Chapter 19
Madeline sat across from me, forcing a smile. She was still wearing that same silk dress, clinging to the last remnants. of elegance.
But this time, I could see right through it.
The proud waves of her curled hair were pinned high like usual, but her face–drawn, pale- betrayed her. Even under the expensive makeup, she looked worn down.
Funny, I thought this was supposed to be her happy ending. Wasn’t I the one holding her back all these years? Shouldn’t my absence have finally allowed their twisted love story to bloom?
Yet looking at her now, it almost seemed like she was doing worse without me.
Could it be without someone to drain dry, their life just didn’t run as smoothly anymore?
That question barely lingered in my mind before Madeline dropped the act.
She leaned in, voice dipped in fake remorse.
“Elise, I know everything that happened between Ryan and me must’ve hurt you. But I swear, it was never meant to be like that.”
She reached for sympathy, her words shaking with rehearsed guilt.
“I’m really sorry. I never wanted to come between you two.”
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And yet, a flash of satisfaction glinted in her eyes.
I didn’t speak.
Silence stretched between us. Madeline couldn’t take it. She pressed on, eager to fill the gap.
“Look, Elise, you don’t have to be upset about me and Ryan,” she said, almost as if consoling a child.
“It’s not what you think. We just share common interests, that’s all. There’s nothing deeper between us.”
I gave her a bitter smile.
Right. Just shared hobbies. Totally innocent. Like sleeping in the same bed. And raising a child together–the child I thought was mine for thirty years.”
Madeline blanched but pushed forward.
“Elise, let me explain. When your first child died from that heart condition, it broke Ryan. He was devastated. I suggested having a child of my own and he… well, he thought maybe it was your genes. That’s all. We never actually crossed the line.”
Her voice was steady. Her logic, ridiculous.
She dared–she dared–to bring up my first child.
I stood without a word and slapped her across the face.
Hard.
My hands weren’t soft from years of luxury. They were hands that had cooked, cleaned and sacrificed for a family that was never mine.
A deep red mark bloomed across her cheek.
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Only then did Madeline realize I wasn’t playing along. “Why did you hit me?” she asked, stunned.
I didn’t answer. I slapped her again.
“Why wouldn’t I?” I snapped, my voice like glass.
“Who gave you the right to speak about my child? If Ryan hadn’t insisted on dragging him out that day, he never would’ve had that attack. But instead of blaming yourselves, you called it a flaw in my blood? A defect in my genes?”
My voice trembled with fury.
“You two were already sneaking around while,I was still mourning that little boy’s death. Do you think cheating only counts when you’re in someone’s bed? Emotional betrayal is still betrayal Madeline. And you committed it long before you had the guts to admit it.”
Her face drained of color. I turned to leave.
But Madeline grabbed my arm.
“Fine!” she snapped, desperation creeping into her voice. “You’ve screamed, slapped me, saic everything you wanted to say. But can’t you just take them back?”
She looked almost unhinged–lip trembling, mascara smudged, voice cracking.
“Take Ryan and Lucas off my hands. If you do, I swear I’ll walk away. I won’t touch Ryan again and Lucas… I’ll drop all my claims on him. He’s yours anyway. You raised him. Just take him back, won’t fight you.”
Then, just like that, the mask slipped,
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Her eyes gleamed, slick with malice as her lips curled into something too smug to be mistaken for sorrow.
“If you really think about it, I’m actually doing you a favor,” she said, voice smooth and venomous. “You should be thanking me.”
She looked like someone offering a favor, not a plea.
Madeline really thought I’d fall on my knees, sobbing in gratitude. After all, hadn’t I spent forty years cleaning up after that father–son duo?
Now that she was finally getting rid of them, she was positively glowing.
I didn’t know what had happened to her these past few weeks, but frankly, I didn’t care.
To me, Ryan and Lucas were nothing more than trash I’d already taken out.
And who in their right mind would go dumpster diving to take trash back in?
I sneered.
“Didn’t you always want them?” I said coldly.
“Well, they’re yours now. I’m gone–this should be your happy ending. Why on earth would I come back to ruin that?”
“I mean, poor you,” I added sarcastically.
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