Chapter 1625

Chandler turned to see Sienna's delighted smile. His lips curved slightly, and the corners of his eyes crinkled with warmth. Lincoln, on the other hand, had a sullen expression. The instant their eyes met, Chandler's smile vanished. Chandler knew he owed him—more than one way. Just then, Helen approached with the children in tow. "Good day, Mr. Chandler and Ms. Maddie." "Fancy seeing you again so soon, Ms. Terzian," Maddie said, subtly moving closer to Chandler and adopting a protective stance. "Chandler drives me every day to drop the kids off at school. It's surprising we haven't crossed paths until now." "Ms. Terzian just returned from abroad. Considering her kids were raised overseas, it makes sense we haven't met her before," Chandler added. Maddie's expression shifted subtly at his words. Nonetheless, she quickly regained her composure and nodded in agreement. "The private school does offer a wonderful environment. If financial circumstances permit, sending your kids here can provide them with valuable learning opportunities." "From the way you put it, Ms. Maddie, it seems I made the right choice," Helen replied with a gentle smile. At that moment, Chandler's phone rang. He glanced at it before excusing himself to take the call. "Pardon me for a moment." Once he was out of earshot, Maddie leaned in. "Ms. Terzian, could we have a moment to talk?" Helen thought it over for a moment before agreeing. "Lincoln, why don't you take Sienna and Ivy to play over there?" With the children occupied, the two women found a stone bench and sat side by side. After a brief silence, Maddie began to ramble. "A year ago, I was a single mother. Between caring for two kids, I was always on edge, fearing that my abusive ex-husband would return to harass us. "It wasn't until I met Chandler that everything changed. His kindness and support lifted my burdens, and for the first time, I could finally sleep peacefully. "To me, Chandler has been a lifeline. I truly need him. Ms. Terzian, you've returned with such grace and built a successful career. I'm sure many suitors will come after you. "Could I ask you to show us a little mercy and allow my children and me to remain under his wings?" Quick to understand Maddie's intentions, Helen got straight to the point. "Ms. Maddie, you're giving me too much credit. Your happiness as a family isn't something I can dictate. "Chandler's interests are notoriously changeable. Even if I weren't here, there would simply be another woman to take my place. "That said, Chandler is someone you can rely on to do the right thing; even if your time with him comes to an end, he wouldn't leave you high and dry. Ms. Maddie, perhaps you shouldn't concern yourself with hypotheticals." With a stoic expression, Maddie turned to her and replied, "Are you saying you're determined to compete with me?" Helen met her gaze, a knowing smile on her lips. "Ms. Maddie, have you forgotten that your current situation arose from taking someone else's place? If you and Mr. Chandler truly have a deep connection, no one could come between you. Don't you agree?" Seeing the resentment in Maddie's eyes, Helen suddenly understood why Chandler had delayed their marriage. Maddie's intense possessiveness was far more intricate than any of the decoy women Chandler had dated before. She seemed to have forgotten that her relationship with Chandler was merely a contractual arrangement. The two women stood in tense silence, their eyes locked in a standoff, neither willing to back down. Just then, the head of the school admissions office approached, cutting through the tension. "Ladies, I apologize for the interruption, but I have some unfortunate news. There are only two spots remaining in the elite class you both applied for. "Since each of you has two children, that simply isn't enough. Regrettably, one of your children will need to be placed in the regular class."