Chapter 6

In Madelyn's past life, Zach married Cecilia partly because she bore a slight resemblance to Jadie. From childhood to adulthood, Madelyn was inferior to Jadie in every way, whether it was grades or appearance, except for her family background. Jadie and Zach had a strong bond, but Zach felt no affection for Madelyn, as she was the daughter of his enemy. The knocking grew louder, making Madelyn anxious as she bit her lip. Zach had never been patient with her. If she didn't open the door for him soon, he might even kick it down without a second thought. So, she flicked the light switch, pulled back the blanket, and slipped on her shoes as she got out of bed. Opening the door, she put on a pretense of just waking up and rubbed her eyes. "Brother? You're back! Sorry, I was asleep and didn't hear anything. Is there something you need?" Zach furrowed his eyebrows. However, seeing her sleepy appearance and realizing she had made an effort to let him in, his brows relaxed. He reached out to touch Madelyn's head, but she avoided his touch by turning away and lowering her gaze. Trying to hide her emotions, she walked to a nearby table and poured herself a glass of water. A coldness flickered in Zach's eyes. He casually withdrew his hand and entered Madelyn's room. As he closed the door behind him, Madelyn's uneasiness grew, but she calmed herself by thinking that the current Zach despised her and wouldn't harm her in any way. Zach looked around Madelyn's pink room, catching the familiar scent of her perfume, just like the one she placed in his car. He smiled, thinking, 'She's still the same old Madelyn.' Then, he asked in a relaxed tone, "Feeling better?" Madelyn placed the glass back on the table and pulled out a chair, making sure to keep her distance from him. "Thanks for caring, but I'm much better now." Zach approached her, and a mix of tobacco and alcohol floated around him. It wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't terrible either. Unlike others his age, Zach had already achieved success as a business leader at his young age. Maybe his experience in the corporate world gave him that pride and demeanor. Dressed in a sleek black suit, the tall and well-built Zach had a captivating charm, easily drawing attention and winning favor with women. However, Madelyn knew there was more to Zach than just his good looks. Behind his handsome facade, a menacing devil lurked, ready to destroy the Jent family and her life. To keep her distance from Zach, Madelyn purposely wrinkled her nose and waved her hand. "Brother, are you smoking again? And I can smell alcohol. Hate that scent." As expected, he stopped approaching. "I'm sorry. I've been with social gatherings. I'll be more careful." Without waiting for him to bring it up, Madelyn took the initiative to mention Jadie. "Is Jadie coming back tomorrow? It's been years since I last saw her, and I miss her. I've already had Rosario tidy up the upstairs room, so she can move in." Zach narrowed his eyes. "No need. Jadie's moving to my place." "I see," Madelyn said softly while touching her wrist bandage. She felt a twinge of pain in her heart. "I see... Let me know if you need any help." In Madelyn's previous life, Zach had also mentioned that he wanted Jadie to move to his place, but Madelyn strongly disagreed. She didn't want to miss the chance to torment Jadie, and her love for Zach was so deep that she couldn't bear the thought of him and Jadie living together. Hence, she convinced Zach to let Jadie stay with her at the Jent residence, using the excuse of wanting company. "Tomorrow's my day off, so I'll head to the airport to pick her up and bring her here for dinner. We'll leave after she packs her things. You can join us in the evening and hang out together." Madelyn smiled and politely declined, "I won't be joining you guys. I need to relax at home for a day. Exams are coming up, and I must focus on my studies." As she noticed Zach's stern expression, a touch of nervousness came over her. She didn't want to get caught up in his conflicts with others. Her goal was to play the role of an obedient and harmless sister, endure these few years, save money, and make her escape. However, Zach was suspicious and unpredictable, leaving her uncertain if she could deceive him. Zach calmly observed Madelyn, who now displayed a submissive demeanor, a sharp contrast to her previously arrogant and defiant attitude. He sneered inwardly, 'She's really doing a great job for keeping up this act for this long.' He spoke gently, "Both you and Jadie are my sisters. I won't show favoritism to either of you... When I come back tonight, let's have dinner together. I'll get you your favorite strawberry mousse cake. How does that sound?" Madelyn didn't dare let her guard down. She smiled and said, "Okay, thank you, Brother." "Get some rest early." "Mhm."