Chapter 3
Madeleine whipped her head around, only to find a grim-faced Sullivan staring at her. He was standing behind her—and Isabel was with him.
Averting her eyes, she scrounged up an excuse. “I’m heading off on a holiday soon.”
Based on Sullivan’s understanding of Madeleine, her two favorite activities were sex with him and traveling around the world. Therefore, he didn’t pry any further once he heard her answer. Instead, he smoothly led Isabel to sit beside Naomi’s bed, effectively pushing Madeleine toward the furthest corner.
As soon as Isabel sat down, she pouted and started venting her dissatisfaction. “You have no idea how petty Sully is, Mrs. Carter Senior! I wanted to get an ice cream cone on the way here, but he refused to buy one for me! You need to give him a stern talking-to!”
Sullivan gave her a helpless glance as he chimed in, “To think you’re even making a fuss about that! Have you forgotten that your period’s coming? I’m surprised you’re still thinking about having ice cream.
“I wonder who’s the one who suffered from such intense period cramps that she swore never to consume anything chilly before her period and even told me to keep an eye on her, too.”
Although he was protesting against Isabel’s claims, his concern for her was evident in everything he said.
Isabel giggled and stuck her tongue out at him while he gazed at her with affection.
There were four people in the hospital room, but from the moment Sullivan and Isabel arrived, he only had eyes for her. Seeing this, Madeleine couldn’t help but let a self-deprecating smile out. It was the same as ever. She was always the outsider. However, she would no longer be upset about it anymore.
This time, she had given up on Sullivan and chosen to forgo her feelings for him, returning him to Isabel, his rightful love interest.
Naomi noticed the forlorn look that flickered briefly in Madeleine’s eyes. She glanced at Sullivan, who was purposely ignoring Madeleine, before sighing quietly to herself.
“Sullivan, Maddie, I’d like to have some of the grapes. Can you wash some for me, please?” she asked.
Naturally, neither one of them declined her request. Sullivan picked up the basket of fruit on the table and walked out of the hospital room with Madeleine following from behind. However, as soon as she stepped through the door, he grabbed her hand.
Madeleine was taken aback to find that he was voluntarily making physical contact with her, but it was immediately followed up with him saying icily, “Kindly avoid visiting Grandma in the future. I did sell myself to you, but she didn’t.”
His words sounded like a mockery of the thought that ran through her mind just a moment ago.
In the past, she would’ve hurriedly tried to explain herself—to clarify that her intentions were pure. She would say that he had been far too busy lately, and it was usual for an old woman like Naomi to feel lonely, so she wanted to accompany her.
But this time, Madeleine merely kept her head lowered as she calmly replied, “Alright.”
Then, she headed for the pantry without waiting for him—without insisting on walking beside him the way she used to.
Sullivan got a strange feeling as he stared after her. It felt like since yesterday, she had begun acting a little differently.
