Love in the Eye of the Storm

Chapter 14

Of course, he couldn't answer. But even without his words, I knew. He wouldn't have regretted it. Daniel always believed that someone had to do the tough jobs in this world, and he wouldn't have turned his back on anyone in need. Still, that didn't make the hurt any less.

"You're the short-lived one, not Chelsea," Ms. Harris barked, dragging me back to the present. "And if you don't leave my son-in-law alone, I'll make sure you regret it!"

Chelsea, cradling her belly, joined in, smug as ever. "Alexander is mine now, Madeline. Even if you're dying, I won't let you keep holding on to him."

"Get. Out."

Just then, Tanya came back with the cotton candy I'd asked for. She had walked in just in time to hear the last bit of their argument. Knowing what I was already going through, it didn't take much for her to snap.

She carefully set the cotton candy on the side table, grabbed the nearest trash can, and hurled it at Chelsea's head with all her strength.

"You think being a mistress gives you the right to act like that? You're disgusting! Get out! If you ever come near Maddie again, I'll kill you!"

The trash can hit its mark. It wasn't pretty, fruit peels and garbage rained down on Chelsea's head. Her face turned crimson, chest heaving with rage, while Ms. Harris fumed beside her.

But Tanya wasn't done. She grabbed a fruit knife from the table, ready for a fight. Her red eyes and trembling hands made it clear she wasn't bluffing. Ms. Harris, as usual, backed down, dragging her daughter away with some half-muttered curses.

"Maddie will outlive all of you!" Tanya screamed at their retreating figures before turning back to me, her eyes already misting.

She wiped her face and forced a smile, holding up the cotton candy like it was the answer to all our problems. "Here, Maddie. Forget about those crazy b*tches. You're going to get better, I know it. And this cotton candy? It's going to make everything sweet again."

She tore off a piece and gently placed it in my mouth.

It was soft, sugary, just like I remembered. But instead of cutting through the bitterness, all I tasted was something awful. It was bitter, like swallowing crushed pills.

It wasn't the cotton candy, it was me. My heart was bitter.

I forced myself to swallow, not wanting to worry Tanya. But I couldn't take another bite.

Tanya noticed and quietly set the cotton candy aside, her eyes misting up again. "Maddie, everything will be okay... right?"

Before I could answer, the door flew open, and there stood Alexander. He looked disheveled, his eyes red from crying. He stumbled toward me like he was in a daze, clutching my hand tightly.

"Madeline, please... Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me you were sick?"

His voice was shaking, and I could see how scared he was.

"Is it true? You're in the late stages of pancreatic cancer? That can't be true! And... our baby? I saw the blood on your dress... Tell me, it's not too late! We're young, we can try again. We can have as many kids as we want!"

I pulled my hand away from him.

The man who was supposed to love me, who was supposed to protect me, had been oblivious to everything. And now he stood here, talking about babies, as if that could fix anything.

"Get away from me."

The disgust in my voice startled him, but I couldn't help it. Knowing he had been with Chelsea made my skin crawl. I could barely stand his touch.

I pushed him away, but he wouldn't let go.

"Madeline, please," he begged, his grip tightening. "We'll find the best doctors, the best treatments. You'll get better, and we'll grow old together. Nothing will ever tear us apart."

Grow old together? How could he even say that?

I started to gag, the revulsion so strong it made my stomach churn. He finally let go, his hands trembling as he stared at me, lost and confused.

"I don't want anything from you," I said, my voice cold and distant. "Not the house, not the shares in your company, nothing."

"All I want is a divorce. Just grant me that one last wish before I die."