Chapter 397

Madeline’s teary eyes widened. She was certain that she had not hallucinated that voice.

As she lifted her head, she stared at Ava’s small grin while she smiled at her with her big eyes blinking.

Ava was alive.

Madeline’s heart was conflicted. Her feelings were mixed with a little frustration but also largely relief.

Ava shot up energetically as she took in the daze Madeline was in.

She quirked a proud brow at Madeline.

“Are you finally admitting me to be your good friend, Miss Vera Quinn?”

“…” Madeline was speechless.

Amidst the silence, Madeline felt someone approach her from behind.

Straightening herself and turning her head, she watched Daniel enter the room. His elegant and poised features were tinted with a subtle hint of excitement as his eyes glistened with tears.

It dawned on Madeline that this was indeed a test.

Despite having her doubts, she had decided to trust them in the end.

It was because she was truly afraid that the people she cared about would leave her for real.

“You’ve finally admitted it, Maddie.” Daniel’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and his voice shook as he walked toward Madeline. “It’s great to see you again.”

He spoke gently, slowly reaching out to touch Madeline’s cheek.

However, she only slapped his hand away. “Is this funny to you?”

Her tone was cold, laced heavily with admonishment.

Both Ava and Daniel were shocked. They had not expected Madeline to be so angry.

“Madeline…”

“Maddie, I…”

“Is joking about death funny to you?” Madeline asked furiously before turning to leave.

Realizing that they had gone too far with the prank, Ava turned to look at Daniel anxiously, urging him to chase after her.

“Madeline!” He caught Madeline before she could get too far away. “I’m sorry we took it too far.

Although, I’m sure you must know why we did it.”

Daniel’s grip tightened on Madeline’s arms, expectations and earnestness seeping from his eyes.

“Do you know how sad we were when you left three years ago? Ava and I refused to believe that you were dead.

“Could you imagine how we felt when we saw you again? Yet all we got was you insisting that you weren’t Madeline. You were too indifferent to even spare us a glance.”

Daniel’s tone thickened with emotion as he stared at the flawless appearance in front of her. Finally, he reached out to caress her cheeks.

The realness and warmth at his fingertips had his eyes watering.

“We missed you so much, Madeline.”

Tears began to trickle silently from the corners of Madeline’s eyes at Daniel’s words.

Ava made her way slowly to Madeline’s side with her injured leg in tow, tears also streaming down her face. “Don’t be upset anymore, Maddie. I didn’t lie about the car accident. It’s just that I only hurt my leg.”

Choking slightly, she tugged on Madeline’s sleeves.

“Didn’t you lie to us too, Maddie? We’re even now, okay?”

Despite having not done anything wrong, the two apologized to her anyway.

Biting her lip, Madeline looked up with eyes that were brimming with tears.

She was no longer able to hold back her own emotions as she stared at Ava’s tear-streaked face. She then reached out to pull Ava into her arms.

“Ava…”

“Maddie…”

Ava felt a rush of elation wash over her due to this reunion with a lost friend as she hugged Madeline tightly.

‘Thank goodness.’