Lovell nced at the blood seeping from Dwight''s waist and shook his head firmly. "You''ve been stabbed, and you''re losing a lot of blood. You''re not going anywheree with me to the hospital, now!"


    "I''m not going! I have to find someone!"


    Without another word, Dwight took off rumning.


    "Dwight!" Lovell called after him, but all he could do was sigh helplessly.


    That brat was too stubborn for his own good! Once he made up his ind, nothing could stop him.


    Dwight''s first stop was the exam center. He couldn''t stop worrying about Madeline. She was taking her exams, and with the misunderstanding between him and Halsey, he was afraid no one would be there for her.


    But when he got there, it was already over. The three-day exam hade to an end.


    A teacher at the gate noticed Dwight. "Hey, there. Are you looking for someone?" "Excuse me, is the exam finished?"


    "Yes. The students have already been picked up by their parents and guardians."


    What about Madeline?


    Just then, two students recognized him. "Hi, Dwight!"


    They were Madeline''s ssmates. Dwight had visited her school before, and


    since he was good-looking, many of her ssmates remembered him.


    Dwight walked over to them. "Hi. Have you seen Maddy?"


    "Yeah, we did. Someone already picked her up."


    Dwight''s heart tightened. "Who?"


    "A really pretty girl with fair skin. I heard Maddy call her Halsey."


    "Yeah, Halsey was with Maddy all three days of the exam. Just a little while ago, I saw Maddy get into a luxury car with her. Maddy''s totally safe, so don''t worry."


    So Halsey had taken Madeline home.


    Even though she had walked away from the wedding, even though she had said she would leave him, even though they had grown distant-she still picked Madeline up. Her care for his sister hadn''t changed one bit.


    Dwight felt a wave of warmth flood his chest. "Thank you. I have to go."


    He gged down a cab and headed straight for the Lincoln family''s estate.


    Half an hourter, the cab pulled up in front of the vi. Dwight stepped out and approached the gate.


    Through the iron bars, he quickly spotted them. Halsey and Madeline were standing on thewn, with Cyril by their side.


    Halsey had her arm around Madeline''s shoulders. "So? The exams are over. How do you feel?"


    Cyril chuckled. "Well, except for the essay section in thenguage exam, which is hard to judge, I''d say Maddy will probably be the top scorer in the state."


    A smile tugged at Halsey''s lips, her eyes glowing with pride. She gently ruffled Madeline''s hair. "You did amazing, Maddy."


    Then, she looked at Cyril. "Dad, didn''t you always say you wanted mother daughter? Why don''t you make Maddy your goddaughter? That way, I''d have a sister, and you''d have another daughter."


    Madeline quickly spoke up, "No, it''s okay. I''m already grateful just to stay at your house. I don''t want to cause you more trouble. When I start high school, I can live on campus. I''ve already figured it out-if I enter mathpetitions, I can win prize money to pay for school. I can support myself."


    Madeline knew that,ing from a background like hers, being part of the Lincoln family was already reaching too far. She didn''t want to be a burden.


    Halsey smiled warmly. "I know you''re capable of supporting yourself. But having a sister to spoil you and a godfather to back you up, and a home.... Isn''t that even better?"


    Cyrilughed.


    "Yes. Even if Bebe hadn''t said anything, I was already nning to make you my goddaughter. I really value talent. If I could keep your brother around, then I could definitely keep you, too. In a few days, I''ll host a celebration to make it official— you''ll be announced as part of the Lincoln family!"