The Day I Stopped Waiting Was the Day He Started Begging novel Chapter 25

"Prosecutor Yates, are you here to see Maddy?" Hunter asked, a faint smile playing on his lips. "She and I have a dinner date tonight. I suppose she forgot to mention it to you. After we finish eating, I'll be personally escorting her home."

The words rolled off his tongue effortlessly, as if he hadn't been entirely absent from her life for the last five years. The sheer intimacy and familiarity in his tone made York's jaw clench in pure aggravation.

York instinctively ran his thumb over the platinum band on his ring finger, his voice dangerously smooth. "Since you've never been married, you wouldn't understand. Spouses naturally keep each other informed. Besides, you're practically an older mentor to her. What's the harm in my wife having dinner with an old friend?"

His words brutally shredded whatever romantic tension Hunter was trying to weave—firmly boxing him into the role of a harmless older figure.

"Is that so? I just figured that after two years in San Francisco, Prosecutor Yates might have neglected his wife. But you're right, I'm not married, which means Maddy will always have options."

He paused, flashing a dark smile. "If you ask me, a marriage certificate is just a piece of paper."

Hunter had been buried in work over the years, but that didn't mean he was blind to Madeline's life. He had kept people watching her, well aware that beneath her cool exterior, she was incredibly stubborn and rarely asked for help.

He had spent years building his empire just to offer her a safe harbor—a flawless backup plan for whenever she was hurting.

York looked up and scoffed. "Having the legal title makes all the difference in the world. It clearly stakes a claim. Any stray dogs lurking around catching a scent would be wise to think twice before crossing that line."

The two men glared at each other through the car window—one calculated and refined, the other feral and aristocratic.

The explosive tension was only broken by the sudden ringing of York's phone.

Felicity's sickly sweet voice whined through the speaker. "York, are you free today? I want to go apartment hunting. Could you come with me?"

York gave a curt hum of agreement. He offered Hunter a brief, mocking nod, rolled up the window, and hit the gas.

"Give me twenty minutes."

Hunter stood there, parsing the feminine voice he had just heard. After a long moment, a slow, calculated smile spread across his face. "The adopted little sister..."

Madeline lowered her gaze, her thick eyelashes trembling. She hesitated for a second but ultimately chose not to open his chat. She wouldn't be home for dinner, but what did he care? They were just putting on a show for the time being anyway.

But a passing comment from Susan suddenly echoed in her mind—lately, York had been coming home for dinner every single night.

Right as the conflict gnawed at her, a message from Felicity popped up:

[Madeline, I'll be moving out very soon. Don't worry, I'm already looking at apartments today.]

She attached a few photos, supposedly showing off the layout of the apartments. Yet, in the corner of one shot, Madeline immediately spotted York.

He wasn't looking at the camera, but his gaze was visibly focused on the person taking the photo.

When she refreshed her screen a second later, York's profile picture had vanished, replaced by a pitch-black square.