Chapter 243: Are You Going to Take It Off Yourself, or Should I Help You
Sarah lingered by the floor-to-ceiling window, absorbing the quiet sounds of the night. With a swift turn, she gulped down the milk on her bedside table, then stepped out of her room, holding the empty glass.
In the living room, Madison sat with a heavy heart, reflecting on what Juniper had told her. Despite her best efforts, Madison felt a twinge of heartbreak. She had always wondered about the hardships Sarah must have endured growing up, and even after more than a year back together, Sarah remained distant, as if she were holding something back.
This detachment bore down on Madison's conscience. She felt responsible for the years they had lost.
Sarah joined her, feigning ignorance. "Mom, is everything alright?"
Madison looked up, her eyes softening as she suddenly reached out to embrace Sarah, her fingers tenderly ruffling Sarah's hair. "Sweetie, you can call me whatever you want. It doesn't matter. We have all the time in the world to build our relationship. Let's take it slow."
The unexpected hug made Sarah tense. Madison often expressed affection with these intimate gestures, but they usually coincided with Sarah's well-rehearsed displays of good behavior. This time, Sarah had steeled herself for a confrontation, a scolding perhaps, but Madison's gentle response caught her off guard.
Sarah’s past in the orphanage had been harsh. A place where mistakes, whether real or perceived, were met with punishment. No one had ever held her or spoken kindly to her when she faltered. Madison was the first to break that cycle.
Sarah was an expert at pretending, hiding her darker inclinations behind a facade of obedience and gentleness. But now, something inside her shifted, cracked open by Madison's unexpected kindness. A lone trace of warmth seeped in.
Before she could fully process the emotion, Madison handed her a floor plan for a villa. “Look at this. Do you like it? I know you love Maple Valley. I've decided it’s time we settle down there. If you like this house, we can purchase it tomorrow.”
Madison smiled, her eyes reflecting her sincerity. "The house is in your name. It's a gift for you."
Sarah examined the floor plan. It was a luxurious villa with a private yard and a swimming pool, nestled in the most exclusive community in Maple Valley. Normally, Sarah would accept such gifts with a facade of modesty. This time, she felt a lump in her throat.
Looking up at Madison, she shook her head. "You said it's our home. Wherever you are, that’s home for me. So, this house should be in your name."
Sarah had never spoken sincerely before, feeling quite awkward to do so for the first time.
Madison stared at her, genuinely surprised. "What did you say?"
"Nothing!" Sarah blurted out, her voice shaky. She hastily placed the floor plan on the sofa and stood up, her movements awkward. Without another word, she retreated to her bedroom, the door closing with a soft click behind her.
Madison looked at Juniper, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Did you hear that? She said wherever I am, that's her home!"
"I heard, I heard," Juniper echoed, equally stunned.
It was so unlike Sarah to refuse such a valuable gift. Typically, she accepted everything offered without hesitation. If it weren't for the irrefutable paternity test, Juniper might have suspected Sarah of being a con artist, only here to swindle Madison before making a swift exit.
Madison wiped her tears away, clutching the floor plan to her chest. "We’re buying that house tomorrow," she declared with resolve. This home would anchor Sarah, making her feel secure and genuinely loved.
In the solitude of her bedroom, Sarah sat on the edge of her bed, berating herself silently. How could she have been so foolish as to refuse a villa worth millions on a mere impulse? She racked her brain for a justification. 'It's simple,' she told herself. 'I need an easy exit when the truth surfaces. Properties are cumbersome; liquid cash is far more manageable. Yes, that’s the rationale.'
Deep down, she quelled any nascent hope for familial affection. She reminded herself that she wasn't Madison's real daughter. Every ounce of kindness Madison extended was based on a mistaken belief in their blood connection. In essence, she was nothing more than an intruder, a thief usurping someone else’s place.
Jerry carried me into the bathroom, setting me gently on the cool marble countertop. His nose brushed against mine, a touch that sent shivers down my spine. "Hope," he murmured, his voice a low rumble, "I'm a man with normal needs. If I said I didn't want you, I'd be lying. Especially after waiting for you all these years. But our first time shouldn’t be like this. Do you understand?"
A wave of discomfort washed over me, but my remaining sliver of rationality agreed with him. I still owed him an explanation, and rushing into things would be unfair to us both.
He turned on the cold water, filling the bathtub. When it was ready, he turned to me, a flicker of concern in his eyes. "Do you want to undress yourself, or should I help you?"
"I'll do it myself," I replied, though my voice betrayed my unsurety.
He smirked, lifting me effortlessly with one hand and placing me gently into the tub. "Then wash up. I'll get you some clothes."
Jerry left the bathroom, closing the door gently behind him. But as he turned, I caught a glimpse of his eyes filled with a smoldering anger, a stark contrast to the gentle warmth he’d just shown moments before.
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