"Do you know Martin?" Ivan looked at Madison directly, asking the question.
Madison's expression changed slightly upon hearing Ivan's words. "What?"
Ivan repeated his question, "Do you know Martin?"
It took Madison a while to regain her composure after hearing the name. "How... How do you know?"
"So, you do know him, right?" Ivan interrupted Madison once again.
After locking eyes with Ivan, Madison hesitated for a few seconds and nodded, "Yes, I know him."
"You had a history with him, and you have a daughter together, right?"
Madison's face froze completely upon Ivan's inquiry.
Fear, panic, and disbelief were evident in her eyes.
Ivan noticed every change in expression on Madison's face.
"Ivan, how... How did you find out? Who told you?" Madison asked, her voice trembling.
Ivan met Madison's gaze. "Do you know who Martin is the father of?"
There were more than one person named Martin in Manches City.
And there were countless people with the surname Thompson.
But in that moment, something suddenly clicked in Madison's mind.
Before she could speak, Ivan's voice rang out.
"He is Yanis's father."
Ivan paused for a moment after speaking. "So, the reason you vehemently opposed my relationship with Yanis from the beginning was because you knew about the connection between me and Yanis, right?"
After listening to Ivan's words, Madison fell silent for a long time. "Ivan, back then..."
"Back then, you got involved with Martin while he was married. After giving birth to Yanis, you sent her back to the Thompson family. Later, you even had Olivia's child aborted when he told you that the child was gone. That's when you finally let go of years of resentment, isn't it?"
Madison couldn't utter a word. She looked at Ivan, wanting to explain something, but she didn't know how to begin.
When she found out she was pregnant all those years ago, Madison had initially considered having an abortion. However, she had genuine feelings for Martin at the time, and driven by certain desires, she decided to keep the child.
But later, when she heard that Martin's wife was also pregnant and he was avoiding her, she did everything she could to persuade Martin to keep the child within the Thompson family.
Madison was someone who could easily let go when she was young.
After Martin started avoiding her, she met Ryan.
Ryan came from a much better background than Martin.
After developing feelings for each other, Madison used the excuse of going out for further studies to give birth to the child and find ways to stay by Martin's side.
At that time, Martin also had some soft spot for his own child. After Olivia's child didn't make it, that child successfully remained in the Thompson family.
Madison, on the other hand, successfully married Ryan and soon had Ivan.
But Madison never expected that, after many years, the two children would become good friends.
Ivan even developed feelings for his own sister.
Madison couldn't bear to watch this happen.
In fact, at the beginning, Madison also liked Yanis. She genuinely thought about letting Yanis be with Ivan.
But later, she accidentally heard Martin's name from Yanis, and thereafter, Madison tried to investigate Yanis and the Thompson family.
She discovered Yanis's true identity.
She kept it all hidden, burying the feelings of panic and shock deep in her heart.
Ryan nodded and walked up to Madison. "So, that's why you resisted Ivan being with Yanis?"
Madison responded, "Yes."
Afterward, Madison looked at Ryan. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to keep it from you. All these years, there has been a thorn in my heart, and I thought it would gradually get better. But I never expected that this would come to light."
After finishing her words, Madison fell silent for a few seconds. "If you want to separate, I have no objections."
Ryan didn't respond to her statement. Instead, he looked at Madison and asked, "Aren't you going to see that child? I heard there was a fire near South Park last night, and she nearly died inside."
After hearing Ryan's words, Madison shook her head. "No, I won't go."
Ryan furrowed his eyebrows at her response. "You won't go?"
Madison shook her head. "I don't think she wants to see me or have anything to do with me."
As Ryan tried to say something, Madison got up. "I'm a little tired."
And Madison went straight upstairs.
Ryan sat on the living room's couch. He looked at Madison, and tried to say more, but the words came to his lips and he swallowed them again.
Ryan knew what kind of person Madison was.
If she didn't want to do something, even if you put a knife to her neck, she would still refuse to do it.
If she wanted to do something, she would move heaven and earth for it.
So in the end, Ryan didn't say anything.
Only after Madison went upstairs, Ryan got up and left.
After leaving the house, Ryan called Ivan.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: I Become A CEO After Divorce