Chapter 3

The days that followed unfolded exactly as Bradley had said. He never left the hospital, spending every moment at Louise's side. Even when pressing matters at the company demanded his attention, his assistant would bring the documents and laptop straight to the hospital. When Louise craved a specific fruit, Bradley would send a private jet to get it from abroad. It would arrive by air, washed and served to her. To encourage her to eat, he even rewarded each bite with a gold bar. Stories like these dominated headlines for days. Yet, Madeline remained unaffected. She only smiled faintly as she read them. On the day of Jorvain University's centennial celebration, Madeline was invited to attend as an honored alumna. After signing in at the entrance, she spotted two familiar faces in the crowd. Bradley and Louise had come. They saw her too. With no way to avoid them, Madeline walked over. Louise greeted her first. "You graduated from Jorvain University, too, Ms. Lockhart? Madeline nodded in response. Bradley furrowed his brow and asked, "Which year?" "Class of 2017," she replied matter-of-factly. Louise's eyes brightened. "You were in the same year as Bradley's brother! Did you know Anthony? I heard he had a girlfriend back then. He cherished her so much and was planning to introduce her to his family. It's such a shame…" Her words trailed off abruptly. Anthony's death was a forbidden subject in the Shaw family. It remained a raw wound no one dared to reopen. Realizing what she'd said, Louise quickly turned and apologized to Bradley, flustered. Madeline stood frozen, trembling. Beneath her sleeve, her nails dug into her palm as a tightness seized her chest, stealing her breath. Bradley's expression darkened, but for Louise's sake, he held back his anger. "We've walked enough. Let's get lunch," he said, steering them away. The three of them went to a nearby restaurant, where the entire meal was ordered and tailored to Louise's preferences. Bradley doted on her the whole time. He peeled her shrimp, cut her steak, and even deboned her fish before gently placing it on her plate. Halfway through dinner, Madeline excused herself to the restroom. Louise had happened to be on a call inside one of the stalls. Madeline had no intention of eavesdropping and was about to knock to give a heads-up, until she heard Bradley's name. Louise's voice echoed through the space. "Of course. If I don't play it this way, how would Bradley ever fall this hard for me? "His wife? Please. Everyone knows how cold he's been to her all these years. "Relax. I know what I'm doing. I've mastered the art of playing hard to get. The longer I pretend not to notice his feelings, the tighter he'll cling. He'll never leave me. "Trust me. Men always want what they can't have." So that was what Louise thought. Madeline couldn't help but smirk. It turned out Bradley's unforgettable lover wasn't as innocent as she seemed. Just then, the stall door opened. Louise stepped out and froze the moment she saw Madeline adjusting her clothes at the sink. Her face paled. Biting her lip, Louise asked stiffly, "How long have you been here? How much did you hear?" Madeline said nothing. "You'd better not run to Bradley. He won't believe you anyway," she added hastily. Madeline wasn't impressed by her desperation to control the narrative. She dried her hands and turned to leave. Just then, Louise grabbed her arm from behind. Before she could react, Louise flung herself against the wall, collapsed to the floor, and started to sob. The commotion brought Bradley sprinting in. He found Louise crumpled on the floor, her forehead bruised and tears streaking her face. Madeline, on the other hand, stood cold and silent. Bradley rushed to Louise and gathered her into his arms. Then he turned to Madeline, his eyes sharp with accusation. "Did you push her?" Before Madeline could answer, Louise whimpered, "Bradley, my head hurts… Ms. Lockhart hates me…" Seeing her in pain, Bradley was overwhelmed with concern. He lifted Louise in his arms and began to carry her out. Madeline stepped forward to leave, only to be shoved aside by him. She was standing close to the staircase. Missing her steps, she stumbled and fell. The world spun. Pain seared through her body, and her bones screamed as she crashed down the steps. When she finally stopped, Madeline tried to sit up. Her hand pressed against the floor and came away slick with blood. The thought of her baby sent terror spiking in her chest. Her voice cracked. "Bradley, don't go! Call 911! Please!" At the top of the stairs, Bradley stood still. His gaze locked on her, cold and ruthless. "Take this as your punishment for laying a hand on Louise," he said flatly. Then, he turned without looking back and walked away with Louise in his arms. Madeline stared at his retreating figure, and something inside her broke. She could endure any pain, but she couldn't afford to lose her child. The pool of blood grew beneath her. The crimson stain seeped through her vision as panic gripped her in full. Despair swallowed her whole. With trembling fingers, she fumbled for the phone in her pocket and dialed 911. She barely managed to gasp out the address before her strength gave out and darkness took her. And in that darkness, she dreamed. Anthony was beside her again, warm and gentle, just like he'd always been. He reached out and touched her belly gently. With tenderness, he asked, "Do you think it's a boy or a girl, Maddy? Either way, I'll love them the same. "Will they look more like me, or you?" he wondered aloud. "Yours, I hope. You're the beautiful one." Anthony's figure was vivid under the golden light. It was as if he'd never left her. Madeline reached for his cheek with a trembling hand. But her hand met only air. When she woke again, she was lying in a hospital bed. Her wounds were already treated and bandaged. A doctor was beside her, changing her dressing. Seeing her awake, he spoke urgently, concern etched across his face. "You're pregnant. What were you doing falling down the stairs? You're lucky the baby survived. Now get your husband to fill out the paperwork." Madeline stared at the ceiling, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't have a husband. The man I love is already gone." Just then, the door burst open. Bradley stood in the doorway, his expression stormy. "Who did you say is gone?"