The Day I Stopped Waiting Was the Day He Started Begging novel Chapter 23

His tone went ice-cold, though a stiff smile lingered on his lips. "Ms. Monroe, taking calls from other men at this hour?"

Madeline ignored him, brushing past him to enter the study. She closed the door before finally answering:

"...Hunter."

Hunter's tone was incredibly familiar, sounding as though they hadn't been estranged for years. "Maddy, I picked up some fabrics in Italy. They're the kind you used to love. I'll bring them to you when we meet, alright?"

"Thank you, Hunter," Madeline replied coolly. "But I don't care for those anymore."

On the other end of the line, Hunter was silent for a long moment before speaking softly, "It's been so long, and you've grown so distant, Maddy. You used to be so close to me."

"I was naive back then."

Madeline paused, her voice barely a whisper.

She truly had been naive.

After meeting Hunter, she had leaned completely on his affection, acting recklessly. Because he had protected her, she had ignored the reality of her own situation, which ultimately led to...

The fragmented memories brought a sharp pang of pain, snapping her back to reality. Madeline interrupted him, shifting to a strictly professional tone:

"Hunter, I'll see you tomorrow at 6:00 PM at The Obsidian Room. We can go over the interview details then. Goodbye."

Listening to the dial tone, Madeline realized her hands were trembling violently.

It was all in the past.

She couldn't let it affect her anymore.

By the time she composed herself and stepped out of the study, York was nowhere to be seen. The only trace of him was the mug resting on the table; the milk inside had already gone cold.

Madeline asked Susan, "Where did York go?"

Susan hesitated for a second. "No one called him. It might be work. He left right after you went into the study."

Madeline nodded, assuming his precious Felicity had somehow run into trouble again. "Just pour the milk down the drain."

Meanwhile.

York took a sip of his drink, his eyes dark and unreadable.

"Man, you're still drinking? How many glasses is that? What the hell is wrong with you? Did you get into a fight with your goddess of a wife?"

After finishing his cigarette, York stood up. "I'm leaving."

So what if Hunter Holt was back in the picture.

No matter what, for the next three months, she was still his wife.

York returned home, took a shower, and slipped into bed beside Madeline. He watched her for a long while in the soft moonlight before finally falling into a deep sleep.

Madeline was caught in a restless haze, trapped in a terrifying nightmare. Maybe it was the elevator malfunction earlier, or maybe it was Hunter's sudden return.

She dreamt she was being chased by her toxic family. She ran for her life, but she just couldn't escape them.

She jolted awake, drenched in a cold sweat.

As she gasped for air, a large hand began to gently rub her back, just as it had years ago—tender and steady.

York's breathing was completely even; he was clearly fast asleep. He was comforting her out of pure instinct.

Madeline's lingering panic began to fade, replaced by an overwhelming, suffocating tightness in her chest.