Chapter 64 Unhappy
Madeline thought about it for a moment. “If you’re asking for my opinion, of course I’d prefer to be able to reveal the truth about the past so that Cameron gets prosecuted.”
Michael looked into his daughter’s eyes. “Trust me, Madeline. I hate Cameron as much as you do! Revealing whatever Cameron did would also expose the truth about Angie’s birth parents, though, and that would come as a huge blow to Angie…”
After pausing for a moment, Michael gathered his words before speaking at a slower pace and explaining, “I have a scale in my heart that tells me you take up a larger spot than Angie, Madeline … I was thinking that I could find other ways to make Cameron pay for what she did in the past. As for Angie… I’ll announce her as an adopted daughter we brought home. Once you meet your ancestors, I’ll get Angie to move out of the house. As an adopted daughter, she’ll no longer have the right to inherit anything from the family. Since she was once my child, I just want to give her a clean background so that she doesn’t get cursed whenever she’s out in public.”
“We’ll just go with whatever you say,” Madeline uttered with a smile.
Michael’s eyes lit up. “Does that mean you agree with me, Madeline?”
“If you’re asking for my opinion, of course I would want everyone to know about Cameron’s deeds so that she can pay for whatever she did in the past,” Madeline replied. “But if you don’t agree to it, I won’t force you to do anything. We’re father and daughter, not enemies—it’s only right for us to consider each other’s viewpoints.”
However, fate wasn’t everything. When it came to relationships, what mattered was each other’s sincerity. Madeline was a realist. Her actions toward others depended on how they acted toward her. She would repay them with whatever kindness they showed, and she might be a little kinder than they were, but that was about it. Madeline gave Michael a friendly smile. She was polite but distant—it certainly didn’t seem like the sort of attitude a daughter would show to her father.
This made Michael feel rather sad. He was a smart person, and he had been in the business world for years, so he had met all sorts of different people. Madeline didn’t need to say anything, yet he already understood what she was trying to do. However, he couldn’t blame her for being so unemotional over this matter.
Logically speaking, Angie was innocent. However, all the warmth and joy that Angie had experienced was supposed to belong to Madeline. Furthermore, what Madeline was asking for wasn’t a lot.
She simply wanted to reveal the truth to seek justice for herself. She wasn’t wrong. Yet, Michael couldn’t even do this for her. How would he have the right to ask her to accept him wholeheartedly without having her guard up, then? If she was actually able to do it, then he would suspect that she didn’t genuinely want him as a father. He would think that she was acting especially warm to him just to gain the benefits that the Wendel Family had to offer. However, it was evident then that Madeline didn’t truly care about the Wendels’ wealth.
This realization made Michael feel both glad and sad. Perhaps it was because they were blood-related, but Michael found himself being fond of Madeline. She didn’t just remind him of his wife, but she even looked a lot like his mother when she was younger. Madeline’s appearance gave him a sense of familiarity, and he felt especially attached to her when he thought about how she was born from his and his wife’s love. But Angie… He couldn’t bring himself to do such a horrible thing to her.
After all, he was the one who watched Angie grow up. Angie had been with them for more than 20 years, and he couldn’t bring himself to ruin her future just like that. It was impossible for one to have the best of both worlds, and Michael understood that concept.
Right then, the best that he could do was to bring Madeline home before using his love to gradually form an emotional bond with her. He would show her that she was the daughter he loved the most. On the other hand, he would slowly distance himself from Angie before finding a way for her to get married to someone who lived far away. Once Angie had a good partner… They wouldn’t have to stay in contact anymore. By then, they could put a full stop to their twenty-plus years as father and daughter…
Michael realized that Madeline had become especially distant and polite after he stated that he wouldn’t tell the public the truth about the past.
Sebastian had the same realization. After that, he no longer insisted on getting Michael to reclaim justice for Madeline. I just got my hands on my wife and sons… My sons, especially! I just snatched them over… Hey, no. I mean, I just brought them home, yet the Wendels popped out of nowhere and want to take them away from me. How annoying. I guess it’s good that there seems to be a thick wall between Madeline and the Wendels. Since Madeline has taken my last name, she’s part of the Hart Family. Her original family… It’s good enough that they exist. As for a strong bond… There’s no need for that!
Sebastian was clearly pleased to see Madeline treat Michael and Jonathan as if they were just guests. The few of them spoke for a while more.
Madeline mentioned that she had made plans with Sam to return to the Taylor Residence for a meal and that she could only follow Michael home the next day.
Michael was eager to bring her home—he couldn’t even wait for one night. He immediately gave Nigel a call to tell him and Sam that he wanted to bring Madeline back to the Wendels now. Nigel was worried about his sister’s health, so he asked Michael how Michael was planning to break the news to his wife.
Michael told Nigel that he would keep it a secret for the time being considering Crystal’s health and Angie’s reputation, and deliberate over the matter. Nigel was still worried, so he asked if he could join the Wendels for dinner. Since Nigel had expressed his worry for Crystal, Michael couldn’t reject Nigel’s request to join him for dinner.
In the end, the initial plan for Madeline to visit the Taylor Residence turned into Madeline and Nigel visiting the Wendels together. Madeline stayed in the hall and chit-chatted with Michael for a long while, so she didn’t wake the kids from their naps. Both of the boys slept until evening time when Philip woke them up and brought the drowsy boys downstairs.
When Joel saw Madeline, he tottered over excitedly before jumping into her arms. He rubbed his eyes, and his head against her chest. “I was sad because I didn’t see you when I woke up!”
She held him and stroked his back while smiling. “How should I make you happy, then?”
He lifted his fair, chubby face up to look at his mother before poking his own cheek as he spoke. “l want Mommy’s kisses!”
Madeline giggled as she lowered her head to plant a few kisses on Joel’s face. “Are you happy now?”
“Yeah!” Joel chuckled. He rested in Madeline’s arms as he gazed at Michael and Jonathan. “Do we have guests, Mommy?”
“Yeah.” She stood up and introduced Philip to Michael and Jonathan before she introduced her two sons. “This is your grandfather and your Uncle Michael. That’s the way you guys should address them from now, do you hear me?”
“Got it!” Joel turned to look at Michael and Jonathan. “Hello, Grandpa. Hello, Uncle Michael! It’s nice to meet you guys!”
Quincy followed closely behind his brother. In comparison to his brother’s cute and soft voice, Quincy’s voice was much more mature and clear.
