Chapter 145 Mother knows best

Chapter 145: Chapter 145 Mother knows best

Right inside the survivor camp, the buzz over the general’s death was still ongoing. News had spread through almost every corner of the safe zone, and fear had settled over the survivors because nobody knew who had killed him.

The general had been one of the most powerful figures in the entire camp. His death wasn’t something people could simply ignore, especially when there were no clear witnesses and no obvious suspect. Whispers traveled from one family to another.

Some believed it had been an awakened person. Others suspected an internal rebellion. There were even rumors that someone from outside the safe zone had infiltrated the camp.

Whatever the truth was, everyone understood one thing. Something had changed. And the people in charge were no longer pretending everything was under control.

That was why a gathering had been called.

The invitation was sent across the survivor camp, specifically to the top wealthy and influential families. It was to be held inside a massive hall that had been prepared for an event that, according to the invitation, would change the entire narrative of the survivors and move humanity into a completely different stage.

Nobody knew exactly what that meant. But the fact that the most powerful families had been summoned was enough to make everyone nervous.

The Hart family received an invitation too.

Madison Hart was currently sitting beside her sick husband, nursing him herself. Things had fallen apart quickly.

After Ava discovered the truth about her birth, she had refused to help her father, while Simon had become increasingly irritated after realizing that the girl he wanted wasn’t nearly as wealthy or influential as he had imagined. She wasn’t even the biological daughter of the Harts. To him, that made everything worse.

Simon had completely abandoned Ava and refused to see her again.

Now Madison was left carrying the weight of the family alone.

She sat beside James on the couch, gently massaging his forehead with a warm cloth. Her eyes were swollen from crying. She had barely slept properly in days. Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered Thomas being taken away.

Her son. The same son everyone was now treating like a criminal.

Madison wiped her face and carefully placed the warm cloth against James’ forehead again.

Then—Knock. Knock.

Madison froze. Her heart immediately jumped. She hurriedly stood.

Could it be them? Had they finally investigated the evidence? Had they finally realized Thomas was innocent? Had they come to return her son?

That was all she wanted.

She rushed toward the door and opened it.

Her expression immediately fell. Nobody was standing outside. Instead, a golden envelope lay neatly on the floor.

Madison stared at it. She slowly looked down the passage. Nothing. No footsteps. No person walking away. Not even a shadow.

A chill crawled over her skin. She bent down carefully and picked up the envelope. The material was expensive, almost too expensive for something as simple as an invitation. There was a golden seal across the front.

Madison broke it open and carried the envelope inside. She unfolded the paper. Her eyes moved across the words.

Invitation to the Hall of Fame. Attendance required for all designated families. A major announcement concerning the future of the survivor population will be made.

Madison frowned. What was this?

She continued reading. The event was being described as a gathering that would supposedly announce the next stage of humanity’s survival.

For a moment, she was confused. Wasn’t this the same government that had taken her son? Why would they suddenly invite her? Was this some kind of mockery? Were they deliberately inviting her so she could sit among everyone while her son remained imprisoned?

Madison’s fingers tightened around the paper. She almost threw it away.

"To hell with this."

She wasn’t going. She didn’t care what kind of announcement they wanted to make. Her son was missing, her husband was sick, Ava was falling apart, and somehow they expected her to attend a fancy gathering?

Then her eyes accidentally caught the bottom of the invitation. She stopped.

There was another section.

Madison read it. Her face drained of color.

Failure to attend will be considered an act of defiance against the survivor council. Any designated family that refuses to appear will be subjected to immediate punishment.

And below that was the final sentence.

The head of each absent family will be beheaded.

Madison’s body went rigid. Her fingers began trembling.

"What..."

She reread it. Once. Twice. Her breathing became shallow.

What was wrong with this safe zone? How could they call this place a safe zone when humans were being threatened and treated like disposable objects?

She slowly lowered the invitation.

The general’s death immediately came back to her mind. The mysterious circumstances. The rumors. Thomas being connected to it. The emergency situation before he was taken away.

Everything suddenly seemed connected.

Madison began pacing. "Was it Thomas?"

She shook her head immediately. "No."

Her son couldn’t do something like that. Thomas couldn’t hurt a fly, let alone murder a general.

But if he wasn’t responsible, why had he been so desperate to have the doors locked? Why had he insisted that there was an emergency? Why had everything escalated so quickly?

Madison’s chest suddenly tightened. She placed a hand over it. Her breathing became difficult.

"Not now..."

She closed her eyes and tried to calm herself. Maybe it was her blood pressure. Things had been getting worse these days. She was barely sleeping, barely eating, and constantly living under fear.

But another thought crept into her mind.

Karma.

