Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 11

"Grandma, I'm here. It's Maddy."

Madeline wept. "I'm so sorry, Grandma. It's my fault for being abroad recently. I didn't realize your health had deteriorated this much. If I had known, I would have taken you with me for treatment. The medical care out there is much better."

The old woman smiled faintly, shaking her head. "Maddy, death is a natural part of life. I know I'm nearing the end. No hospital in the world can fix this old body."

"No, it's not like that. Grandma, hold on, I'll find a way to cure you! I can't lose you, Grandma... please don't." Madeline's tears spilled over like a broken dam.

An agonizing wave of grief washed over her.

Her grandmother was her only family, the one person in the world who loved her the most.

"Maddy, don't cry. Having a granddaughter as devoted as you means I have no regrets in this life. It's just that I'm worried about you..."

The old woman looked at her with boundless affection. "Have you and Lucius... reconciled?"

Her voice trailed off as she glanced toward the empty hospital room doorway behind Madeline, but her grandson-in-law was nowhere to be seen.

Madeline cradled the old woman's frail, branch-like arms, unable to hide her inner torment any longer.

Madeline never expected that her grandmother, who had always insisted on her reconciling with Lucius, would encourage her to leave him in this final moment.

It suddenly dawned on Madeline that her grandmother's only true wish had always been for her to be happy.

As Madeline sat there stunned, the light in her grandmother's eyes began to slowly fade, and her voice grew devastatingly weak. "Maddy, there's one more important thing I need to tell you! It's about your true parentage..."

Madeline gasped. "Grandma, tell me!"

Her grandmother's voice dropped to the faintest whisper. "Maddy, never let them make you feel inferior. You are just as good as anyone else in this world. The truth is, you and Lucius are perfectly matched. Your real parents are..."