Kirsten froze, her hands stilling on the flowers, her expression
one of stunned confusion.
“Mrs. Livingston, did you forget? Dr. Clark is Mr. Kevin’s
therapist.”
Madeleine’s breath caught, her mind racing.
Her anxiety spiked, and she pressed for details.
Kirsten, though puzzled by Madeleine’s reaction, explained
everything.
As the words sank in, Madeleine’s face drained of color.
Kevin’s nightmare two nights ago wasn’t just a bad dream–it was tied to psychological issues.
Beyond that, he struggled with deep insecurities, trust issues, and…
“You’re saying Kev… hurt himself to get attention?”
Madeleine’s voice trembled, barely above a whisper.
Chapter 22
Kirsten sighed, her eyes soft with sympathy.
“Yes. It broke Mr. Livingston’s heart.
“He was overseas on business, but he chartered a plane to get
back that same night. Thankfully, Mr. Kevin was okay.”
Madeleine’s lips quivered, words failing her for a long moment
before she managed to choke out, “And me? What was I
doing?”
“Well…”
Kirsten hesitated, her expression uneasy. She glanced at
Madeleine, reluctant to answer.
“It’s okay, just tell me,” Madeleine urged, bracing herself.
Kirsten sighed again, her voice low. “You said Mr. Carroll from
the Carroll Group had a cold. You went to deliver medicine, so
you weren’t home.”
Madeleine’s heart plummeted, a wave of guilt crashing over her
like a cold tide.
Those choices weren’t made by the eighteen–year–old her, but
the weight of them–her role as Kevin’s mother–pressed heavily
Chapter 22
on her now, filling her with aching regret.
She took a deep breath, steadying herself.
The past was done, unchangeable. All she could do now was
make up for the pain she’d caused.
“Thanks, Kirsten,” she said softly. “Could you whip up
something to eat?”
Kirsten blinked, thrown by Madeleine’s gratitude. “Oh! Sure, give
me a moment.”
She headed to the kitchen, still puzzled, while Madeleine’s heart
churned with bittersweet emotions.
Food was the last thing on her mind, but she sat down to eat
anyway.
Kirsten was a wonderful cook. She prepared two delicious
dishes and even a small dessert.
Madeleine had been raised to believe that eating food prepared
by others with sincerity was a form of respect.
As she savored Kirsten’s dishes, she showered her with praise,
leaving Kirsten flustered and blushing.
Chapter 22
After lunch, Kirsten slipped away to chat with Meagan Velez,
who was in charge of cleaning. Their conversation turned to
Madeleine’s odd behavior.
“Meagan, do you think Mrs. Livingston’s planning to fire me?”
Kirsten fretted.
Meagan clicked her tongue. “Could be. You know how she is-
unpredictable. If she’s acting this weird, you probably ticked her
off somehow.”
Kirsten’s face drained of color. She regretted every word she
had said earlier.
Meagan patted her arm. “Don’t stress. Mr. Livingston’s the one
who calls the shots. Just be extra careful for a bit; don’t ruffle
her feathers.”
Kirsten sighed. “Guess that’s all I can do.”
Madeleine, completely unaware that her staff was secretly
painting her as a tyrant, was debating whether to check in on
Kevin’s session. Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a WhatsApp
message.
It was from someone labeled “Mary.” Madeleine drew a blank- she had no memory of this person. The message included a
Chapter 22
photo and a note.
The note read, “Maddie, got that perfume you asked me to
grab. Your hubby’s gonna love this one. When are you swinging
by to pick it up?”
The tone suggested a friend, but Madeleine couldn’t remember
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