“You guys go ahead. I’m almost ready. I just need to change my shoes.” Madelyn walked over to the shoe rack and slipped on a pair of white cashmere shoes. Downstairs, Hayson was already seated on the living room couch.
Today marked the Jent family’s customary event. While Hayson wasn’t as stringent with Zach, he had always held high expectations for Madelyn. However, since Jadie wasn’t directly adopted by Hayson, she was excused from certain Jent family customs. Madelyn approached Hayson and said warmly, “I wish you good health, safety, and happiness.”
“Thank you,” Hayson replied, handing her a gift card envelope. Madelyn took the envelope with both hands. “Thank you, Father,” she said, revealing a sincere smile.
Just after she received Hayson’s envelope, Zach took out another envelope from his suit pocket. “No need. Father already gave me something,” Madelyn said.
“I already gave Jadie one,” replied Zach. Madelyn glanced at Jadie. Jadie smiled and said, “Go ahead and take it. Zach gave me too.” Madelyn accepted it, but Zach did not let go. “Nothing to say to me?”
Madelyn rolled her eyes. “Fine, I wish you a long life, to find your true love soon, and to start a family next year.” After saying this, she unceremoniously pulled her hand away. She did not even give him a second look before turning to leave. Feeling the envelope, it was something hard, like a card.
After dinner, Madelyn returned to her room. She opened Hayson’s envelope, and there was indeed a check for $ 10,000 inside. In addition, she emptied Zach’s envelope, and inside was a credit card. ‘What does he mean by this? ‘Madelyn thought, tossing it aside disdainfully. The idea of spending even a cent of his money made her stomach turn.
Madelyn turned on her fully charged phone and quickly scanned through her messages. Right at midnight, Ethan had sent her a text. She had been asleep at that moment. Madelyn’s immediate response was to send him a text in return. Almost as soon as she hit the send” button, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from him. The sudden vibration caught her off guard, but she managed to stay composed and answered the call.
“Were you sleeping?” His voice, heavy with fatigue, came through the speaker. Madelyn answered, “No, I had my phone off all night, and I just read your message when I turned it on. How about you? Have you had any rest?”
As she asked, she could hear Leyton’s voice faintly in the background of the call. “The plane tickets are booked; we’re good to go.”
“Okay, get yourself prepared first,” Ethan replied.
“Yes, sir,” Leyton responded.
