Chapter 22
“Happy birthday, Amber.” Madison’s cool voice came from the phone, inexplicably dissipating the anger
that had been building up in Leo all day.
He nced at his mother, who was still in the kitchen, and spoke slowly, “And I thought you have
forgotten about Mom’s birthday? Don’t you n toe back to visit?”
There was only silence from the other end.
Leo furrowed his brows. He took a look at the phone. It still showed that the call was. ongoing.
“Madison?” he spoke again, intending to say something to ease the mood, but all that remained was
the busy signal.
The call was hung up.
Itsted 29 seconds.
Leo stared at the slowly darkening screen of the phone, his eyebrows furrowing even more tightly. His
grip on the phone was so tight that he almost crushed it.
“Is it a call from Madison? Why didn’t you say anything?” Amber asked as she came out of the kitchen
with thest two dishes.
Leo didn’t say a word. He casually threw the phone back on the table and reached out to help his
mother set the table. His expression was dark. It was obvious he was in a bad mood.
Amber nced at him. She wiped her hands clean and picked up her phone. After seeing the brief call
just now, she raised her eyebrows slightly.
However, she didn’t say anything. She just took another nce and ced the phone back.
“You’re not going to call back?” Leo suddenly asked.
Amber took a spoonful of soup and was just about to drink it. When she heard him, she put it down.
“It’s dinner time. It’s not appropriate to call back now. Besides, Madison. undoubtedly called to convey
birthday wishes. I knew that. If I call her back, what should I say?”
Leo did not ask further questions.
With that, the mother and son fell into silence again, as if they were two strangers sharing a table.
It wasn’t until the bowl of soup was finished that Amber broke the stalemate. “I heard you and Madison
have already divorced. Are you nning to marry that girl from the Hale family after that? Have you
discussed the wedding details?”
This series of questions left Leo unsure which one to answer, so he chose to respond to the one he
wanted to answer.
“We’ve only signed the divorce papers, and the formalities haven’t beenpleted. Legally speaking,
Madison is still a member of your Palmer family now.”
The somewhat childish words made Amber raise her eyes and give her son a sidelong nce.
What did he mean by Madison is still a member of my Palmer family? Was he not part of the Palmer
family?’ she thought.
Amber couldn’t help but point out, “I know that back then, when your grandfather forced you to marry
Madison, it made you unhappy. Now that he is gone, I also understand that I shouldn’t have pressured
you so much. But let me say one thing. Since you’ve decided to divorce,plete the formalities as
soon as possible. It’s not good to drag it out like this.”
Leo remained silent. “I know what I’m doing when ites to the divorce.”
Amber couldn’t hold back her tongue anymore. “You say you know? If you knew what you were doing,
you wouldn’t have sent Madison abroad and left her alone for three years without care or concern for
her! You knew nothing at all.
She did not continue further and refrained from saying anything harsher. She drew in a breath to
suppress her emotions.
The rtionship between her and her son had been stiff for these years, and because of the marriage,
it had almost turned them into enemies.
If they started another dispute, Leo might not even want toe back to the main. Palmer residence
again.
Trying to keep her tone gentle, Amber continued, “As for the marriage with Madison, it was your
grandpa and me who forced you into the marriage. It was our mistake, but Madison is innocent. She
had been all alone overseas, and we don’t even know how she managed to suffer through all that.
Since you’ve decided to divorce her, remember topensate her for what she’s been through.”
Leo showed an indifferent attitude, responding with a perfunctory “mm”.
Amber knew she couldn’t control him now, but seeing his demeanor, she felt a surge of frustration.
S91%
She went on. “If you like that girl from the Hale family, then marry her. I won’t stop you anymore. But I
want to make it clear. I don’t like her. Don’t bring her around to me.”
Thinking about the woman’s hypocritical mannerisms, Amber felt a headache.
Sally’s personality wasn’t as good as Madison’s, and she wasn’t as good-looking either. Amber didn’t
know how her son could be so blind!
With these thoughts in mind, she couldn’t help but massage her throbbing temples.
Suddenly, there was a loud noise!..
Leo had smacked his utensils loudly on the table. A cold, mocking expression appeared on his face.
“You don’t like it? How many decisions have you made for me based on your preferences since I was
young?
“You don’t like Sally, so even when she visited the Palmer family, you didn’t let her in. You like Madison,
so you let me marry her to please you. The childhood engagement was decided by you, and in the end,
who I should marry was also decided by you. Now, even in the divorce, I have to follow your
requirements, right?”
Amber froze, and her face showed a moment of shock and disbelief.
This was the first time her son had questioned her like this.
Even three years ago, when they got married, he reluctantly went through with the marriage
registration, carried out a wedding, and then quietly sent Madison away.
Amber had a severe headache by now, and her voice also carried a tinge of exhaustion. “Fine. I won’t
interfere in your matters. You can discuss it with Madison when you want toplete the procedures.
And you can discuss it with your Sally when you want to marry. As for me, when you need me to make
a symbolic appearance, just let me know.”
She no longer had the appetite to continue eating and stood up from the dining table.
At her age, it did not matter if she celebrated her birthday. If she didn’t, she could deceive herself that
she was a year younger.
Leo was left alone at the dining table.
He looked at his phone, located a familiar number, and then pressed the call button.
As with every call made over the past three years, the voice on the other end of the line was still the
cold, mechanical female voice, reminding him again that the number was
out of service.
After a moment of silence, as the screen on the phone dimmed, Leo finally came to his senses and
dialed another number with a calm
gaze.
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When Madison received a call from Amber, she hesitated for a moment about whether to answer it.
It wasn’t that she was afraid of anything. She simply found Leo’s voice annoying.
However, thinking it over, she realized that he was the one who owed her an apology, so she had
nothing to feel guilty about. Even if it was Leo was on the other end, she could always hang up again if
necessary.
She decided to answer, and Amber’s inquiring voice came through the phone. “Amber, have you
returned to the country fecently? Why haven’t youe and visit me? Are you angry with me?”
Madison was left momentarily speechless by how friendly Amber was.
If the presumptuous tone that Leo used just now annoyed her, then Amber’s affectionate tone left
Madison a bit bewildered.
N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.
In the past, there was a legal rtionship that linked them together, but what about
now?
“Amber, you should already know that Leo and I have divorced, so there is no need to be so… nice to
me. I’ve been back for a few days and have been busy looking for a job. That’s why I haven’t had the
time to visit you. Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not upset with anyone. Even if I am, it has nothing to
do with you.” Madison rified things first. before responding to Amber’s questions.
Of course, she didn’t forget to appease the older woman. “When my job is stable, I’ll visit you during my
free time. Is that okay?”
Amber couldn’t help but smile. “You can’t lie to me, okay? When you’re free, you muste and visit
me!”
Madison nodded. “Rest assured, Amber, I still remember your culinary s
Madison grinned, too. However, in the next moment, her smile vanished.
Amber asked softly, “Why are you being so polite? I’ve watched you grow up for so many years. We
are so close. If you distance yourself from me, I won’t be able to get used to it. How about this,
Madison, I will consider you my daughter from now on, and we can continue like before. What do you
think?”