Chapter 2

As soon as Madison finished speaking, she hung up without saying another word. She didn't even ask how Zachary was doing.

To her, he was just a butler she could summon at will and dismiss whenever she got tired of him. She never had to treat him kindly. He would still obey her without question.

Zachary hadn't wanted to take another order from her, but he couldn't bring himself to let go of those darn hands. They were the only part of Madison that still let him feel Madelyn's presence.

Despite still running a fever, Zachary pulled the IV needle out of his hand and rushed straight to Madison's place. By the time he arrived, he was drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.

Madison sat on the couch, nestled in Elroy's arms as she gently massaged his stomach. Her expression darkened at the sight of Zachary.

"13 minutes. You were three minutes late."

Still panting, Zachary explained, "There was traffic."

Only after speaking did he realize how hoarse his voice had become. His head was pounding, too.

Madison, however, looked thoroughly annoyed. "You were late. Save the excuses. You made Elroy suffer for an extra three minutes. Did you do that on purpose?"

Zachary wanted to tell her he hadn't, but the words circled in his throat before melting into an apology. "I'm sorry."

His gaze never left Madison's hands, his eyes filled with a lingering affection.

Hugging Madison, Elroy spoke in a deliberately provocative tone. "Sorry to trouble you with the trip, Mr. Suffold. It's just a stomachache, but Mads always makes a big fuss over nothing."

Then he added, as if the thought had only just occurred to him, "Could I trouble you to bring me a glass of warm water, too?"

Madison looked at Zachary, her meaning unmistakable. He turned and headed for the kitchen.

When he returned with the water, Madison was holding a fruit knife and peeling a piece of fruit for Elroy. She wasn't good at it. The knife trembled in her hand, and she nearly cut herself several times.

Zachary's heart leaped into his throat. He couldn't help speaking up. "Be careful with your hands."

Elroy raised an eyebrow, then turned to Madison with a hint of displeasure. "Madison, does your assistant have that much authority? He even gets to tell you what to do when you're peeling an apple for me."

At that, Madison's expression darkened. She put down the knife. "Come here."

Zachary sighed in relief and was about to take the knife away from her when Madison suddenly picked up a glass of water from the table and poured it straight over his head.

The cold liquid streamed down his face and through his hair, making him shiver. Madison's voice was somehow even colder.

"Since when is it any of your business what I do?"

Zachary closed his eyes. Water dripped steadily from the strands of hair clinging to his forehead, leaving his already pale face looking even more frail.

Madison curled her lips in scorn. "You're just my assistant, Zachary. You have no right to interfere in my personal life. Learn your place."

He staggered twice, and the world around him began to blur. He stared at Madison's indistinct figure, at those hands that resembled Madelyn's so closely.

A dull ache spread through his chest. No matter how much she resembled her, she still wasn't Madelyn. His Maddie would never treat him this way.

Zachary lowered his head, and the world gradually came back into focus. "I understand."

Madison felt a sudden irritation at his sorry state. She casually tossed a cleaning rag onto the floor. "Then wipe up the water before you leave."

With that, she grabbed Elroy's hand and led him into the bedroom.

Zachary picked up the rag and wiped up the water, little by little. As soon as he wiped up the very last drop, his phone rang. It was the private investigator.

"Mr. Suffold, we've found the person who rescued you."