Chapter 6: Jenna’s Desperation
Jenna paced her room, her mind racing with schemes and plans. If Madisyn was truly Alexander Grayson’s daughter, then Jenna’s position in the Chapman family—and in society—was at risk. She couldn’t let Madisyn rise above her. Not after everything she had done to secure her place.
She picked up her phone and dialed Derek again. “I need you to dig deeper,” she said, her voice sharp with urgency. “There has to be something—anything—that can discredit Madisyn. A scandal, a secret, something that would make Alexander Grayson think twice about accepting her.”
Derek hesitated. “Jenna, this is dangerous. The Graysons aren’t people you want to mess with. If they find out you’re digging into their affairs—”
“I don’t care!” Jenna snapped. “Do your job, Derek. Or I’ll find someone who will.”
She hung up, her hands trembling with anger and fear. She couldn’t lose everything she had worked for. Not to Madisyn.
Meanwhile, Madisyn spent the next few days torn between two worlds. She visited Alexander several times, each meeting revealing more about the man she had never known. He was sharp, ambitious, and fiercely protective of those he cared about. But there was also a vulnerability in him, a longing to make up for lost time.
During one of their meetings, Alexander handed her a small, intricately designed box. “This belonged to your mother,” he said softly. “She wanted you to have it.”
Madisyn opened the box to find a delicate silver locket. Inside was a tiny photograph of a young woman with Madisyn’s eyes—Evelyn. Her mother. Tears welled in Madisyn’s eyes as she clasped the locket around her neck. It felt like a piece of her past, a connection to the woman who had loved her enough to let her go.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Alexander smiled, his own eyes glistening. “You’re so much like her,” he said. “Strong, kind, and resilient. She would be proud of the woman you’ve become.”
Madisyn felt a warmth spread through her chest. For the first time, she allowed herself to imagine a future where she was part of Alexander’s world—a world of power, influence, and family.
But back at the farmhouse, Clara and Thomas were growing increasingly worried. They could see the conflict in Madisyn’s eyes, the pull between her old life and her new one. One evening, as they sat together on the porch, Clara broached the subject.
“Madisyn,” she said gently, “we know how much this means to you. Meeting Alexander, learning about your past… it’s a lot to take in. But we want you to know that no matter what you decide, we’ll always be here for you.”
Madisyn looked at her, tears brimming in her eyes. “I don’t want to leave you,” she said. “You’ve been my family when no one else was. But Alexander… he’s my father. I can’t just ignore that.”
Thomas reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to choose, Madisyn. Family isn’t about blood. It’s about love. And you have more than enough love to go around.”
Madisyn smiled through her tears, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. Maybe she didn’t have to choose. Maybe she could have both.
Jenna, however, was not willing to let things play out peacefully. Derek had finally uncovered something—a piece of information that could change everything. “I found something,” he said when Jenna answered his call. “It’s not much, but it might be enough to cast doubt on Madisyn’s legitimacy.”
Jenna’s eyes lit up. “Tell me.”
“Evelyn—Madisyn’s mother—was involved with another man around the time she became pregnant. There’s a chance Alexander Grayson might not be Madisyn’s father after all.”
Jenna’s smile was vicious. “Perfect. Leak the information to the press. Make sure it’s everywhere by tomorrow morning.”
Derek hesitated. “Jenna, this could backfire. If Alexander finds out—”
“I don’t care!” Jenna snapped. “Just do it.”
The next morning, Madisyn woke up to a flurry of notifications on her phone. Her heart sank as she saw the headlines: “Is Madisyn Chapman Really a Grayson? New Evidence Suggests Otherwise.” The articles were filled with speculation and half-truths, casting doubt on her paternity and painting her as a gold digger.
Madisyn’s hands trembled as she scrolled through the articles. How could this be happening? She had just started to build a relationship with Alexander, and now it was all being torn apart.
Clara and Thomas rushed to her side, their faces filled with concern. “What’s wrong?” Clara asked.
Madisyn handed her the phone, her voice barely a whisper. “They’re saying Alexander might not be my father. That my mother was involved with someone else.”
Thomas’s face darkened. “This is Jenna’s doing. She’s trying to ruin you.”
Madisyn felt a surge of anger. Jenna had taken everything from her—her family, her home, her sense of belonging. And now she was trying to take this too.
But Madisyn wasn’t the same girl who had been driven out of the Chapman mansion. She was stronger now, more determined. And she wasn’t going to let Jenna win.
Alexander called her later that morning, his voice filled with concern. “Madisyn, I saw the articles. I don’t believe a word of it. But we need to address this before it spirals out of control.
Madisyn took a deep breath. “What do you suggest?”
“We’ll do a DNA test,” Alexander said firmly. “Once and for all, we’ll prove that you’re my daughter. And then we’ll make sure everyone knows the truth.”
Madisyn nodded, though her heart was heavy. She didn’t want to doubt Alexander’s faith in her, but the uncertainty was eating at her. “Okay,” she said quietly. “Let’s do it.”
As the storm of scandal raged around her, Madisyn stood tall, her resolve unshaken. She had faced adversity before, and she would face it again. But this time, she wasn’t alone. She had Clara and Thomas, Alexander, and even Victor in her corner.
And she wasn’t going to let Jenna—or anyone else—take that away from her.
The game was far from over. And Madisyn was ready to fight.