Chapter 88


    Noah could not imagine how much torment Suzette and Angie had inflicted on Madeline before when


    he saw the anger and relief in her eyes. Given her sweet and kind-hearted nature, she would not have


    hated the Grants as much otherwise. Hence, he wanted to chase the Grants out of Imperia as he knew


    it would make Madeline happy. It was also his way of making amends to the woman whose pain he had


    exacerbated. Not only did he neglect her all this while, but he was also influenced by Angie to make


    Madeline''s life miserable.


    "I can handle my affairs. There''s no need to trouble you, Mr. Quincy." Madeline nced at Noah and


    decisively rejected his good intentions.


    Even though he was disappointed at her refusal, he decided against forcing his way through. "All right,


    Ms. Grant. Just say the word if you need my help."


    "Well, thank you," she mumbled, nodding.


    After a pause, which seemed like an eternity, Noah spoke to dispel the awkward silence that was


    starting to make him feel ufortable. "Ms. Grant, I''m curious, what happened between you and the


    Grant family?"


    Madeline was taken aback by Noah''s sudden question, and a flicker of panic passed through her


    watery eyes. However, it disappeared in an instant. She said casually, "It''s just some cliched plot. A


    nobleman like you won''t be interested." Her curt reply suggested that she had no intention of


    borating.


    Noah is sure to make my life a living hell if he finds out my true identity. He thinks that I''m responsible


    for Gordon''s death. I need concrete evidence to prove that it''s Angie''s doing.


    "Cliched plot? Did Angie steal your boyfriend?" Noah was persistent in his questioning. Despite


    knowing that revealing Madeline''s identity would be disastrous, he wanted to satiate his curiosity and


    discover more about theirplicated past.


    "I had no idea you were a nosy parker. Mr. Quincy, you have a fantastic imagination. It''s a pity that you


    aren''t an author." Madeline ignored his question as she did not want to let slip her identity.


    "Okay, then. If you don''t want to be reminded of your unhappy past, I won''t make you talk about it,"


    Noah relented.


    Seeing that there was no reason to stay on, Madeline made an excuse for an early exit. "I''m feeling a


    little tired. I shall make a move first." She quickly set her ss on the table and hurried toward the door.


    "Wait, I''m leaving too!" Noah was caught off-guard by her sudden departure. He fumbled with his ss


    and quickly stood up to chase after the woman.


    Madeline waved her hand and quickened her pace as she called out, "It''s a wonderful event. Look at all


    the beautifuldies around. You should stay and enjoy yourself, Mr. Quincy."


    As he saw her slim figure fade from view, the man yelled angrily, "Madeline Grant!" It was the first time


    someone had rejected hispany.


    Madeline returned to the Maple Forest Vi half an hourter. Before she could get out of her stilettos,


    she was weed by a young boy rushing down the stairs. "You are home, Mommy! You were gone


    for a few hours! Look how thin I''ve be because I missed you so badly!"


    She examined the little boy clinging to her leg and teased, "You look like you have gained weight


    instead, Thomas. You''ve been well-fedtely, haven''t you? Since when did you learn to lie?"


    Madeline then wrapped her arms around the kid and squeezed his plump cheeks. He''s be a lot


    heavier since Ist saw him. I can hardly lift him any longer. What nerve does he have to im that he


    has lost weight?


    "I missed you too much, Mommy. I tend to exaggerate a little when I''m love sick." Thomas buried


    himself in Madeline''s neck and cuddled in her chest.


    "You little brat! I wonder who taught you the sweet talkings." She pinched her son''s cheeks once again


    and smiled.


    "Mommy taught me well, of course! Look at my handsome face. I look like Mommy, I talk like Mommy


    and I think like Mommy." Thomas appreciated his chiseled features as he gazed into the mirror. He


    giggled and continued, "Where''s Daddy? Why didn''t hee back with you? Has he epted that


    Mommy hates him?"


    Thomas turned to face the front gate and started making caustic remarks about Noah before Madeline


    could respond.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    "Perhaps," she responded half-heartedly. It was a long day and she was too tired to care about the


    man.


    Thomas suggested, "Why don''t we ask Daddy to stay for a few more days? I''ll follow him if he returns


    home. I won''t be able to see you everyday, Mommy!"


    When Noah noticed his mother''sck of response, his first thought was to rejoice that Noah had finally


    recognized that his efforts had been in vain. He was grateful to the Quincy family for treating him well,


    showering him withvish spreads and clothes of prime quality. However, the prospect of losing his


    mother and having to pretend to be his brother was agonizing. He would rather Noah remained at


    Madeline''s house. Furthermore, he was confident of his ability to protect his mother from the man''s


    advances.


    "Thomas Grant, have you grown to like your dad?" Madeline questioned with a solemn expression.


    The little boy immediately ced his hand on his chest and said, "I''m Mommy''s precious son. I''ll never


    like Daddy!"