Chapter 2

"I already have someone right by my side," Madison said.

As I listened to her, a sudden wave of discomfort hit me. I rushed into the bathroom and coughed up a mouthful of blood. The sadness that washed over me made me let out a few weak, hollow laughs.

By the time I rinsed the blood away, Madison was already standing there, beautifully dressed with exquisite makeup. "Today is my mom's birthday. You didn't forget, did you?" she said.

I shook my head. "I didn't forget."

She walked over and reached for my arm out of habit, but I quietly stepped aside. When I didn't give her an easy out, she immediately became angry out of embarrassment. "What are you throwing a tantrum about? I don't owe you anything."

I turned to look at her. It was a face I knew so well, yet it felt more and more like a stranger's.

"I don't want to argue with you today," I said flatly.

As soon as I finished speaking, I left the house ahead of her.

By the time I arrived at the restaurant, Lucas was already sitting there with Rosalie, chatting and laughing. Madison joined them, smiling. None of them acknowledged me, so I found a seat in the corner.

After a while, Rosalie turned her gaze toward me. "Cassian, there's something I've been wanting to tell you."

I politely looked up at her. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Lucas, his expression smug.

"You and Madison have been together for years, so you know how hard she worked to get where she is," Rosalie said. "You have an illness that could come back at any time. I don't want Madison to become a widow. That would be a miserable way to live."

Rosalie let out a heavy sigh. "If you truly love Madison, you should let her go so she can find real happiness."

When Madison and I first started dating, she wasn't well off. She and Rosalie lived in a small apartment that was about 430 square feet. I was the one who rented them a place downtown and took care of every little detail of their lives.

Back then, Rosalie had told me, "Madison is lucky to be with you. As long as the two of you are doing well, I have nothing to worry about."

It was a shame how quickly people could change.

I arched an eyebrow slightly and looked at Madison. "Is that what you think too?"

She hesitated for a long moment but said nothing. The answer was obvious enough.

I stood up. "Then I'll do as you wish and divorce Madison."

This was a family gathering, and as an outsider, I didn't belong there. I had barely stepped out of the restaurant when Madison came after me. "Cassian!"

She called out my name, but I didn't slow my pace. She sped up and stepped in front of me, catching her breath as she demanded, "How can you just walk out like that? What about my mom's dignity? You never used to have such a bad temper. What's gotten into you?"

I let out a short, bitter laugh. So she had chased after me just to blame me for embarrassing Rosalie.

"I've already given her plenty of respect by agreeing to leave you after hearing her out. I also asked for your opinion, and your silence said everything," I replied.

Hearing my words, Madison's expression turned awkward. She was so flustered that she couldn't meet my eyes. "You know how my mom is. She's just worried about my future. Besides, Lucas is so outstanding. Understandably, she'd want me to get back together with him."

I couldn't figure out what she was trying to get at with that explanation. Was she trying to make me leave willingly without holding anything against Rosalie?

"Madison, isn't it a good thing that I'm stepping aside so you and Lucas can be together?" I asked.

As I was about to leave again, Madison grabbed my hand. Her voice carried a hint of urgency. "I don't even know why my mom said all that out of nowhere."

I watched her fumble through that weak excuse before prying her fingers off my hand. "Better late than never. You accepted it just fine yourself, didn't you? You're successful, young, and pretty. Someone like Lucas suits you well, doesn't he?"

Our relationship had changed completely over the years. When we first met, she had fallen for me at first sight. Her love had been cautious, with a hint of insecurity.

I had spent years encouraging and supporting Madison until she overcame her low self-esteem. But now, she and Rosalie treated me like a burden that would get in the way of her happiness.