Chapter 109

Chapter 109:

Dane couldn’t believe that his father wasn’t backing him up.

Was he the only one in this family who still had a grip on things?

His thoughts quickly turned to his brother, Howard.

If only Howard were here, they’d be on the same page, no doubt.

Dane couldn’t help but think how much better things would be if Howard could just recover and return.

The heaviness of it all made him sigh deeply.

Trying to push aside his frustration, Dane said, “Dad, Mom, why don’t we invite Howard to join us when we throw the celebration party? It’s been such a long time, and he’s been on his own for too long. Maybe he’s ready to reconnect.”

At the mention of her second son, Elaine’s eyes immediately welled up with tears.

The thought of him was a wound that never fully healed.

She nodded, her voice soft. “Alright, I’ll go check on him.”

A heavy silence settled over the family, thick with unspoken emotions.

Just then, Madisyn approached and immediately noticed her mother’s tear-streaked face. Concerned, she asked, “Mom, what happened? Why are you crying?”

Elaine hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Dane quickly stepped in. “Mom, why don’t you take Madisyn with you when you visit Howard tomorrow? He hasn’t seen her since she got back.”

Madisyn immediately caught on—they were talking about her brother, Howard.

His name was almost never mentioned in the family, always wrapped in a veil of silence.

Though she knew little about his illness, Madisyn had always felt that no obstacle was too great to overcome.

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Elaine looked at Madisyn with a gentle expression. “Madisyn, would you like to see Howard?”

Without a second thought, Madisyn answered firmly, “Yes, of course.”

When they returned home, Kristine was nowhere to be found in the living room.

No one seemed to notice her absence as Glenn immediately began instructing the butler to start preparations for the banquet scheduled for the day after tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Kristine remained in her room, listening intently to the sounds outside.

She could hear the footsteps and muffled conversations of people moving about, but no one came to check on her. As the night wore on, the villa gradually fell silent. Everyone had retired to bed, and still, no one had thought of her.

Sitting alone in her room, Kristine gazed out at the moon, feeling as though the world around her had plunged into darkness.

She closed her eyes, overwhelmed by a deep, aching pain.

She was tired—tired of being overlooked, tired of living like this. Would this be her life forever?

No!

She refused to let it be!

When Kristine opened her eyes again, they were cold, calculating, filled with a new resolve. She was no longer the same person.

Meanwhile, Madisyn lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, Andrew’s words replaying in her mind.

He wanted to give himself to her?

Who could say no to a wealthy CEO making such an offer?

But then again, how could Andrew say something like that? He must’ve been drunk.

Deciding not to dwell on it any longer, she turned her thoughts to the next day, eager to finally see Howard.

She reached over to turn off the light, ready to sleep, when her phone rang.

“Sierra, someone’s offering 50 million dollars for you to design a set of dresses,” the voice on the other end said.

“Any specific requirements?” Madisyn asked.

“No specific requirements, just that they should look good. He said they’re for his sister, and if she likes them, he might raise the payment.”

Madisyn’s mind immediately went to Waylon.

Oh, God!

She sighed, realizing she would be wearing dresses designed by herself again.

Pressing a hand to her forehead, she made a decision. “I’m going to pass on this one, for now.”

The next day, Madisyn woke up early. After a quiet breakfast with her parents, Elaine guided her to the car, and they set off for Howard’s residence.

It was only during the drive that Madisyn realized Howard lived within the expansive Johns Manor.

The estate was so vast that it took over ten minutes to drive from one side to the other.

As they followed a lush green path, a small villa gradually came into view.

The villa was charming, with a delicate design, and the entrance was adorned with vibrant roses that immediately lifted Madisyn’s spirits.

She began to form an impression of Howard—anyone who could cultivate such beauty around them must be a thoughtful person.

When they reached the gate, Elaine’s eyes began to well up with tears. Instead of entering, she hesitated and rang the doorbell. “Howard, it’s Mom,” she called softly.

The villa remained silent for what felt like an eternity until the intercom finally crackled to life. “What’s up?”

The voice that came through was gentle and warm, like sunlight filtering through water, yet there was a coldness in the tone that couldn’t be ignored.

Elaine’s voice trembled with emotion. “I’m just here to check up on you.”

“I’m fine, Mom. There’s no need to worry,” Howard responded, his tone firm but kind.

Elaine’s heart ached at his words. She recognized his gentle refusal, and it had been so long since she last saw her son that tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

Madisyn, standing beside her mother, felt a deep sense of discomfort and couldn’t stay silent any longer. “Howard, I know you’re going through something difficult, but we care about you deeply. Whatever you’re facing, we’re here for you, and we won’t turn our backs on you.”

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a voice tinged with surprise. “Madisyn… is that you?”

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