Chapter 5

The room fell into stunned silence. No one had expected that to be Madeline's response. Everyone in their social circle knew how devoted she had always been to Bradley. Since their marriage, she had trailed behind him like a shadow, giving endlessly and never asking anything in return. Yet now, in front of everyone, she had claimed the man she loved wasn't present. It was a slap to Bradley's face. Bradley's expression darkened. He downed his drink in one gulp, followed by a few more glasses. As the games continued, Madeline's words echoed relentlessly in his mind. Distracted, he kept losing round after round. Bradley's friends, sensing an opportunity to give him a push, requested to see his photo gallery and pinned chats on WhatsApp. The revelations came as no surprise. His camera roll overflowed with images of Louise, her smiling, her quiet moments, and her retreating figure. She was the only one in his pinned chats. Lost in thought, Bradley didn't realize he had, in effect, confessed his feelings for her in front of everyone. Beside him, Louise's cheeks flushed a soft pink as she looked up at him shyly. "Bradley, I didn't know you felt that way about me…" She trailed off, too bashful to finish. The others didn't press her further. As the gathering wound down, Louise made her move. "Bradley, there's been some suspicious activity around my place lately. Even with the security patrols, they haven't found anything. Do you think you could stay with me for a few days?" The room buzzed with chatter, except for Madeline. She remained silent, calmly nibbling fruits on the plate with a fork. If Louise wanted to put on a show, she was more than willing to watch. But then, something unexpected happened. Bradley, who had pandered to Louise's every whim, turned her down for the very first time. "Louise, I've got a few things to take care of. I'll come later, okay?" And without waiting for a reply, he called for the driver to take Louise home. Then, he took Madeline's hand and led her into the car. The ride home was cold and silent. Stepping inside the villa, Bradley noticed a distinct scent filled the air. Madeline had been taking supplements to support her pregnancy. Bradley'd never paid much attention before, but with his senses heightened now, the smell struck him immediately. His eyes narrowed as he demanded, "What exactly are you taking three times a day?" Madeline's heart skipped a beat. Steadying herself, she explained, "They're health supplements. I'll need to keep taking them for a while. Maybe you should stay with Ms. Lowe instead. That way, you won't have to put up with the smell. You'll be there to protect her, too." The suggestion caught him off guard. In all their years together, Madeline had never once voiced a complaint, nor shown resistance to his feelings for Louise. But this was the first time she had ever pushed him away willingly. The realization should have pleased him. Instead, it settled like a weight in his chest. Then, suddenly, it clicked. "Are you jealous? You said that during the game because you were upset that I've been taking care of Louise and ignoring you, didn't you?" His tone relaxed as he continued, "I told you that my heart already belongs to someone else when we got married. I could give you my last name, but never my love. Besides, what happened the other day was your fault. It's only right that I look after her. "Stop making a fuss. You've been eyeing that sculpture in my study for years, haven't you? It's yours now." Madeline opened her mouth to explain, but she changed her mind. Anthony had carved the sculpture by hand and gifted it to Bradley for his birthday. She had asked Bradley for it many times, but he had always refused. Now, out of nowhere, he was giving it to her. She nodded and responded gently, "Alright. I won't make a fuss anymore." As her words fell, Bradley's lips curved in triumph as if everything had gone exactly the way he'd predicted. Just then, Louise's call came through again. Without hesitation, he turned and left.