Chapter 835:

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Derek wondered who he truly loved—Madeline or Norah? Both women had been pivotal figures in his life. Now, with Norah gone, a yearning for her return gnawed at him.

“But your ex, Norah, she was the strong and capable one. I thought you wouldn’t divorce her…”

Before he could finish his words, Coen initiated intimate encounters with an escort in the dim light, his words drowned out by the sounds of heavy breathing.

Derek, too, began making out with another escort.

In the dim light, he fantasized about the woman beneath him being Norah. What if, on their first anniversary, he hadn’t pushed her away? He imagined a passionate encounter.

Following Derek’s departure to Silverdale, Madeline faced numerous challenges.

Despite her pregnancy, the members of the Carter family continued to torment her. Initially, they used Derek’s absence in Glophia as an excuse, claiming that it was inconvenient for them to care for her, and insisted that she reside in Carter Manor. This arrangement allowed Juliana and Sharon to torment her further.

Juliana enforced, “It is customary to greet the elders early in the morning. If you have no tasks, make sure you greet us at seven o’clock every morning.” Madeline dismissed this lightly and chose not to comply. As a result, Juliana ordered her food intake to be reduced. Despite Madeline’s complaints to Derek, no action was taken.

Reluctantly, Madeline complied. Sharon, who enjoyed Madeline’s cooking, frequently tasked her with laundry duties. Failure to meet Sharon’s demands resulted in confinement to a small, dark room without food.

Sharon threatened, “You’ve married into my family. If you defy me, I’ll make sure my son divorces you. Norah was compliant when she was here. Are you really worse than her?” Juliana, though outwardly kind to her family, harbored animosity towards Madeline. Since Madeline had usurped Norah’s place, Juliana took pleasure in witnessing Sharon’s mistreatment of her.

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“You wanted to marry into this family, didn’t you?” Sharon sneered. “Now that your wish is granted, you must abide by our rules.” Sharon placed the bowl on the table with a loud thud, startling Madeline as she ate.

After months of maltreatment, Madeline grew increasingly sensitive and wary, constantly dreading the prospect of being confined again in the dark room without food. Derek would shield her if he were present, but he was away on a business trip. Despite all the hardship, Madeline lacked the courage to leave.

She depended entirely on the Carter family for everything, as she had no financial resources or savings, making it impossible for her to defy them. When Derek returned, she would have to recount the mistreatment she had endured. For now, all she could do was suppress her anger.

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