Chapter 4

Assuming it was just a marital spat, the doctor intervened. "Let's not argue right now. Your wife's—" Before he could finish, Madeline abruptly sat up and interjected, "Doctor, weren't you going to get my medication?" The doctor was startled, but he said nothing more and left. Bradley turned to Madeline, asking, "What did the doctor mean just now? What's wrong?" Madeline brushed it off with a vague reply. "Nothing serious. He meant there were injuries around my abdomen, too." Bradley's expression darkened, and his voice remained cold. "You wouldn't have fallen down the stairs if you hadn't gone after Louise. You started this whole mess. Go apologize to her." Madeline shook her head and protested, "I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize? There were cameras in the restaurant. You'll see what happened if you check the footage." Bradley's expression hardened even more. "I don't need to check any footage. I believe Louise. You owe her an apology." Madeline, drained by everything she had endured, was far too exhausted to argue further. She just wanted to focus on her recovery and the pregnancy. "If I apologize, will you leave me alone?" she asked helplessly. There was something in her resigned tone that made Bradley doubt. Something felt off, but he nodded anyway. Without another word, Madeline got up and walked to Louise's hospital room. "I'm sorry," she said flatly. Then, she turned to Bradley. "Are we good now?" She left without waiting for his response, leaving him standing there, unsettled. … During her hospital stay, Madeline couldn't stop hearing whispers from the nurses. They spoke of how gentle and attentive Bradley was to Louise. He had arranged for the best doctors in the city despite Louise's minor injuries, personally fed her whatever she wanted, and even carried her to the bathroom. Madeline tuned it all out, focusing only on her recovery. On the day of her discharge, after completing all the check-ups, the doctor confirmed her baby was healthy. She placed a hand over her belly, asking, "Would the children of twins look alike?" The question was odd enough to make the doctor pause. "That depends on the genes, but if the father's genetic traits are dominant, it's possible," he explained. Madeline breathed a sigh of relief. After thanking the doctor, she turned to leave. She had barely stepped outside the hospital when she ran into Louise, who was also being discharged that day, with Bradley by her side. Louise smiled brightly the moment she saw Madeline, slipping back into that innocent facade she wore so well. "Ms. Lockhart, let's put the past behind us. To celebrate my discharge, Bradley planned a little get-together. You should come with us!" she offered, beaming. Before Madeline could refuse, Louise took her hand and pulled her toward the car. Several of their mutual friends were already waiting when they arrived at the private lounge. Throughout the entire gathering, Bradley doted on Louise. He peeled her fruits, shielded her from drinks, and draped his jacket over her lap. The tenderness in his every gesture drew admiring glances from the others. Madeline, on the other hand, didn't look their way even once. Later in the evening, someone suggested a party game. Whoever lost a round could choose between a truth-or-dare or a drink. Eventually, Madeline lost. When Louise lost earlier, Bradley had gallantly stepped in to drink for her each time. However, she knew full well Bradley wouldn't come to her aid, not in front of everyone. Without hesitation, she chose truth. A friend who knew the complicated tension between the three cast a glance at Louise, then smirked as he asked, "Is the person you like in this room right now?" Madeline didn't even lift her head. She took a slow sip of the juice in front of her, then replied evenly, "No."