Madeline could feel Jeremy pressing her. Hence, she grabbed his hand. “Jeremy, do you trust me?”

“I do.” He did not hesitate before answering her. There was a gentle look in his eyes. “But Linnie, let me share the load with you.”

Madeline told him after she felt his sincerity, “Jeremy, everything will be taken care of soon. You just have to know that the reason I was cold to you is that I have some troubles I need to keep a secret.”

Jeremy was confused. Then, he asked, “Linnie, why won’t you tell me the truth?”

“I don’t want to take the risk.” Madeline suppressed the urge to tell him that Lillian was still alive. “I can’t risk it.”

Jeremy did not dare ask again after looking at the determination in Madeline’s eyes.

He held Madeline’s hand and placed it next to his lips before kissing it. “It’s enough knowing that there’s another reason why you’ve been ignoring me and giving me the cold shoulder.”

“When you find out, you’ll be ecstatic.” Madeline smiled.

She believed that if Je