Madison was chillin’ on the table, legs swinging, giving the scruffy dad and his daughter a cold stare.

“Grace,” she said, “if you don’t quit Queen Entertainment, I’ll be here every day wrecking your store. Let’s see how you run a business then.” Grace’s eyes welled up with tears as she glared at Madison. “Why are you doing this to us?”

Madison leaned in a bit, sneering. “Squashing a bug like you is nothing to me. If you want peace, stay outta my sight.”

Grace clenched her teeth. “I’m calling the cops. They’ll arrest you.”

“Do you dare?” Madison shot a mocking look at Mason. “You don’t dare. If this blows up, it’s bad news for everyone.”

Grace wiped her tears and started dialing the police, but Mason grabbed the phone before she could finish. “Grace, go upstairs. I’ll handle this.”

“Handle it how? You just let her walk all over us. Dad, why are you like this?” Grace questioned, exasperated.

Despite Mason not being one to fear trouble, an unusual dread of Madison seemed to linger within him, a fact that perplexed Grace.

Madison laughed arrogantly. “Keep Grace away from me, or I’ll be back.”

With that, Madison hopped off the table and headed for the door.

She’d only taken a couple of steps when she froze, staring at Phoebe standing at the restaurant door, her face darkening. “What are you doing here?”

Phoebe met her gaze. “I brought Grace back. Madison, does Theodore know you’re causing trouble on someone else’s turf?”

Madison’s expression shifted. She walked slowly over and stood in front of Phoebe. “Phoebe, if you say a word, I’ll make sure you can’t stay in the Reynolds family.” Phoebe smirked, “I’m curious, how exactly are you gonna do that?”

“You!” Madison glared. “Phoebe, you better act like today never happened. If you tell Theodore, you’re done. Let’s go!”

Madison bumped into Phoebe hard as she left.

Phoebe watched Madison and her crew leave, puzzled why Madison was so fixated on Grace.

Behind her, Grace’s sobs echoed. “Dad, let’s call the cops. She’ll just come back with more trouble.”

“Enough, go rest. I’ll clean up. And don’t tell your mom about today; she doesn’t need the stress in the hospital.” Mason nudged Grace towards the stairs.

Grace stood still, confused. “Why are you covering for her? Hasn’t she done enough to us?”

Mason hung his head. “I have my reasons. Don’t ask, just go rest. And quit your job too.”

Grace’s eyes widened. “Why?”

“Just quit. Focus on school. I’ll figure out the money for your mom’s surgery. Don’t worry about it,” Mason said, picking up a chair.

Phoebe knew she couldn’t help Grace right now. She stood at the door for a bit, then turned and left.

Back at her car, Phoebe saw Madison leaning against it, chewing gum and blowing bubbles.

Phoebe frowned and walked up to her. “Madison, it’s one thing to be spoiled and willful, but you should know your limits.” “What? Are you sticking up for that bitch?” Madison looked at her provocatively.

Phoebe replied, “I just don’t get why you’re targeting her.”

Madison sneered, “Do I need a reason? I just don’t like her. So what? There’s no rule against disliking someone, right?”

Phoebe squinted. “Madison, the more you act all tough, the more it looks like you’re hiding something. What are you guilty of?”

Madison’s eyes flickered, panic bubbling up inside her. She stared at Phoebe, thinking there was no way she could be aware of the secret.

Only Mason, Alva, and she were privy to the truth. Even Grace was in the dark. Phoebe had to be bluffing.

Madison forced herself to stay cool. “Guilty of what?”

Phoebe locked eyes with her. “Madison, don’t push people too far. The harder you push, the harder it backfires. Got it?”

She reached out and patted Madison’s face. Madison glared, furious. “You dare touch my face?”

“Move, don’t dirty my car.” Phoebe shoved Madison aside, opened the car door, and got in. As she started the engine, she rolled down the window and said, “By the way, I noticed you and Mr. Sullivan both have the same kind of eyes.” Madison felt like she’d been struck by lightning. Her pupils shrank as she stared at Phoebe, feeling like she was sinking into an icy lake.

Phoebe smirked, “Drive safe. Don’t end up in a ditch.”

With that, Phoebe hit the gas and drove off. In the rearview mirror, she saw Madison standing there, looking frantic. Phoebe’s lips curled up.

Madison was still a rookie at this game, wearing her heart on her sleeve for all to see. ‘So Madison and Grace really did switch identities?’ Phoebe wondered.

She pulled out her phone, ready to make a call, when a motorcycle suddenly shot out from the side. She couldn’t brake in time and collided with it, watching in horror as the rider flew off and hit the ground hard.

In that instant, all the blood rushed to Phoebe’s head. Everything sounded muffled, like she was underwater. She stared blankly at the person lying in a pool of blood, her hands and feet going cold.

At the hospital, Phoebe sat on a bench, her hands and feet freezing, staring at the green light above the operating room. Her hands were clenched into tight fists.

Hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. Phoebe turned her head mechanically, and before she could see who it was, she got slapped. The first thing she felt was pain.

She could still feel pain, which meant this wasn’t a dream. It was real. She had really hit someone.

“If anything happens to my son, I’ll make you pay with your life!” Ingrid Larsen slapped Phoebe again and grabbed her by the neck, threatening her.

People nearby tried to pull Ingrid away, but she shoved them off fiercely. Ingrid grabbed Phoebe’s hair. “He’s only 20 years old. If anything happens to him, how am I supposed to live?” Phoebe looked at Ingrid blankly, still in shock from the accident. She mumbled, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

“If ‘sorry’ was enough, we wouldn’t need the police. You bitch, I’ll make you pay with your life!” Ingrid raised her hand to slap Phoebe again.

Before the slap could land, a strong hand caught it.

Ingrid turned around in shock and met a pair of cold, deep eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. Theodore pushed her hand away and shielded Phoebe.

Theodore looked down at Phoebe. Her clothes and hands were covered in blood, but it wasn’t hers. She had no injuries. He felt a bit relieved and pulled the terrified Phoebe into his arms. “It’s okay, Phoebe. I’m here. It’s okay, don’t be afraid,” Theodore comforted her softly, kissing the top of her head.

When he got the call about Phoebe’s accident, he was scared out of his wits.

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