Chapter 73


    "Kimberly, what... do you mean?" Sylvia''s smile was somehow stiff now. "I really don''t mean


    anything else. Are you suspecting me?"


    "That''s not true!" Kimberly Shell shook her head. "How could I suspect you?"


    She was just worried that once Sylvia got too close to Maddox, she would fall prey to him. After all,


    she had a hunch that... Maddox was not joking.


    Moreover, the rumors were not necessarily true.


    It might be true that he was disabled, but him being impotent—it must be a rumor.


    After all, what her hand had touched in the morning was real.


    "If that was the case, then why would you say such things to me?" Sylvia Hanover appeared to be


    embarrassed. She lowered her gaze and whispered, "Did you misunderstand what thedy boss


    said just now? But I''ve told you, she was just joking. If you don''t believe me, I''ll bring Matthew here


    to talk to you next time."


    Kimberly didn''t say anything. She just stared at Sylvia with a frown. She wanted to exin, but she


    didn''t know where to start.


    Sylvia thought that Kimberly did not believe her, so she quickly took out her mobile phone from her


    bag.


    "I''ll call Matthew right now!" Kimberly grasped her hand, and Sylvia looked at her.


    "Don''t call him. I trust you. I just..." Kimberly stuttered. How should she exin? Was she worried


    that Maddox would hurt Sylvia? But if she said so, she felt that she was selling Maddox out.


    "You are just what?" Sylvia saw that Kimberly was hesitant, so she probed.


    Kimberly bit her lower lip impatiently, and said "I don''t know how to exin it to you. But Sylvia,


    aren''t we good friends? Just listen to me and stay away from him!"


    Sylvia''s expression became serious. "Kimberly, do you like him?"


    Upon hearing Sylvia''s question, Kimberly gasped, "What did you say?"


    "If you didn''t like him, why would you ask me to stay away from him? Besides, I didn''t get close to


    Maddox. Your behavior is no different from being possessive over someone you like." Sylvia added.


    Kimberly''s eyes widened in shock. Did she fall in love with Maddox Yardley? It was impossible. His


    words were so harsh. Besides, she asked Sylvia to stay away from him because she was afraid that


    Maddox would do something to hurt Sylvia. There was no other reason apart from that.


    "That''s not true! But I don''t know how to exin it to you!" Kimberly eximed.


    "There''s no need to exin." Sylvia turned her head away from Kimberly. She was obviously in a


    bad mood. "Kimberly, I thought we were best friends. Trust should be the most essential thing


    between us. I''ve helped you a lot, but you think I have feelings for Maddox, don''t you?"


    Kimberly''s face turned pale. She quickly held Sylvia''s hand and said, "Sylvia, I trust you, and I don''t


    think you have any feelings for Maddox. It''s just that..."


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Sylvia sighed, held Kimberly''s hand and whispered, "Why do you think I asked him to have


    breakfast with us? I did it for you."


    "For... me?" Kimberly gasped.


    "Although you will divorce him half a yearter, you are still his wife now. Since you are living in the


    Yardley family, I hope that you could build a good rtionship with Maddox so that you would be


    able to live a better life in the Yardley family while you''re still there. Kimberly, do you understand my


    rationale?" Sylvia added.


    Kimberly was dumbfounded.


    "I hope you could live safe and sound in the Yardley family for the next six months. We are the best


    of friends. Don''t you know that?" Sylvia exined.


    "Sylvia... I''m sorry." Kimberly didn''t expect that Sylvia was doing this for her own sake. At most, she


    thought that Sylvia invited Maddox and Benedict out of courtesy. She did not expect that Sylvia had


    thought about it deeply, yet she was being mean to Sylvia now.


    She just felt that thedy boss'' words were out of line.


    Thinking of this, Kimberly felt guilty, and her eyes teared up uncontrobly. "Sylvia, I really didn''t


    suspect you. There''s a reason I asked you to stay away from him.. I''m sorry I''m not able to tell you


    the reason. I have my own difficulties too." "Well, I know that you have your own difficulties. I don''t


    me you, but... don''t stop me from helping you, okay?" Sylvia advised her softly. Kimberly didn''t


    know how to refuse for a moment, so she could only nod.


    "Then let''s go back now. Don''t let them wait too long." said Sylvia.


    "Yes." Kimberly uttered.


    After returning to their table, Kimberly and Sylvia sat separately.


    After all, Kimberly was Maddox''s wife, so she had to sit next to him. As soon as her hips touched


    the chair, she heard Maddox''s cold voice.


    "Are you so nervous that you had to discuss countermeasures with your friend?"


    Kimberly froze when she heard Maddox''s words. She turned to look at Maddox.


    Maddox turned his head slightly and cast a nce at her face. He raised his thin lips and mouthed,


    "It''s useless."


    Kimberly''s face turned pale and she did not reply to Maddox.


    "It''s obvious that your friend is trying to seduce me. Do you believe that?" Maddox added.


    Kimberly ignored him, but Maddox became even more excited. His tall body was slightly leaned


    forward towards her, and he was whispering to her ears. She could feel the hot air breathing down


    her neck. It felt itchy.


    Kimberly''s petite body trembled. She tried to avoid him, but Maddox held her wrist tightly. "If you


    don''t believe me, let''s make a bet." Maddox said.


    Making a bet? Kimberly blinked her eyes gently and bit her lips, saying, "This will never happen, so I


    don''t need to bet with you. You should find something better to do!"


    "Hehe." Maddox sneered and he continued, "If you lose, you would have to get an abortion."


    Kimberly''s eyes widened in disbelief, and her hands under the table clenched into fists. She gritted


    her teeth and uttered, "It''s impossible!"


    "What''s wrong? Are you scared?" Maddox asked.


    Maddox''s voice was full of sarcasm and disdain. Kimberly straightened her back and said, "I won''t


    agree to such a mindless bet."


    "That''s not up to you. After all, you could only choose one, between the b*stard and your friend.


    So... who will you choose?" Maddox threatened.


    Kimberly said,"... Maddox Yardley, don''t go too far."


    "You''ve promised me that I will get to keep the child in the Yardley family. Moreover, we''ve signed


    the contract. As long as I stay in the Yardley family for half a year, we''ll get a divorce after that. This


    is none of Sylvia''s business. Why are you trying to get her involved in this?" Kimberly asserted.


    Kimberly was furious. Sylvia was being considerate, but Maddox was asking her to choose between


    the child and Sylvia.


    "Since the game has already begun, then the rules of the game should be decided by me. From the


    moment you took over your sister''s ce and married into the Yardley family, your fate has been set


    in ce. What''s wrong? Have you not know your ce yet?"


    Kimberly gritted her teeth. She almost clenched her fists to the point where her nails were stuck in


    her palm.


    "What are you talking about?" Seeing that the two were so close to each other, Benedict couldn''t


    help but smile and said jokingly, "Maddox and Erica are really close with each other."


    When she heard Benedict teasing them, Kimberly instinctively stayed away from Maddox. Who on


    earth would want to be close with such a perverted guy?


    But Maddox had grabbed her arm. He met Benedict''s gentle gaze with a wicked smile, and he said,


    "Yes, I owe you a lot to have married such a good wife."