Chapter 6: Five Years of Pain

The truth did not come quickly.

For the next several days, the investigation continued.

Madeline remained under suspicion while Jeremy quietly launched his own investigation.

He reviewed every piece of evidence related to Meredith's accident.

The more he looked...

The less certain he became.

One photograph had been digitally altered.

One witness had changed her statement twice.

And the security footage had a gap of nearly seven minutes.

Someone had carefully constructed the case against Madeline.

Jeremy's assistant finally found something important.

"Mr. Whitman, there's a problem with the original footage."

"What kind of problem?"

"The timestamp on the copy submitted to the police was changed."

Jeremy's expression hardened.

"Can you recover the original?"

"We're trying."

"Do it."

That evening, Jeremy went to see Meredith.

She opened the door with a worried expression.

"Jeremy?"

"We need to talk."

"About Madeline?"

"Yes."

Meredith stepped aside.

"Come in."

Jeremy placed several documents on the table.

"Why does the police copy have a different timestamp from the original security system?"

Meredith stared at the papers.

"I don't know."

"Why did one of your witnesses change her statement?"

"I don't know."

"Why is there a missing seven-minute section in the footage?"

Meredith's expression finally changed.

"Jeremy, are you accusing me?"

"I'm asking questions."

"After everything I've suffered, you still think I would frame my own sister?"

"I don't know what to think anymore."

Tears appeared in Meredith's eyes.

"You know I love you."

"I trusted you."

"And I trusted you to protect me."

Jeremy remained silent.

Meredith stepped closer.

"Madeline has always wanted you."

"She spent years chasing you."

"You can't seriously believe she had nothing to do with what happened."

Jeremy looked at her carefully.

"That's exactly what I'm trying to determine."

For the first time, Meredith realized that her control over him was weakening.

She needed to act quickly.

Meanwhile, Madeline received another call from her lawyer.

"Mrs. Whitman, we have a serious problem."

"What happened?"

"The prosecutor is considering filing formal charges."

"Based on what?"

"The current evidence."

Madeline closed her eyes.

She understood what would happen next.

If she were convicted, her unborn child would grow up without her.

"What can we do?" she asked.

"We need stronger evidence."

"I'll find it."

That night, Madeline opened an old storage box.

Inside were photographs from the night of Meredith's accident.

Madeline had kept them for years.

She looked through each one carefully.

Then she stopped.

In the corner of one photograph...

A black car was visible.

The license plate was partially covered.

Madeline recognized the vehicle.

It belonged to one of Meredith's closest friends.

"Why was she there?"

Madeline immediately called her lawyer.

"I found something."

The next day, they tracked the vehicle's owner.

The woman initially refused to cooperate.

But after being shown the photograph, she finally admitted the truth.

"I was there that night."

"What happened?"

"Meredith was already outside the car when Madeline arrived."

"They argued."

"Then Meredith walked into the road herself."

"Madeline tried to pull her back."

"Another car suddenly appeared."

Madeline stared at her.

"Are you saying Meredith deliberately stepped into the road?"

"Yes."

"She wanted people to think you pushed her."

"Why?"

The woman lowered her head.

"Because she wanted Jeremy to hate you."

Madeline's heart sank.

"Why did you stay silent?"

"She threatened me."

"And promised to destroy my family if I spoke."

Madeline finally had proof.

But before she could celebrate, another problem arrived.

She began experiencing severe abdominal pain.

"No..."

She grabbed the edge of the table.

"Please... not now."

Her lawyer immediately called an ambulance.

At the hospital, doctors rushed Madeline into the emergency department.

Jeremy received the call while in a meeting.

"Mr. Whitman, your wife has been admitted to the hospital."

His heart dropped.

"Why?"

"Pregnancy complications."

Jeremy stood immediately.

"I'm coming."

He arrived at the hospital within minutes.

Madeline was lying in a hospital bed.

Her face was pale.

One hand rested protectively over her stomach.

Jeremy walked toward her.

"Madeline."

Her eyes opened slowly.

When she saw him, tears filled them.

"Why are you here?"

"You're my wife."

"You came because of the baby."

Jeremy didn't answer.

She looked away.

"Please leave."

"I'm staying."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

"I'm staying anyway."

Madeline looked at him in surprise.

The doctor eventually entered.

"Her condition is stable."

"But she needs complete rest."

"Stress could be dangerous for both mother and child."

Jeremy nodded.

"I'll make sure she rests."

After the doctor left, the room became quiet.

Jeremy sat beside the bed.

Madeline didn't speak.

He looked at her for a long time.

"I found evidence."

Her eyes moved toward him.

"What evidence?"

"The case against you may have been fabricated."

Madeline's eyes filled with tears.

"You finally believe me?"

"I'm beginning to."

"Beginning?"

Jeremy lowered his head.

"I'm sorry."

Madeline laughed bitterly.

"You should be."

"I loved you for twelve years."

"You know that."

"And you believed one lie after another without ever asking me what happened."

Jeremy had no defense.

"You're right."

"I was wrong."

"I should have trusted you."

"But you didn't."

Silence filled the room.

Then Madeline placed a hand over her stomach.

"I'm leaving Glendale."

Jeremy froze.

"What?"

"After this case is resolved, I'm leaving."

"Where will you go?"

"Somewhere you can't hurt me anymore."

"Madeline..."

"I don't want your apology."

"I don't want your pity."

"And I don't want a marriage built on hatred."

Jeremy's chest tightened.

"What about our child?"

"I'll raise our baby myself."

"You said you didn't want the child."

He looked at her.

"I was wrong about that too."

"It's too late."

Madeline closed her eyes.

"I need peace."

Jeremy remained beside her.

For the first time in their marriage...

He realized he might actually lose her.

Not because she had died.

Not because another man had taken her.

But because she had finally stopped waiting for him.

Three months later...

Madeline gave birth to a healthy baby.

She held the newborn tightly against her chest.

Jeremy stood outside the hospital room.

He had been there every day.

But Madeline had refused to let him inside.

The following morning, she disappeared from Glendale.

No dramatic farewell.

No final message.

Only a single note was left on the bedroom table.

"I spent twelve years loving you."

"I won't spend another twelve waiting."

Five years passed.

Madeline returned to Glendale with a child in her arms and a strength no one recognized.

She was no longer the woman who had begged Jeremy to believe her.

She had become someone entirely different.

And this time...

She had come back for one reason.

Revenge.