Chapter 17 I Can’t Let Him Find Out

Madison’s blood turned cold. She was blank for two seconds before replying, “No… I went to my room and slept after cleaning up the kitchen. What’s the matter? Did something happen last night?” Allen did not say anything in return for a long while. Madison kept her head low as she did not dare to meet his gaze. The pain in her cheeks had caused numbness, and a sense of dizziness suddenly assaulted her due to lack of oxygen. “Nothing happened,” Allen replied coldly. “But remember not to go to the second floor. If I find out you've been up there secretly, I’ll immediately chase you out of my place.” With that, he slammed the door shut. This time, Allen really left. “Phew…” Madison gasped, and her body went limp. Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest earlier. Thankfully, she had managed to keep up the act. Madison had no desire to ask anything from Allen, nor did she want him to know that she had been in his room last night. She just wanted to get through the year peacefully. She wiped the tears off her face, cleaned the kitchen, and went out in a hurry She first asked for a leave from her company and went to the hospital to visit her mother. When she was taking care of her mother in the hospital, she flipped through her contact list, trying to look for someone who could lend her $30,000 so that she could buy the ring back from Vivian but to no avail. Undoubtedly, Rowena would lend her the money without batting an eye, but Rowena’s grandfather had taken away her credit cards when he found out that Rowena helped her in the past. She was already very grateful that Rowena was willing to offer her a job at her studio, so she did not want to trouble her anymore. Besides, if Rowena’s grandfather found out that Rowena had been helping her again, it was hard to imagine how he would hold it against Rowena in the future. ‘Maybe I should talk with Vivian again? Or should I call my uncle and ask for an extension?’ Madison paced back and forth with her phone, feeling anxious. Suddenly, she got an incoming call from Vivian. “Hello, Madison. How's your preparation for the $30,000 going? I’ll just let you know in advance. My mom just made an appointment with the pawnshop. The ring will be gone if you can't come up with the money before 6:00 p.m..” “I… I’m still trying to get the money ready. $30,000 is just too much. Vivian… Can you help me, please? Please tell Aunt Lily that—” “No way! We’re not that close, so what makes you think that I’ll help you? Do you really think you’re still my pampered cousin from before? “You need to wake up. Your dad dumped your mother, so nobody wants you now. You’d better drop the thought if you think I’ll help you. I’ll make it very clear for you, Madison, I want $30,000 and not a penny less! My mom will take the ring to the pawnshop at 6:00 p.m. I want to see the money by then!” After that, Vivian hung up the call. Holding her phone, Madison felt a throbbing pain in her temples, and a dizzy feeling came over her. She did not know why the world had to be so harsh on her. Vivian’s words deeply hurt her. Her tears filled her eyes when she found that she could not argue back. She was so useless. Not only did she have to endure the insults from the person she hated the most, but she also had to give her $30,000. However, looking at her mother lying peacefully on the hospital bed, she could only wipe away her tears and go out to ask for help. With no other options, Madison reached out to wealthy ladies who were her mother’s friends in the past. She even tried to swallow her pride and visit those people in the business world who had watched her grow up. Unfortunately, she was no longer one of the Campbells. Jenova was large, but no one would offer any help to them. “Shoo, shoo, get out of here! I already told you that our boss isn’t in the country. If you want to borrow money, go somewhere else. We’re not a charity organization!” Madison had lost count of how many times she was ruthlessly kicked out of a company. The security guard was rough, and she was pushed so hard that she stumbled and fell down several flights of stairs. “Ouch—” Madison fell straight down, her forehead hitting the nearby stair railing hard. Her vision went black for a moment, and the pain was excruciating. Several seconds later, blood gushed out of her forehead. “This isn’t my fault! You’re the one who didn’t stand firmly!” the security guard said nervously before running away, leaving Madison alone on the staircase. It took her a long while before the dizziness disappeared and she came to her senses. She endured the pain and tried to stand up with the support of the handrail. As soon as she stood up, a sharp pain shot up from her left ankle, and she fell back down with cold sweat on her forehead. She sprained her leg! ‘Why am I so unlucky!?’ However, she did not have much time left. It was almost four now. She would not get the ring back if she did not get enough money. Madison did not have time to tend to her wound. She suppressed the pain and dragged her left foot which was almost impossible to walk on step by step to the roadside to hail a taxi. She had to get the money. Suddenly, the phone that she was clutching in her hand vibrated. A notification from the bank popped up, stating that she had received a transaction of $30,000 in her bank account. Madison was dumbfounded.