave such a shocking and ugly mark on her.
!…But I can’t cheat on Ethan!” Madelyn sobbed, lifting her head, tears continuously falling, her hair clung to her wet face. “I’m begging you, please, let me go! I know you have a grudge against the Jent family. But that day at the beach, I already died once. Why won’t you just let me be? I didn’t do anything wrong. Why do I have to bear all this? Zach… I really can’t afford to love you anymore. Please, let me go! I’m begging you!”
Being with him was too painful. She had even risked her own life for it.
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Madelyn had underestimated just how heartless Zach could be. No matter how much she pleaded, he didn’t let her go. She was forced to put on those lingerie pieces, one after another. Her face showed no emotion as she sat on his lap while wearing the last set.
The thin fabric below was already soaked. Zach showed her his glistening fingers and caressed her breasts. “Want it? Beg me, and I’ll give it to you.”
Madelyn understood that, even if she didn’t ask for it, there was no way for her to avoid what was coming today. It had been over half an hour. She shivered, hugging herself tightly. Despite the closed windows, she felt cold, her lips pale.
Overwhelmed by his sexual desire for her, Zach rewarded her with orgasm after orgasm that shook her.
He then made her adjust her position by pinning her against the wall. Suddenly, she could feel a powerful presence between her thighs. As the final moments unfolded, Madelyn felt like she had reached the heights of pleasure.
As soon as Zach released his grip around Madelyn’s waist, her legs went weak, and she almost collapsed onto the floor, her consciousness fading.
It was now three in the morning, and Zach had emerged from the bathroom. He buttoned up his shirt, still looking like the refined gentleman he was. Gazing at Madelyn, who remained sprawled on the floor, he commanded, “Get up and get dressed!”
Seeing her motionless, Zach squinted as he felt something was wrong. Madelyn then whimpered, “It hurts…”
Without hesitation, Zach quickly cleaned her up and wrapped her in a coat, then drove her to the hospital. Kai was awakened by a phone call. He rubbed his temples, his head aching.” You’re seriously crazy, waking me up in the middle of the night like this.”
Zach found himself in an unusual state of fear, a rare sight for him. He questioned whether he had pushed things too far this time. Ignoring the usual restrictions, he entered the examination room, where even family members weren’t typically allowed. However, Kai didn’t stop him.
Kai conducted the private examination while Zach stared at the computer screen. Kai sat cross-legged, circling a specific area with a pen. “Originally, this was where the uterus was. After removal, the area was stitched up, but now the wall has been irritated, and the wound has reopened a bit. I’ll prescribe some medication, and she’ll be fine in a couple of days.”
Zach frowned and asked, “Is uterine transplant possible?” Kai made a cross sign with his fingers and firmly stated, “No chance. There hasn’t been a single case in our country.
Kai was clearly weary as well. He stood up and patted Zach’s shoulder. “Stop dwelling on this. It’s impossible anyway. Besides… not being able to have children isn’t a bad thing. You two weren’t allowed to have offspring in the first place, and even if you did, there’s a possibility the child could be mentally disabled.”
Zach shot him a glare, and Kai raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, I won’t say anything more. Oh, by the way, give her some water. She’ll wake up soon.”
Madelyn regained consciousness with an IV drip in her hand, greeted by the familiar scent of disinfectant. She observed the white ceiling and recognized she was in the hospital.
Daylight already filled the room. Madelyn didn’t know what had come over her, but she weakly sat up. “I have an exam today.”
“It’s just an exam. Plus, you’re already late,” Zach said as he placed a glass of water on her bedside.
“Late?” Madelyn looked at the clock on the wall. It was already nine o’clock. The exam time was eight-thirty. Her mind went blank, and her eyes blinked slowly.
Suddenly, she burst into laughter, almost as if she had gone mad. She grabbed her hair, trying to calm herself down, but no matter what, she couldn’t regain her composure.
