Chapter 20

When Madeline remembered her battered self. she did not know what to do.

Every woman would want to present their best selves to the man they loved. However. whenever she was with him, she would be in her worst and most torn-up state. At this moment, she was even covered in the scars he had given her.

“Who allowed you to come in?” Jeremy stopped outside the door.

Madeline looked at him. “This is my home.”

“Your home?” The man chuckled lowly. “Do you think you have the right to call this your home?”

The light in Madeline’s eyes faded. Jeremy's words stabbed her heart like glass shards.

“If Mer weren't so kind, you would still be rotting in prison.” Jeremy’s words were laced with love for Meredith.

Madeline scoffed. “Yeah, if it weren't not for . 1 wouldn’t have ended up in such a place.”

It was obvious that Jeremy was enraged by what she had said. “You're still trying to talk back at a time like this?”

“Jeremy. I did not! I’m telling the truth!” Madeline clenched her fists and emphasized her words with her head high.

Nonetheless. the man’s handsome face was covered by a layer of frost. He lifted his icy glare and peered at Madeline. “No, huh? Alright, get over there and kneel. I'll believe you if you kneel until the rain stops.”

Madeline was stunned. and she subconsciously touched her stomach.

“Don't you want me to believe you? Why are you still standing here?” Jeremy said in a cold voice.

Madeline stood in the rain as she lifted her tearful eyes at the man who used to care about her so much in her memories. “Jeremy. I have...”

“Jeremy. I'm hungry.”

Before Madeline could finish talking, Meredith’s girly voice was heard from inside the house.

So. Meredith was here.

An indescribable pain started to spread all over her body. Madeline’s heart sank. It was as if it was sinking in a bottomless abyss.

Jeremy peered at Madeline impatiently. “Meredith will spend the night here. If you want to enter this house. you'll have to kneel until I’m happy.”

After he said that, he slammed the door and turned around mercilessly.

The cold rain fell onto Madelin’s body. Consequently, the temperature of her heart plummeted along with the temperature of her body.

The sky became dark, and Madeline saw that the lights were turned on in the master bedroom. Two shadows were casted on the curtain, and they were such a sore sight.

‘Jeremy. will you really believe me?’

‘At the end of the day, I still won't be able to compare to Meredith's breath when next to you in bed...’

After that night, still in a drowsy state. Madeline was met with Meredith's smirk.

“Madeline. I didn’t think you'd kneel for the entire night just to get Jeremy's attention.”

Meredith was speaking with a lot of energy. It seemed like the child in her stomach was fortunate to still be fine despite her having rolled down the stairs.

“If you like to kneel. continue kneeling!”

She cackled heinously before turning around.

Madeline’s mouth was dry. She was unwell, so she did not have the energy to argue with Meredith.

After having stayed in the same position for an entire night, Madeline's limbs were extremely numb.

She got up and struggled to enter the house. However. before she could walk any further, Jeremy appeared in front of her.

Madeline was so tired that her knees were bent. She reached out her hand and grabbed Jeremy’s collar. Her pale lips pleaded, “Jeremy. please believe me. I really didn't push Meredith...”

Jeremy scoffed. “Why should I believe such a vile and heartless woman like you?” After he said that, he pushed Madeline away.

Madeline’s head was in immense pain as she sprawled on the floor: she was in so much pain that she could not get up. She clutched her stomach, and cold sweat started to form on her forehead.

When she thought about the child in her stomach. Madeline used all her might to grab Jeremy's pants. “Jeremy, my stomach hurts. Please take me to the hospital.”

However, Jeremy only peered at her in disgust. “Madeline, you're so good at acting.”

“No. Jeremy... I'm not... Jeremy. I’m in a lot of pain...” Madeline moved her lips lightly.

She could feel herself drifting in and out of consciousness. She held onto his pants. “Even if you hate me or resent me, the child in my stomach is yours...”

“Hmph.” Jeremy scoffed. There was ridicule in his eyes. “Child? Madeline, you really can make anything up! Get lost!”

Jeremy kicked away her hand that was holding his pants. Upon being kicked away, Madeline laughed lamentably. She lifted her head to look at the frigid man in front of her. Tears fell down from her eyes as she felt an excruciating pain in her heart. “12 years ago. a boy said to me, ‘Linnie. I'll protect and cherish you forever. I won't let you get hurt..." So I guess those were all lies...

Throughout the past 12 years, it was all a pathetic obsession... You're not my Jez anymore.”

What?

Jeremy's heart skipped a beat. The perfect and untouched intimate memory that he had always kept in his heart reappeared without warning.

He had met a girl named Linnie at the beach that year.

That girl was naive and innocent. She was cute and mischievous. He had almost fallen in love with her at first sight.

In those beautiful memories, that girl would always follow him and call him Jez sweetly.

He had promised her that he would stay with her forever and take her as his wife.

After he found out that the girl’s name was Meredith, Jeremy made up his mind to be good to the girl named Meredith forever. He would punish those who hurt her severely!

However, why was Madeline suddenly telling him about the promise he had made when he was young?

Jeremy felt as if something was going to leap out of his chest. He bent down and grabbed Madeline's shoulders with his hands. “What did you say?”