Chapter 217 Revenge Is Inevitable

The next day unfurled with the golden rays of the morning sun seeping into the room, casting a bright, yet slightly disorienting, light across Madelyn’s face. The digital clock on her nightstand read ten o’clock, a stark reminder that she was behind schedule.

"I’m late!" Madelyn’s thought jolted her into immediate action. Without wasting another moment, she leaped out of bed, hurried through her morning routine, grabbed her bag, and dashed downstairs.

As she descended the stairs, Derek was being gently but firmly coaxed by Regina and Eunice to take his calming medicine.

“I’m feeling quite well. I think I’ll pass on the medicine for now,” Derek protested, his tone weary from the ongoing routine.

“How can that be? This calming medicine needs to be taken consistently for it to work, Derek. You wouldn’t want to collapse again and worry the entire family, would you?” Regina’s voice was laced with a coercive tenderness that didn’t sit right with Madelyn.

“Yeah, Dad, go ahead and take the medicine,” Eunice chimed in, her tone playful yet insistent.

Resigned, Derek conceded with a sigh, “All right, fine.” He reached for the bowl and dutifully swallowed the medicine.

Madelyn, who had secretly switched the medicines to ensure her father’s safety, watched this interaction with a mix of relief and disdain. The insincere expressions plastered on Regina and Eunice’s faces stirred a profound sense of dismay within her.

How could they continue to deceive him after all he’s done for them? Had she not experienced it herself, Madelyn would have never believed that a person could stoop so low. Their lack of remorse is astonishing. How can they commit such wrongs so blatantly? Sooner or later, I’ll ensure this mother-daughter duo learns their lesson—a lesson they’ll never forget.

After a hurried breakfast, Madelyn rushed off to school. By the time she arrived, she was noticeably late. Fortunately, the professor was understanding and allowed her into the classroom without reprimand.

Madelyn slipped into her seat, her gaze inadvertently noting Janessa’s presence, which surprised her slightly. This was unexpected, and a brief flicker of surprise crossed her features before she composed herself. Her thoughts briefly dwelled on their strained interactions; after the tumultuous events of the previous evening, the likelihood of Janessa being in any mood to renew their friendship seemed slim.

However, Madelyn soon realized she had grossly underestimated Janessa’s capacity for pretense. She seemed to wish for a private conversation.

Madelyn found herself pondering silently, Is there more to discuss? Haven’t my true intentions already been made painfully clear?

Yet Janessa was persistent. “Madelyn, could you step outside with me for a talk?” she proposed earnestly. “I feel there’s been some misunderstanding between us that we really need to clear up.”

With a sense of resignation, Madelyn obliged, following Janessa to a secluded corner of the hallway.

“So what did you want to talk about?” Madelyn broke the silence first.

Once out of earshot of their classmates, Janessa wasted no time in confronting her. “Madelyn, why did you lie to me last night!” she demanded, her voice laden with anger. “Didn’t we agree that Sebastian would attend?”

The mere memory of the previous night’s deception seemed to ignite a fury in Janessa that made her visibly tremble. If she could, she would have strangled Madelyn right then and there.

Madelyn, maintaining an air of innocence, replied, “Oh no, Janessa, you’ve misunderstood me. I didn’t mean to set you up. I really did ask Sebastian to come over last night. He initially agreed, but how was I to know he’d be so tied up with work that he’d arrive so late? And his reaction, well…”

Oh, really? Janessa’s internal response was a cold, mocking laugh, her eyes glinting with unspoken malice. Regardless of Madelyn’s words, she viewed her as nothing but a deceiver, a sentiment she masked under a veneer of forgiveness.

“Madelyn, you really should have called me last night after you got home to explain the situation. You almost had me thinking it was intentional,” she articulated with feigned leniency.

Madelyn’s response was a chuckle. Apologies, but I did that on purpose.

Janessa, attempting to restore their friendship—or perhaps maintain her facade—offered her hand, smiling. “All right, given the circumstances, I won’t hold it against you. Let’s still be good friends in the future, okay?”

Good friends? The phrase unexpectedly sent a chill through Madelyn, sparking a silent, wry amusement at Janessa’s duplicity.

Oh, Janessa, your ability to endure such disgrace without showing your hand is truly something. Do you think I’m unaware of your plans to manipulate me once more under the guise of friendship? It’s fine if that’s what you think. After all, since you love to put on a show, I don’t mind playing along, letting you experience the taste of shooting yourself in the foot.

With a light sneer and a spark of amusement in her eyes, Madelyn played along. “Of course, we’ve been best friends for so many years. How could something so trivial affect us, right?” she responded with exaggerated warmth.

Janessa also gave a forced smile as she nodded. Together, they walked back into the classroom, presenting a united front as if their bond had never wavered. This performance didn’t go unnoticed by Josiah, whose concerned expression deepened.

Pulling Madelyn aside, he warned in a low, urgent tone, "Madelyn, be careful in the future and keep some distance from Janessa. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling she’s not as simple as she seems!"

Madelyn’s response was a light chuckle, appreciating Josiah’s perceptiveness. “Don’t worry, I know what kind of person she is, and I can handle it,” she assured him confidently, adding, “And besides, do you think I’m an easy target?”

After saying that, Madelyn returned to her seat. With a casual shrug, Josiah had to accept her assurance, albeit reluctantly.

At that moment, the school bell rang, marking the start of the next period. The professor took this cue to step onto the stage, clearing his throat before making an announcement about the upcoming school celebration. “You all are aware, right? Our school’s annual celebration is just around the corner. Each department is expected to present a performance. As per the random draw, our department has been assigned to put on a stage play. There will be many distinguished guests invited to the event, so in this class, we’ll be selecting roles for the play. I hope everyone will enthusiastically participate."

Following that, the professor briefly shared the content of the script with the students. Upon hearing the brief introduction of the female lead, someone unexpectedly raised their hand and suggested, "I think Madelyn should play the female lead! Her image and demeanor are a perfect match for the character."

"Exactly! I also think she’s a perfect match. Why not let Madelyn play the role?” another student echoed enthusiastically.

In just a short while, everyone’s voices rose in excitement. They all believed that Madelyn was the indisputable choice for the lead female role in the script. Convinced by the class’s unanimous approval, the professor declared, “All right, given the overwhelming support, Madelyn, you’ll take on the role of the leading lady!”

Madelyn was stunned.

Next, the discussion turned to the male lead. The professor then asked, “The male lead is a handsome military officer. Who do you all think would be the most suitable for the role?”

“Josiah!” a voice called out, nominating Josiah for the role of the handsome military officer. The suggestion was met with enthusiastic agreement.

“Yeah, I think he’s the best fit for the role!”

“Let Josiah play the leading guy!”

“Why so?” the professor inquired, puzzled by the swift consensus for a newcomer.