“Hahaha… it’s truly amusing, Zach,” she chuckled bitterly, her demeanor far from ordinary. Her eyes were bloodshot as she gestured toward the time displayed on the wall. “If my life is destined to be entangled in your vendetta, what’s the use of attempting to change? What’s the purpose of my existence? There isn’t a soul in this world who cares for me. I can only rely on my own. I believed I had strived to alter everything, but now you’ve shattered my life once more!”
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Seeing Madelyn in this state, Zach felt so frustrated. “I told you, this is just the beginning. If it weren’t for your so- called sympathy and meddling, maybe none of this would have happened. Since you can’t change your fate, can’t you just accept it?” He played with her long hair as he spoke.
“No, I can’t accept it! Don’t touch me!” Madelyn screamed hysterically. At that moment, Kai knocked on the door. “Arguing with each other won’t solve anything. Can you both take a break? Zach, step outside. I need to have a word with you.”
Zach cast a quick glance at Madelyn before rising from his seat and exiting the room. Once outside, Kai turned a page in Madelyn’s medical records and began, “Were you aware that Madelyn had a severe case of depression previously?”
Zach asked, “What else?” Kai arched an eyebrow, realizing that- Zach was evidently uninformed. ” Patients with depression often require medication to regulate their emotions, or else…”
Before he could finish his sentence, one of the nurses passing by suddenly screamed, “Doctor Stewart, that girl is trying to jump out of the window.”
Madelyn stood on a stool, already perched on the windowsill. Zach rushed into the room almost immediately, watching as her body leaned forward without hesitation. They were on the fifteenth floor, and falling would be certain death.
Kai remained indifferent, observing it all unfold, He thought, ‘Madelyn… I can’t believe you gave in so easily! Even with help from Ethan, you can’t escape Zach. What you’ve been through is nothing compared to her.’
In the last second, Zach grabbed her hand. Madelyn looked up, her eyes filled with despair. Her suicidal thoughts had come without warning. This was the dangerous aspect of severe depression – patients were unafraid of death; they saw it as an escape. The idea of death would keep creeping into their minds, luring them with its temptation.
Madelyn had struggled to push away these thoughts, to keep them at bay, but it was a battle she couldn’t always win. She felt like she was walking through a desolate, dark wilderness, with the hope of a glimmer of light to guide her forward. But the uncertainty of when that light would appear led to disappointment, and then despair.
Zach held onto her with all his strength, his arm straining. “You’re out of your mind! Hold on to me!” Madelyn’s heart cried out. ‘Zach, do you know what I’m thinking at this moment? I just want to find relief within the despair you’ve brought into my life.’
She reminisced, ‘Just like in our past life, when I saw you with Cecilia on our wedding anniversary on that big screen, I was filled with despair. I held on with my last breath, hoping for you to visit me.’ Her memories continued,’ But what I got was only your wedding date. You were holding that child, your child with Cecilia.’
Madelyn kept her anguish to herself, ‘ Zach! In this world, I can’t find anyone more heartless and capable of driving me to despair than you. Because of you, I endured humiliation and hatred in my past life, and now you’ve made me feel this pain again.”
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Madelyn’s absence from the Math Olympiad had Albert growing increasingly anxious. Mya waited at the school gate, hoping for her arrival.
Ethan received news of Madelyn’s disappearance through a call from the school. He rushed to the school, understanding the significance of the Math Olympiad to her. Madelyn had dedicated countless sleepless nights to prepare for it.
The word of Madelyn’s disappearance eventually reached Hayson’s ears. Despite distancing himself from his former underground connections, he decided to tap into his old resources when Ethan urgently needed information to locate Madelyn. Surprisingly, within just half an hour, Hayson obtained
crucial information about Madelyn’s whereabouts from his underground contacts.
Upon reading the message on his phone, Hayson frowned and said, “Mr. Arnold, please relax. Madelyn went to Portsmouth Fishing Village for some fun last night and had a minor injury. Zach is with her at the hospital now. She’ll be fine.”
Ethan said, “Hospital? How did she end up there?”
Leyton, standing behind Ethan, had a foreboding feeling. ‘I think Miss Jent won’t easily forgive Mr. Arnold this time.’
