Chapter 5: Fighting for Maddie

3

Five years later—

At the gate of the Owen house, the housekeeper reported my return.

Half an hour later, Owen finally arrived, moving slowly. He stood at a distance, looking at me with wariness and a sense of superiority.

"Why have you come? What happened back then was my fault, but I’ve sent you plenty over the years... Lila and Maddie get along well. Lila may be childish, but she can be a good mother."

When he mentioned Lila, his expression softened with a tenderness I had never seen before.

I knew they were childhood sweethearts—childhood friends who grew up together—finally together after so many twists and turns. There were even romance novels in the city about them, praising their moving love.

But I had no interest in such topics. I only wanted to see Maddie as soon as possible. This time, I had come back because I missed my daughter so much, sneaking into the city. My jealous husband at home still didn’t know.

I followed Owen and a maid to a remote little guest house. The house was simple, and in the yard stood the swing I had made with my own hands five years ago.

I stopped, hardly daring to believe it, and confirmed with Owen, "Maddie lives here?"

The Owen family is wealthy—even the main maid’s room is better than this.

Owen seemed unfamiliar with this place as well. He hesitated, then instinctively defended Lila:

"Maddie developed anxiety, and several times went out at night, hurting herself. It must be because of this that Lila temporarily placed her here."

His tone was flat, just like when he sent me to Savannah years ago. He spoke as if Maddie weren’t even his own child.

I didn’t want to argue. I only wanted to see my child as soon as possible. Over the years, I had written many letters to the city, but never received a reply. Just like all those things Owen claimed to have sent me—I never saw a trace.

I pushed open the door. Dust rose, but the small bed was empty. On the table sat half a bowl of cold mac and cheese and several plates of cookies. Though I wasn’t born to a rich family, I recognized these tricks for dealing with children—feeding only sweets would ruin a child’s health.

The room smelled of dust and neglect, a box fan buzzing in the corner. Anger surged within me. My hands shook. No child deserved this—not even the daughter of a nobody. I glared at Owen and said, "If anything happens to Maddie, I will not let Lila off!"

Owen’s face darkened, but he insisted, "Lila wouldn’t do that. It must be the staff’s negligence."

Just then, a maid came to report that the young lady had gone out to play with another family’s girl.

I was stunned and asked, "Which family’s girl? And as her father, why do you know nothing? I think, all these years, it’s Lila deliberately..."

Before I could finish, Owen interrupted me.

"Enough!" Owen glared at me, his eyes full of anger. "I know you resent what happened back then, but all the fault is mine—it has nothing to do with Lila! She is kind-hearted; you shouldn’t speak of her that way! But you come in here acting so aggressively—do you still think you’re the lady of this house? To think I was soft-hearted enough to let you see Maddie!"

His protection of Lila far surpassed his concern for his own daughter.

The air in the guest house felt stifling. I pressed my lips together, feeling like an outsider in my own child’s life.