Chapter 1401

Madeline ignored the pain and suddenly shot to her feet.

“Hey, why are you ignoring me?” upset, Eloise grabbed Madeline’s hand. She had no idea what was happening behind her.

“Why would I ignore you, Mom?” Madeline held Eloise’s hand tightly. Her heart ached at the sight of the dirt and dust on Eloise’s innocent child-like appearance.

She did not have a clue what happened while she was unconscious, except that Eloise had woken up and the man was now unconscious on the floor by the door.

Madeline did not have the time to entertain those thoughts. Seeing the spreading flames that had started some time ago, she took Eloise’s hand and walked toward the exit.

The spreading flames blocked their way, and Madeline found herself coughing from the pungent billowing smoke.

It was only then that Eloise seemed to have noticed that the house was on fire. Staring dazedly at the raging flames, she seemed lost.

“Mom! Cough. We have to leave now!” Madeline squeezed Eloise’s hand. She tried to escape through the room’s door, but the piles of garbage and takeaway boxes ended up contributing to the rapid spread of fire.

“Cough cough!”

Madeline fell into a violent and uncomfortable coughing fit when she suddenly heard a violent crash outside.

It was followed by the main doors being kicked open with a bang.

Jeremy kicked down the door and was shocked when he was met with a strong scent of blazing black smoke once he walked through.

“Is it you, Jeremy? Jeremy! Cough, cough, cough…” Madeline shouted at the door. Her senses told her that Jeremy had arrived, and the irregular rhythm of her heartbeat never deceived her.

Jeremy covered his mouth and walked along the entrance to the outside of the room where Madeline and Eloise were trapped in.

“Linnie!”

Through the heavy black smoke, Jeremy’s half-squinted peach blossom eyes caught sight of Madeline and Eloise’s figures.

“Don’t worry, Linnie. I’ll come in and bring you and Mom out right now!”

“Don’t! Don’t come in, cough! It’s still somewhat safe in here. Ensure your own safety before you come and save me and Mom, Jeremy! Do you hear me?”

Madeline persuaded him to stop, even though she wanted nothing more than to bury herself in Jeremy’s arms where it would feel safe like no other place. Still, him entering the room rashly would not do anything to help them.

“Fire! What a big fire!”

Eloise suddenly screamed.

“Eveline’s still in the fire! It’s all gone! The fire has burned everything away!”

“Mom?”

“Eveline! I have to save Eveline!” Eloise murmured to herself before she suddenly pushed Madeline’s hand away and ran toward the flames.

Madeline pulled Eloise back. “Eveline’s right here, Mom. I’m right here!”

“No. You’re not Eveline, you’re not my Eveline! My darling daughter, Eveline Montgomery, is still inside!

She’ll be burned to death! It’s Lana, she’s the vile witch who wants to kill our entire family!

“Eveline, my child. Mom knows she has never taken good care of you or protected you but won’t you forgive Mom? Please? Come back to me,” Eloise rambled, her expression especially solemn under her dust-covered face.

She seemed to have remembered the day Montgomery Manor was burned to ruins for she kept repeating about how she needed to save Madeline.

Madeline’s heart tightened as if something had taken hold of it. She had no idea if her eyes were burning from the smoke or something else but she could not seem to stop the tears from flowing.

“Eveline is safe, Mom! She’s standing right in front of you!”

“No, no, my Eveline is still in the fire! I have to save her! Let go of me!”

Eloise pushed Madeline away again and rushed desperately toward the raging flames before her.