Madelyn heard faint voices. Slowly opening her eyes, her vision was blurry. As it cleared, she noticed an IV tube above her. ‘Am I not dead yet?’
She recalled that in her final moments of consciousness, Zach had helped her, but by then, she had lost consciousness.
The door opened, and Madelyn saw Ethan. Uncertain if it was a hallucination.
Ethan gently held her hand. “…I’m sorry I’m late.”
‘It’s his voice. Not a hallucination. I can feel his hand.’ Madelyn gazed at him with indifference. “It’s okay.” She turned her head to look at the sunlight streaming in through the window, finding it a bit too bright.
“I can explain what’s been happening over the past few days,” Ethan began.
He spoke at length, detailing how Donna had fallen into the clutches of a loan shark, coerced into using her body to repay the debt. He emphasized that during his most challenging moments, Donna had steadfastly stood by his side, and out of gratitude for their shared history, he couldn’t simply turn a blind eye.
Madelyn, however, seemed absent-minded throughout, struggling to absorb his words.
“Madelyn… I never wanted to be separated from you,” Ethan confessed, his grip on her hand tightening.
“Ethan… I’m feeling a bit tired. I need to rest.”
“Alright.” Ethan said, reaching out to gently feel her forehead. “I’ll stay here with you, and we can discuss the Math Olympiad later.”
“No need. I was the one who missed it, so let it be. You don’t have to keep breaking rules for me; I can’t bear the consequences.
Ethan responded softly, “Alright.” He had never seen her so shattered before, and a sense of unease washed over him, as if she were slipping through his fingers like sand.
Madelyn closed her eyes and started to breathe steadily, as if she had drifted off to sleep. Ethan quietly left the room.
In the hallway, a small crowd had gathered. Jadie, upon hearing the news, had rushed over and inquired, “Zach, how’s Madelyn?”
Zach replied sternly, “You should go back for now.”
“But… I’m really worried about her,” Jadie protested. “I said go back!”
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Zach’s tone left no room for argument. Jadie had just arrived after finishing the Math Olympiad test. She had learned about Madelyn being hospitalized by asking Kevin. With Zach absent the previous night, Jadie had already formed her own conclusions. Her thoughts raced as she prepared to leave the hospital. Her contemplative gaze lingered on the closed room door.
As she moved towards the exit, she accidentally bumped into Kai, causing him to drop several scattered test reports. In her panic, Jadie quickly apologized, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to!”
Kai reassured her, “It’s alright, I should have been more careful.” He knelt to retrieve the scattered papers, including Madelyn’s CT scan report. Hayson, too, stood among them. A paper floated to his feet, and as he picked it up, Zach’s signature came into view on a consent form for uterine removal.
A sudden chill passed over Hayson’s face. Kai inquired, “Mr. Jent?”
Kai repeated, “Mr. Jent?”
Hayson remained silent, his intense gaze enough to send shivers down the spine of anyone present. Kai simply offered a faint smile and expressed his gratitude. In a separate conversation, Kai updated Ethan on Madelyn’s condition. “Mr. Arnold, please don’t worry. Ms. Jent is suffering from exhaustion, which led to a rupture in her uterine surgical wound.
Thankfully, we managed to stop thebleeding, and she’s currently in stable condition. It’s crucial that she follows her medication regimen. Additionally, be particularly attentive to her emotional well-being, as her medical records indicate a history of severe depression. Today, she experienced an episode and nearly attempted suicide by jumping out of a window.”
Ethan remained silent for a moment before responding, “I understand.” Meanwhile, in another corridor, Leyton arrived via the elevator, and Kai returned to the hospital room.
Approaching Ethan, Leyton shared, “We’ve completed our investigation. Last night, Miss Jent was searching for Forrest because Sylvia’s old illness flared up, and she received a critical condition notice.”
Ethan’s expression darkened with anger. “I underestimated Forrest and his mother. How did Madelyn get involved with her?
