Chapter 581


    Without a second thought, Max blurted out, "! don''t like her, with that gloomy face of hers. Every time | see her, it gives me the


    creeps."


    Jonas chuckled, "Who taught you to talk like that?"


    Max turned his head away with a pout, clearly not in the mood to answer Jonas’ question.


    Jonas felt resigned and ruffled Max''s dark hair again. "But what if your real mom came back? Would that make you happy?”


    "Really?" Max jumped up in excitement. "That would be awesome! I''ve been waiting for my real mom! Dad, tell me, where is


    she?"


    Before he could finish, Madeline sauntered into the living room, calling out in a delicate voice, "Jonas, what have you been up to


    these past few days? Why has your phone been off?" She stood by the sofa, beaming at Jonas and Max.


    With a puzzled look from Madeline, Jonas said gravely, "Darling, there''s something | need to tell you."


    After Madeline sat down, her eyes brimming with tenderness fixed on Jonas.


    "I''m so sorry, Madeline, but Max''s biological mother is about to return, and that means | can''t marry you. I''ll go to your ce


    tonight to exin everything to your parents," Jonas said with a hint of guilt.


    Madeline gasped in disbelief, raising her voice, "Jonas, what nonsense are you talking about? Isn''t Max''s mom dead? How can


    shee back?"


    Max immediately frowned and interrupted Madeline, "My mom is not dead! Dad just said she''s back, and she''s going to be with


    us again very soon!"


    Madeline, who had been oblivious to Max''s presence until then, quickly apologized, "I''m sorry, Max, | didn''t mean it that way. |


    just don’t believe it. After all, your dad had said your mom passed away three years ago!"


    "You sound like you don''t want my mom toe back. You''re jinxing her, and | don''t like you, hmph!" Max huffed loudly and


    turned to sit on the couch, making it clear he didn''t want to speak to Madeline anymore.


    Madeline was mortified and turned back to Jonas. "Jonas, tell me this isn''t true."


    "I''m sorry, but | lied to you before. | lost touch with Max''s mom years ago and thought she had passed away. But now I''ve found


    her. She''s alive, and Max can''t grow up without a mother."


    Madeline clenched her fists, her shoulders trembling as she spoke through sobs. "Jonas, you promised to marry me and to take


    care of me for the rest of my life. Was that all a lie?"Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Jonas'' tone became stern. "Remember, you insisted on marrying me. If | didn''t agree, you were going to attempt suicide again.


    To keep you alive, | promised your parents | would marry you. Have you ever considered the fact that in all these years, | never


    once said | loved you? | thought Max''s mom was gone for good, and marrying anyone would suffice. But now she''s back, and


    she''s been through so much. | can''t abandon her again."


    The realization was like a knife to Madeline''s heart, shredding all her dreams and expectations of happiness that had suddenly


    burst like a bubble. The man she had loved for so many years was telling her that he had never loved her. It was just out of pity


    that he had agreed to marry her.


    Madeline was speechless, covering her face as she sobbed. "Jonas, if you never loved me, what''s the point of my life? If the


    wedding is canceled, how can | face everyone? What about their whispers and stares? How am | supposed to live like this? |


    don’t belong in this world, I...1..."


    Jonas watched Madeline unravel, frowned disapprovingly, and spoke with gravity, "Darling, you need to grow up and stop being


    so impulsive. Suicide is an act of the weak and ignorant. If you even think about it again, | will wash my hands of you for good!"


    Tears streamed down Madeline''s cheeks as the reality sank in. The Jonas she had loved for so long was now telling her he


    would think less of her for her distress.


    What was she to do? Who would tell her what to do? How could she face the pointing fingers and the gossip after her


    engagement was broken off?


    Shaking her head at Jonas, Madeline pleaded, her voice quivering, "Jonas, you''ve changed. You always used to indulge me and


    never spoke harshly. But now, you say you won''t look after me. Jonas, did | do something wrong? Tell me, and I''ll change!"


    "No, you''ve done nothing wrong.


    You''ve always been an outstanding


    girl," Jonas said, softening his. ysiog


    knowin adh bash tdoharsh, "But


    to Mes ull always be like a sister,


    and I''ve been in love with Max''s mom


    for far too long. She''s been out of


    touch for years, suffering too much. |


    can''t let her wander any longer."


    Please read the original content at


    .


    "Stop, please stop!" Madeline felt as if her dignity had been trampled and her heart pierced. She couldn''t stay any longer.


    Covering her mouth, she ran out of the vi, sobbing.


    Watching Madeline run away in tears,


    Jonas instinctively wanted to chase


    after her, fearing she might once


    again be desperate, bucidat 43


    heyyas about Step forward, he


    paused. Chasing after Madeline now


    would only fuel her infatuation. It


    seemed the only way for her to


    ovee her dependency and learn


    to grow on her own was to step back


    and let her find her own way. Please


    read the original content at


    .


    With that thought, Jonas pulled out


    his cell phone and dialed his mentor


    Berlin''s number. He apologized sy)


    profusel as he exined that he had


    fou ax''s biological mother.


    Consequently, the wedding would


    have to be called off. His voice


    carried a mix of regret and


    determination, hoping for


    understanding. Please read the


    original content at .