Ruth arrived suspiciously fast—as if she’d been waiting outside the whole time.

The door swung open, and she rushed toward Madison, eyes red-rimmed. A child of about four or five trailed close behind.

In the past, Madison would have pulled her best friend into an immediate, comforting hug. Now, her feelings were far more complicated. Her arms felt stiff, unsure where to rest.

Ruth seemed to sense something was off, but she brushed it aside, ushering her son inside as if she owned the place. She settled onto the sofa and launched into a tearful complaint.

“Madison, you have no idea. That ex-husband of mine showed up again. He’s a monster! He’s got people waiting downstairs, demanding money in every possible way. Says he won’t leave until I pay up!”

Madison lowered her head, a faint, bitter smile touching her lips.

This wasn’t the first time.

Just a year after graduation, Ruth had shown up out of nowhere with a child, pouring out her woes. Over the years, similar incidents kept happening, and Madison had always been the one to bail her out with money. She’d even considered confronting this so-called ex-husband, but Ruth always stopped her.

“Forget it, Madison. They’re big, tough guys. It’s not worth the trouble…”

Remembering the evasive look in Ruth’s eyes whenever she’d said that, Madison finally understood. The ex-husband was just an excuse. Ruth had only ever come to ask for money.

How laughable. All these years, she’d been footing the bill to raise her own husband and her best friend’s child.

“Just say it. How much this time?”

At that, Ruth’s tears vanished. Her eyes darted, and she revealed her true purpose.

“Madison, I don’t want to give him any more money, but… if I go back home with the kid, it just doesn’t feel safe. Could we… stay with you for a while?”

Madison sighed. What did it matter? She’d be leaving soon anyway.

She nodded and led Ruth upstairs to get a guest room ready. But Ruth refused to settle for it.

“This bed is way too small, Madison. I have the kid with me. What if… we slept here instead?”

She pointed to the master bedroom, her stance making it clear she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Madison smiled inwardly, then nodded. “Sure.”

It worked out perfectly. She had no desire to share a bed with Patrick anymore. The thought sickened her.

She and Patrick had been married for six years, yet his illegitimate son was already five. Which meant Patrick had never truly broken things off with Ruth all this time. All along, Madison had been the third wheel.

The thought of Patrick rushing off to be with Ruth one night, only to come home the next day and push her onto the sofa for intimacy… Madison felt her stomach churn.

Fine. Tonight, the real couple could have their reunion.

Patrick didn’t return until ten o’clock that night. But when he saw Ruth, he showed not a flicker of surprise. Madison watched his expression carefully. It was calm, as if he’d known all along.

Patrick greeted Ruth briefly, and then everyone retreated to their respective rooms. The whole exchange felt stiff, unnaturally distant.

The moment their bedroom door closed, Patrick pressed her against it.

“Baby, why didn’t you tell me she was coming? You scared me. I mean, I’ve known Ruth for ages, but she’s still an outsider at the end of the day.”

Madison sneered inwardly. He was putting on quite the act.

The smell of alcohol washed over her as Patrick’s hands began to wander.

“Baby, isn’t it more exciting… with someone right next door?”

Madison’s stomach revolted. She shoved him away and bolted for the bathroom.

After throwing up, she returned, her face composed.

“I’m not feeling well tonight. I’ll sleep on the sofa downstairs.”

Patrick paused, feigning remorse.

“It’s my fault for not noticing you weren’t feeling well. I can’t let you sleep on the sofa. I’ll go.”

He got up without hesitation and headed downstairs. Moments later, the villa fell into silence once more.

Only then did Madison rise quietly and search the jacket Patrick had left behind.

Nothing.

He was that wary of her? Carrying all his important documents even for a secret rendezvous?

Suddenly, a soft click came from next door. The hallway light flicked on, then off.

Madison cracked her door open a sliver, peering out.

Downstairs on the sofa, two figures were entwined in a tight embrace. The sounds of heavy, lustful breathing were unmistakable.

Ruth’s voice drifted up. “Honey, slow down. How did things go with the… arrangements?”

Patrick’s breathing grew rougher.

“We’ll talk about that later!”

The sofa shuddered under the assault, its joints groaning as if ready to give way. Heavy breathing and breathy moans echoed through the house, persisting long into the night.

