Chapter 501

With his heart shattered to pieces, Jeremy felt the shards cut deep within him, leaving bloody wounds in their wake.

He took the pen and stared at Madeline’s alluring features while his breathing became hitched.

“Do you hate me that much?” he asked weakly, a shred of hope in his heart.

Yet Madeline’s response was decisive. “I do, I hate you. So much.”

Jeremy’s lips curled faintly as he took in a deep breath.

He took the papers and skimmed through them.

She wanted nothing, none of his assets or money—just custody of the child.

Jeremy placed the pen down. “Very well. I agree to the divorce, but I won’t let go of Jack.”

Madeline’s calm expression cracked. “What right do you have to fight over Jack’s custody, Jeremy?

What right do you have to be Jack’s father?”

Jeremy merely smiled. He did not protest nor did he fight back.

He knew that this was the only way he could make her stay in his life.

Madeline grew furious at Jeremy’s silence. “Talk, Jeremy Whitman. What do you want from me?”

“I want you to stay with me, and I want the four of us to be a family again,” Jeremy spoke his deepest wish without a second thought.

Madeline raised an eyebrow in amusement. “How many times must I tell you for you to believe that Lillian is not your daughter? You were the one who said you didn’t want me in the beginning, so why are you pretending that you love me now? Just because you want 70% of the sticks back?”

Jeremy shook his head, boring his burning gaze into Madeline.

“Believe me this once, Linnie. I’m truly in love with you.”

“Believe you this once? Why? Why do I have to believe you when you’ve never believed me? Have you ever believed me, Jeremy Whitman?”

“Linnie…”

“Don’t call me that. I don’t want to hear it.” Madeline pushed the man away as he leaned toward her.

“We’ll get a divorce, but I’ll never give custody over to Jack!”

With that, Madeline walked toward the entrance and opened the apartment door. “Leave.”

She demanded, only to have Jeremy hold her tightly just as she turned around.

She tried to get away, but Jeremy leaned over to capture her lips.

Not wanting her to struggle and run, a boney hand ran through her soft locks and held her head in place.

“What are you doing, Jeremy Whitman? Let g—mmph…”

Jeremy swallowed Madeline’s muffled words.

The taste of her sweetness had him close to losing control.

Madeline could not fight against Jeremy’s strength. She could bite, push, and hit, yet it would not deter him as he continued to kiss her.

Her nose was enveloped with his minty scent while her mouth tasted little else that was not him.

Her cheeks became heated as her mind supplied her with mixed memories of everything intimate he had done to her. His scent and his touches were overwhelming her.

“I really love you, Linnie. I’ve never loved Meredith at all, nor did I do any of this with her. There’s only been you. You have to believe me. Believe me…”

Jeremy rambled softly as if he was drunk and the words drifted intoxicatedly into her ears.

Madeline frowned. “Let me go, Jeremy. Don’t touch me…”

“Don’t reject me, Linnie. Don’t push me away. It hurts, please. Give me a chance to make it up to you. I can’t lose you again. I can’t…”

“Let go of me, Jeremy. Have you gone mad?”

“Linnie…”

“Slap!”

“…”

Amidst the chaos, Madeline lifted a hand to slap Jeremy across his face.

Stunned, he stopped all motions and the two shared erratic breaths in the quiet air.