7

Since Madeline's mother's death, Uncle Haris’s house was the only place she could seek refuge. Yet lately, even her uncle had begun to show signs of weariness with her troubles. Madeline knew Haris only took her in out of pity, not because he truly wanted to. That realization made her feel even more like a burden.

Her phone vibrated on the small table. She turned her head. Ethan’s name appeared once again on the screen. Her hand reached out, then froze in the air. Her heart pounded as if some trace of feeling still lingered.

“No!” she whispered, then grabbed the phone only to switch it off completely. She refused to be trapped again by Ethan’s sweet lies.

Silence fell once more. But her mind wouldn’t stop arguing with itself.

 If I marry Nathaniel, I can make Ethan regret it. He will see me standing beside his own uncle, stronger than ever.

 No! That’s madness. I can’t possibly bind my life to a man like Nathaniel, not just because of heartbreak.

Madeline rose and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the worn wooden floor. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the glass of water on the nightstand. The coolness soothed her throat a little, but her chest still felt tight.

Another thought surfaced: her father. His stern face, filled with disappointment, still haunted her. Do I really mean nothing to him anymore? Madeline bit her lip. The feeling of being rejected by her own parent was a wound she couldn’t easily heal.

She lay down again, hugging the pillow tightly. Tears fell uncontrollably, soaking the pillowcase.

 “I just want a normal life,” she whispered. “Why does everyone want to dictate my path?”

Outside, the sound of a car passed along the street. For some reason, Madeline felt a strange vibration in her chest. The image of Nathaniel’s black car, and Thomas’s gaze from earlier that evening, came back to her, as if they were never far, always watching.

She shivered, half from fear, half from anger.

 “If he really dares to stalk me all the way here,” she gritted her teeth. “…I won’t stay silent.”

But that burst of courage quickly faded, replaced by crushing exhaustion. Her eyelids were swollen, her body worn down by endless thoughts.

At last, near midnight, Madeline slowly drifted into sleep, with tears still clinging to her face.

But even in her sleep, she was not free. Nathaniel’s shadow returned, his sharp gaze and echoing voice offering something she despised yet secretly made her falter.

The next morning, Madeline sat at the dining table with Haris.

 Her uncle looked at her with concern.

 “Are you sure you’re alright? I heard you restless in your room all night.”

Madeline gave a faint smile, though it was clearly forced.

 “I’m fine, Uncle. I just… thought too much.”

Haris set down his cup of coffee.

 “You don’t have to force yourself to look strong in front of me. I know this is hard on you.”

Madeline fell silent. Then slowly, she whispered,

 “Uncle… if I choose my own path, without anyone’s support. Do you think I can make it?”

Haris studied her for a long while before answering.

 “You can. As long as you believe in yourself, and never forget that you still have me.”

Those words gave Madeline a small spark of strength. She nodded gently.

 “Thank you, Uncle.”

After their simple breakfast, Madeline excused herself.

 “Where are you going now?” Haris asked, looking a little worried.

“I need to look for a job elsewhere. If I just sit here, I’ll never be able to prove that I can rise on my own, without my father’s help,” Madeline answered firmly.

Haris nodded in understanding.

 “Alright. If you need help, call me.”

Madeline gave him a small smile before leaving. Outside, she hailed a taxi. All night, she had searched for job openings and found several.

Not long after, Madeline arrived at a mid-sized company for a job interview, the third company she had applied to.

But as soon as the interviewer read her name, his expression shifted awkwardly.

 “I’m sorry, Miss Brooks,” he said with a stiff smile. “This position has already been filled.”

Madeline froze. “But on your official website, it still says this position is open.”

“Yes, but we’ve already chosen someone else.”

The excuse sounded weak. Madeline knew something was wrong.

 “That’s impossible. You must be mistaken. If it was already filled, why did you still accept me for an interview today?” she asked, her patience slipping.

“You should ask your father about that,” the interviewer replied flatly. “He forbade us from hiring you. And no matter which company you go to, you’ll face the same thing.”

Madeline stared at him in disbelief.

Madeline walked out of the building with heavy steps, her chest tight. She quickly pulled her phone out of her bag, and with trembling hands dialed her father’s number.

“What do you actually want from me?” her voice rose the moment the call connected. Her breath came fast, struggling to hold back anger mixed with despair. “You’ve fired me, humiliated me, and now you’re blocking me from finding work? Do you want me to die on the streets?!”

Adhitama’s deep voice came from the other end, calm but piercing.

 “You think you can survive without the luxury I’ve provided all these years? You will never escape my power, Madeline. Everything you do will always be in my grasp. So stop dreaming.”

Tears streamed down Madeline’s face, but her voice cracked in defiance.

 “I only want freedom, Dad! Just a little space for myself!”

“Freedom?” Adhitama laughed coldly. “The only way you can be accepted back into this family is by marrying Ethan. Do that, and your life will return to normal. Don’t even think of anything else.”

Madeline fell silent, her body trembling. She couldn’t bear to listen anymore. Harshly, she pressed the screen, ending the call. She clenched the phone so tightly it felt as though she could crush it with her bare hand.

Her heart was shattered. One by one, her hopes collapsed. She walked aimlessly, her heavy steps leading her wherever they pleased. The damp afternoon air stung her skin, but her mind was too loud to feel anything.

Before she realized it, she had reached a bridge. The wind blew hard, carrying the scent of the rushing river below. Madeline stood at the edge, staring down at the darkly shimmering water.

“If I end it all here will my life finally be at peace?” she whispered faintly.

Her body leaned half a step forward, her hands trembling as they clutched the cold iron railings of the bridge.

Tears fell one by one, carried away by the sharp wind.

But amidst the chaos of her mind, a deep, steady voice sounded from behind her. “If you want to jump, don’t do it today.”

Madeline jolted, her eyes widening.

Nathaniel.

He stood there as if he had been waiting for her all along.