The Day I Stopped Waiting Was the Day He Started Begging novel Chapter 21

Madeline Monroe lowered her gaze, staying silent.

She could hardly say that just moments ago, they had decided to pretend to be a married couple for another three months, could she?

Just as she was about to make an excuse, York Yates chuckled casually. "We're perfectly fine. Why even bring up divorce?"

Arthur Yates let out a scoff of disbelief, knowing his son all too well. "If you were perfectly fine, would you have forced your own wife out of her home?"

York wasn't annoyed. He simply squeezed Madeline's hand gently, a smirk playing on his lips.

"What else could we do? My wife cares about me. Even when we argue, she's the one who moves out. After all, I didn't have anywhere else to go."

"Did your mother stop you from coming home?"

York lifted his gaze. "Felicity is still here, so how would it look if I moved back? We're adults now; it's not appropriate to live under the same roof indefinitely. If you really care about me, and if you care about your adoptive daughter, you should find her her own place."

Madeline froze. Even when their relationship had been at its peak, York had never suggested Felicity Xavier move out.

Between the sudden embrace and all these unsolicited olive branches today, she wondered if he had hit his head and lost his mind.

He had held her hand longer today than he had in the past two years combined.

Arthur frowned.

When Felicity followed York to San Francisco, there had certainly been rumors. But one was his adopted daughter and the other his biological son. He had brushed off Felicity's clinginess as close sibling affection, but if York wasn't planning to divorce, her constant clinging was indeed highly inappropriate...

*Crash.*

The sound of shattering glass echoed from the doorway. Felicity stood there holding a tray, her face entirely pale. "York, do you want me to move out because of Madeline?"

Her eyes were red-rimmed as she apologized to Madeline.

"I'm so sorry, Madeline. If I've done anything to upset you, I apologize. I'll change. Just please don't kick me out... If I leave The Yates Manor, I won't have a home."

With that said, he quickly ushered them out of the room.

Seeing that her moving out was now practically set in stone.

Felicity stepped in front of York, her face still pale. "You're right, York. People have to grow up. I'll move out as soon as I can, but the doctor said I haven't fully recovered yet. Finding a new place might be a bit too much for me, so I'll have to trouble you and Madeline for help."

Madeline's expression cooled.

This wasn't the first time.

Felicity was fragile, and over the years, she had constantly used her health as an excuse to rely on York for everything.

Two years ago, Madeline had gone to a remote mountain region to gather material for a shoot and was caught in a catastrophic, once-in-a-century mudslide. It had hit so fast and hard that there was nowhere to run.

The colleagues traveling with her had all made frantic final calls to their loved ones.