The Day I Stopped Waiting Was the Day He Started Begging novel Chapter 54

Madeline's tone was no different from how she commanded a boardroom.

"You said it yourself. You're only refusing this divorce to protect your political career and avoid a scandal."

Her long lashes fluttered as she shoved down the chaotic emotions swirling in her eyes, replacing them with a glassy calm.

Any ripples of unwanted feelings had to be crushed before they could take root.

"I want you to keep your distance. If you can't manage that, we can separate."

When someone had too many safety nets, it only bred cowardice, delusion, greed, and fear.

Madeline refused to be that way.

So, it was better to burn all her bridges.

York locked his heavy gaze on her, his thoughts entirely unreadable.

He leaned in, effortlessly sliding an arm around her slender waist. They were so close their breaths mingled.

"Maddy, what exactly are you so mad about?"

Madeline instinctively raised a hand to shove him away, but his shirt was hanging open, leaving her nowhere safe to push. Trapped and flustered, her cheeks flushed with a mix of fury and embarrassment.

But in York's eyes, her flustered state didn't look like rejection at all. It felt like Sunny's little paws gently scratching at his chest, sparking a slow, simmering heat within him.

How could someone look so adorable when they were furious?

"What? Terrified that being this close to me will make you lose control?"

He chuckled, his breath brushing against her ear.

"Turns out, no matter how mature and untouchable you pretend to be, the angelic Ms. Monroe is still a slave to her desires."

"Sorry to break it to you, but your type hasn't done it for me in a long time,"

Madeline fired back reflexively.

Susan instantly lost all desire to continue the conversation.

"Mr. Yates, I'm used to making breakfast just for her. You'll have to figure something out yourself."

York was left speechless.

Madeline arrived at the studio, grabbing her usual iced Americano, when her assistant hurried in.

"Madeline, I got a hold of the crew that hijacked our location. They said..."

"They said Mrs. Yates is the one using the space, and we'd have to take it up with her directly."

The assistant was both aggrieved and furious.

"Why are these privileged snobs so awful? They're basically thugs! And to think I used to join in when the girls in the office gossiped about how honorable and untouchable Prosecutor Yates was. We negotiated for that spot for ages..."

Madeline flinched slightly from the bitterness of her Americano. After a beat, she asked, "You're saying the person hijacking our shoot is Mrs. Yates?"