CHAPTER 11
Madelynn was woken up by the sound of her phone buzzing the next morning. She sleepily reached for it only to see that it was a message from her father.
Her morning had suddenly gotten sour.
She hadn’t heard from him in ages, he never reached out to her. Still, she opened the message. [Come home now.]
That was it. No warmth and no explanation.
Sebastian walked in moments later, barefoot and sleepy, his hair tousled from sleep. When he saw her frown, his eyebrows creased.
‘What’s wrong?”
‘My father,” she replied flatly. “He wants me to come home.”
Sebastian’s jaw tensed. He knew the kind of ‘home’ she came from.
‘If you go, I’ll go with you,” he said immediately. “They won’t be able to do anything with me here.”
She turned and buried her face against his chest. “Bash… that means a lot to me.”
He smiled softly, fingers trailing down her back. “Then maybe you can show me just how much it neans later tonight?”
Madelynn flushed, swatting at his chest. “Stop. We’re not talking about that.”
Sebastian chuckled but said nothing more. He just pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.
After breakfast, she added, “I haven’t visited in a long time. Maybe we should bring something?” I’ve already arranged it,” Sebastian said casually. “Ten boxes of gifts are ready. Luxury items ine art, the works. Let them see what they never appreciated.”
Madelynn hesitated. “That’s a bit much…”
He smiled. “You’re about to be my wife. What’s too much for you?”
She didn’t argue further.
By the time she came downstairs, dressed in a soft peach dress, Sebastian’s men were already oading the car with gift boxes.
Madelynn looked at the extravagant scene, then turned to him with a dry smile. “Anyone who sees this might think you’re bribing them for marrying me.”
“Who knows?” Sebastian said with a wink. “I just might be.”
Two hours later, their car pulled up to the Fontaine estate.
“Should we bring the gifts in now, Ma’am?” Carl, Sebastian’s driver, asked.
“Yes,” Madelynn said. “Bash, maybe you should wait in the car? I haven’t seen them in so long, I think it’s better if I go in alone.”
“Yes, of course.” Sebastian agreed.
She thanked him and stepped out of the car.
C
But just as her heels touched the marble steps, a porcelain teacup came flying through the open doors and narrowly missed her head.
Startled, she stepped back instinctively.
Amelia’s voice rang out from inside, sharp and cold. “So you finally remembered your family!”
Carl rushed to Madelynn’s side, his tone tense. “Are you alright, ma’am?”
“I’m fine,” she said calmly, brushing off her skirt. Her voice held no fear, just quiet resolve. Madelynn wasn’t surprised by the attack or the venom in her mother’s voice.
This wasn’t new.
“Wait here,” she told Carl calmly. “I’ll go in alone.”
She stepped through the door with the same grace she used to force on herself as a child. Chir up, spine straight, and eyes forward. This time, though, it wasn’t an act.
Inside, her mother and father sat in the main seats, and Oliver and Cecelia were off to the side.
From the moment she entered, Oliver’s eyes locked on her.
She wore a soft, fitted dress that flowed like sunlight, her hair was swept up, and her makeu was perfect.
Cecelia clenched her fists as she watched Oliver stare at Madelynn.
‘Father. Mother,” she greeted evenly, pausing just inside the room.
Harry’s face immediately turned red. “How dare you even call me your father!?”
He slammed his hand on the armrest. “Where the hell have you been these past few days’ You’re married, Madelynn! You think you can just run around as you please?”
She didn’t flinch. “I needed space.”
‘And you brought bodyguards to our house like you’re here to take over?” he snapped.
‘Dad,” she replied calmly, “those men are here for my protection, not as a threat.”
‘Oh so now you need protection from your family?” Her father yelled.
Cecelia jumped in smoothly, her voice coated in fake sweetness. “Dad, don’t be angry. Maddy has always had a dramatic streak. You should be used to it by now.”
Madelynn almost laughed. It was the classic move… Cecelia making herself look sweet while throwing her under the bus.
Carl, standing at the door, couldn’t stay silent any longer. He stepped in, his tone respectful bu firm.
“Mr. and Mrs. Fontaine, forgive my interruption, but the men outside are carrying gifts from Miss Madelyn. She still respects you both deeply and I hope you respect her too.”
Harry squinted at Carl. “And who are you supposed to be?”
Cecelia saw the opportunity and pounced.
“Maddy, is this the man you’ve been sneaking around with?”
She turned to their parents with mock pity. “Oliver is your husband, and yet you’re out here with some random older man? As your sister, I didn’t want to say anything, but isn’t this too much?”
