Chapter 9

Irritated by Zachary's cold expression, Madison blurted out, "I'm planning to propose to Elroy!"

Zachary stopped in his tracks. She didn't know why she had told him that. Perhaps she simply wanted to see how he would react.

Zachary turned around, his expression perfectly calm. "Congratulations to you both."

Madison couldn't believe how unfazed he was. Anger flashed across her face. "Do you have nothing else to say?"

He pondered, then gave her a meaningful smile. "I'll prepare a special gift for you."

It felt as though a stone had lodged in her chest, leaving her gasping for breath. An indescribable feeling alchemized into anger.

Clenching her fists, she spat out, "You'd better keep your nose clean, just as you are now. If anything happens to Elroy, I won't let you get away with it."

Zachary didn't look at her again. He walked away without turning back. He couldn't wait for her reaction when she heard the recording on their engagement day.

When he got home, he packed up the last bit of his belongings. Only a single suitcase remained in the room.

On his final day, Zachary went to the theater he and Madelyn had once promised to visit together. He sat on the steps, lost in thought.

Out of the blue, Elroy's voice rang out behind him. "Zachary, you really are like a bad penny that keeps turning up!"

Rage twisted his face. He looked as though he was confronting a mortal enemy, itching to charge over and beat him up.

Zachary didn't expect to run into him again.

He prepared to leave, but Elroy strode over in a few steps and gritted out, "Looks like yesterday's lesson wasn't memorable enough. How dare you show up where Mads performs and wait for her! I'll kill you today!"

With that, he moved to attack Zachary.

Zachary had no intention of giving Elroy a second chance to hurt him. He grabbed Elroy's hand and shoved him away with all his might.

"You've got it wrong. I had no idea she was performing here today."

Taken aback by his retaliation, Elroy exploded and prepared to lunge at him. During that split second, he saw Madison emerging from the building out of the corner of his eye.

Swiftly changing tactics, he yelped and threw himself to the ground. "Mads, help me!"

Hearing his cry, Madison turned around just in time to see Elroy plunging to the ground. She hurried over and found him clutching his foot, screaming in agony.

"Mads, my leg hurts! What if it's broken?"

She looked up and spotted Zachary standing nearby. Her visage instantly turned frigid. "Did you push him?"

Zachary found it all comical. It was the same, overused trick, yet Madison fell for it every single time.

"Would you believe me if I said I didn't?" he shot back.

She froze, about to consider his words, when Elroy cried out in pain again.

He grabbed Madison's sleeve and complained pitifully, "Mr. Suffold, I know you're upset because Mads and I are getting engaged, but that doesn't mean you can shove me!

"I'm a model. My career depends on walking the runway. Are you trying to ruin my career for good?"

He spoke through tears, his demeanor fueling Madison's growing anger. "Didn't I warn you to stay away from Elroy?" she snapped.

Zachary's face was pale with pain from yesterday's injuries. He gritted out, "I told you, I didn't!"

Madison refused to listen. She grabbed him and slammed him to the ground.

Her gaze was vicious as she snarled, "I let you off the hook yesterday, but you clearly haven't learned your lesson. You even tried to ruin Elroy's leg! You'll pay for this!"

Without giving Zachary a chance to react, she kicked him hard, sending him tumbling down the stairs.

Zachary's vision went black. The world spun around him as he rolled helplessly down the stairs. Unlike Elroy, he couldn't even make a sound.

He felt as though every bone in his body would shatter. Then he slammed hard against the steps. His vision grew dimmer. The surroundings grew quieter, too.

His sight and hearing were fading. The last thing he made out was Madison helping Elroy to his feet and walking off without a backward glance.

As consciousness slipped away, one thought rose in Zachary's dazed mind.

Was he finally going to die? Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea. At least he could finally visit Madelyn's world.

When he opened his eyes again, he was lying in a hospital bed.

"You have a concussion from the fall," a nurse told him. "You'll need to be warded for a few days. Do you have any family?"

Zachary's eyes immediately rimmed red. No, he did not.

In the past, aside from his grandmother, Madelyn was the only person who had ever cared about him. After she died, his grandmother passed away, too. Since then, he had been all alone.

The good news was, after today, he would finally get to see Madelyn's face again.

Wiping away his tears, Zachary arranged his own discharge. When he returned home, he took out the USB drive with the recording, wrapped it carefully, and sent it to Madison's home.

With everything packed, he was ready to leave at any moment.

Before departing, he sent Madison two final messages.

"The theater has surveillance cameras. If you want to know what really happened, check the footage.

"Also, don't forget to accept my gift."

With that, he grabbed his suitcase and walked away without a second thought.

Zachary had just arrived at the airport when his phone blew up.