Chapter 216 That Despicable Woman
Janessa was engulfed by a storm of fury and resentment, her emotions a turbulent sea of anger.
"I hate this! Why did everything turn out this way?"
Madelyn had explicitly promised to bring Sebastian to the event, yet all that unfolded was Janessa’s public embarrassment. Mocked by her stepmother and chastised harshly by her father, the stinging imprint of a slap remained on her cheek–a brutal reminder of her humiliation and the deep-seated hatred it brewed within her.
Filled to the brim with rage, Janessa harbored thoughts so dark they frightened even her, but all she could manage was to bury her face in her pillow, releasing a heart-wrenching scream into its softness.
"No, this debacle, it’s all Madelyn’s doing! This evening's events were clearly a deliberate ploy by Madelyn to make a fool of me. Why else would everything change so abruptly when she initially agreed so readily!"
These thoughts had her blood boiling, eyes practically dripping with venom.
"Madelyn, you despicable wretch! You’re doomed to a miserable end! Just wait and see, Madelyn. I will make sure you end up utterly ruined."
Meanwhile, Madelyn, comfortably seated in the car on her way home, unexpectedly sneezed.
Sebastian, ever attentive, glanced at her with concern. "Caught a cold?" he inquired, his voice tinged with worry.
"It’s all good," Madelyn replied with a dismissive wave of her hand and a cheerful smile. She was riding high on the success of her evening’s plans.
"Janessa was merely attempting to use me, but I’ve turned the tables on her. She’s probably sobbing into her blanket right this moment, isn’t she?"
This thought alone buoyed her spirits considerably.
Sebastian, seated next to her, sensed that something was amiss. Unable to contain his curiosity, he probed further, his tone cool, "What’s going on?"
Madelyn, unable to suppress her glee, laughed lightly. "It’s nothing, really. You came to pick me up, didn’t you? That’s enough to make me happy."
Liar.
The word flashed through Sebastian’s mind, sharp and clear. Yet seeing Madelyn’s radiant happiness, he chose not to delve deeper, assuming it was nothing serious.
As they continued their drive, Madelyn suddenly leaned in closer, sniffing the air. "Have you been drinking?" she queried, a hint of suspicion in her tone.
"Not much," Sebastian responded nonchalantly.
"That’s good then." Madelyn sighed in relief.
Just then, her phone chimed with the arrival of a new message, jarring the quiet of the car. Unlocking her phone, she saw a picture of Sebastian and Harriet, intimately entwined.
"What’s going on here?" Madelyn demanded, her face clouding over as she thrust the phone toward Sebastian.
Sebastian’s brows knit together in confusion as he pulled the car over. He recognized the scene immediately–it was from earlier when Wesley had drunkenly pushed a tipsy Harriet toward him, and he had instinctively caught her to prevent a fall, a moment innocently captured but misleading in appearance.
"Who sent this?" he asked, his voice laced with irritation.
"Can’t you see? It’s an anonymous sender," Madelyn retorted, her tone edged with frustration.
Anonymous? It seems someone is deliberately stirring trouble.
With this realization, Sebastian’s expression darkened further. Madelyn, meanwhile, fixed him with a piercing gaze, her eyes large and unblinking.
Sebastian was acutely aware that without a proper explanation, this young lady’s imagination might spiral into overthinking once again. Realizing the delicate nature of the situation, he felt compelled to clarify things immediately.
"Is that so? All right then." Madelyn’s response was tepid, her voice tinged with a reluctance that couldn’t mask the underlying dissatisfaction brewing within her.
Is she really that desperate? I’d barely left, and Harriet was already all over Sebastian. Is she some sort of fly, always looking for a gap to weasel her way in? Looks like I can’t let my guard down from now on.
As they continued their drive, the air between them thickened slightly with unspoken words, and Madelyn felt a profound sense of resignation.
Despite her attempts to let the incident go, a stubborn residue of dissatisfaction clung to her, haunting her thoughts.
Whenever the image of that compromising photo surfaced in her mind, Madelyn felt a tightening in her chest, as if a persistent knot had lodged itself there.
Eventually, the pressure became too much to bear. Abruptly, she demanded, "Give me your phone!"
Sebastian, caught off guard, gave her a wary look. "What are you up to?" His voice carried a mix of curiosity and caution, puzzled by her sudden assertiveness.
Madelyn’s response was firm and unyielding. "Just give it to me, will you?" There was an edge of command in her voice that didn’t invite further questions.
Reluctantly, Sebastian conceded, pulling out his cellphone. He couldn’t help but feel that he was somehow being maneuvered into a corner by this unpredictable young woman.
What followed was completely unexpected. As soon as Madelyn had his phone in her hands, she quickly activated the camera. Then, with no warning whatsoever, she leaned in and planted a swift kiss on Sebastian’s cheek.
The camera captured this sweet ambush with a click.
Sebastian, utterly taken aback by her bold move, could only stare in astonishment.
Meanwhile, Madelyn, holding the phone, chuckled softly to herself. With a few deft swipes, she set the captured image as the wallpaper on Sebastian’s phone.
"Okay, mission accomplished!" she exclaimed, a triumphant sparkle in her eyes as she handed the phone back to him. Her heart swelled with a mix of mischief and satisfaction.
As Sebastian took back his phone, he stared at the new screensaver, seemingly captivated by the image.
Madelyn watched his reaction with amusement, her chuckle filling the space between them. "What’s wrong? You don’t like it? If you’re not pleased, I can always change it back."
Before he could respond, she made a playful move to snatch the phone back.
However, Sebastian quickly tucked the phone safely into his pocket. His face remained impassive as he firmly stated, "I don’t like changing wallpapers. From now on, it stays this one."
In that instant, Madelyn felt her heart soar, a wave of sweetness overwhelming her senses.
Yet, beneath her romantic maneuver was a calculated intention–she hoped that by setting this wallpaper, Sebastian would see her face every day, a constant reminder that would hopefully keep his thoughts away from Harriet.
As she basked in the success of her plan, Madelyn couldn’t help but marvel at her own ingenuity. "Ah, how could there possibly be another girl as beautiful, considerate, and clever as me in this world?" she mused aloud, touching her cheek in a mock gesture of vanity.
This silly girl…
Sebastian glanced at her, and for a moment, a rare smile appeared on his usually stoic face, clearly amused by her antics.
Soon, they arrived at the Thornton residence. After dropping Madelyn off, they exchanged farewells.
"Be careful on your way home, and remember to rest well when you get there. Don’t stay up late, no matter how much work you have. It can wait until tomorrow, got it? Oh, and once I finish class tomorrow, I’ll come find you for dinner," she reminded him sweetly.
Sebastian nodded in agreement, his eyes lingering on Madelyn as she ascended the stairs. Only when her charming figure had completely disappeared from view did he turn to leave.
Before getting into his car, Sebastian pulled out his phone once more, his gaze falling on the photo of Madelyn pouting adorably, her face resembling a playful piglet.
A smirk of satisfaction played across his lips. Tucking the phone back into his pocket, he felt a sense of contentment as he returned to his car and drove home.