Chapter 147

147 –The Madeline Impersonator

Baxter:

“I am sorry for hurting you, Yuvonne, but I am leaving, and I will take Bodhi with me,” I confirmed, watching her eyes fill with tears.

She stared at my face for several seconds in silence before she stormed out of the room.

After she left, I looked at Bodhi and noticed how empty his eyes appeared.

“Do not worry, kiddo. I am going to take you to your mother.” As soon as I told him that, I saw him smile a little, and it genuinely broke something inside me.

I took a quick shower, got dressed, and prepared to leave so I could help Madeline, because I knew she would be alone among those hungry wolves.

I had only finished getting ready when I began waking up Bodhi.

I let him take at least an hour–long nap before I woke him.

He was a little tired, so I carried him in my arms, his face resting on my shoulder.

As soon as I stepped out of the room, I was met by Yuvonne once again.

She was outside my room, leaning against the opposite wall with her arms folded across her chest.

It looked as if she had been waiting there silently, too conflicted to knock. But once I stepped out, she chose to face me.

Before she could speak, I raised my palm to stop her.

“Can we please not do this right now? I really need to go to the council center,” I told her, trying to show urgency.

However, she seemed unwilling to understand.

“I just need to know something,” she insisted, pushing herself off the wall and stepping toward me.

“Can it wait?” I questioned, and she shook her head.

“No, it cannot,” she replied.

“Fine, what is it?” I asked, exhausted because I was running out of time.

It was already late, and I knew the interview had begun long ago.

Madeline must have been worried about her children too.

“Something has changed in you. I am not sure what happened or who told you what, but do not tell me that nothing is wrong,” she demanded.

I knew she would figure it out because of my behavior.

She had been around me for years, and in those years she had paid close attention to almost every bit of my

reactions.

“We will talk about it,” I remarked.

As soon as I said that, I realized it was the confirmation she needed. She widened her arms to block my way.

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“No, we will talk about it now. I want to know the truth,” she pressed, making me take a step back from her.

I did not want to have an important conversation in such a rush, but it seemed that to get her off my bark for a while, I needed to give her an explanation.

“Who texted me using Madeline’s phone that night?” As soon as the question left my mouth, I wanched her earice

demeanor shift.

She might have been thrown off by the question, or she might have known exactly what I was tallding font

“What?” she replied, sounding more confused than I expected.

“That night, years ago, when Madeline ran away, I texted her, and I received a response” I had only reached that part when Yuvonne clicked her tongue and wagged her finger at me.

“And you suspect that I was the one responding to you? Why would I do that? How do you know the left before texting you?” she retorted, her expression tightening

“Madeline told me she did not take her phone with her, and that she never received any text from me.” As soon as I said that, Yuvonne began laughing sarcastically, breathing deeply enough that the rise and fall of her chest gave her away.

“And you believe her but not me? You started suspecting me because she told you?” she asked, and I noticed tears forming in her eyes.

It was not fair for me to doubt her after everything she had done for me and with me.

But my stubborn heart wanted to believe Madeline.

And it was not difficult for me to confirm whether Madeline had been bonest.

“She must have responded to you before leaving, and now she regrets whatever she wrote,” she added, trying to push the blame onto Madeline.

However, she did not know that I had done my research.

“I checked the departure time of the cruise that night. Madeline left on that cruise one hour before I texted ber, and her phone was left behind. She did not take it with her,” I stated firmly, watching her face change color.

She knew that even if Madeline had taken her phone, it would not have worked, and she would not have been able to communicate with me.

“I do not know then,” Yuvonne stuttered.

I raised my palm again.

“I will go now, and then we will talk about it,” I hissed, making it clear she had disappointed me by trying to paint Madeline as a liar.

Once I had strapped Bodhi in, I sat in the driver’s seat and sped to be there for Madeline in time.

As soon as I reached the center and stepped out of the car with Bodhi, I headed to the top floor, only to be redirected to the lobby, where they told me the interview had ended and they were having one last word with

Madeline.

When I entered, I heard them speaking to her in a way that made me feel I needed to stand up for her.

So I stepped forward to announce what I intended to do.

Ruby Walker

Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.