Leyton clarified, “Yesterday, Sylvia was called to Ventrocloud High School, where she encountered Miss Jent on the Sylvia fainted, and it was Miss Jent who took her to the hospital.”
way.
A steely resolve filled Ethan’s eyes. “It appears our previous lessons didn’t leave a strong enough, Go bring Forrest out of the basement. Let his mother see what happens when they mess with my people!”
“Yes, Mr. Arnold!”
Sylvia’s frail form resembled a wilting flower. Margaret had tended to her tirelessly throughout the night, and Sylvia had shown some improvement, managing to consume a bit of liquid nourishment. Abruptly, the hospital room door swung open with force, and a battered boy dressed in black was unceremoniously thrust into the room. His ankles bore heavy shackles that produced a metallic clinking sound with each step.
Sylvia and Margaret were utterly shocked by the unexpected arrival. Sylvia exclaimed, “Forry!”
Forrest struggled to rise to his feet.Ethan entered the room at a deliberate pace. “It’s been a while, Mrs. Arnold.”
Sylvia, upon witnessing Forrest’s condition, momentarily disregarded her own discomfort and stepped in front of him protectively.
The scene of a loving mother and her obedient son pierced like a thorn into Ethan’s heart. He pulled up a chair and settled down, inadvertently casting his gaze upon Margaret, a face he recognized as a servant of the Jent family.
“You have no reason to be here. You may leave,” he directed toward her Margaret swiftly exited the room, almost as if her life depended on it. “What do you intend to do?” She then implored, “…If you intend to do anything, direct it at me, not Forrest.”
Now, with just the three of them remaining in the room, Ethan emanated an icy chill that seemed to permeate from head to toe. “What I intend to do? Why don’t you ask your son about it? I’ve made myself clear before; as long as you behave accordingly, I can permit your place within the Arnold family.
But now, you’ve harbored intentions toward my girlfriend. So, tell me… how should I discipline you? Erase you from Ventropolis? That… wouldn’t be a challenge at all!”
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Ethan had confined Forrest to the basement, initially intending to mete out a minor punishment.
The last time Madelyn went missing, Ethan had organized an investigation.
Witnesses from neighboring apartments had observed Forrest leaving Madelyn’s rented apartment, and there were even reports of heated arguments.
Yet, it wasn’t as straightforward as Ethan had initially assumed. During the period when Madelyn wasn’t residing in that apartment, someone had observed a student wearing a Ventro cloud High School uniform frequently entering and exiting the premises.
Ethan was aware that this student was none other than Forrest. He no longer cared about whatever history Madelyn had with Forrest; his tolerance for Forrest had vanished entirely. Outside the hospital room door, Margaret was anxious. She glanced back and saw many well-dressed bodyguards at the entrance, immediately sensing that something was amiss.
She took out her phone and made a call.
After spending the night with Sylvia, he found her not too bad. After all, she had given her a small fee, though not much, it was roughly equivalent to a day’s wage for her.
Madelyn received a call from Margaret. Jasmine was personally looking after her in the hospital room. She poured a cup of hot water and placed it by Madelyn’s bedside. “You always seem to trouble people, don’t you? Luckily, you’re okay. Don’t be too upset about missing the Math Olympiad; you’ll have another chance to do well.”
Madelyn replied with a neutral tone because the person she didn’t want to see was still in the room.
“Rest well. If you need anything, I’ll be right outside.”
“Thank you.”
“We’re all family; no need to be polite.”
Indeed, they were family because just the week before, Hayson and Jasmine had obtained their marriage license. Hayson believed that a second marriage didn’t warrant a grand celebration, so he had simply informed everyone and didn’t host a formal wedding banquet.
Madelyn felt her phone vibrating beneath her pillow. When Jasmine left the hospital room, Madelyn picked up her phone, but it had stopped vibrating. She saw that the caller was Margaret.
However, Margaret had sent Madelyn a voice message: “[Ms. Jent, the lady I was taking care of has woken up, but your boyfriend, Good heavens, he’s terrifying! He burst in earlier with another injured boy… I think I’ve seen him before, like your classmate… Oh my, I can’t talk anymore; someone’s
coming! I don’t want to get caught, so I’m heading back now.]”
