Nicholas Hawkins spoke with a cold, detached calm, his words dripping with manipulation. "She offered," he said with a shrug. "Grandmother was won over by her. I made the bet to pressure Jacqueline too—to force Grandmother to see Madeleine for what she really is."
Hearing this, Madeleine Riley felt a chill run straight through her. Her nails bit into her palms as the ugly truth settled over her like a shroud. The sacrifice she thought she'd made had been nothing more than a bet. A month of hell, endured for nothing but a cruel joke.
In prison, she'd been beaten and bullied, but she never cried. Not once. But this—this harsh reality—shattered something inside her. It had all been a lie.
She remembered the day Nicholas held her close, whispering sweet reassurances while coaxing her to take the fall for him, insisting he couldn't risk his reputation as the Hawkins heir. He promised that once she was free, he'd tell everyone the truth, and they'd get married. They'd have a home of their own. But it was all a lie. Just a move in some twisted game with Jacqueline.
Tears streamed unchecked down her face as she turned to leave, unable to listen for another second. As she walked away, she heard laughter and a voice say, "Don't forget you owe Jacqueline a hundred bucks from that bet."
A hundred dollars. That's what she was worth to them.
Madeleine ran to a quiet spot by the road, finally letting her grief and humiliation swallow her whole as she let out a heart-wrenching sob. Her emotions, her suffering, the years of her life—all of it reduced to some childish wager.
When the tears finally stopped, she wiped her eyes and dialed a number. "Brother, I've made my decision. I'm ready to come back to London in a week."
"We support your decision, Madeleine," came a deep, steady voice on the other end. "No matter what, the Silva family is your home—married or not. We've always wanted you back."
Silent tears slipped down her cheeks again. After she went missing as a child, the Silvas in London had taken her in for years, until her biological parents found her. They treated her like their own daughter. When she left, Mrs. Silva nearly fainted from crying, and her elder brother had to fight back his own tears.
They had always urged her to come back, promising help whenever she needed it. But being close to such a prominent family always felt like taking advantage. Madeleine didn't want to seem opportunistic or ruin that relationship, so she kept her distance while staying in touch.
When the Rileys adopted another daughter, Mrs. Silva, worried about Madeleine, begged her to return. Madeleine refused—she didn't want to feel like a burden. Before her arrest, her brother mentioned an arranged marriage with another influential family in London. She turned it down, believing that only Nicholas could give her the home she wanted.
Now she saw how wrong she'd been.
Her voice cracked with emotion. "I understand. Thank you, brother."
"They've missed you, Madeleine. We're just relieved you want to come home," he said warmly.
She forced a smile, though it looked more like a grimace. Still, an unexpected sense of relief washed over her. The home she'd been searching for had been waiting for her all along—in London.
As for Nicholas… she wanted nothing to do with him.
Madeleine lowered her eyes, wiped the tears away, and booked a flight back to London for the following week. Then she took a cab to the Riley estate.
The house was buzzing when she walked into the foyer, decorated with balloons and twinkling lights. A massive bouquet of roses caught her eye in the living room. At the dining table, a cake with flickering candles set a warm, cozy scene.
From where she stood, she overheard Mrs. Riley exclaiming with pure joy as she and Jacqueline settled at the table. "Jacqueline, your father and I prepared this surprise for you. Today is your twenty-fourth birthday, and it also marks twenty years since you joined our family."
Madeleine's lips twisted into a bitter smile. She had gotten lost at four—the same year they adopted Jacqueline, as if they'd simply forgotten her.
They even gave Jacqueline her childhood nickname: "Pearl."
In the dining area, Jacqueline, wearing a charming Victorian-style dress, took her seat with a delighted smile. Nearby, John Riley and her brother watched fondly as she blew out the candles.
Watching this tight-knit family scene, Madeleine felt a wave of irony wash over her. Compared to them, she was the outsider.
Jacqueline spotted her and gasped softly. "Sister, when did you get out? You should have called us! We could've picked you up. You're just in time for my birthday celebration. Have you eaten?"
Only then did the rest of the family notice her.
John Riley gave her a brief glance and said flatly, "Might as well celebrate Madeleine's release too. Join us."
Jacqueline giggled. "Yes, join us, sister. Dad and Mom planned so many surprises today—and Nicholas even got me this bracelet."
Madeleine's gaze dropped to the bracelet on Jacqueline's wrist. It was the same one Nicholas had promised her before she went to prison. Now it rested on Jacqueline's arm.
Today was Madeleine's release day, but no one had come to meet her. Her own parents were celebrating Jacqueline instead. But today… was also her birthday.
Since being acknowledged by the Rileys, she and Jacqueline had shared the same birthday—yet only Jacqueline ever received gifts. Madeleine got nothing.
She had been patient, obedient, hoping for a scrap of their approval. But now, she was done holding back.
