“I…”

Madison became flustered, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

She avoided his gaze and said, “I don’t know what you are talking about. This ring is mine! Give it back to me!” 

Madison ignored Allen’s question and stretched her arm forward to reach for the ring.

She did not want to answer the question. Her experience at The Nyx that night was the last thing she wanted to tell anyone about.

However, just as Madison’s fingertip touched the diamond on the ring, Allen grabbed it back.

“Answer my question, Madison. Where did you get the ring from?” Allen asked as he pressed forward, his tall figure looming over her. 

Her voice was deep and hoary, and it seemed like he was suppressing something. His eyes seemed like endless tunnels leading to one collective abyss.

Madison averted her gaze and said, “I’ve already said it! This ring is mine… Please give the ring back to me, Allen

With a loud crack, the ring was smashed by Allen into pieces right in front of Madison. 

“No… No… Why… Why did you do this to me… Why…” Madison cried as she threw herself on the floor despite the fact that pieces of the ring on the floor would hurt her.

Her hands were shaking as she picked up the pieces from the floor. 

Although Allen had smashed the obsidian ring into countless pieces and the diamonds encrusted on the ring had scattered all over the floor, she could not give up. 

Dragging her feet across the floor, she picked up the pieces one by one. Tears continued to flow from her eyes incessantly as this was the only thing that could lead her to the man.

It was her only hope.

It had taken her a lot of effort to get this 'evidence' back from Vivian, which cost her $30,000.

She did not understand how Allen could destroy something so important to someone else and had no remorse 

After getting the ring back, Madison limped back to the apartment. 

Despite having injuries on her forehead and ankle, she felt relaxed.

She already had everything planned out. Other than taking care of her mother, the only thing she needed to do for the next year was to save more money so that she could return the money to Hendrick as soon as possible.

However, as soon as she pushed the door and entered the apartment, she was taken aback by the silence in the apartment, and her hand froze on the door handle. 

She lifted her head and met a pair of gloomy and icy eyes.

‘Allen is home! But why did he come back so early?’

Madison’s face turned pale.

When facing Allen’s deep and cold gaze, her body shook inexplicably, and her temples throbbed.

A bad feeling rose up in her chest, but she could not tell why she would have this kind of feeling.

“You’re back.” It was rare for Allen to speak to her nicely, and his low, magnetic voice made it hard for anyone to tell his mood right now.

Madison nodded. “Yeah. I… I forgot to buy groceries. I’ll go—”

The moment she turned around, Allen threw two black, tattered plastic bags on the floor.

Women's clothing, daily necessities, and other things spilled out of the bags and scattered all over the floor. After Madison looked at the things on the floor, her blood turned cold.

Those two plastic bags were what she had brought with her, and the things on the floor were all from her room!

“Mr. Whitlock, what are you…”

“Madison, did I ever tell you before that if you break my rules again, I would kick you out of my house? $30,000… Honestly, I didn’t expect you to be so cunning. I’ve been wondering why you didn’t take the money that my grandfather gave you. So, you were aiming for more.”

“No… It’s not what you think it is…”

Understanding suddenly dawned upon Madison as to why Allen would be waiting for her here. 

He was under the impression she had cheated his grandfather of his money.

“Mr. Whitlock, it’s Mr. Richardson who—”

“I don’t want to hear your explanation,” Allen said sternly, cutting her short.

His tall body sank into the couch. His legs were crossed, and a dark shadow loomed over him. 

The way he looked at her was like he was looking at the most filthy and despicable thing.

“You make me sick, Madison,” he said. “Our cooperation is canceled from now on. Since $150,000 can’t satisfy you, then just forget about it. I want to see $180,000 in my bank account by the end of tomorrow. Now, get out of here. I don’t want to see you again,” Allen said coldly as he pointed at the door. 

Madison had exhausted his patience, and he would no longer give her any chance.

“No… Mr. Whitlock, you can’t do this to me… I can’t lose this contract… I need the money…”

Madison stood still for several seconds before she forced herself to snap back to reality.

Allen wanted her to return the money, but she did not have money to give him! She needed money more than anyone else did…

Her mother was waiting for surgery in the hospital. She did not have any money right now, let alone $180,000. 

“I’m sorry, Mr. Whitlock. I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have done those things and made you angry… I promise I’ll listen to everything you say from now onward! Please don’t kick me out of here. I can’t lose the money… Please, I beg of you…”

Madison stumbled and fell beside Allen’s feet. She ignored the excruciating pain from her ankle and grasped tightly at Allen’s sleeve, pleading for his forgiveness.

Her face was filled with tears, and she looked pitiful now, especially her teary eyes. They looked like they could talk, and with the wound on her forehead, she could make everyone’s heart melt for her. 

Allen squinted and had mixed feelings when he saw the wound on Madison’s forehead. 

However, he frowned deeply again in the next second. 

He could not believe that a greedy and filthy woman like Madison would have such a pretty face. He had the urge to keep her by his side for a moment. But unfortunately, she was unforgivable. 

Just when he was about to tell her to get out of there, a necklace fell out of Madison’s collar, and at the end of the necklace was a men’s ring that looked very familiar to him. 

The ring was made of obsidian and encrusted with many diamonds.

Allen’s face fell, and he grabbed the necklace. 

He looked at the ring on the necklace before turning to Madison, meeting her teary eyes. 

‘Why is the ring I left at The Nyx in her hands? Could it be…’

Suddenly, Allen’s blood boiled as an idea crossed his head. His throat felt like it was burning as he grabbed her wrist and asked sternly, “Where did you get this ring from?”

“I…”

Madison became flustered, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

She avoided his gaze and said, “I don’t know what you are talking about. This ring is mine! Give it back to me!” 

Madison ignored Allen’s question and stretched her arm forward to reach for the ring.

She did not want to answer the question. Her experience at The Nyx that night was the last thing she wanted to tell anyone about.

However, just as Madison’s fingertip touched the diamond on the ring, Allen grabbed it back.

“Answer my question, Madison. Where did you get the ring from?” Allen asked as he pressed forward, his tall figure looming over her. 

Her voice was deep and hoary, and it seemed like he was suppressing something. His eyes seemed like endless tunnels leading to one collective abyss.

Madison averted her gaze and said, “I’ve already said it! This ring is mine… Please give the ring back to me, Allen. It’s very important to me…”

“If it’s yours, then tell me honestly how you got it.” Allen grabbed 

Chapter 20 Tell Him the Truth