Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 832

Madge's expression remained calm and unruffled, but Kathleen only grew more agitated at her composure.

Kathleen's icy stare was a tangled knot of anger and envy, her emotions barely contained. Suddenly, she let out a cold, sharp laugh.

Moonlight washed over her face, lending her features a ghastly pallor. With her crimson coat thrown over her shoulders, she looked almost spectral-like a vengeful spirit from an old legend.

Madge's eyes flickered with confusion.

"Sister, you know, I've always envied you-envied the way Mom and Dad doted on you, envied how Teague always looked out for you. No matter where you went, you were always the center of attention, the one everyone admired."

"Standing next to you, I always felt like the ugly duckling beside a swan. But I'm family too, aren't I?"

Madge frowned and stepped forward, reaching out to steady her. "Kathleen... you've had too much to drink."

But Kathleen jerked away, shoving Madge's hand aside. "Don't touch me! Don't pretend to care. You're probably laughing at me inside, aren't you?"

"I'm not "

"Ever since we were kids, as long as you were there, Mom and Dad's eyes never left you. You were all they could see. Why?" Kathleen suddenly spun around and seized Madge by the shoulders, her grip growing tighter with every word.

twenty years —everything was fine, peaceful, normal. Why did you have to come back? Was it so terrible to leave things

have a husband, a daughter, a picture-perfect family. You're even a bestselling author now. You've got everything. So why isn't it enough? Why do you still have

rose to a fever pitch, all her years of pent-up resentment

and took a half-step back, putting some space

You know me as well as I know you. You didn't show up tonight just to have New Year's Eve dinner with Mom

Kathleen hesitated.

on, her

now you're pretending to be drunk, poking your

know exactly what we're dealing with, why not drop the act? Just tell me straight-what do you

to keep guessing, and you won't have to keep pretending. Wouldn't that be easier for both

flickering on her lips. "After

perceptive. Still so

honest, let's not mince words." Kathleen's drunken air vanished, her eyes suddenly clear and sharp as she looked Madge dead in the

Teague along-because I wanted to see what's really going

"And? Did you find what you

down. "You, I

still not over you. Don't bother denying it—I'm not blind, I can