bChapter /bb389 /b

    Madeline let out a sharp, mockingugh she couldn’t hold back. She should’ve known better the kind of people her parents were, yet she still dared to hope for anything from them.

    “How dare youugh?” Her mockingughter only fueled Peter’s fury. He spun around and raised his hand, ready to strike her again.

    But Madeline suddenly threw her hand up, jabbing a finger at her own temple, and screamed, “Go on! Hit me right here. Kill me right now if you can. Then let’s see who’ll keep paying your bills and supporting your precious son?”

    Madeline thought bitterly, ‘I must be going insane, but so what? They’ve been driving me to the brink for years,

    Peter exploded in rage and raised his hand, poised to strike again, but before he could, Grace lunged forward and wrapped her arms tightly around bhim/b, desperately holding him back.

    “Peter, calm down,” Grace pleaded, trying to hold him back.

    Turning to Madeline, she begged, “Maddie, why are you being so stubborn? Just give in to your dad, admit you were wrong, and give your brother some money for his dating expenses. Then, we can all get over this.

    “And next time, if you n on going away, make sure to tell us first. You have no idea how worried we were when we couldn’t find you.”

    With every word, Madeline felt her heart turn to ice. ‘Maybe Mom cares about me a little,‘ she thought. ‘But at the end of the dayi, /ishe’ll always put Miguel first. She’s saying all this just to bleed me dry, after all.‘

    Madeline pushed herself up against the wall, taking a deep breath and forcing herself to calm down.

    ‘I can’t throw my whole life away for these worthless people,‘ Madeline told herself fiercely.

    She had worked so hard to get to where she was now, where she finally crossed paths with Brian, and the chances of being his wife were almost within her grasp. She couldn’t let them ruin everything now.

    She thought, ‘Once I be Mrs. Atkinson and truly climb out of this gutter, they’ll never be able to touch me again.”

    “Fine. You just want money, right? I’ll give it to you, but you have to swear never toy a hand on me again. Otherwise, I swear on my life that you’ll never get another cent from me.” Madeline threatened.

    Though Madeline had already made up her mind inside, she kept her expression fierce and stubborn, refusing to show even the slightest hint of weakness.

    Peter looked like he was about to explode and hit her again, but Grace quickly held him back. Gritting his teeth, he growled reluctantly, “If you’d just be a good daughter, we wouldn’t need to do any of this. Now, where’s the money?”

    Madeline ignored himpletely. She staggered toward the door, pulled out her keys, and started unlocking the door.

    Grace hurried over to steady her, leaning in to ramble on about all the “family news” in a hushed, urgent tone.

    In short–her younger brother, Miguel, had started dating a new girl–a shallow, gold–digging type who demanded he buy her food, drinks, clothes, jewellery, designer bags, and everything.

    However, Miguel could barely live off his paycheck, so he turned to his parents for money.

    The elderly couple, desperate to help their sonnd a wife, kept forking over money until they had blown through ever,st bcent /bMadeline bhad /bgiven

    them.

    Grace used her most pitiful, syrupy voice and said, “Maddie, you can’t stop supporting your brother now. He’s already getting up there in age band /bbstill /bhasn’t settled down. This time, he finally found a girlfriend. As his big sister, you have to help him, don’t you?”

    b13:43 /bbMon /bb28 /bJil JOG:

    Chapter b389 /b

    Madeline’s expression turned cold, and she didn’t safter a word. She entered to herself, “Support him? rd talper me tha agentene bran

    dead.

    After all, all the misery she had endured since childhood could be traced straight back to hirst.

    “What are you standing around for? Go get the money. We’re not asking for much this time. 150 thousand dors is enough for Miguet to boys barked from the sofa, sprawling there like a king,pletely impatient with their endless chatter

    “150 thousand dors?” Madeline’s expression changed in an instant.

    “Damn right, so you better go get it now. If you’re even a penny short, I’ll beat the shit out of you,” Peter snapped impatiently.

    Madeline drew in a deep breath and, without even thinking, snapped, “No way. The most you’re getting is 30 thousand dors

    bAD /b