Chapter 903

‘This is seriously a nasty weather. If they broke my leg and I had to crawl all the way back home, I wouldn’t stand a chance. That place is isolated, with that highway cutting through where wild animals roam. I’d be toast,’ he thought with a grimace. ‘And that Jardin, he’s downright cruel!’ The sharp pain in his leg was a harsh reminder of Zach’s aggressive behavior.

Zach put out his cigarette in the downstairs ashtray and headed back up once the scent had faded. At the far end of the third-floor hallway, Madelyn stood by the window, the cold wind softly lifting her hair. Zach approached her.

With a look of concern, Madelyn questioned him, “When will you stop harming others? Surely, there’s a better solution. Why did you feel it was necessary to break his arm?”

Madelyn turned to Zach with eyes so sad and so full of disappointment that it made something inside him ache. He defended his action, “I needed to show them what happens if they mess with us, to keep anybody from trying to stir up trouble here again.” He had increased the guards around the place not because he wanted to but to make sure she felt safe and content.

“You’re no better than Hayson; you can’t escape the wrongs you’ve done. You never change,” Madelyn said coldly, her voice flat and distant. She walked to her room and closed the door.

Zach let out a heavy sigh, pressing the bridge of his nose. At three in the morning, he stood by the study’s large windows, watching as snow blanketed the world outside. He thought, ‘A whole year has just flown by.’ Tonight was different; in his study, he rested on a basic bed. This was the first night he had spent without joining Madelyn in her room since he returned to stay at the Jent residence.

Madelyn lay awake, unable to find sleep. Her frustration grew with each painful attempt to remove the stubborn ring from her swollen finger. She had tried every type of lubricant–body wash, shampoo–but nothing freed the ring. An hour later, spent and defeated, she gave up. Gazing into the bathroom mirror, her reflection showed red, weary eyes. The glaring light sharpened the lines of fatigue on her face.

‘So, Zach, what’s the game this time? What role have you, cast me in now?’ she pondered in weary frustration.

As dawn broke and the last snowflakes gently landed, Madelyn curled up in a cozy armchair covered with a blanket. Despite the room’s warmth, she shivered, hugging herself for comfort. No matter how hard she tried, she could not wake up, not until she felt an enveloping warmth that 1/3-

ון her fight against the cold. A gentle whisper in her ear lulled her into a deep, restful sleep.

“Why does Ms. Jent have such a high fever? We need to take her to the hospital,” Margaret said. She struggled to recover from her last surgery, and now she’s sick again. I’m worried about how bad it could get.”

“Hurry with the fever medication,” Zach said, pressing cold compresses to Madelyn’s forehead. But even after several hours, her fever would not break.

The clock read 6:30 a.m. as Kai arrived home. He eased the master bedroom door open to find Lana fast asleep. Moving closer, he carefully drew the blanket over her.

Lana sensed his presence and slowly opened her eyes. “Is that you, Kai?” she murmured.

“Did I disturb your sleep?” he asked softly.

“No,” Lana reassured him, lifting herself slightly and reaching out to grasp his hand. “Are you home to stay?”

Kai sat on the edge of the bed, softly brushing Lana’s hair away from her face. He did not answer her question but said, “It’s still quite early. Maybe you should rest a bit more.”

ון Lana looked at Kai, her eyes showing worry when she saw the tiredness and redness in his. You’ve just returned home. Let me cook breakfast, and then you can get some sleep,” she said. “I’ll wake you when it’s ready.” While Kai was away, Lana found herself with nothing to do and ended up washing all the clothes in the house. They still have not dried yet. Just as she was about to push the covers off and get out of bed, Kai stopped her.

“No need. I ate at the institute already,” he said.

Hurt was evident on Lana’s face. “Kai, we’re married. Aren’t we supposed to be closer than this?” she asked, feeling the weight of their emotional gap. “Have I upset you in some way? I’ve made a point of not going to your institute, worrying I might be a nuisance,” she added.

Kai’s chest tightened suddenly, and he was lost for words. He really did not like that he had tricked her into staying with him. Every day, he noticed her tummy getting bigger. He caressed her cheek and said, “You’ve got a baby on the way; I’m just worried about you. Try not to think too much.”

“Lie down for a while,” Lana said, sliding over to give him space on the bed.

Right then, Kai’s phone rang. He pulled it out, checked the caller ID, and met Lana’s gaze. “I need to take this,” he said, stepping onto the balcony.

Through the open door, Lana, cozy in her maternity wear, watched him put on his jacket. She followed him and asked, “You just got here. Must you leave so soon?”