âJust remember, if you ever stir up any trouble, donât you dare say youâre my daughter, Imogen. You make your bed, and you lie in it.â
Madeline slammed the room with a disdainful look on her face, while Imogen sank into the couch, her hand kept rubbing her chest as if to ease the sting of their confrontation.
Theyâd had their share of arguments over the years, but never had words cut so deep. Especially when Madeline accused her of offering nothing. That truly broke Imogenâs heart.
She might have come from humble beginnings, but hadnât she always strove to lift her daughter to greater heights? Otherwise, why would Madeline bear the prestigious surname Tanner? Sadly, love had blinded her daughter.
Madeline could only see Nolan; she was oblivious to Imogenâs years of sacrifice. She thought Imogen had never given her everything from the very start.
Regina hadnât even reached home when Madeline came knocking on her door.
Having just had a distressing encounter with Nolan, Regina was not in the right headspace to return home, let alone face her family. But she was caught off-guard by Madelineâs imperious arrival..
âWhat are you doing here?â Regina crossed her arms, perching on the edge of the sofa. Still pale from her recent hospital stay, she had the fragile aura of a convalescent beauty.
Madelineâs jealousy surged. Standing beside Regina, anyone could tell who the real Tanner heiress was. But why should birthright dictate everything? Madeline couldnât choose her origins, yet sheâd worked tirelessly.
Perhaps her efforts only seemed like a joke in Reginaâs eyes. After all, the privileges. Regina was born into took Madeline years to attain.
And Reginaâs indifferent demeanor only fueled Madelineâs resentment.
âWhat act are you putting on now? I told you before that I had my eyes on Nolan first. Why do you insist on shamelessly playing the other woman?â
Regina was baffled. Madelineâs accusations were like a slap in the face-since when was she romantically involved with Nolan?
âI donât know what youâre talking about. If youâre here to pick a fight, I suggest you turn right around and leave. Youâre not welcome here.â
Reginaâs patience was already thin, and Madelineâs crazed antics were the last thing she could handle.
âYou think youâre fooling anyone? It was you who set the trap at the hotel, wasnât it? You shameless hussy, you just want to wrap Nolan around your little finger. At the dinner, you paraded around like you didnât care-who were you trying to impress? Of course, if it wasnât for your pretense, how could anyone fall for you?â As Madeline spewed those insults, she was scrutinizing Regina with contempt.
Regina couldnât help but laugh at the absurdity.
Yes, there was a gap between her and Nolanâs social standing, which she never denied. But she never believed she wasnât good enough for him.
Beyond her surname of Tanner, she was an independent individual with her own dignity, appearance, and abilities-she had it all. In what world was she not Nolanâs equal?
And to be lectured by Madeline-how had she and her mother secured their place in the Tanner family?
Had they forgotten their own past? What right did she have to claim. Regina was unworthy?
âI wasnât aware that the daughter of a homewrecker had the right to point fingers and tell me Iâm not good enough.â Regina rose slowly, her movements languid from her lack of strength. But to Madeline, her calm demeanor was a declaration of disdain.
It was clear Regina didnât regard her at all, and that indifference was the ultimate insult.