3

Everyone froze.

Monica looked at Madeline in surprise. "Madeline, dear you are just kidding, aren't you?" She tried to stay cool but the shock was plain on her face.

"No. I'm for real." Madeline's eyes were keen, her voice was quiet, but there was a shake in her tone. "I don't want to wed Ethan."

Silence fell over the room.

The visitors' looks were on Madeline, many of them full of surprise, while some had doubt.

Ethan, next to her, got tense. His face changed a lot, from fear to caution. It was like he could not trust what he just heard.

He seemed like he wanted to say something but, before he could Adhitama, her dad had already taken Madeline's hand tight.

"Sorry Arya, my family and I are going now," Adhitama said quickly, his voice flat but full of stress.

He pulled his girl out of the party room, not waiting for a reply, going by the quiet and wandering looks of the guests.

Seeing this, Nathaniel raised an eyebrow.

Interesting.

His look stayed on Madeline, who was pulled away by her dad. Quietly, he drank his wine, the edges of his mouth lifting a bit.

“Maybe Madeline ain't feeling good, that’s why she’s speaking a bit odd.” ͏Arya, Ethan's dad, gave a weak laugh trying to ease the strain in the room. “Just have fun at the party okay?”

Nathaniel bobbed his head a bit but kept quiet. He noticed the concern in Arya and Monica’s eyes, yet picked not to respond.

Thomas, his helper, moved in and said softly, “Sir did the plan fail?”

Nathaniel didn’t reply right away. He just drank his wine in one big sip then slowly walked to Arya, Monica and Ethan.

At that time, his ears heard a talk between Ethan and his dad.

"What did you do which made Madeline have the nerve to call off an engagement in front of all?"

Ethan put his head down, looking shy. “Um, Dad…” his voice faded away. “Actually… Madeline caught me with another woman in her apartment.”

Nathaniel paused.

His eagle eyes narrowed.

So it was.

 **

At the Brooks residence…

“How could you just call off your engagement to Ethan?” Adhitama's voice was loud in the living room.

Madeline's heart felt snug. She knew her choice would jolt the bond between the two families, but neither of them knew what was truly happening!

"Ethan ain't the nice guy Dad thought he was. So I won’t marry him!"

"Not great?" Adhitama squinted his eyes. "And what about you?"

Madeline fell silent.

What did her dad mean?

“Me? What about me” she asked trying to catch the way of this talk.

Adhitama grabbed his phone and showed it a screen with many pictures.

Madeline held her breath.

Photos of herself at the bar.

When she sat with a cup of drink in her hand when she was tipsy when she...

Her blood raced.

So, this was why her father had been so chilly to her these last few days.

"What do you mean going to a nightclub?" Adhitama's voice got lower, but there was clear hint of anger. "You think Dad don't know?"

 Madeline clenched her fists.

“It was my mistake for going to that place Dad but it was all cause—”

“Anyhow the cause, is it powerful enough for you to shame our family?!” Adhitama cut in harshly. “Do you believe your act is okay?”

Madeline was shocked. Her dad had no plan to hear her!

“Then would you rather let me wed a disloyal guy” her voice shook with feeling.

Adhitama seemed surprised but he got back his calm. “If that’s what its needs to keep the family’s good name then yes! ”

There was silence.

Madeline felt her heart shatter when she heard her dad’s reply. She couldn’t believe the guy she had always loved would give her up for a tiny name!

Madeline was disappointed, Madeline was angry!

“If that is true then it is better to toss me out of the Brooks family! I would rather live by myself than give up my future for a man like Ethan!”

Adhitama was shocked by his daughter’s words.

the room got more and more tight for a second, the man just looked at Madeline not saying a thing.

Then, with a hard to read look, Adhitama at last said, his voice full of rage.

"You ought to think before you talk in front of a crowd"

͏

Madeline took a big breath trying to control her feelings.

She noticed that her dad wouldn't hear her tonight.

On the opposite side, she had no plan of backing down either.

"I know my choice and mood might be seen as shameful by others" her voice went back to a calm tone. "But I don't mind. If Mom and Dad can't help me then I'll make my own path"

Risha was stunned. She never thought her girl would behave like this, but as a mum she could also feel Madeline was under stress.

So, Risha wanted to soothe them both. "Come on, don't act this way. We’ll chat about it later, alright?"

Madeline saw her mom, then faced Adhitama, who let out a shaky breath before leaving with a sad look.

It hurt.

It seemed like being poked from two sides by Ethan and by her own dad.

**

The Next Day.

Madeline stepped into the work place with empty steps.

After her fight with her dad they both decided to stay quiet and not fix the problem.

She believed going back to job would take her mind off things but before she could walk into the office a HR worker came up to her.

"Sorry, Miss Madeline…" the lady seemed uneasy. "By Mr. Adhitama's orders, starting today you are let go from a company."

Madeline's world seemed to collapse.

She looked at the ending letter given to her. Her hands shook a bit as she took it.

 Fired?

No discussion?

No chance to explain?

Her dad really had the heart to toss her out like that?

Madeline looked at the note, holding back the pain that tugged at her heart. But she kept her calm, nodded a bit and said "Thank you."

Without saying a word, she walked out of the building with her head held high!

If this was a cost for freedom then Madeline was ready to pay it.

Only did this mean she could still return home?

Madeline's steps slowed.

Her head felt empty, her body was light like it was drifting.

One by one, the things that had happened to her played in her head.

Ethan. His betrayal.

Her father. His disbelief.

Now, she doesn't even have a job.

Unconsciously, tears fell.

She kept walking, unaware of the things around her.

Until—

TIIIN!

The sound of a horn deafened her ears.

 Madeline turned, but͏ it was too late.

A black car was speeding toward her.

She froze.

But in an instant, a strong hand pulled her back.

Her body jerked, her chest hitting something hard.

“Dying under a car is not a good way to solve your problems, Miss!”

At the sound of the voice, Madeline looked up.

Her eyes widened in shock.

“Y-you…?”