Chapter 154

Chapter 154

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Madison’s anger seemed to radiate, freezing the atmosphere around them.

The strength in Joe’s hands completely loosened, disbelief appeared in his eyes, and his voice angrily exclaimed, “Jessica, do you know what you’re saying?”

Madison, her eyes reddened, paused to look at him before walking away without a backward glance.

She didn’t understand why she had used those words. The thought of being called ‘Madison Hale’ filled her with an inexplicable sorrow, as if she were nothing but a name others chose to give her, an afterthought, an outsider.

‘But how can he, when I have clearly already returned to the Daves family… I have no surname of Hale. Madison thought.

Madison left without changing out of her chef’s uniform, her exit was as disheveled as her emotions.

The restaurant wasn’t busy, and thankfully, no one witnessed Madison tearful departure.

The evening breeze gently brushed by, and the air outside the house made Madison’s mind cool down slightly.

Madison sniffed and remembered that her car had been borrowed by Cullen.

With the Rose Garden located away from the city center, Madison couldn’t easily hail a cab. The only option would be to swallow her pride and ask Joe, who was somewhere behind her, for a ride..

But pride held her back, and the sting of Joe’s words echoed in her mind, making her reluctant to turn around.

Madison held her phone, debating whether to call Joe or just spend the night at Rose Garden. She knew mentioning it to Greg would secure her a place to stay.

Hesitating, a man in the driver’s seat of a car parked nearby with the engine still running suddenly widened his eyes and pointed through the car window.

“What the hell, Leo? Isn’t that Jessica? Why is she crying? I swear, if someone hurt her, they’re dead.” Cullen shouted out.

Cullen muttered in dissatisfaction, intending to turn off the engine and get out of the car. However, his actions suddenly came to a halt halfway.

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In the back seat of the car, Leo leaned against the rear compartment and squinted hist eyes. His hand on the door handle also paused.

On the other end, Madison was undecided, thumb hovering over her phone, contemplating calling Joe, when a cough from behind her broke the silence.

“Still mad at me?” Joe asked.

The familiar and sc at tered voice made Madison’s b*dy stiff. The previous sadness had. disappeared, leaving only a righteous spirit in the wind. Now she heard Joe’s voice again, instantly feeling wronged.

She remained silent, bowing her head with a sour nose, aimlessly poking at her phone.

Although there was no intention to pay attention to Joe’s opinion, there was also no direct anger and escape like in the Rose Garden.

Joe sighed softly and said, “Ah, if someone doesn’t want to go home, then I’ll just leave by myself.”

Madison still ignored, biting her l*p with her back turned to Joe.

Madison admitted that she was a bit excessive tonight, but he provoked her first. If things didn’t work out with the old doctor Benton, she could always stay in the Rose Garden for a couple of days and apologized to him later.

Madison had no intention of speaking to him now, for sure.

“Excuse me, move aside. You’re blocking my path,” Joe said tersely.

Behind her, Joe had not left yet, and a lazy voice sounded again.

Madison was also ignited by this sentence, and directly exploded, “It’s not your car at all.”

The voice suddenly stopped when a bouquet of champagne roses appeared in front.

Madison stood there in a daze, with tears still hanging on her eyelashes. With a blink of an eye, that teardrop fell from the air and landed perfectly on the beige petal, like a dewdrop sliding down.

And this scene happened to be seen by two people in a car not far away, completely

intact.

Joe had a soft heart because his little sister cried, if his John found out, he would definitely be furious.

Joe, now more gentle, implored, “Stop crying, will you? You’re an adult, but crying like a

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child. Be careful, or you’ll end up a spectacle on the internet.”

Joe directly stuffed a handful of flowers into Madison’s arms, took out a tissue to wipe her face, and showed as much patience as taking care of his own daughter.

“Look, I got you these roses you like. Next time, don’t say things that’ll make me the bad. guy, okay, Jessica? Use your brain before you speak. Joe said.

Before Madison could wipe her face with the tissue, Joe tapped her forehead a few times.

Madison frowned and avoided his actions, reaching out to take the paper from his hand and wiping it herself.

Her voice still thick from crying, Madison’s words came out edged with accusation, “You say that, but deep down, you might think otherwise.”

Joe was about to reach for more tissues, but her words stopped him. He looked at her, conflicted, “What’s on your mind? Do you see yourself as a burden or am I eager for you…”

He couldn’t finish. The weight of what he wanted to say hung between them.

Joe was a little nervous when he found out that Madison was his own younger sister. At that time, she was still in the emergency room being rescued, and he was so anxious that he couldn’t sleep, hoping for her to wake up.

‘She’s something, and am I eager for her… what a cu nning person.

Madison, holding the flowers, her gaze fiery yet hurt, retorted, “Isn’t it obvious? You were so eager to get rid of me. You wanted to go home, and you’re quick to dismiss me. Isn’t this you looking down on me?”

“…” Joe was about to explain when he was interrupted by Madison.

homou,

Madison sniffed, “I know because ever since I got lost at birth, my mom’s health has been poor. Dad’s heart has always been with her, so he had no time or energy to take care of you. No one even knew when you had a fever, if it weren’t for John raising maybe you wouldn’t have had the chance to find me. You don’t want to go because you’re always being ignored by Mom and Dad. You don’t want to see them, and I’m sure you also resent me for causing our mother’s illness. It’s only natural that you despise and resent me.”

Madison bowed her head, tears streaming down as she spoke, her sorrow palpable.

Joe felt a wave of helplessness wash over him, his headache intensifying.

Joc didn’t want to go/

to the Daves family because of neglect reasons during his

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childhood. Because of a broken childhood, in all those years that followed, there was not one or anything to heal him.

Joe might know that he was being willful and childish, but until now he had never received an apology.

Even though his parents and John had been persuading him to go back every year, saying that they already knew their mistakes and had all lowered their heads to give him a way out, the family should not let the relationship become so strained.

But he couldn’t see where the steps were, and he didn’t want to go back pretending there was no barrier.

But for now, it was not even a question of whether or not to go back. Joe didn’t know. how his younger sister came up with such thoughts, but he could only reluctantly agree.

“Can you stop crying now, Jessica? Okay, okay, I’ll take you back,” Joc said, his tone anxious yet gentle.

His tone was a bit urgent, but he could only patiently coax, “I have never disliked you, let alone resent or despise you. You are the only sister of the Daves family. Even if I dislike Samuel, I would not dislike you. You just like to listen to some gossip and imagine yourself. Don’t you know how I treat you usually? Humph?”

Madison kept her head down, her voice soft but firm, “Are you willing to go back home with me together? Return to Rozalia?”

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