Chapter: 729

Kathy's face fell at these words, recalling the painful past.

“Are you going to pin it all on me if she discovers this?"

The unspoken tension between them came up again, clearly laid out in front of them.

Madeline wanted to seize this moment to clear the air with Kathy.

She thought they had made up and it was time to sort out some lingering issues.

"Kathy, I had no choice but to do that back then," she said, looking straight into Kathy's eyes. "I couldn't find the right time to explain, and you started pulling away from me too."

"Oh? Go on, tell me more."

Kathy tilted her head, studying Madeline as if trying to read her.

She saw Madeline as almost hypocritical, which left her cautious and skeptical of anything Madeline said.

She was curious about what Madeline would say this time. Previously, Madeline had let Kathy take the fall for something they did together.

That betrayal hurt Kathy deeply, and since then, she rarely spoke to Madeline.

Yet surprisingly, this time Madeline was welcoming her stay in the villa.

“I love Derek. You know I've always wanted to be part of your family,”

Madeline admitted.

Kathy nodded, understanding that marrying Derek was Madeline's main reason for coming home.

“Remember when we planned to teach Norah a lesson and even got the Fox Alliance involved? Norah found out, and to keep my chances alive with my marriage with Derek, I let you take the heat. I'm really sorry, Kathy. That was all on me," Madeline said, her eyes filling with tears.

“I think of you as part of the Carter family already. Even if you slip up, they won't blame you for long. They'll move past it soon,"

Madeline reassured her, pressing on her thigh to force more tears.

“Back then, my relationship with Derek was just starting. I was scared that taking the blame would ruin my chances with him."

“Do you think Norah is trying to get me thrown in prison?"

The crucial question came up.

Back then, whoever was found to be the murderer would go to jail.

Without a second thought, Derek had decided to protect Madeline. In response, Kathy's behavior had become vindictive.

Madeline said gently, "Silly girl, do you really think your family would let you suffer in jail? You're the only one who can bargain with Norah. If it were me, your family would definitely abandon me."