CHAPTER 188 A BIT FREE

"I know, Michael," Madison said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know my mother was struggling. I knew she was depressed, and I knew she was desperate. But I never thought...I never thought she would actually hurt ME." Tears began to stream down her face as she realized the truth. Her mother's poisoning HER WAS an accident. It was a desperate cry for help, a plea for attention and love. Michael pulled her into a hug, holding her close as she sobbed. "I'm so sorry, Madison," he whispered. "I'm so sorry you had to go through this." Madison clung to him, her heart heavy with grief and guilt. She knew she couldn't have changed her mother's fate, but she couldn't help feeling like she should have done something more. "I went to the office today and spoke to your mother's colleagues," Michael said, his voice gentle. "They told me she had been struggling with stress and anxiety, but they had no idea it was this bad." Madison pulled back from the hug, her eyes red and puffy from cryi