Chapter 13
It wasn’t the person he’d hoped for, but Madeline.
Due to his years of favoritism toward her, Madeline hadn’t been stopped by the housekeeper or butler when she entered the villa.
She immediately spotted him in the study, her eyes lighting up as she hurried over.
“Blake, I’ve been waiting for you forever. Why are you still at home?”
She was referring to the bartending job. After Madeline’s restaurant had suffered an accident, Blake had agreed to work as a bartender there to comfort her. promising to start as soon as the renovations were complete-which happened to be today.
As she walked into his study, his instinct was to ask her to leave, but Madeline had already noticed the divorce papers in his hand. Her eyes brightened again before she quickly shifted her expression to one of sympathy.
‘Your wife actually wants to divorce you? Blake is such a wonderful person-she really doesn’t know how to appreciate what she has.”
she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, speaking supportively on his behalf.
Blake instinctively wanted to say it wasn’t like that-that it was his own actions that had broken Charlotte’s heart and driven her away. But faced with Madeline’s radiant expression, the words wouldn’t come.
le didn’t know what was wrong with him. He had always liked Madeline, and now that he finally had the opportunity, he should go along with her uggestion and naturally propose getting back together. But thinking about the points chart recording countless things that had hurt Charlotte, he ound it difficult to breathe.
With words caught in his throat, before he could say anything. Madeline exclaimed excitedly.
Blake, you’ve kept all these things all this time!”
le suddenly looked up, remembering what was in his study-everything related to Madeline.
uring their relationship, he had been completely devoted to her, keeping all their romantic mementos even after marrying Charlotte. Instead of iscarding them, he’d created this secret study filled with them.
e had fantasized that one day Madeline would see his sincerity and get back together with him. But now that the moment had actually arrived, he lt no joy-only a bitter ache.
This is a love letter you wrote me, and these are flowers you gave me… I miss those days, when we were together.”
tadeline browsed through everything unrestrained, occasionally exclaiming over a particular memory.
ut the more she did this, the more complicated his feelings became.
le had never written Charlotte a love letter or given her flowers. Even his gifts to her had been hastily chosen merely to fulfill an obligation. Yet espite all this, Charlotte had loved him for so long. Meanwhile, Madeline, whom he had treated with genuine affection, had broken up with him ithout hesitation and said countless vicious things.
lis lips curved in a bitter smile.
Madeline didn’t notice his expression. She was still immersed in the joy of discovering his secret, knowing that Blake could never let her go. What did narriage matter? He still kept her in the most important place in his heart.
he was triumphant, as if everything before her was her trophy. When she had finally looked through each item, she came to stand before Blake.
Blake, I was wrong before. I shouldn’t have broken up with you. Now that neither of us is bound by marriage, would you… get back together with
ne?”
Madeline’s face wore a smile, as if certain Blake wouldn’t refuse.
Chapter 13
And why would he? For years, everyone knew the only person Blake loved was Madeline, the only person he couldn’t let go was Madeline. Only Madeline could move his heart.
Blake’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. Even he himself had believed this and held onto it for countless years.
But the “yes” he wanted to say refused to leave his mouth, as if something was holding it back.
The face before him was clearly Madeline’s, yet he couldn’t help thinking of Charlotte.
He thought of their wedding day, when her face had been filled with a blissful smile, like a rose. Now that she was gone, only the sharp thorns remained, reminding him how important her presence had been.
