Chapter 523

School. Madeleine stood by the window, staring at the familiar field outside. In the dim light, a few students jogged aimlessly, their shadows stretching long across the track. The amphitheater looked just the same—dim lighting, old desks and chairs that had probably seen better days. The floor was surprisingly spotless, like it had never seen a speck of dust. She walked up onto the stage. This place… she'd once performed here, stealing every glance in the room. "That year, I did a solo performance. The White Swan," Madeleine murmured as she stepped onto the stage, tracing the steps in her mind, moving her feet lightly as if muscle memory never left her. Her grace was undeniable—like moonlight on a mountaintop, or sunlight dancing on the ocean. She'd always carried herself like a highborn princess. Even when life threw her into the mud, she never bowed her head. Never lost her shine. Beckett sat quietly in the audience, watching her intently. In that moment, he felt like he was witness