Vanessa’s
is expression darkened. She thought. Does Madeline really not want their family to return to Japrium Even at a time like this, she dares to defy me?” “Madeline, are you sure about this? Aren’t you thinking about your parents or your five brothers?”
Madeline almost laughed. She thought. Why should I think about them?”
བད་རུ་འར་ཨོཾ།
Layla looked at Madeline, conflicted. Their relationship was already strained. If she scolded Madeline now, it would only push her further away. But if they upset Vanessa, their family was just a step away from returning to Japrium. That was their family’s dream.
She thought, ‘We can fix past mistakes and return to living in a mansion with a better life. We can make it up to Madeline anytime. Besides, without money now, how can we compensate her? It’d be easier once we are back in Japrium with money!
She said, “Vanessa, Madeline is being immature. Don’t take it personally
Vanessa snorted, “Fine. For your sake, I let it go this time. If not for you. I wouldn’t let it slide so easily.”
She glanced disdainfully at Harper. “You better watch where you’re going next time and avoid offending people you can’t afford to offend, Vanessa said, dealing with someone as stubborn as Madeline wasn’t worth her time.
Vanessa, do you really think you can throw your weight around here?” Madeline suddenly spoke coldly. “Did you forget how your parents humbled themselves in Japrium? Or do you want a repeat of what happened before?
Vanessa gritted her teeth, feeling the sting of painful memories. “Shut up?”
“Did you forget how you were beaten at the mountain retreat? Or how your grandmother let me go?” Madeline stared straight at Vanessa, her voice growing colder with every word.
Vanessa felt those haunting memories food her mind
Layla, unaware of past events, only knew that Madeline’s attitude toward Vanessa was wrong. “Maddie, stop it”
Layla thought, ‘I have already apologized to Vanessa on Madeline’s behalf. How can she keep provoking Vanessa? Our family can’t afford to offend Tomeone like Vanessa
Surprisingly, Vanessa wasn’t angry. Instead, she pressed her lips together. “What do you want?
Madeline scoffed, “An apology”
Vanessa clenched her fists, recalling being hit, her parents‘ indifference, and their silence afterward. She remembered how Madeline had bruised her at the mountain retreat and how Madeline’s brother had intimidated her grandmother into letting it go
r. “Fine, I was
Vanessa had thought that Madeline would yield for her family’s sake. But Madeline didn’t, Reluctantly, Vanessa glanced at Harper.” wrong today.”
Harper was shocked and tugged at Madeline’s arm. “Maddie, she actually..”
“This ends here” she said to Vanessa quickly. “We both made mistakes, let’s call it even Harper didn’t want Madeline to be caught in the middle. “Maddie, are
going to lunch with your mom now, or…”
Madeline didn’t even look at Layla “Weren’t you always so high and mighty! Lowered yourself now, huh?” She chuckled, remembering how Layla and Winslet used to belittle her from their pedestal. It seems Layla only bullied the weak
Layla watched Madeline walk away, opening her mouth as if to explain, yet no words came out,
Thomas had been waiting for them for ages, and when Layla finally arrived, he couldn’t help but say, “You all took forever. The food’s going to get cold.”
Layla at down, clearly in a bad mood, and sighed deeply. Thomas assumed his wife was once again upset because of Vanessa, but this was the path they’d choven, so they had nothing to do.
Vanessa, having just lost face, had no desire to talk much either. The three of them ate in silence, heads down, lost in their own thoughts.
Meanwhile, Madeline returned to the main hall. Harper dragged her off to buy souvenirs, apologizing along the way. “I’m so sorry, Maddie. I didn’t know she was your cousin. This is just. She sighed, “Caught between everything and then fighting with your mom–do you want to join them for lunch!”
“No need” Madeline replied, picking up a small bamboo trinket. I haven’t had a family in a long time. I grew up in an orphanage.
“Later on, an elderly couple adopted me,” she continued. “So my only family is them–not any parents”
Harper was surprised. And your brothers?”
Chapter 231
“They’re from the orphanage.”
Harper’s eyes lit up with excitement–this was even more intriguing. Holding Madeline’s wrist, she admired the beautiful rosary beads there. “It’s strange–I didn’t see any like yours sold here. Are they sold out? Not thinking much about it, she bought a few charms to bring back to her parents.
Madeline looked at the beads on her wrist but didn’t say anything. Her encounters with Alden were rare and mentioning it might seem awkward.
Madeline bowed her head in prayer in the chapel, the air thick with the reverence of the towering Saint’s Statue. After paying her respects, she wandered around.
By one statue, there was a note. It had Madeline’s name on it. Harper gasped, grabbing Madeline. “Maddie, why is your name here?”
Harper didn’t understand much about this so she was really confused.
Madeline looked closer and frowned slightly. “It must be someone with the same name. There are plenty of people with my name–it’s pretty
common.
Harper said. “That makes sense. Otherwise, why would there be your name? Does this have some bad connotation?
An elderly man nearby overheard and couldn’t help but said, “You’re mistaken.”
Harper turned to him. “What’s wrong!”
“This is a wish,” he explained. “Someone must have prayed to this note, hoping that the person on the note would be able to gain eternal life.”
“It allows one to receive blessings and grace, increasing longevity and helping to atone for sins. The elderly gentleman was clearly knowledgeable, and after his explanation, both Harper and Madeline understood completely.
“So it’s a prayer for eternal life, Maddie, Harper mused, intrigued. “I should get one for myself.”
The old man coughed gently. “Not everyone can have one.”
Madeline was curious. “What do you need!”
He chuckled. You need… fate and money!
Madeline didn’t quite understand. She glanced again at the note beside the Saint’s Statue, thinking it probably had nothing to do with her. It was just a coincidence.
