Chapter 4

Thea just looked at Nicolas, noticing his eyes were kinda spaced out. "You-" Nicolas tried to say but got cut off by a knock at the door.

Then came Madelyn's voice, sounding all frustrated. "Uncle Nicolas, are you okay? I messed up with what I did before, and I wanna say sorry face to face."

It might've been Thea's imagination, but it seemed like Nicolas got even more ticked off the moment he heard "Uncle Nicolas." His eyes went ice cold.

"Mr. Hendrix, chill here. I'll handle this," said Thea, taking the chance to stand up.

Opening the door, she saw Madelyn looking all teary but trying to keep a brave face.

Thea couldn't help but smirk. "Still got some nerve, huh? I wonder how you've got the guts to worm your way into the Hendrix family. Doesn't it feel weird calling Mr. Hendrix 'Uncle Nicolas'?"

Madelyn's response was to bite her lower lip, looking defiant yet somehow innocent. "I get it, you think low of where I come from. But aren't we all supposed to be equal? There's no high and low in people, right?"

Thea chuckled at that, stepping aside to let her in. "Wanna bet you'll be shown the door by security? Go on in if you're feeling lucky."

With that, Thea turned and strolled off. Madelyn clenched her teeth and followed up before grabbing Thea's wrist.

The soft, vulnerable look she usually had around others was gone, replaced by a steely determination in the dim corridor light.

"You've really changed a ton since you hit sixteen. That whole mess really got to you, huh?" Madelyn challenged, locking eyes with Thea. "We need to have a chat. Just us."

Madelyn would know about that incident. Despite her reservations,

dove straight in. "If you want to keep your secrets safe, you need to leave Jake. He's been

Madelyn head-on. "Since we're laying things out, let me be clear. I'm calling off my engagement with Jake. But it's my call. I don't want him anymore. If you're so keen on picking

mix of anger and envy, a clear sign she'd hit

air. Thea barely had a moment to think that something was off before

this crazy dance, and Madelyn morphed into a dark, ominous blur. Thea tried

Thea was roughly dragged off the bed and onto the floor.

didn't think you'd stoop so low as to do this! You're a woman too. Your methods

was still weak on all fours. She sat up, propped on the

gaze, which was cold and filled with intense disgust. "What's

and her heart was suddenly pounding as she took in the chaotic scene before

and icy. "What's going on? Hadn't you plotted all this? If I hadn't been there in

champagne tower collapsed, but I didn't expect you to

what was going on. She spotted Madelyn, all messed

guessing if Madelyn was faking it. Her

you out of your mind? Why

just a slick move to throw us off your

hand, her eyes brimming with tears she fought to keep at bay. "Jake, let's not jump to conclusions. It might not be Miss Rowland's fault. She was knocked out at the same time I

words hit Thea hard, making it tough for her to breathe. She

a time when he would shield her from any criticism or hostility, no matter what. But now, he was all about another woman, turning into the deepest cut she

a complete stranger. "Why would I even bother playing

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