Even knowing the truth, the betrayal hit Madison anew—a cold, sharp twist deep in her chest. Six years of love doesn’t just evaporate. She clamped a hand over her mouth, fighting to keep any sob from escaping.

When the sounds downstairs finally ceased, Madison forced herself to regain composure. She held her breath, every muscle taut as she strained to catch their words.

“Honey, how did it go? Is everything settled?”

Patrick let out a low, satisfied chuckle, his voice intimate and thick. “Smooth as silk. Once the paperwork is finalized, our son will be the legitimate heir to the Madison fortune.”

“A family that big, with that much to lose… they’d never want a scandal like this going public. The money, the shares… it’ll be ours for the taking.”

“And this wedding… it’s the perfect leverage. Imagine the headlines: ‘Heiress Jilted at the Altar.’ How much do you think they’d pay to keep that quiet?”

Ruth breathed a sigh of relief, then her voice tightened with fresh anxiety. “The documents? Are they safe?”

“Right here with me. Don’t worry.”

Ruth seemed overjoyed. She planted a loud, smacking kiss on his cheek.

“Quiet down! What if she hears? And how could you just move into the master bedroom? If she finds out…”

Ruth brushed it off, her tone turning venomous. “So what if she does? The game’s already won. Besides, I’ve waited years for this. This house will be mine sooner or later. What’s the difference if I move in now?”

Tears spilled down Madison’s cheeks. Six years with the man she loved. Six years with the friend she’d trusted with everything. And all of it—a meticulously crafted trap. All of it, just for a title, for a claim to her family’s legacy.

She closed the door softly, shutting out their voices for good. If she’d ever doubted The System, the events of this night had shoved her headfirst into the brutal truth.

She sent a few quick texts from her phone, then collapsed onto the bed. Patrick and Ruth’s words replayed on a loop in her mind. She didn’t sleep a wink.

Early the next morning, a reply came from the wedding venue coordinator. Madison got ready quickly and headed for the door.

“Madison? Where are you off to?”

Ruth stood in the kitchen doorway, holding a bowl, clearly having just finished making breakfast.

Madison’s face was a blank mask. “Out. I have some things to take care of.”

Ruth’s smile didn’t falter. “At least have some breakfast first. I made plenty. Sweetie, go bring some for Auntie Madison.”

Madison opened her mouth to refuse, but the little boy was already barreling toward her, bowl in hand.

The next second, searing hot oatmeal splashed across her skin, accompanied by the shattering crash of ceramic. The impact sent her sprawling. Sharp shards sliced into her arm, and blood immediately began to flow—a vivid, shocking red against the floor tiles.

The boy sat on the floor, wailing with a piercing, theatrical shriek.

The world tilted. The searing burn of the oatmeal fused with the sharp sting of the cuts, her skin blistering into an angry, swollen red.

Ruth rushed over and scooped up her son, her eyes welling up as she shouted at Madison. “Madison, if you didn’t want us here, you could have just said so! Was it necessary to push a child?!”

Patrick came running downstairs at the commotion. Seeing him, Ruth’s voice pitched even higher. “Madison, how could you? Asking a child to serve you is one thing, but he was being so good! Why would you shove him?!”

Patrick arrived, but instead of going to them, he hurried to help the injured Madison to her feet. He glared at Ruth, fury in his eyes. “I saw the whole thing! Madison didn’t lay a finger on him! Ruth, what the hell are you playing at?! If this isn’t good enough for you, then get out! Both of you!”

Ruth’s eyes flooded with tears. “Patrick! After all these years… how can you speak to me like that?!”

The frightened child began to cry again. “Daddy! You’re scaring me!”

Patrick’s angry expression faltered, replaced by a flicker of awkwardness. “I’m not your— Just be quiet!”

He turned back to Madison, his voice gentle. “Madison, go wait in the car. I’ll handle this and take you to the hospital.”

Madison didn’t respond, letting him guide her to the front door. Her mind was numb, still reeling from the shock. A gust of wind caught her, sending a fresh wave of agony through her burned arm.

Behind her, the front door, not fully closed, swung open a crack, letting their voices carry clearly outside.

“What are you trying to pull?”