CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT – A TERRIBLE EVENING

"So Madison, dear...do tell us more about this sad, departed husband of yours. And by what means did you come into possession of his company, exactly?" Madison felt her cheeks flush hotly, the final insult too much for her to bear any longer. How dare this wretched woman bring up her beloved Ethan in such a coldly opportunistic way? "If you'll excuse me, I'm feeling quite faint all of a sudden," Madison said tightly, pushing back from the table and standing abruptly. She turned on her heel and marched away from the tense silence filling the dining room, blinking back angry tears. Cameron sprang up from his seat a moment later. "Madison, wait!" he called after her in the hallway, looking pained. "I...I'm so dreadfully sorry for my family's behavior tonight. You didn't deserve any of that." Despite his pleading, apologetic expression...Madison just felt numb. An overwhelming sense of fool disillusionment crashed over her. This whole elaborate evening, the opportunity to