In the ward, Madison popped out from a corner and shot Ingrid a grateful grin. "Ingrid, thanks for getting rid of that woman."


    "No need to thank me. I could tell right away that Phoebe was trouble. She totally hit someone and tried to pin it on Quimby," Ingrid said, all fired up.


    Madison forced a smile and nced at the still-unconscious Quimby on the bed. She said, "Ingrid, I''lle back when he wakes up."


    Ingrid nodded. "Alright, I''ll give you a call when he does."


    Madison hung around for a few more minutes before heading out. As she stepped outside, the cold air smacked her in the face, and she shoved her hands into her down jacket pockets to stay warm. Just as she was about to step into the snowy scene, she spotted a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye. She turned and locked eyes with Phoebe.


    Madison''s eyelid twitched.


    She thought Phoebe had left, but nope, Phoebe was waiting there.


    Phoebe twirled her car keys and said, "Taylor called me earlier and asked us toe back for dinner tonight. I got nothing else going on, so shall we go together?"


    Madison frowned. Every time she shed with Phoebe, she always lost. She had no clue what Phoebe was up to this time.


    Even though they had already fallen out, Phoebe suddenly wanted to make peace, which was super fishy. "Fine, let''s go together. Think I''m scared of you?" Madison agreed.


    Phoebe shrugged and headed towards the parking lot. Madison silently followed, feeling a weird sense of anxiety.


    She looked at Phoebe''s back, a sh of resentment in her eyes.


    If she hadn''t insisted on tagging along to annoy Phoebe that day, she wouldn''t have met Mason.


    Even though Kedora was arge ce and they hadn''t crossed paths for twenty years, their unexpected meeting was entirely Phoebe''s doing!Once in the car, Phoebe drove out of the parking lot. She turned on the GPS, and a celebrity''s voice started giving directions.


    Phoebe focused on driving, leaving Madison in silence with no intention of chatting.


    In the quiet atmosphere, Madison grew more and more anxious. When the car finally hit the highway, she couldn''t hold it in any longer.


    She asked, "Phoebe, what do you know?"


    Phoebe nced at her while keeping her eyes on the road. "What do you think I should know?"


    "Stop ying games with me," Madison said through gritted teeth, ring at Phoebe with hatred. "Phoebe, do you know why I hate you?" Phoebe''s tone was calm. "Good, because I don''t like you much either."


    Madison was fuming with anger, her face flushed with frustration. Pointing an usatory finger at Phoebe, she eximed, "It''s because of your fake high-and-mighty attitude. You were the one who climbed into Theodore''s bed first and then used the child to force him to marry you. Yet you act like the world owes you something. Who do you think you are?"


    Phoebe rested one hand on the steering wheel, keeping the car at the minimum speed limit. Cars kept passing them, but she continued to drive unhurriedly.


    Madison felt like she was punching a pillow. Watching the cars pass by, she shouted irritably, "Can you drive faster? Even a turtle is faster than you." Phoebe replied slowly, "Cherish life, drive safely."


    Madison was speechless.


    Phoebe was driving her nuts. She turned to the window, fuming with anger and not knowing how to vent it.


    It wasn''t until the car got off the highway and headed towards the estate that Phoebe finally spoke up, "Here''s a tip. Don''t do anything stupid."


    Madison whipped her head around to re at her. "What do you mean?"


    Phoebe replied, "Stop stirring up trouble for the Sullivan Family. The more noise you make, the more attention you''ll draw. Got it?"


    Madison''s heart sank. Phoebe knew.


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about." Madison clenched her fists. She wasn''t about to lose her cool in front of Phoebe. If Phoebe wanted to mess with her, it wasn''t gonna work! Phoebe just smiled and, seeing Madison''s defensive stance, shook her head with augh as she drove into the estate.


    As soon as the car stopped, Madison bolted out and walked into the vi without looking back. Phoebe turned off the engine, got out, and grabbed two boxes of fruit from the trunk.


    Taylor and Sarah were chilling in the living room watching TV. Madison plopped down next to Taylor. Phoebe hadn''t noticed before, but now she realized that Madison and Taylor didn''t look alike at all.


    "Why''d you buy more fruit? We can''t even finish what we have," Taylor said, seeing Phoebe bring in the boxes, and asked Riley to help.


    Phoebe replied, "I passed by the grocery and thought they looked fresh, so I grabbed two boxes. I remember Grandma likes oranges, and these aren''t sour at all."


    Sarah''s face lit up with a smile. "It''s nice of you to remember what I like."


    Madison rolled her eyes beside them. Phoebe was so maniptive, always using small favors to win people over. Sarah, at her age, still fell for Phoebe''s tricks.


    Phoebe went to the kitchen to get a fruit knife and skillfully cut a few oranges. She brought the te to Sarah. "Grandma, try some."


    Sarah took a piece and tasted it, smiling with satisfaction. "It really is sweet, not sour at all."


    Taylor tried a piece and agreed with a smile. "It''s not sour, very juicy. Phoebe is always so thoughtful."


    Madison said dismissively, "If she didn''t have these tricks to please people, how would Theodore have married her?"


    "Madison!" Taylor scolded lightly.


    Madison pouted and said nothing more. She used to rely on being the Reynolds family''s daughter to give Phoebe a hard time whenever she wanted. But now it was no longer possible. Since Madison found out she wasn''t a Reynolds, she didn''t dare to be as willful as before. She was afraid that if the truth came out, Taylor would want to bring Grace back.


    Madison didn''t want to go back to that fishy-smelling home, didn''t want to deal with the dying Alva in the hospital bed, and didn''t want a crippled father like Mason. "Mom, I learned a new dish. I''ll make it for you tonight," Madison said.


    Taylor looked at her in surprise. "When did you learn to cook? Sarah, look, our little princess has grown up and is cooking for us."


    Sarah beamed. "It''s good to grow up. If she didn''t, you''d be worried sick."


    Madison smiled sweetly, took off her coat, and said, "I''ll go to the kitchen to prepare. Just wait for my special dish tonight."


    Watching Madison leave, Taylor sighed, "Phoebe, has Madison been through something recently? She''s be much more obedient."


    Phoebe knew Madison''s thoughts. Madison had found out she wasn''t a Reynolds, so she had to be careful to avoid being kicked out by the Reynolds family.