Chapter 1402
Madeline Crawford and Jeremy Whitman
She had only one thought and it was to save Madeline.
Madeline did not expect Eloiseâs strength to grow so exponentially either in order to save âherâ.
She ended up staggering two steps backward before she knocked into the bookshelf beside her.
The bookshelf swayed twice as if it was about to fall.
Knocking into it hurt slightly, but Madeline did not have the time to worry about herself as she saw Eloise already stepping into the fire.
âMom!â she exclaimed and ran over to embrace Eloise as tears fell freely from her burning eyes.
âLook at me, Mom. I really am your Eveline!â Madeline hugged Eloise and stressed the words.
âMy Evelineâ¦â Eloise was stunned for two seconds as she stared blankly at Madelineâs face. Her eyes were filled with doubt and question. âNo, youâre not. Eveline would never talk to me. She hates me.
Youâre not⦠Cough cough, youâre notâ¦â
Madeline tightened her arms around Eloise. âEveline stopped hating you a long time ago, Mom. I know you didnât hurt me on purpose. Eveline doesnât blame you anymore.â
âEveline doesnât blame me anymore?â Madelineâs words seemed to have gotten through to Eloise who raised her hand to touch Madelineâs teary cheeks. Her delicate brows became furrowed. âDo you truly not blame me anymore, Eveline?â
Madeline nodded and squeezed Eloiseâs hand. âTruly. Eveline doesnât blame her mother. Eveline loves her mother. Cough cough.â
Eloise seemed to have understood Madeline and gave a relieved smile. âWill you come home with me then, Eveline?â
âYeah! Iâll go home with Mom! Our family wonât be separated anymore!â
âOkay.â A loving smile broke on Eloiseâs face. She raised her hand to caress Madelineâs head, but a look of horror suddenly tinted her kind gaze.
Madeline had no idea what was going on, but she saw Eloise suddenly rush behind her.
The swaying bookshelf lost its center of gravity and fell with a bang, crushing Eloise, who had run over to protect Madeline, to the ground.
It then dawned on Madeline that Eloise had suddenly run behind her to protect her.
âMom!â Madeline screamed and hurried over to Eloise.
âMom, cough coughâ¦â Feeling unwell, Madeline fell into another coughing fit. The pile of garbage around the room had given the thick smoke an abnormal smell that attacked her nose.
âLinnie! Can you hear me, Linnie?â Jeremyâs anxious tone crept closer.
âJeremyâ¦â Madeline tried to shout back in response but something seemed to be stuck in her throat. It threw all her efforts to waste.
Her vision began to blur and even breathing became more difficult.
âLinnie! Linnie!â Madeline heard Jeremy shouting heart-wrenchingly before her senses were overwhelmed by the scorching high temperature that enveloped her.
Amidst the confusion, she thought she felt a cool gust of air blow over her. It was accompanied by a scent and a familiar sense of security that slowly calmed her inner anxiety and fear.
âJeremyâ¦â Madeline murmured, seeing Jeremyâs face appearing vaguely in her blurred vision before everything in front of her eyes turned black.
She began to have nightmares about Eloise still crushed under the bookshelf and covered in blood.
She kept screaming âMom, Momâ but Eloise never woke up.
âLinnie. Linnie, are you awake?â
The manâs magnetic, gentle baritone voice drifted into her ears and Madelineâs eyes shot open. When she sat up, her eyes were filled with confusion. âMom! Jeremy!â