Madelyn’s heart clenched. ‘Ethan went to see Sylvia! He hates Sylvia so much; this can’t be good.’
She hadn’t realized that Forrest had been in his hands all along. “What else has Ethan done to Forrest?’
Madelyn ran her fingers through her hair, feeling utterly drained. She shouldn’t have gotten involved, but when she thought about the debt she owed Forrest, how could she not interfere? And there were moments when she had considered him a friend because of what he had done for her. In the hospital room at Community Hospital, Ethan said, “Mrs. Arnold, favors aren’t asked for like this!”
Forrest seemned to be at the point of exhaustion. He was held by bodyguards, completely immobilized. He shouted at Sylvia,” Don’t beg him!”
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning By Max Charming chapter 430
Tears flowed down Sylvia’s gentle face as she clung to the bedframe in her hospital gown. She pleaded, “Ethan, please spare Forrest. He’s young and foolish. Try to look past his actions.”
Forrest’s eyes were swollen, and he let out a low, mournful cry. “I told you not to beg him. Can’t you hear me?”
As Ethan observed this emotional exchange between mother and son, he couldn’t help but find it surreal. ‘She tore my family apart as the homewrecker; Enter title…
she should have seen this coming. If she had really chosen to leave and move on, why didn’t she go farther away? Why did she let Dad find her? She brought this upon herself by stubbornly giving birth to Forrest. As long as I’m here, the Arnold family will never acknowledge him.’
In that very moment, Ethan’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and, without hesitation, answered the call. Ethan’s demeanor shifted from hostility to something unexpectedly gentle. His once icy aura suddenly turned warm. “What’s the matter?”
Madelyn was on the other end of the line. She inquired, “Where are you?”
Ethan looked at Forrest and couldn’t help but smirk. He responded slowly, “Community Hospital.”
There was a prolonged silence on the other end, followed by Madelyn’s soft voice, “I’d like to have pastina from the stall near the school. Could you get it for me?” Her tone was warm and pleasant.
“Of course. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you,” Madelyn replied. Once Madelyn hung up, Ethan rose from his seat, an air of triumph surrounding him. His gaze remained cold and commanding as he looked down at Forrest. “I’ll give you two choices. One, stay in Ventropolis and witness your mother’s slow demise. As far as I know, she doesn’t have much time left.
Or two, leave the country, and you won’t be allowed to return without my permission. However, I’ll provide a monthly allowance for your mother’s treatment, and it will continue until you finish your university education.”
Forrest’s eyes held a hint of reluctance, and a touch of anger tinged the corners, causing them to slightly redden. “All of these conditions I’m offering are out of consideration for Madelyn. She owes you a life, and I’m repaying that debt on her behalf. You have three days to think it over, although… I already know what your choice will be. If you leave right now, I’ll give you an extra one million for your mother’s treatment. Whether she recovers or not will depend on her fate.”
Ethan spent less than half an hour going to Ventrocloud High School and purchasing pastina from the stall near the school, along with some cotton candy that she liked. He rolled up the sleeves of his gray shirt carefully and fed her. “Is it too hot?”
Madelyn shook her head, a small smile on her face. “It’s just right.” Ethan knew
her preferences well, but he never let his negative emotions show in front of her. “Did you visit Community Hospital to see Forrest’s mom? Is she… okay?”
Ethan smiled gently, using his thumb to wipe a smear of oil from Madelyn’s lip. “I’ve arranged for Leyton to have her treated abroad; there’s currently no viable option here.”
He had conveyed his message subtly, and Madelyn was no fool. “That’s good. Perhaps there’s still a glimmer of hope abroad.” As Madelyn spoke, she caught a fleeting trace of resentment in Ethan’s eyes, knowing it wasn’t directed at her but at Sylvia. Simultaneously, she saw the vulnerability in Ethan, a facet he seldom revealed to outsiders.
He admitted, “Honestly, I envy Forrest…”