Chapter 5

Madeline's mind was in a mess. She went back to her seat and listened as the auctioneer introduced the origin of the ring as a video played overhead, explaining the intricate design work woven into the ring.

The video went on for quite a while, and Madeline was dazed all throughout. It wasn't until everyone started raising their paddles and an assistant asked Madeline whether she needed any help that she finally snapped back to the present.

She couldn't help thinking that the ring being there had to be some kind of mistake. She raised her paddle at once, intending to get it.

"13,500,000 dollars!"

A familiar voice suddenly shouted the price, and Timothy walked out from behind the video screen with his paddle in the air. With three strikes of the auctioneer's gavel, he easily won the bid for his own ring.

Everyone on the ground was confused. Why would someone donate their belongings only to bid for them again?

Timothy grinned and took the microphone from the auctioneer's hands to explain himself. "There was a mix-up, and the ring accidentally appeared in today's auction. Luckily, I came just in time.

"To me, this ring can only belong to one person, and it should only appear on her finger. I'm sorry, everyone, but I'm going to have to take away something you all have fallen in love with."

Then, Timothy went up to the platform, took the ring, and turned to leave.

He didn't see Madeline in the audience. Meanwhile, she heaved a silent sigh of relief and hurried out of the venue.

However, she still felt confused in her heart. She went to the bathroom and turned on the tap to wash her hands, still feeling confused and uneasy.

At that moment, someone started speaking in a stall, and they sounded like they were in awe.

"Did you see the look in Mr. Bloomberg's eyes just now while looking at the ring? I swear I saw hearts in his eyes. I wonder who the ring belongs to? She must be so happy to have a man like him."

Madeline felt a gust of warmth in her heart when she heard that. However, one second later, another person spoke up, sounding very surprised. "Don't you know it? Mr. Bloomberg has been going in and out with Lacey all day, every day. Of course it has to be her!"

"Lacey's so lucky. I heard that they used to be classmates at the same college, and she was even his first love. She's got him wrapped around her little finger even when she wasn't around. I mean, who wouldn't be envious of their romantic love story, having found each other again since their college days?"

The water continued running from the tap, splashing against Madeline's fingers and turning them icy-cold.

She didn't know why, but she suddenly felt panicky all of a sudden. She had a bad premonition that something was going to happen.

She flew home at once, hoping that Timothy would come home to her and bring her the ring. However, she waited until it was dark out and the stars hung brightly in the sky, and yet, Timothy never showed up.

She wasn't able to stop herself from calling him. The call was picked up at once, and this time, it was Timothy himself, not Lacey, who answered the call.

Madeline felt her anxiety die down just a little. However, there was the sound of loud gasping and panting right afterward.

She was an adult, and it was impossible for her not to know what was going on at the other end of the line.

"Timothy?" Madeline called out his name with bated breath.

The line went silent for a few seconds. But Timothy's voice appeared once more, low, scratchy, and sultry.

"Maddie, you'll have to go to sleep by yourself tonight. I'll try to get back as early as possible tomorrow."

He hung up right after that.

Madeline took deep, deliberate breaths, forcing her palpitating heart to slow down and trying her best to remain calm.

However, as soon as she got her phone, she saw that Lacey's recent Twitter post from two hours ago was trending.

Lacey had posted a selfie, showing a man on his knees, carefully applying ointment onto her wound. Even though the man's silhouette was blurry in the photo, Madeline could still feel the pain in her chest intensify.

Even more so when she caught sight of the ring on Lacey's left hand, which looked like she'd tried but failed to hide on camera.

Madeline shuddered.

The ring Timothy had promised her had now appeared on Lacey's finger. Before she could even make sense of that, her body beat her to it as tears welled up in her eyes and began dripping down.

Lacey had captioned the photo, "You are my safe space."

Had this been in the past, Madeline would have immediately felt jealous, burst into tears, and called Timothy on the spot to demand an explanation.

But now, Madeline's heart was still. She didn't make a fuss.

From the looks of it, she guessed that Timothy had never made room for her in his heart in the first place. Everything he promised her was just perfunctory.

Madeline turned off her phone, going to bed feeling exhausted all over.