Madelyn's attention was drawn to an open-air restaurant, where a familiar face caught her eye. Bathed in the soft glow of the lights, the person sat gracefully before a piano, coaxing forth a soothing, rhythmic melody.She could see the tattoos on his hands and the ones that were underneath his collar. His features were gentle, and his posture exuded poised elegance. Every motion he made embodied a noble elegance that distinguished him from everyone around.A waiter approached Madelyn and said, "You must be Mr. Arnold's guest. We have a table reserved for you. Please follow me."Madelyn held the bundle of roses. Her eyes were drawn to a small, glass-enclosed space set aside for private dining. The transparent walls allowed diners to enjoy the scenery outside. It would be a perfect spot to watch the snow falling, if it ever did."Please wait a moment. Mr. Arnold will be with you shortly.""Madelyn." A clear and deep voice sounded from behind her. Madelyn turned around slowly to fin

"But..." Madelyn hesitated, her eyes fixed on Ethan who was pulling out a small black velvet box from his pocket. With a careful touch, he unveiled a pendant in the shape of a crescent moon – its translucent whiteness seemed to emit an otherworldly glow. The silver chain it hung from sparkled like distant stars.Drawing closer, Ethan's hopeful expression met resistance as Madelyn gently pushed him away. "It's too precious," she murmured.Ethan looked disappointed as he said, "I designed this necklace for you. Today marks not only your birthday but also our first official meeting. Could you not turn a friend down?"The necklace was undeniably flawlessly crafted, so intricate that no one could resist its charm.Ethan's gaze was intense. Despite her reservations, Madelyn found herself unable to refuse. Finally, she relented, her voice softening, "I just... I don't have anything to give you in return.""Having you here today is gift enough for me."Tightening her grip on her dress, M

As Zach's car pulled closer, Jadie's eyes widened as she saw Madelyn, with a man she seemed to have met from somewhere."Zach, let's pull over. That's Madelyn," Jadie said.When Madelyn saw an Audi with a familiar license plate, her face turned pale in an instant.Just now, smoke had started billowing from the Cayenne. Madelyn quickly got out, but her legs gave way as soon as she touched the ground.Leyton quickly used a fire extinguisher to put out the smoke, while Ethan went to check on Madelyn."Are you hurt? Can you get up?"Madelyn was fine, thanks to Ethan shielding her during the incident. She didn't want to admit that it was fear that had caused her legs to give way. She couldn't shake thoughts of the person behind the accident.George wiped a speck of blood from his forehead as he said, "Looks like she got really scared."Ethan's eyes flickered with a chilling determination, but he spoke gently to Madelyn. "Don't worry, I'll handle this. Let me help you up."Madelyn a

"Jadie, head upstairs and rest," said Zach.Jadie glanced from Zach to Madelyn, then replied, "Alright. Madelyn just went through a car crash, so let's give her a break, okay?"Jadie wasn't comfortable leaving Zach alone with Madelyn.Every now and then, Jadie found herself wondering if Zach genuinely loved her. If he didn't, she couldn't help but question why he was so nice to her. But he had never actually said he loved her, which made her feel insecure about their relationship.Jadie went upstairs.Margaret noticed the tense atmosphere and stammered, "Sh-Should I leave too?"Zach shot her a cold glare, and she hurriedly fled the scene.Now, it was just him and Madelyn in the living room.An oppressive feeling hung in the air, making it a bit hard for Madelyn to catch her breath."Am I just talking to myself here?" Zach approached her, his demeanor cold. Even without looking at him, Madelyn could sense his anger.This was a stark difference from the Zach who seemed genuinel

Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow in Madelyn's room. Her long hair was all messy as she stood there. Her gaze seemed hollow.On the bed, her phone kept flashing with bright light, accompanied by a ringing tone that echoed through the room. The caller ID showed: Ethan.Madelyn watched as the call was rejected by itself, time and time again, only to start ringing once more. She didn't pick it up. After a while, she eventually walked over, switched it off, and tossed it aside. Resting in one corner of the room was the crystal crescent pendant necklace.The following morning, Madelyn descended the stairs to find Hayson, Jasmine, Zach, and Jadie already having breakfast.At the dining table, Hayson seemed oblivious to anything unusual. He was engrossed in discussing company matters with Zach, just like any other day.Listening to their talk, Madelyn realized that Hayson had gradually delegated most of the significant responsibilities of his company to Zach. Man