70\u2013Picking Madeline\u00a0<\/p>\n
Graham:\u00a0<\/p>\n
I made up the lie, knowing Nina was human and Madeline wouldn\u2019t want her knowing too much about her wolf or her recent activities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once we gave her instructions, Nina began convincing the kids to return to their room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeline being gone that long wasn\u2019t a good sign, but to calm the children, we promised them an afternoon full of fun and games.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After they finally went inside, the three of us left the suite.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, tell us exactly what happened,\u201d Elgin said as we walked toward the elevator.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stopped mid\u2013step when I noticed Kaylee coming out of her suite, waving her hand to get my attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGo ahead and deal with her quickly, because we won\u2019t wait for you,\u201d Baxter told me, warning me not to waste too much time or they would leave without me, something I definitely didn\u2019t want.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sighed and walked toward Kaylee.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked like she had been through hell.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes were swollen and red, probably from crying.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As I reached her, she grimaced.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t even check on me once,\u201d she complained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing her this hurt made me realize I really was in the wrong.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the problem was that the marriage that had been forced on me was finally starting to show its cracks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was beginning to push back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was this stubbornness in me that said they thought they had won.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They forced me into it because they believed I had no other choice after Madeline was gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So I settled for a while, not realizing how wrong it was that I\u2019d given in to their pressure and manipulation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s because we kind of got into a situation,\u201d I stated briefly, not giving her the full information.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The minute I turned around, I saw Baxter and Elgin watching me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat situation?\u201d she asked, folding her arms across her chest, making it clear she wouldn\u2019t let me go until I told her what I knew.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMadeline got a lead, so she left. Since we\u2019ve signed the contract with her, we have to go after her,\u201d I explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That was all I said, just in case Kaylee went ahead and told iny father.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t safe for anyone to know that Madeline was out there alone and not answering our calls.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Anyone could take advantage of that, especially my father.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, does it have to be all of you? The contract says one of you has to go,\u201d she argued, already starting to complain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
70\u2013Picking Madeline\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaylee, you don\u2019t understand. For this specific task, I have to go with Madeline,\u201d I replied, placing my hands on my waist anxiously and turning to see if Elgin and Baxter had left without me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thankfully, they hadn\u2019t, but I knew they wouldn\u2019t wait much longer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd why exactly do you have to be there?\u201d Kaylee asked, folding her arms across her chest, her face set with a stern expression.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I worked hard on it. This lead,\u201d I pointed in the direction of the others, \u201cI was the one who found out about it. Now they\u2019ll go there and take the credit for it.\u201d I tried to explain with a lie.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The truth was, I didn\u2019t care about the lead or anyone taking credit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was afraid of Madeline going alone and something bad happening to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what? Aren\u2019t these your friends? Why would you not want them to succeed?\u201d Kaylee, who always pushed me to do better than my friends, was suddenly reminding me that friends shouldn\u2019t be competitive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaylee, is there anything you wanted to talk about specifically?\u201d I asked finally, not ready to entertain her when we needed to find Madeline.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I\u2019m not feeling well. I want you to take me to the hospital,\u201d Kaylee demanded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The way she placed her hands on her waist and tilted her head, challenging me with her eyes, made it clear she wanted to see who I would choose now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it, Kaylee? Are you a child?\u201d I grunted, watching her roll her eyes and clench her fists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019m not lying. I\u2019m not feeling well. I need to go to the hospital, and you\u2019re taking me to the hospital,\u201d she insisted, pointing her finger at my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her acrylic nail tapped against my shirt a few times as if to make her point clear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGraham, we cannot wait any longer. We are leaving,\u201d Baxter announced, and I knew he would be the one to take that step.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked back at Kaylee. She was tapping her foot, one eyebrow raised.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing is, Kaylee, I have to go. You look fine. I\u2019ll come back and take you to the hospital,\u201d I told her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was still speaking, but she had already gotten her answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stomped her foot, turned around, and briskly walked away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I clenched my fists, knowing I was in the wrong for not making her my priority, she was my wife, after all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But then I remembered how I\u2019d been forced into this marriage,\u00a0<\/p>\n
And I also remembered that if I ever had to choose between the two, I\u2019d become the scumbag of a married man and choose Madeline. Any day. Every day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So I turned around and quickly made my way toward the others.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They looked at each other and smiled, probably realizing I\u2019d been given a choice and chose Madeline.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And when I returned home, I\u2019d have a wife ready to throw her tantrums at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d I said, pointing toward the elevator.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
70\u2013Picking Madelina\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once inside, they both turned to me while I placed my hands on my waist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was trying to find out about her wolf and why she has two mates,\u201d I explained. \u201cWe went to the library, and the librarian told us she\u2019d contact us if she found anything.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I went on to explain the rest, including the missing pages.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why did she go out alone?\u201d Baxter asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I gave him a look, and I could tell he realized why.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was because you had accused us of going out on a date earlier,\u201d That was all I had to say.\u00a0<\/p>\n
BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby\u2019s writing style is bold and irresistible\u2014perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.<\/p>\n
70\u2013Picking Madeline\u00a0 Graham:\u00a0 I made up the lie, knowing Nina was human and Madeline wouldn\u2019t want her knowing too much […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-no-daddy-novel-by-novelnozi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19066","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19066"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19066\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19271,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19066\/revisions\/19271"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19066"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19066"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19066"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}