The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning by Max Charming Chapter 767
Madelyn shivered, grappling with unfamiliar emotions. ‘Mom’s childhood sweetheart? But Rosario said Mom was an orphan and Father took her in, right?’
Even in the warm living room, Madelyn felt a chill go down her spine. She made her way to the study and opened the pink leather-bound notebook. As she leafed through its pages, she paused at one with precise, fine handwriting.
[January 20th, 1975, sunny. I turned sixteen today! Agustin gifted me a necklace and a stunning white pony. Can’t wait to ride it around town. I wonder what Mom and Dad have planned for my birthday.]
[January 21st, 1975, cloudy. I was out riding Agustin’s pony when a man on a large horse, sporting tall boots, startled me. He snarkily called me a “whiny little kid.” And my new outfit from Mom? It got ripped.]
[March 28th, 1975. That man from before returned, asking Dad for money. From the doorway, I caught his eye. His towering height and intense look sent me hurrying back to my room. Mom says he’s around to protect Willowbrookshire, and Bethany seems to be smitten with him. She’s even mentioning marriage. But after he yelled at me that one time, I just see him as a bully.]
‘Willowbrookshire? Where’s that?’ Madelyn had never heard of the place. She flipped through the pages, which seemed to chronicle her mother’s teen years.
[July 12th, 1976. He still didn’t come home tonight. Where could he be? I’m sorry, Erick. I won’t snap at you again, promise. Can you please come back?]
‘Erick? Not coming home? Was Mom living with this guy when she was just seventeen?’ It was not unusual for young couples to be living together at that age. Madelyn read several pages, then moved further ahead in the diary.
[May 20th, 1978. He finally agreed to marry me! Soon, his wealth, including those shiny diamonds, will be mine. I’ll be the center of attention in Willowbrookshire. However, last night, while he was sleeping, I spotted another wrinkle on his face. Why is he aging so quickly? He might find it hard to match my pace soon. He’s keen on us having a baby, but I think I’m not ready yet.
The idea of childbirth is intimidating. But now that I think about it, having a child together might not be so bad after all. He said there’s a special diamond waiting if I decide to. The notion of having multiple children for more diamonds did cross my mind. If we had a daughter first, Madelyn might be a fitting name. Tonight, he took me out to see the moon, and its beauty was unmatched. I hope our daughter, if we have one, shines as brightly as I do.]
Some pages were faded and others smeared, leaving them almost unreadable. There was a brownish stain that looked like dried out blood, seemingly soaked through from another page.
Madelyn’s expression changed to a serious one. The information in front of her was significant. While the exact date and time on some pages were unclear, she could still decipher them. Most entries in the dairy mentioned a man named “Erick,” but there was no mention of her father’s name.
