Chapter 2

"You have no right to run away. This is what you owe Abigail.” Clinton glared at her ferociously, warning her to accept reality with a hateful tone. Five years ago, she was framed, unable to explain herself in court. She thought that five years in prison would redeem all her sins. When she finally endured those five years in prison, hoping to regain her freedom and start a new life, little did she know that as soon as she stepped out of the prison walls, she would be dragged back into the depths of hell. "Hurry up and send her to the hospital. Abigail is waiting." Matthew was somewhat impatient. "What if she doesn't want to get in the car?" the driver asked. “What right does she have to refuse? Her life should belong to Abigail." Clinton sneered, reaching out to forcefully grab Madeleine's chin, almost crushing her bones with his strength. "I heard that your wicked biological mother received her retribution. She got cancer and is now locked up in prison. "If you don't want her to be killed, behave yourself and give Abigail one of your kidneys." Madeleine was shaking, forced to look into Clinton's eyes. Looking at his eyes filled with hatred and his icy smile, her heart filled with panic. She hated the unfairness of fate. Why did she, after enduring so much to walk out of prison, fall back into this abyss of hell once again? While she was lost in her thoughts, she was forcibly pushed into the car. Trembling and desperate, she curled up in a corner, murmuring to herself. She couldn't donate a kidney, and she couldn't die either. Her child was only five years old and had no mother. At that moment, a voice of a man suddenly echoed in her mind. "If you want to stay alive, cooperate with me and get close to Beckett Beach..." Maybe, the only chance she had to survive now was to approach Clinton's elder brother, the CEO of Beach Group, Beckett. "Madeleine, how have these five years in prison been?" At this moment, the sound of Clinton's voice rang in her ear. Clinton looked at Madeleine, who was curled up in the corner, no longer showcasing the pride she once had; his heart was a mix of emotions. Perhaps it was a reflex from being bullied in prison. When Madeleine snapped out of it, she was scared, hugging her head. "Why aren't you speaking? Have you become mute?" Clinton raised his hand to pinch her chin, disgust evident in his eyes. "Alright..." Madeleine's voice trembled, her eyes full of despair. Thanks to Clinton, her life in jail was worse than death. If it hadn't been for someone protecting her secretly over these years, she might have been tortured to death in prison four years ago. Clinton looked at the dark red bloodstain on Madeleine's forehead, disgustedly pushed her away, and said with distaste, "You make me sick." Madeleine numbly looked at the man in front of her, the man she had loved throughout her youth, unable to stir any emotions within her heart. She didn't love him anymore. Because her love had been overshadowed by the countless scars of torture on her body, and the severity of her fresh wounds atop the old unhealed ones, were all thanks to Clinton. ... Pinebrook Hospital. Madeleine was forcefully dragged out of the car by Clinton. She kneeled on the ground, begging him, "Please, let me go! If I go through with the kidney donation surgery, I'll die on the operating table... "I beg you, don't force me to undergo the surgery. As long as I don't have the surgery, I will do anything you ask." Upon seeing her state, Clinton's gaze was filled with complex emotions. It seemed he hadn't expected the once high and mighty her to become so lowly and humble. "Matthew, can you please spare me? With the abilities of the Landry family, you can surely find many suitable donors for Abigail, right?" "You and mom and Dad know that my body can't withstand a kidney donation surgery." Madeleine suffered from congenital heart disease. Although she had an operation when she was young, she couldn't withstand the damage caused by donating a kidney. And Matthew knew this, yet he remained indifferent to her pleas. "If it wasn't for your biological mother who swapped my sister away, you would be dead by now. "Your life owes to Abigail; giving up one of your kidneys counts for nothing. Even if you die on the operating table, this is all that you owe her!" Hearing such verdicts, Madeleine's body stiffened and then she sagged powerless onto the ground. She slowly raised her head, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at Clinton, her voice choked with despair, "Can I atone in any other way?" "You are not worthy!" "Madeleine, how dare you make conditions? Do you think five years in prison can erase the mistake you and your mother made? "And, have you forgotten what you did with that other man five years ago? You cheated on me!" Madeleine's face turned pale with fear. She definitely hadn't forgotten those things; she just didn't dare to recall those past events that led to her downfall. Once upon a time, Matthew, who promised to protect her forever, sought to ruin her upon learning that she was not the legitimate heiress of the Landry family. He believed that she was an impostor and that the real heiress was Abigail. Therefore, her fiance should belong to Abigail. So, he drugged her, then personally brought her to another man's bed. Later, he had Abigail catch them in the act with Clinton. At that time, Abigail was the replaced heiress of the Landry family, perceived as a victim, so everyone took her word for the truth. As for Madeleine, she had been labeled a detestable thief. Every word she spoke was considered a conniving lie. Naturally, no one believed her. "Come with us." The bodyguard approached, grabbing Madeleine by the hair and dragging her towards the direction of the hospital room. She was pulled along the hospital's empty, cold corridor, pleas for mercy ignored by all. In the end, she was roughly dragged into a VIP room at the end of the corridor. Inside the room, Abigail lay unconscious on the hospital bed, her face pale. Beside the bed was the head of the Landry family, Tristan Landry, and his wife, Sabrina Landry, whom Madeleine had called "Dad" and "Mom" for twenty-one years. Upon seeing Madeleine, Sabrina rushed forward in a flurry of emotions, slapping her face harshly. Tristan, on the other hand, was remarkably composed. He looked at Clinton and asked solemnly, "Has she agreed?" "She has no right to disagree," Clinton declared, having already made the decision for Madeleine and forcing her to kneel by the bed. Trembling all over, Madeleine gazed at Tristan. "Dad..." Seeing that his face darkened instantly, she changed her address in a panic, "Mr. Landry, I beg you to let me go, okay? I can't withstand a kidney donation surgery. Can I atone for what I owe the Landry family in other ways?" Tristan's face grew even darker at her words. Before he even spoke, Clinton reminded her on purpose, "Madeleine, if I remember correctly, your illegitimate child should be five years old this year, right?" Mentioning the illegitimate child, Clinton's disgust deepened. He wished Madeleine could drop dead right this instant. Five years ago, Madeleine spent the night with another man in a hotel, humiliating the Beach family. Afterwards, Madeleine even got pregnant. She gave birth to the illegitimate child before going to prison. Upon hearing these words, Madeleine shivered, looking at Clinton with despair in her eyes. She pleaded, "Please don't hurt him. He's innocent." "Innocent? The most innocent person here is Abigail. If it weren't for your stealing Abigail's identity, Abigail would never have to live an underprivileged life in your family!" Sabrina roared in dissatisfaction, her outburst leading her to slap Madeleine several times. If she hadn't stopped by Tristan, she would have beaten Madeleine to death to relieve her hatred. Madeleine felt her ears buzzing. Her cheeks were now swollen red. She took a deep breath, looked up at Clinton, and pleaded, "Please don't harm my child. As long as you don't hurt them, I agree to whatever you want me to do..."