Chapter 8

After getting back home, Madeline stared at the lit-up night light by her bed while a flash of sadness appeared in her eyes.

There was a picture of a couple leaning against each other on the night light, reminding her of the times when Timothy used to protect her in his arms back in their earlier days.

However, everything was now in the past. Madeline just sighed softly before turning off the night light.

She found the suitcase she used when she was a college student. If she was going to be stationed overseas at a project site, she didn't need to bring with her any of her non-essential belongings.

She hadn't packed the daily necessities in the room yet. However, she began packing all of her other items into her suitcase.

There was a lucky amulet on the glass shelf that Timothy had gotten for her in Icehill, and a bottle of perfume that he had personally concocted for her in Furlough.

Plenty of other limited releases, luxury items, jewelry, and even designer clothing were laid down on their bed.

Needless to say, Timothy had been very generous in showering her with all sorts of expensive gifts.

"Maddie, I can give you the entire world if that's what you want.

"Maddie, this will be our home from now on!"

"Maddie, you used to be alone in the past, but it's not the same anymore. You've got me now."

Madeline felt as though she could still hear those touching words from him. However, the more she thought of it, the more hilarious and pathetic she realized it was.

She grabbed a pair of scissors and destroyed all of the jewelry and designer clothing that she hadn't even touched before throwing them into the trash. Every snip was firm and decisive.

The suitcase started filling up with her belongings, but ironically, her heart grew emptier instead. It felt as though a hole had been torn in the walls of her heart, and a cold draft was blowing in through that hole.

She suppressed the melancholy in her heart and opened the bottom drawer of her dresser. There was a diary inside with yellowing pages, filled with her younger self's handwriting as they jotted down memories of her childhood.

The contents of the diary started off being about mundane bits and pieces in her life. Gradually, the messy handwriting turned neater, and the pages began describing more and more of her interactions and daily musings about Timothy.

Madeline flipped through the pages one by one, her vision gradually blurring with tears. The last page was a line from Timothy, written there after their high school graduation, just before he flew abroad for college.

"Maddie, don't forget to eat healthily and live happily while I'm overseas. Take good care of yourself. If anyone dares to bully you, you can just tell me and I'll immediately fly back to beat them up for you."

Two teardrops slid down silently and dripped onto the diary page, smudging the writing.

Madeline put her thoughts away and suppressed the noise in her head. Then, she tore every page and letter in that diary into tiny pieces.

With every page torn from her diary, that meant another memory with Timothy had also been destroyed. After tearing through every single page, she threw the scrap papers into a box and sealed it up.

Then, she brought the box downstairs and threw it out. She wanted to erase every last trace of her existence, including the memories she once shared with him.

Possibly due to the constant stress from the last two days, or maybe it was the change in the weather—but ever since throwing the memories away, Madeline couldn't stop shaking.

Her stomach also started hurting from time to time. Thinking that it was just her period arriving earlier than usual, Madeline went on a hunt for a cafe nearby to grab a warm, soothing drink.

However, as soon as she reached the cafe entrance, she suddenly found the two people sitting by the window looking a little more than familiar.

Timothy, who was supposed to be away right now, was currently on a date with Lacey.

Madeline felt her heart lurch. She froze in her spot on instinct. It wasn't until she snapped back to her senses that she walked slowly to the corner and stood there, watching them.

Timothy wasn't wearing his formal suit today. He was in casual clothing instead, wearing a baggy gray jersey with a pair of black leather shoes on his feet. He had a suitcase right next to him too, so he must have just gotten off his flight and come here at once.

Madeline didn't know what they were talking about because of the window between them. However, judging from the fond look on Timothy's face, they seemed very happy to be together.

Timothy held Lacey's hand in his own almost too naturally at this point. Every intimate action between them both was like driving a spear through Madeline's eyes.

He had just called her and told her that he wouldn't be back for another few days. But minutes later, she caught him red-handed on a date with another woman. What was going on? Did Timothy like going out behind her back now?

Madeline's hand, still holding her phone, began to shake. She looked up again and immediately was met with Timothy's smiling eyes, just as he looked at Lacey with great fondness. Suddenly, his eyes flashed with a hint of anxiety when he saw Madeline.

She felt as though someone was crushing her heart from the inside. It hurt so badly that she clutched a hand to her left chest and gasped for breath, unable to breathe.