Chapter 344

"I just want you to see for yourself the choice Beckett will make," Madeleine shook off Alex's arm, her voice firm. "Alex, I'm not that same girl anymore... I'm Chris's mom now. I have a son, someone I love, and a family. I won't let people push me around like before. I can stand up for myself now." "I don't want things between us to get ugly," her voice cracked. She wasn't bluffing—she really didn't want to become enemies. Alex stayed quiet, then stood and grabbed her hand again, trying to lead her out. "The food here doesn't suit you. Let's go somewhere else." "When are you gonna stop pushing me?" She struggled to break free, but he held tight. "Is it really that hard to be with me?" he asked. "Alex… when I needed help the most, you just watched. You stood by like a block of ice crushing me. You knew I was innocent. You could've helped, but you chose to use it against me. You wanted to force me. So yeah, when I see you, I see all that again. That pain, that helplessness—it suffocates