Twin Cupids at Work Daddy Come Home novel Chapter 254

Helene called Raine and dragged her out for dress shopping. The moment Raine hung up, she flung her phone onto the bed and clenched her fists, her face twisted with anger. “Seriously? She acts like I’m her maid. I took all the blame, she took all the credit, and now she wants me to play shopping buddy? She can just... go to hell!”

Kate hurried over to pick up the phone, her eyes filled with worry as she watched Raine fume. After what happened last night, Raine’s hatred for Madeline and Helene was practically boiling over.

“Raine, don’t be like this. Our family’s business still relies on the Fortner Group.” Kate’s voice was gentle, trying to calm her down. Drew never had much of a head for business, and Monroe Corporation leaned hard on Fortner Group for most of their projects. That meant they couldn’t afford to upset Helene. Even after last night, whatever Helene wanted them to say, they had to go along with it. All they could do was swallow their pride.

“I just heard her mention there’s a party tomorrow night,” Kate said quietly. “Those are the kinds of parties our family could never get you into on our own. You need to go with her, do you understand?”

Raine’s eyes were red, and she stared at her mother like she was seeing her for the first time. “So I’m just a tool to you, huh? Passed around for whoever needs me?”

Kate shook her head. “Of course not, Raine. I’m thinking of your future. If you go to those high-end parties, you’ll meet a completely different crowd. Helene might be using you, but you can use her too. You get what I mean?”

“Use her?” Raine bit down on her lower lip, a cold, dangerous look flashing in her eyes. “Yeah. I should use her alright.”

…

Madeline spent all morning under observation at the hospital before she finally gave up and left. As she stepped outside, a white Audi pulled up right in front of her.

The window rolled down and Brenda grinned at her from behind a pair of sunglasses. “Hey, gorgeous. I came to get you myself. If that’s not friendship, I don’t know what is.”

Madeline slid into the passenger seat, sighing in relief. “You’re the best. I was about to call for a ride.”

“So? Feeling better?” Brenda asked, merging into traffic.

“I’m fine now. Back to my usual self.”

Brenda shot her a look. “Alright, spill. How did you end up in the hospital last night with a fever? And more importantly, why was Julian with you?”

Madeline couldn’t help laughing. Brenda’s persistence finally wore her down, and she told her everything that happened.

Brenda stared at her, eyes wide. “What? I can’t believe I missed all this. You’re lucky you’re okay. I told you, you shouldn’t go back to that house. That family is nothing but trouble. They’d eat you alive if you let them.”

Madeline shook her head. “That’s not fair. Grandma isn’t like that.”

Brenda was serious now. “Are you sure? Think about it, Maddie. Grandma Monroe watched Raine grow up. She knows her inside and out. She has seen more in their lives than we can imagine. There’s no way she couldn’t see through Raine’s little games.”

Madeline frowned, doubt flickering across her face. “Are you saying Grandma knew and just let it happen? That she secretly allowed it?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. It’s easy to see things clearly when you’re not in the middle of them. I think Grandma Monroe might be helping Raine behind the scenes. She could be the one pulling the strings, acting all kind but actually playing her own game.”

Madeline’s forehead creased as she thought about her time with the Monroe family. She just couldn’t picture Grandma Monroe as that kind of person. And she had to wonder, what reason would she even have? Her mother’s inheritance was taken away by Drew years ago when she was still a kid. There was nothing left for them to want from her now.