Reborn to My Engagement Night
Chapter 10: Did You Have Plastic Surgery?
2K 93% +8 Pearls
The following morning, Madelyn stirred from her slumber, her eyes squinting against the unexpected flood of sunlight streaming through the windows. She glanced around, finding the other side of the bed empty. Sebastian was nowhere in sight, leading her to conclude he must have already left for work. Still feeling the remnants of sleep clinging to her, Madelyn freshened up, a growing sense of hunger gnawing at her stomach. Without bothering to change out of her pajamas, she headed downstairs in search of something to eat.
Unknown to her, Sebastian was actually at home, seated in the dining area enjoying breakfast. An early morning visitor had also arrived, adding an unexpected twist to the day. The guest was none other than Wesley Gilbert, Sebastian’s right-hand man at work and one of his closest confidants. Currently, Wesley was engaged in an unfiltered rant.
“Sebastian, as your buddy, I just can’t stand by and watch this anymore! Look at your so-called fiancée, still gallivanting around after your engagement. And here you are, just returning obediently. What are you doing back here? Trying to play the part of a dutiful husband? But even if you perform the role perfectly, there has to be someone who appreciates it, right?” Wesley’s voice carried a mix of concern and frustration.
Wesley was not one to often speak his mind, but once he started, it seemed he couldn’t stop. His words grew more fervent with each sentence.
“I’ve heard all about your fiancée’s daily escapades. And you? Just sitting at home like some lonely widower? I can’t understand it. Typically, it’s the man who’s out and about. How come it’s the other way around with you?”
Despite Wesley’s impassioned speech, Sebastian continued eating his breakfast nonchalantly, seemingly indifferent to the tirade. Wesley, feeling a surge of frustration from Sebastian’s lack of response, let out a deep sigh. “Ah! What on earth did that woman do to bewitch you so? Why are you so stubbornly fixated? As the saying goes, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Why insist on being hung up on one woman? There’s a whole world out there for you to explore, yet you’re rejecting it all for one dumb woman! What a waste!”
Engrossed in his own speech, Wesley failed to notice Madelyn, who had by then quietly descended the stairs and was standing right behind him. It wasn’t until Madelyn’s tone turned icy, a chilling remark slipping from her lips, that he became aware of her presence. “Who are you calling a dumb woman?”
“Oh, my God!” Wesley exclaimed, startled. “Who on earth is that? You scared the life out of me.”
Wesley’s eyes widened as he took in Madelyn’s appearance. “You’re… Don’t tell me you’re… Madelyn?”
“Who else can I be?” Madelyn replied, her chin slightly raised, her eyes cool but playful.
Wesley was taken aback. He couldn’t reconcile the image of Madelyn before him with the one he knew. Madelyn now looked like a refreshing young girl, her beautiful face giving her the semblance of a fairy descended to earth.
“Did you go to Kepraria or something? You seem different from the Madelyn I remember.” Wesley remarked as he reached out, half-jokingly attempting to pinch her cheek to check if she was real.
Madelyn quickly brushed off his hand. “You were the one who went to Kepraria,” she retorted with a sly grin.
“But, why are you at home?” Wesley continued, genuinely puzzled by her presence.
Upon hearing these words, Madelyn pouted, her response tinged with annoyance. “Your question is frankly absurd. Why can’t I be at home? This is the marital home of Sebastian and me. Do you have a problem with that?”
After stating her case, she shot Wesley a fierce glare, then swiftly moved to Sebastian’s side. Her lips pouted as she muttered, “Sebastian, don’t listen to his nonsense. Even though there’s a lot of fish out there, it absolutely can’t compare to what we have—a home.” Her voice was unusually docile, as if she was earnestly trying to please Sebastian.
Wesley, visibly shocked, blurted out, “Damn! Madelyn, are my ears deceiving me, or have you completely lost your senses? Let me check, did you hit your head somewhere? It seems like you’ve become a totally different person!” He then turned to Sebastian earnestly, his concern palpable. “Hey, I’m not meddling without reason. I think you should take her to the hospital as soon as possible. Despite her usual temper and attitude, she’s still your partner. It’d be bad if she really lost her marbles!”
Upon hearing Wesley’s insinuating comments, Madelyn’s anger flared instantaneously. She shot up from her seat, her voice laden with icy warning. “Wesley, are you courting death?”
Before her anger could fully escalate, Sebastian’s calming voice intervened, “Just enjoy your breakfast; stop making a fuss.” The soothing quality of Sebastian’s voice had a noticeable effect on Madelyn. She allowed the tempest within her to subside and sat down again, her demeanor as mild as a well-trained house cat, a stark contrast to her earlier fury.
Wesley watched, utterly confounded by the change in her. He was puzzled, his mind racing. Is this really Madelyn? Could there be some sort of mistake?
After breakfast, it was time for Sebastian and Wesley to leave for the office, Madelyn’s mood had shifted to one of cheerfulness as she saw them off. Just before they departed, she called out warmly, “Sebastian, I’ll be waiting for you to come back for dinner tonight.” Sebastian responded with only a slight nod, his expression unreadable.
Once they were in the car, Wesley couldn’t contain his bewilderment any longer. He immediately began questioning Sebastian, “Sebastian, what on earth is going on? Why is Madelyn acting so unlike herself?”
Sebastian responded with a slight parting of his lips, “I don’t know.”
Wesley’s confusion deepened. “Wait, how could you possibly not know?”
Sebastian appeared somewhat helpless as he replied, “Ever since the night of our engagement, she’s been like this. As for the exact reason, perhaps only she herself knows.”
“Is that so…” Wesley mulled over Sebastian’s words, then with a note of caution, he advised, “Sebastian, I think you should be wary. We both know what Madelyn is typically like. Who knows what she might be up to this time? You absolutely must not trust her easily!”
Sebastian absorbed Wesley’s warning in silence and continued driving to the company. Meanwhile, Madelyn was well aware of the deep rift her actions had caused in the past. She knew that rebuilding Sebastian’s trust would be no easy feat. Nevertheless, she was determined not to give up.
After finishing her own breakfast, Madelyn prepared for the day and headed out to school. It was her senior year and graduation loomed on the horizon. Academically, she had always struggled; her grades were notably poor. To ensure she could graduate, she needed to diligently work on improving her credits. In the past, Janessa had often boasted about her superior academic performance, which she used to overshadow Madelyn constantly. Whenever they were together, the contrast between them was stark—Janessa, the diligent and scholarly girl, and Madelyn, who had become a prominent young lady disinterested in her studies.
Yet, Madelyn had plans beyond merely graduating. She intended to intern at Lockhart Group during her internship period and then start working there directly after graduation. This would not only allow her to see Sebastian daily but also provide a strategic advantage in winning him back and avoiding Janessa’s undermining. Why wouldn’t this be a perfect plan?
48