Chapter 93 Under a Spell
Cedric had nothing to say, and everyone was quiet as well. He knew they were waiting for him to speak up. That was how their family worked. It was democratic, and they could always argue if they thought someone was wrong. Anyone could refute if they thought the argument wasn’t sound. When someone finally fell silent and thought that they were in the wrong, they must admit that they were wrong. Everyone was waiting for his apology, and a long time later, he stared down and said raspily, “I’m wrong.”
Jonathan looked at him calmly. “And why are you wrong?”
Cedric hung his head low and clenched his fists. “I shouldn’t dislike Maddie. I shouldn’t think that she never should have come home. I shouldn’t have thought that she only wanted to reunite with us because she wants our wealth.”
His face turned even redder as shame was added to the equation. He came from a good family, had good looks, was smart, talented, and managed to become a successful entrepreneur at a young age. He grew up in a bed of roses and walked the path that was paved with praises, and he had never been in such a situation before.
“Cedric, I can understand how you feel.” Michael stood up and went over to Cedric. “You don’t like her because you think she’s the source of all this mess. You think she ruined our peaceful lives, and you don’t want that life to ever change. You hope that Angie is your real sister, and that none of this has ever happened. You think that it’d be great if Maddie never existed, because we’d be living our peaceful lives then.”
Cedric still didn’t look up, and he clenched his fists tighter. He didn’t deny it, for that was what he had in mind. The one before him was his father. He loved, protected, and raised him, and he would not lie to this man.
“But you’re wrong, Cedric.” Michael patted his shoulder. “Cedric, if you feel uncomfortable from the changes that are happening, if you feel that you’re hurt, you shouldn’t blame Maddie. You should blame me.”
Cedric froze for a moment, and he looked at Michael.
Michael looked him in the eye. “Cedric, I failed your sister. I couldn’t protect her, and I let that witch take her away.” Tears were welling up in his eyes, and grief danced within his soul as his voice broke.
Michael had always been like a mountain for Cedric. He was indefatigable and invincible. Aside from his mother being sent into the operating room the night before, he had never seen Michael in so much pain. It broke his heart, and he said, “Dad…”
Michael kept looking him in the eye and continued, “If it weren’t for my incompetence, Maddie would have been the one to grow up with you, not Angie. We would never have had someone called Angie in our family. Now that the truth is out, you feel hurt that Maddie is going to take Angie’s place as your sister. You think you’re going to lose your beloved sister, and you feel hurt, so you tried to defend Angie and hate Maddie, but that’s only because I failed as a father.”
“No.” Cedric shook his head by reflex. “That’s not it, Dad.”
“That is it.” Michael looked him in the eye and continued adamantly, “The sister who has grown up with you is going to leave us, and her life is going to change dramatically. You hate this change, and it makes you uneasy. If you have to blame someone so you can feel better, then blame me. My incompetence caused all this mess, not Maddie. Maddie is innocent. She did nothing wrong. You have no reason to blame her.” He sounded bleak, and his eyes were filled with guilt and powerlessness.
Cedric felt like he didn’t know him, but he was also heartbroken. Michael, at least to him, should be calm, collected, and confident. He had never seen Michael looking so down and crestfallen. He kept denying himself and called himself incompetent. That tore his heart into pieces. “That’s not it, Dad.” Tears welled up in his eyes, and he almost cried. “This is my fault, Dad. I spoke out of line. I won’t blame her anymore. I’ll apologize!” He swiveled around, his face crimson. “I’m sorry. This is all my fault. Please forgive me. I-I promise I’ll be nice to you. I’ll take up responsibility as your brother. I promise.”
Madeline thought the Wendels had a good way of teaching their children. Cedric could admit his wrongdoings because of that, and his heart was in the right place. He cared about the sister whom he grew up with, but that led him down a misguided path. Now that he was taught a lesson and was forced to face his wrongs, he finally admitted it. Madeline would let that slide, so she smiled. “It’s alright. I don’t really care about those who have nothing to do with me. You didn’t hurt me, so you don’t have to be apologetic.”
Wait, so I have nothing to do with you? Why did I even think she’s here for our wealth? She doesn’t even care about me. I must have been thinking too highly about myself.
Jonathan noticed the awkward air, and he stepped in. “Well, we’re a family here. Now that everything’s settled, let’s get something to eat, or the food is going to get cold.”
They sat down and had breakfast. Without Cedric’s sarcastic behavior ruining the mood, breakfast was a lot more peaceful. After that intense reproach from his family, Cedric put aside his prejudices and tried to see things objectively. It was then he realized that what he did before was laughable. He couldn’t understand why he thought Madeline only came to see them because she wanted their wealth. Maybe it was my prejudice.
When he started looking at things objectively, he realized that she didn’t care about the reunion. Her mannerisms were top notch, and every move was elegant and relaxed. An artist could make a portrait out of her. She showed no signs of inveigling anyone, not even Michael. In fact, she was always polite and distant with the Wendels. There were no signs of her trying to get close.
It was like the Wendels were just a family of relatives she could do without. If she liked them, she could come over for visits, but if she didn’t, she could forget about them entirely.
She doesn’t care about any of us, and I thought she only came to us because we’re rich and powerful? She saw through me and exposed that to everyone. Even though everyone around the table was his family save for Sebastian, he still felt embarrassed. Was I under a spell? Why would I think she’s a gold digger?
