Twin Cupids at Work Daddy Come Home novel Chapter 35

Madeline and Brenda walked away without looking back. Helene’s high-pitched screams echoed down the hallway, fading into the distance. Julian just stood there, his eyes stormy and confused, as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened.

Brenda hurried to catch up, grabbing Madeline’s arm. She expected tears, maybe even a complete breakdown. She knew Madeline better than anyone. The harder Madeline pushed back against Julian, the more it hurt her inside. Under that tough exterior, she’d always been delicate, far more sensitive than she let on.

But tonight, Madeline’s face was cold, almost blank. There was not a single tear. It was like none of it had even touched her.

“Madeline,” Brenda said quietly, holding on to her hand, “Let’s get you to the hospital.”

Madeline didn’t argue. Her hand definitely needed stitches.

Brenda looked so worried that Madeline finally let her guard drop, just a little. “It’s okay. It’s really not that bad. I knew what I was doing.”

She’d hurt her left hand on purpose. She’d never risk the right one.

Brenda started the car, cursing Julian under her breath and kicking herself for not thinking things through.

Madeline managed a tired smile. “Brenda, I’m okay. It’s just a cut. Cuts heal.”

But some things don’t. Wounds on the heart take forever.

After Madeline left the restaurant, Julian told his people to get Helene to the hospital. Helene was a mess, crying so hard she could barely talk, her voice trembling and weak. She’d honestly thought Julian would never let Madeline walk away so easily. Now, watching him do just that, she was furious and miserable all at once.

Her tears just kept coming, as if she could cry all the pain out of her system.

Julian pressed his fingers to his forehead, feeling a headache start to pound. He watched the security footage, but his mind was somewhere else. Helene was the last thing on his mind.

Somewhere else, on the other side of a screen, two more pairs of eyes watched Julian. Oliver’s tiny fists were clenched tight, knuckles white. Casey’s gaze was cold and deadly, a dangerous spark flickering to life.

…

By the time Madeline’s hand was bandaged and she left the hospital, it was already dark outside. She and Brenda hadn’t even gotten to eat dinner, so they stopped by the supermarket for groceries, planning to cook something simple at the apartment.

Brenda kept glancing over at her, worried. Madeline hadn’t said a word since they left the hospital.

Brenda had never understood. After Julian’s accident and coma, Madeline had saved his life by donating her kidney, but she’d never told him.

Finally, Brenda couldn’t keep it in any longer. “Madeline, Helene left Julian behind that night. You saved him. You lost a kidney for him. Why didn’t you ever tell him?”

Madeline’s eyes clouded over. For a long time, she said nothing. At last, she answered quietly, “Because I promised his grandfather Christian I’d never say a word. Not for the rest of my life.”

“Why? Why would you promise something like that?”