Chapter 170
Jacob looked at Madeline,
These past few nights, he hadn’t been able to sleep. Whenever he thought about the past, his heart would ache terribly. Now, standing here, his eyes were already burning with tears.
Madeline wasn’t the same as in his memories. Now, she was refined, beautiful, confident, and well–protected by those who cared for her. She no longer resembled the dusty, timid Madeline who once tried so hard to please him at home.
But now, she was out of his reach. The sister who had once cared for him was long dead, lost on that rainy night by the reservoir.
He used to think Madeline had drowned in the reservoir, but what had drowned was her love and every illusion she had of him. He would never again have the sister who had once done everything for him.
Thinking of that, Jacob said, his voice trembling, “Maddie, it’s cold lately. Why are you wearing so little? How about I buy you some clothes! Maddie, let’s have dinner together. I’ll take you to cat what you like. I’ve tidied up your room at home. It’s exactly as it was when you left.”
Jacob lowered his head as he spoke, clenching the hands at his sides. He didn’t dare look directly into Madeline’s eyes because he knew just how cold they were. That coldness pierced his hear.
“Hey, do you think I’m dead?” Gavin suddenly sneered, rolling up his sleeves and grabbing Jacob by the collar fiercely. The intense pressure made Jacob’s presence feel insignificant. He had no right to be here, disturbing Madeline.
Gavin’s voice was sharp and aggressive. “Do you need me to remind you who you are now! Maddie has already removed her household registration. You have nothing to do with her. How dare you show up here?”
With a flick, Gavin shoved Jacob aside and said. “Don’t use your cheap guilt to bind her.”
Jacob fell to the ground, looking exhausted and haggard, his once handsome face now worn. He could only look at Madeline, his lips trembling, his eyes filled with pain. He said, Tm sorry. I mistook everything. I wronged you.”
Gavin, irritated, glanced at Madeline’s expression. She remained calm, as if the scene before her didn’t stir her emotions at all. The scene in front of her did not affect her emotions.
Relieved, Gavin feared Madeline might fall back into old patterns. The Larson family wasn’t worth it. They didn’t deserve her.
“Maddie,” Jacob, still sitting on the ground, cautiously pulled out a pen from his pocket, one that had accompanied him through countless days and nights, and said, “Look, I’ve kept this pen with me all along. You’ve always been the one I cared about most”
Gavin’s temples throbbed, and he gritted his teeth. He warned, “If you keep talking nonsense to Maddie, 111 cripple you.”
He knew all too well how they had treated Madeline in the past. Thinking of the injustices Madeline had suffered, Gavin’s heart ached deeply.
He scoffed and said, “A pen? Consider it a beggar’s alms from Maddie. Get lost, and don’t dirty her eyes”
Jacob looked at Madeline with pitiful eyes, filled with despair, hoping she would say something in return.
But Madeline coldly rugged on Gavin’s arm, her voice indifferent. “Cavvy, getting angry at irrelevant people isn’t worth it. Let’s go eat Jacob’s heart skipped a beat. He had expected Madeline to despise him, but he hadn’t imagined that she wouldn’t even bother to look at him. She had once cared for him deeply, tending to him day and night when he was ill, even working tirelessly to buy him gifts
A deep sense of loss surged through jacob. He realized he had lost the family bond he would never be able to reclaim
Jacob’s throat tightened, and his voice cracked, “Maddie, please forgive me. I was wrong. I’ll do anything to make it up to you, just give me a chance.” Madeline glanced down at him, her expression cold. There’s no chance. Don’t dream about it. I will never forgive you. Even if all of you die. I still won’t forgive you,” she said.
There would be no reconciliation between Madeline and the Larson family, not in this life, and not in the next.
“Your words don’t matter to me Madeline chuckled, her eyes flashing with mockery. She said, “What I’m looking forward to is seeing your miserable end
Bending down, she picked up the pen from Jacob’s hand. This pen was something she had begged a collector to sell to her
She said, “I remember when I bought this pen, only lad 4,000 yuan. I worked for over a mouth to car that money. At the time, I had to take care
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Chapter 170
of you at night while still working hard during the day. The elderly woman was kind enough to let me have it, seeing how pitiful I was
Madeline twirled the pen in her fingers, looking at Jacob’s reddened eyes, and continued, “The night before you woke up, I placed the pen next to your bed. I was so exhausted that I came down with a fever, but I had no money to see a doctor. I took some fever medicine and suffered through a night of headaches, thinking about how happy you’d be when you saw the pen
Then, she asked, “Do you remember how you treated me when you woke up?”
Jacob opened his mouth and couldn’t make a sound. Of course, he remembered. Looking up into Madeline’s beautiful eyes, he found no trace of
emotion in them.
Her
eyes reflected his own figure, making him look utterly repulsive.
“I misunderstood you. I was prejudiced. I deserve to die.” Jacob said.
Madeline let out a soft
out a soft laugh, exhaling lightly and frowning. She said, “Who’s even listening to you now? You’re nothing but a hypocrite.”
Straightening her body, she looked down at him and continued, “Since you know this pen is mine, then I’ll take it back. I don’t want you to have it
anymore.”
disgusted.
As she spoke, she heartlessly threw the pen into a nearby trash can in front of Jacob. She even wiped her fingers with a tissue, as Gavin watched Madeline walk away. He sneered with disdain and patted Jacob on the shoulder, saying “Get lost, or I’ll tear you apart and make sure you disappear into the Southern Sea, leaving no remains behind” His sunny tone clashed with the terrifying threat he uttered
Jacob clenched his fists. He knew that Gavin wasn’t joking. He said. I just want to make things right with her.”
“Oh, really!” Gavin feigned difficulty and said. “But you’re not worthy. What makes you think you can wag your tail and Maddie will take you like a dog? That’s hilarious.”
Gavin laughed heartily as he walked away..
back
Jacob’s dignity was shattered, his pride broken, and his posture slumped. But now, he finally understood why Madeline hated him so much. When she offered her sincere heart to him, and it was ruthlessly destroyed, was it as heartbreaking for her as it was for him now!
Jacob staggered to his feet and went to the trash can to pick up the pen. He carefully wiped it clean, holding it in his hand, his expression vacant.
What could he do to make up for the mistakes he had made? What could he do to bring everything back on track, to reunite with her as family once again?
