“What? Me?” Wesley was filled with reluctance. “Maybe I shouldn’t. After all, she’s your cousin. It wouldn’t be quite right for me to take her to the hospital.”

Sebastian’s face turned cold. “Enough talk. This is an order!”

After he finished speaking, he quickly strode away.

Wesley stood frozen in place for several seconds, questioning the very essence of his existence. Oh heavens, this has got to be a joke!

Beatrice was also furious. She huffed loudly but could only helplessly look toward Wesley.

After leaving the club, Madelyn didn’t head to the hospital, nor did she return home. She didn’t feel like going anywhere, so she endured the pain in her arm and returned to the Thornton residence.

She had thought that in the dead of the night, everyone in the house would be asleep. Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped into the living room, she saw her father, Derek, dressed in a set of dark brown pajamas, sitting on the couch, engrossed in something.

“Dad,” Madelyn suddenly called out.

Hearing the sound, Derek whirled around abruptly. Upon seeing his beloved daughter, he was instantly filled with surprise and joy. “Maddie, why are you back?”

Suddenly, Madelyn felt a pang of sadness. Maddie was a nickname given to her by Derek.

Taking a few steps closer, Madelyn smiled and said, “Nothing, I just wanted to come back and have a look.”

Derek nodded and noticed her disheveled appearance at that moment. Bruises were scattered across her skin, and she looked somewhat aggrieved. Immediately, he became anxious. “Maddie, what happened to you?”

Madelyn shook her head, her eyes red. This was the first time she had seen her father since her reincarnation. Hearing this familiar tone, Madelyn felt like crying. In truth, her father had always been exceptionally kind to her. He would give her anything she desired, never allowing her to suffer. He truly treated her like the apple of his eye.

However, in her previous life, Madelyn was discontented because her father had betrayed her mother. She felt that her father had let down their family, which was why she constantly defied him. Instead, he chose to quietly clean up the mess. The reason Madelyn was known for her high-handed temperament was largely due to Derek’s excessive indulgence, which had ultimately spoiled her.

Madelyn could still vividly recall that in her previous life, the reason she ended up severing ties with Derek was because she had gone to great lengths to dissolve her marriage with Sebastian. This ultimately led to Derek, in a fit of anger, severing their father-daughter relationship.

Subsequently, Madelyn found herself entrapped in countless conspiracies, from which recovery seemed impossible. In the end, she yielded, left with no choice but to go to prison.

During her time in prison, Derek was constantly consumed by thoughts of her. He was determined to use every means possible to get her out. At that time, Madelyn also believed that with Derek around, she would definitely be able to get out. Derek was like a towering mountain, once providing her with boundless security.

But in the end, before Madelyn was released from prison, she heard the dreadful news of Derek’s sudden death at home overnight. Since then, all the wealth of Thornton Corporation had completely fallen into the hands of her stepmother and stepsister. At that time, Madelyn was still in the dark, not knowing what was actually going on. All she knew was her overwhelming sadness.

She now recalled that Yadiel had informed her back then that Derek’s death was quite mysterious. However, the police had not been able to unravel the mystery and had thus dropped the case. Reflecting on it now, she surmised that Derek’s death had something to do with her stepmother and stepsister. She was acutely aware that the mother-daughter duo had their sights fixed solely on the Thornton family’s wealth the moment they joined the family.

With all these thoughts in mind, Madelyn made a silent vow to herself. This time around, she was determined not to let the tragedy of her previous life happen again. And she would definitely settle the score with the mother-daughter duo.

At that moment, Madelyn threw herself into Derek’s arms. Derek was momentarily taken aback, completely bewildered by this unexpected display of affection. Ever since Madelyn’s biological mother disappeared, Madelyn seemed to have transformed into a completely different person. She became exceptionally introverted, rebellious, and willful. No matter how kindly he treated her, she always kept a distance in her heart, unwilling to let anyone get in.

But upon further thought, he wondered if she had suffered outside. He asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Did someone mistreat you?”

Madelyn nestled in Derek’s arms, shaking her head gently. “No, I just suddenly remembered so many things…”

Hearing this, Derek felt somewhat relieved. “That’s good, then.”

He picked her up from his embrace, only to hear her let out a sharp scream.

“Ouch!”

“What’s wrong?” Derek, terrified, immediately asked out of concern.

“I– I’m fine.”

Madelyn clutched her arm, trying to act as if she was fine. However, her profuse sweating and pale lips had already completely given her away.

Derek noticed her consistently holding her arm, so he gently brushed against it, causing her to let out a sharp scream again. He was instantly alarmed. “Your arm is dislocated!”

He quickly turned around and called out for the butler, instructing him to fetch the doctor immediately.

The doctor, who was exclusively serving the Thornton family, rushed over in less than ten minutes and began treating Madelyn’s injuries. Firstly, the dislocated bone was put back into place, causing Madelyn to wince in pain. Then came the application of medicine, followed by the wrapping of some support bandages.

Meanwhile, after handing Beatrice over to Wesley, Sebastian returned to Lockhart Villa. For some inexplicable reason, as he recalled the moment she departed – her fragile expression and the peculiar way her arm dangled – Sebastian sensed a foreboding heaviness settle in his heart.

As soon as he returned home, he hurriedly asked Lydia, “Has Mrs. Lockhart returned?”

Without a second thought, Lydia responded, “No. She left in a rush. I thought she had gone to find you.”

No?

Sebastian couldn’t help but furrow his brows deeply.

If she’s not home, then where can she possibly be?

Just then, his phone rang. He pulled out his phone and saw that it was a call from his father-in-law. Without hesitation, he answered it.

Derek gave a cold huff, continuing, “And what exactly happened to Maddie’s dislocated arm?”

Dislocated arm…

Her silhouette as she was leaving came to Sebastian’s mind.

He promptly responded, “I’m sorry. I’ll be right there!”