CHAPTER 16
“Cece, you know my mom has a temper. Don’t take what she said to heart,” Oliver muttered. “She’s always liked Madelynn. And now that she’s gone… she’s struggling to accept it.”
Cecelia clenched her fists beneath the blanket draped across her lap. Her nails dug into her palm, but her face didn’t crack.
She gave him a sweet smile. “It’s fine. She’s your mother. I would never take it personally.”
Oliver looked at her, touched by her apparent patience.
Madelynn still haunted his thoughts, but she was gone. And no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t rewind time.
He had already destroyed one woman. He wouldn’t ruin another.
“Cece,” he said, his voice steadying, “once I’m discharged… Let’s get married. I’ll take responsibility for everything. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
Cecelia was stunned.
Marry him?
She didn’t want to marry a man who could barely walk. That wasn’t the life she came back for. She wanted power. Prestige. Not pity.
But she didn’t dare show her disgust. Not yet.
Her smile tightened, just slightly. “Oliver, you just got divorced. If we get married too quickly, it’ll ook bad for you.”
She gently touched his arm. “I know you have feelings for me. I feel the same. But we can wait. No rush, right?”
Oliver’s heart warmed. “Cece… thank you. You’re the only one who stayed.”
Cecelia just smiled and kept her true thoughts buried deep.
Meanwhile, at a quiet café in the city, Madelynn sat across from Polly Kane.
The older woman sighed repeatedly. “Dear, I’ve heard everything…But you’ve known him for so ong. Are you really-?”
Madelynn gently interrupted her. “Aunty Polly, Oliver’s childhood sweetheart was never me. It was always Cecelia.”
Polly blinked.
‘I spent years trying to be his wife. I gave him everything. But in the end, the woman he wanted…
was never me.”
Her tone didn’t waver.
‘I’m not in love with him anymore. Sebastian is my husband now.”
Polly saw it in her eyes. Madelynn wasn’t just saying it. She meant it.
The older woman’s expression soured. “That boy. He has no eyes at all. Letting a gem slip through his fingers for that… that wretched girl.”
Madelynn pulled a card from her wallet and placed it on the table.
“I heard about Oliver’s injury. This doctor is one of the best in the country when it comes to that kind of thing. He’ll be able to customize a robot leg for Oliver. I’ve already contacted his team. If you want to reach out, the number’s on the back.”
Polly blinked, surprised. “You’re helping… even after everything?”
Madelynn smiled politely. “This isn’t for Oliver. It’s just a little present for you…”
Polly didn’t refuse. She took the card and nodded. “Thank you, dear.”
Then her voice turned wistful. “What a shame… Four years of marriage, and no child.”
Madelynn’s expression didn’t change, but her voice lowered slightly. “Didn’t Oliver tell you? I was pregnant. I miscarried… just a month ago.”
Polly froze, mouth slightly open. “You… you were pregnant?”
Madelynn gave her a brief account of what happened, leaving nothing out.
By the end of it, Polly’s hands were trembling with rage.
That Cecelia! That vile girl! Even if you never come back to Oliver, I swear I won’t let her step oot into our family!”
She looked at Madelynn with sincere regret. “Child, if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to
sk me.
Madelynn nodded politely. She doubted they’d speak like this again.
‘olly stood and stormed out of the café, muttering about her idiotic son.
ust as she reached the door, Madelynn called out one last thing:
Oh, and Aunty, Cecelia didn’t leave the country back then because of heartbreak. She left ecause she found someone richer than your family. You should be careful around her.
Cecelia wanted to play dirty, then she would play dirty too.
‘olly vibrated with anger. “I promise you dear, I’ll make sure you get justice for everything you nd your baby suffered.”
Outside the café, just as Madelynn raised her hand to hail a cab, a sleek black cat pulled up.
he window rolled down to reveal Sebastian. “Get in.”
She opened the door and slipped inside.
You told me I could meet you at home later,” she said with a smirk. “Why come pick me up? I
eard you had back-to-back meetings today.”
Sebastian didn’t look up. His lap was still covered in documents, hands moving through them efficiently.
From the front seat, Carl chimed in, unable to help himself. “Ma’am, when Mr Wilde found out you were meeting your ex-mother-in-law, he canceled everything.”
Madelynn blinked in surprise, then laughed.
Sebastian paused his paperwork, turned to Carl, and said darkly, “You seem to enjoy talking. Maybe I should transfer you to PR?”
Carl immediately fell silent, staring straight ahead.
Madelynn leaned over, teasing, “He’s just telling the truth. Why are you being so scary?”
He didn’t respond.
She leaned closer and gently bit his earlobe.
He flinched, his cheeks coloring slightly.
“Don’t be mad,” she whispered. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to upset you. But I promise I won’t meet with them again behind your back.”
“I did it for you. We’re still in the same social circle and you did shoot Oliver. I just wanted to make things easier.”
Her voice grew softer.
“Bash, do you really think I’d want anyone else? You treat me like I matter. You protect me. You respect me. What else could I possibly want?”
That earned a glance from him.
He reached up and cupped the back of her head, pulling her in closer.
“If you weren’t blind,” he said in a low voice, “you wouldn’t have mistaken someone else fo saving your life.”
Madelynn blinked. “Still holding that over me?”
Sebastian smirked and let go.
Then, without missing a beat, he said, “Tonight, you’re coming with me to my parents’ place. My mom wants to meet you.”
She stared. “Tonight? So soon?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that fair? You saw your ex-mother-in-law this afternoon. Now it’s m :urn.”
Madelynn groaned. “At least let me prepare. I can’t just show up empty-handed.”
‘You showing up is the gift,” Sebastian replied. “She won’t care what you bring. And even if I’m not with you every second, don’t be nervous. I’m the head of the family. That makes you the uture lady. If anyone gives you trouble- don’t be polite.”
Something in her chest warmed at those words.
Four years ago, when she first married Oliver, he gave her one warning before a family gathering.
‘You’re representing me. Do not embarrass me. And don’t talk unless you’re spoken to.”
But now?
Sebastian wasn’t handing her rules. He was handing her power.
“Cece, you know my mom has a temper. Don’t take what she said to heart,” Oliver muttered. “She’s always liked Madelynn. And now that she’s gone… she’s struggling to accept it.”
Cecelia clenched her fists beneath the blanket draped across her lap. Her nails dug into her palm, but her face didn’t crack.
She gave him a sweet smile. “It’s fine. She’s your mother. I would never take it personally.”
Oliver looked at her, touched by her apparent patience.
Madelynn still haunted his thoughts, but she was gone. And no matter how hard he tried, he
couldn’t rewind time.
He had already destroyed one woman. He wouldn’t ruin another.
“Cece,” he said, his voice steadying, “once I’m discharged… Let’s get married. I’ll take responsibility for everything. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
Cecelia was stunned.
Marry him?
She didn’t want to marry a man who could barely walk. That wasn’t the life she came back for She wanted power. Prestige. Not pity.
But she didn’t dare show her disgust. Not yet.
Her smile tightened, just slightly. “Oliver, you just got divorced. If we get married too quickly, it’ ook bad for you.”
She gently touched his arm. “I know you have feelings for me. I feel the same. But we can wait No rush, right?”
Oliver’s heart warmed. “Cece… thank you. You’re the only one who stayed.”
Cecelia just smiled and kept her true thoughts buried deep.
