Chapter 20
Rico stared blankly at his phone, the last words from Maddie’s novel looping in his mind:
“Keeping you and letting you go, I
couldn’t do either. It’s like sitting by the lake, thinking it’s the beach. I blow the wind from the lake, thinking it’s the sea breeze. But the lake is the lake, the sea is the sea. You are you and I am me.”
Her words tore at him, each sentence a testament to the emotional distance that had grown between them.
“What do you mean, you are you and I am me‘?” Rico whispered, his voice cracking under the weight of her rejection.
The gentle breeze stirred his hair as he sat motionless, his phone buzzing incessantly beside him. Yet, even the persistent vibrations couldn’t rouse him from the
crushing realization that Maddie had truly
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Chapter 20
left him.
(
91
After what felt like an eternity, Rico finally reached for his phone, answering without checking the caller ID.
“Hello?” he said, his voice hollow.
“Rico!” Jane’s voice chirped from the other end, masking her unease. “Why haven’t you been answering? Did you find Maddie?”
A bitter laugh escaped him, sharp and humorless, “Why don’t you tell me, Jane? You seem to know more about
Maddie‘ s situation than I do.”
ss
Her voice faltered. “What…what do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean!” Rico growled. “You were the one who hurt her
who spread those pictures, who told the world she was an orphan. You drove her away!”
Chapter 20
“Rico, wait, let me explain!” Jane‘ s voice was shrill with panic. “…I only did it because I love you! Don’t you see? Maddie doesn’t belong in your world. She’s just-”
“Stop!” Rico’s voice was cold, venom lacing every word. “She’s what? An orphan? Someone unworthy of me? Do your even hear yourself?”
“I didn’t mean it like that!” Jane pleaded. “I just meant that she’s not a good match for you. We-”
“Jane,” Rico interrupted, his tone deadly. calm. “I’m an orphan too. By your logic, I’m not worthy of you either. And let me tell you something–Maddie has a family now. She’s not the one without roots.
anymore. I am.”
Rico’s voice hardened as he continued. “I’m done with your games. You‘ ve hurt Maddie for the last time and I’m going to make sure you pay for it. Every word you said, every action you took–1‘ 11
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Chapter 20
make sure everyone knows.”
“Rico, wait!” Jane cried, desperation creeping into her voice. “Don’t do this! I spoke with the executives at Evergreen Media–they want to meet you. This could be your big break! If you ruin things now
“I don’t care about your deals, Jane. All I care about is finding Maddie,” Rico snarled.
But then, her words struck a chord.
“If you sign with Evergreen and move to New York you‘ I have a better chance of finding her,” Jane said, her tone softening into something almost manipulative.
“Isn’t that what you want?”
Rico hesitated, her suggestion worming its way into his thoughts. If he moved to New York, he could be closer to Maddie, closer to her new life.
“When’s the meeting?” he asked finally, his voice clipped.
417
hapter 20
- ws. “Three days from now,” Jane answered, elief flooding her voice. “We can go
gether.”
- d. des
“Der
satie Fine.”
et you.
ico hung up abruptly and rose from his eat. His heart was heavy, but his resolve
as clear.
ur des and
iddie a
o matter where you‘ ve gone, Maddie,
11 find you.
ickack
reen green
betten be
leanwhile, across New York, Maddie‘ s arents were beaming with pride as they osted a lavish welcome banquet. The herd, her
and ballroom was filled with laughter
nasima
want want
ad congratulations, relatives and friends ager to celebrate the homecoming of the estiquesughter they thought they’d lost forever. f herif he
addie stood in the center of it all, a little toser to
verwhelmed but warmed by the
atpouring of love. Her mother fussed over ing dress, while her father proudly troduced her to everyone who
90% 15:53
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20
m now mached.
er voicer voic
ddie, you‘ ve grown into such a
iful young woman,
med.
one guest
rupabruptly parents must be over the moon to as hexas hou back,” another added.
the sea of faces, Mrs. Cooper andrew
e youre you s mother, held Maddie‘ s hand,
ize soft and filled with warmth.
- ou.
ve brought so much joy to this Maddie. I remember when you
sacross Nelle, playing in the garden with are beaminge
weikh welcome
esmiled politely, though her
room was file
atulations, re
the brate the he
s drifted elsewhere. She was
to be surrounded by so much love,
Part of her felt like a guest at her own
hey thought!
pod in the ce
- on.
ew always said you were special,”
ned but war
goo
of love. He
while her fate
per continued, her voice gentle. e home now and we‘ re all so
d her to everyt
you.”
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apter 20
rown the banquet carried on, Maddie han,ldn’t shake the feeling of unease. She ad finally found her family, but her heart lt heavy.
be over
other away, Rico prepared for his meeting in ew York, every thought consumed by the
sibility of seeing Maddie again.
S, Mrs. C
jeld Mall
ted witheir paths, though separate for now, were so much tined to cross again.
member
ga
n the might also like
tely, the
ewhere he unded inve
Love Is That t like a roblem
Love You, Is
Problem?
hid yound yo
ued, herred,
wandwand
My Family Who Abandoned Me Begged Me to Come Back
My Family Who
Abandoned Me B…
LSYS
Broken Trust Renewed
