Chapter 1019 Someone Hiding in the Dark (XIII)

• When it came to Madison Sawyer—anyone who had their eye on her or might hurt her, really—Chadwick Fullner never let his guard down. He wasn’t about to hear one easy “I’m done” from Zheng Mingjie and believe the guy had truly given up on her.
• “I know you won’t believe me.” Zheng Mingjie shook his head with a bitter smile. “Yeah, I said those things back then, and what happened after… plus the people I hung out with—it was over the line. But, Chadwick, I was drunk that night. Wrong place, wrong time, and my brain short-circuited, so I ran my mouth about doing something out of line to Madison. I swear I didn’t—and wouldn’t—actually do it. Otherwise, with how many years I’ve known her and all the chances I’ve had, why didn’t I ever make a move? People say dumb things in that kind of scene. Later, I tried to find someone to get back at you only because you bruised my pride, so I went at you. That kind of pride? Not just you. I’ve got it too.” He spoke slowly.
• Chadwick snorted, no sugarcoating. “You are the company you keep. Run with mud, end up muddy. And drunk words, sober heart—you play the gentleman till the booze strips the mask, right? The only reason you didn’t touch Madison all these years is because you figured you’d lock her down sooner or later. No rush. Meanwhile you had other women warming the seat, so no lonely nights.”