Chapter 16
She completely immersed herself in studies and work, using busyness and sweat to wash away past wounds and pain.[]
Excellent grades, a top university diploma, and that job offer from the domestic industry giant “Sterling Corporation“-these were her most beautiful achievements.[]
She was no longer that Madison who needed to depend on anyone, who begged humbly for love.[]
She cut her long hair short and sharp, her eyes no longer holding the old timidity and confusion, now settled into calm, distance, and inviolable strength.[]
Past shadows hadn’t completely disappeared, but she’d learned to coexist with them, using a stronger heart to build walls.[]
Deciding to return home wasn’t from nostalgia, but career planning.[]
She was prepared to face everything–gossip, rumors, and that haunting pair of brothers.[]
She just wanted to completely sever all inappropriate entanglements and start a life that truly belonged to her.[]
Her return flight information was immediately reported back home by surveillance planted
her London apartment and school.[]
Blake was in an extremely important international merger meeting when his assistant nervously entered, leaning down to whisper a few words.
Instantly, Blake’s composed control vanished, replaced by nearly hysterical urgency and tension![]
He shot up, telling the executives on screen “Meeting suspended!” before striding out, leaving a room full of confused executives.[]
“Get the car ready! To the airport!” He barked into his phone while speed–walking, voice trembling almost imperceptibly.]
Three years–he’d been waiting for this moment every second! He couldn’t miss it again![]
Almost simultaneously, Ryan, who was dead drunk at an upscale club, got a phone call.[]
He shoved away the woman beside him, his bloodshot eyes blazing with obsessive light, joy and madness intertwined: “She’s back?! She finally came back! Quick! Airport! Can’t let my brother beat me there![]
Madison wheeled her suitcase through the crowded international arrivals terminal, looking sharp in her beige trench coat, posture straight and expression coolly indifferent as she emerged into the chaos.]
Three years had washed away her last traces of innocence, adding maturity and aloofness that made her breathtakingly beautiful yet more unreachable than ever.]]
Shed just set foot on home soil, not even taken a breath of domestic air, when two groups swarmed her like sharks sensing blood, blocking her exit!