Madison’s face became pale. Could this really be karma coming back for her? After everything she had done to Luna... After the way she had treated her own daughter... After the hatred that had eventually consumed the entire family... And the mysterious death of her mother, which Madison knew she had played a part in...

Maybe this was punishment. Maybe every terrible thing happening around her was simply the price she had to pay.

She shook her head violently. "No."

She wasn’t going to surrender to that thought. Whatever happened, she wouldn’t let anyone break her. She had already lost too much. And she refused to lose what remained.

Madison looked toward James. He was still lying weakly on the couch. She walked over and carefully tucked the blanket around him.

"Stay safe, hubby." Her voice was soft. "I have a party to attend." She smiled faintly. "And I’m going to prepare a plan that will get Thomas out of captivity."

Madison gently touched his cheek. "If this party goes well, we’re leaving this place. I won’t let my family perish inside this golden cage."

For the first time, Madison truly questioned everything she had once believed. She had thought this safe zone was the way forward. She had believed the government would protect humanity. But now she understood something.

The government would sacrifice anyone if they believed it was necessary to preserve the greater population. Human lives were numbers to them. So why should her family matter?

Madison’s expression hardened. She would not sacrifice any of the people close to her. Not Thomas. Not James. Not Ava. Not even herself.

She would find a way out.

With that decision made, Madison went to prepare herself. She needed a bath. She needed something elegant to wear. And most importantly, she needed a plan.

Because if this gathering truly represented a turning point for the survivor camp, she intended to use it to her advantage.

---

Ava finally stepped out of her room. She looked exhausted. Her eyes were red from crying, and she still hadn’t completely processed everything that had happened.

She looked around the room. Her father was lying helplessly on the couch. She stared at him for several seconds. Despite everything, he was still her father.

She slowly walked toward him, intending to sit beside him. Then she heard something. Ruffling. A sound coming from the cupboard in her mother’s room.

Ava frowned. What was Madison doing?

Then Ava remembered the invitation. Her expression tightened. She wiped beneath her eyes and sniffed.

What had she done to deserve this kind of life? Everything had been taken away from her. The man she loved had abandoned her. Her family was falling apart. Her father couldn’t even move properly. And now her brother was imprisoned.

The world was cruel. Perhaps it had always been cruel.

Ava was about to sit beside her father when the bedroom door opened. A figure stepped out.

Ava’s mouth fell open.

Madison was wearing a long green flared gown, elegant heels, and a matching green band around her hair. She looked completely different from the exhausted woman who had been crying beside James only moments earlier.

Ava stared at her. "What is this?" Her voice carried immediate anger. "Is this what you’re doing right now?"

Madison paused.

Ava’s emotions exploded. "Going to see another man and be his whore after all the damage you’ve caused? After everything you’ve done? You despicable woman!"

Madison’s eyes hardened.

"Answer me! Don’t play dumb!"

The slap came so quickly that Ava barely reacted.

Smack!

Ava’s face turned to the side. She slowly brought her hand to her cheek.

Madison stood before her, breathing heavily. "Don’t you dare." Her voice was low. "As I said, don’t you dare talk to me that way, you ungrateful bitch."

Madison’s hands tightened around the fabric of her dress. "I’m fighting for our family."

Ava looked at her silently.

"I’m trying to save us. This party is for our own good." Madison took a step closer. "After hearing the general’s announcement and understanding what this turning point means, I will orchestrate my plan. That is going to be our only hope of surviving."

Ava’s anger didn’t disappear, but she listened.

"Because if Thomas truly did what they’re accusing him of, or even if they decide to convict him regardless of the truth, our entire family will be labeled as traitors." Madison’s expression became serious. "And you think you know suffering right now?"

She shook her head. "You don’t even want to know what happens when they treat someone as a traitor. That is a far worse condemnation."

Ava swallowed.

"So I’m trying my best." Madison pointed toward her. "Daughter or not, you’re still my family. You’re a Hart. I’m responsible for you, and I will do everything I can to make sure nothing happens to us."

Her voice became strangely confident. "This is on me." Madison’s eyes narrowed. "I will change it."

She reached out and adjusted part of Ava’s clothing. "And we will be back together happily."

Ava lowered her gaze.

"All you’re going to do is stop being a bitch, put on a fancy dress, and follow me." Madison turned toward the bedroom. "Let’s get this plan working."

Ava remained silent. She didn’t apologize. She didn’t agree. But she also didn’t argue. Instead, she went back toward her room to dress herself.

Madison watched her leave. For several seconds, her expression remained completely unreadable.

Then the corners of her lips slowly curled upward. A malicious smile spread a

cross her face. She looked toward the door.

"Thomas, baby..." Her voice dropped into a whisper. "Mama’s coming to get your ass out."

The smile disappeared. What remained on her face was pure venom.