as, had been hospitalized for

n. Ellie was still awake, leaning comfortably against the headboard, eyes glued

ced at the clock before turning to Madel

ble and began cleaning up the mess on the bed. "You shouldn't be ea

hen bring me some lemon honey w

pening as she took in her daughter's tired f

N

d. "Trouble with som

lied, "Nothi

yes. "Then you must have crossed pa

hands still

"Four years has passed," she murmured. "And eve

at had happened between Madely

s," Madelynn said, though h

o things? Just look at yourself. Y

r voice softened. "Maybe I've bee

he bin, her tone turning flat. "If you keep s

d quickly, patting the space be

adelynn sat down. Ellie rea

ghtly misshapen from age, yet the

again, more carefully th

ell," she said. Then, after a pause, a

readable. She said after a long while, "Yet you

had no

re with him, at least you didn't have to worry about money. But after

fine," Madel

. Stomach ulcer, low blood pressure, anemia... Joyce told me everyt

n fell

herself before speaking again. "Actually... back t

d abruptly, her eyes

d at the hospital for a full week; your phone was turned off the entire time. During that period, a woman came to see me. She

, her voice barely steady. "Why

Dawson family? At the time, your grandmother needed surgery immediately, and we had no

"If there's anyone I've wronged

ned her hold on

ession from that year. The coldness, res

t tried t

coul

? That his family had paid h

the hospital, buying her gran

decide whether that d

never wanted to see that l

work. She stepped into the elevat

owering scent of perfume. A brand-new designer tote hung from her arm, one Madelynn had not

flection in the mirrored doors. "I heard you got rejected by the D

remaine

ople like you rely on appearances to get ahead. Once t

or doors s

of worrying about me, maybe focus on your own work. Your t

iffened instantly, h

Madelynn was called

Danny sighed heavily. "Madelynn, how lo

s," Madely

een reliable-capable, steady, and good with clients. I've consid

nsibility for that," Madelynn int

idea. "No need for that. I know exa

, "The real issue is that the Dawson

didn't

out an envelope, and slid it