CHAPTER 14
Harry’s face turned a sickly red-green mix.
Sebastian watched the reactions with disdain.
The Fontaine’s had a lot of money, yes- but it barely scratched the surface of the true elite. And what Madelynn had just offered? It dwarfed everything they’d ever achieved.
Harry quickly shifted tone, scrambling to salvage what he could.
“Mr. Wilde, this is clearly a huge misunderstanding. Madelynn is our daughter. Why wouldn’t we love her? This isn’t what it looks like.”
He stepped toward Madelynn, eyes almost soft. “Maddy, I know you misunderstood us. We’ve made mistakes, but-”
She cut him off, her voice calm and cool. “You want forgiveness?”
Harry froze.
Madelynn’s gaze swept across the room, then settled on Cecelia.
‘Then she leaves,” Madelynn said. “Get Cecelia out of this house. Cut ties with her, and I’l consider forgiving you.”
Harry’s expression turned dark.
You’re still clinging to this petty grudge?”
She arched her brow. “So your answer is no?”
He clenched his jaw.
Amelia opened her mouth to speak, but Cecelia dropped to her knees before she could.
Big sister, please! If you make them kick me out, I’ll have nothing!”
Her tears flowed, mascara streaking down her cheeks. She clung to Madelynn’s legs like a desperate child.
Amelia’s heart clenched. “Madelynn, she’s your sister…”
Madelynn’s eyes didn’t soften.
‘No, she’s not,” she said quietly. “Not by blood. Not by connection or anything.”
Amelia took a step toward her, more desperate than ever. “Madelynn, I do love you. I just… neve <new how to show it. You were never an easy child to love. You can’t blame me for that.”
Madelynn’s gaze was blank.
“That’s good to know then. It should be easy for you to forget about me.”
Then, without another word, she turned and took Sebastian’s hand.
They walked toward the door.
Amelia rushed after her, calling out, “Madelynn, wait!”
She was beginning to feel regret. Had she really abandoned her biological child, just for Cecelia? Surely, she could’ve loved them both equally. How did she let things get so bad?
Madelynn stopped, turned slightly, and looked over her shoulder one last time.
“Mrs. Fontaine,” she said softly, “save your words for Cecelia.”
Then to Sebastian, she said, “Let’s get out of here.”
And just like that, she left the house where she had never once been welcome… and never looked
back.
Cecelia wrapped an arm around Amelia. “I’ll always be here with you. You know that.”
The ride back to the Wilde estate was quiet.
Madelynn sat beside Sebastian in the backseat, her hands resting in her lap. Though her posture was composed, he could feel the tension still thrumming under her skin.
She hadn’t shed a single tear.
Not when her father dismissed her. Not when her sister begged at her feet. Not even when he mother reached out too late.
But that silence… It worried him more than any breakdown could.
Sebastian gently reached over and took her hand.
She didn’t flinch.
‘You okay?” he asked softly.
Madelynn stared out the window for a long moment before answering.
I should be,” she said. “They were never kind. Never warm. Not once in my life did they protec ne… and yet, it still hurts.”
He didn’t interrupt.
It’s like… there was always this tiny part of me that hoped they’d wake up one day and say, ‘We were wrong. We’re sorry.” She gave a small, bitter laugh. “Guess that was stupid of me.” No,” Sebastian said gently. “That was human.”
She looked at him, her expression softening, her voice barely a whisper. “Thank you. For today For showing up.”
Sebastian lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
‘Next time,” he said, “don’t say thank you. You deserve everything.”
Madelynn blinked, her breath catching slightly. She didn’t speak. She didn’t have to.
Her fingers slowly curled around his.
Back at the Ralston estate, Carl had already returned ahead of them and was waiting near the door with the house staff.
When the couple arrived, the staff bowed respectfully. “Welcome home, Miss Fontaine.”
Madelynn paused in surprise.
Sebastian raised a brow. “You think I’d let you walk back into silence after what you went through?”
She looked at him. “You didn’t have to…”
“I always will.”
He turned to the staff. “From this day on, she is the lady of this house. No one speaks against her. No one disrespects her. If I hear otherwise, they’re gone.”
“Yes, sir,” the staff chorused, bowing again- this time to her.
Madelynn felt her throat tighten.
She’d never been greeted like this before. Never been truly welcomed anywhere.
Not at the Fontaine’s. And definitely notwith Oliver.
But here, with her Bash… she felt seen.
He slipped an arm around her waist and guided her gently inside.
“Madelynn Wilde,” he murmured beside her ear. “You’d better get used to hearing that name.”
She let out a quiet laugh.
For once, it didn’t sound sad.
