Back inside the house, Tristan set the daisies on the table and said, "I was in a bad mood last night, but that's no excuse for you to be so petty. You embarrassed Regina for no reason.

"I picked these up for you on the way back. Go apologize to her in a bit, and let's put this behind us. She's not one to hold a grudge, so I'm sure she'll forgive you."

It had been ages since Tristan had given Madeline anything. Hence, he was certain she'd be moved by the gesture.

Madeline, however, merely stared at the bouquet. She noticed how the petals had already started to droop, and a bitter laugh caught in her throat.

Was she so pathetic that he thought he could humiliate her like this?

Tristan hadn't even bought the bouquet for her. It was meant for Regina.

She had already seen it in Regina's video earlier. And now, he was handing the flowers to her like he was doing her a favor. Did he really think she was worth nothing more than trash?

Madeline said nothing. She just sat there, silent and still.

In an instant, Tristan's temper flared. "Don't make me regret giving you an inch! I've already given you a way out, so take it. Pushing this any further won't do you any good."

Madeline raised her hand to cover her nose and mouth. Her voice was strained as she stated, "I'm allergic to pollen."

As soon as her words settled, Tristan froze. He had completely forgotten about that.

Yet, he wasn't the kind to apologize. He was still trying to come up with an excuse when he turned and saw the icy look on Madeline's face.

Fury boiled up in his chest. He had already shown her that courtesy, so how dare she throw it back in his face?

In a burst of rage, Tristan grabbed the bouquet and slammed it into her face. He struck her again and again, showing no restraint at all.

Madeline kept her head down and raised her arms to shield herself. Unfortunately, she had already inhaled too much pollen. Her skin erupted in hives, her cheeks flushed red, and her breathing grew increasingly labored.

Even then, Tristan remained unmoved. A cruel sneer twisted his lips, then he spat, "Who exactly are you trying to fool with this little act? Do you think I'm that gullible?

"Just look at how hideous you are. You'll never hold a candle to Regina! You should be grateful I haven't divorced you yet, but don't take that for granted. The day I throw you out, you can cry and beg. It won't matter anymore."

At that moment, Annabelle skipped over, scooped up some petals, and threw them at Madeline's face. Then, she clapped and giggled.

"That was awesome! Daddy stood up for Regina!"

Seeing how excited she was, Tristan took her hand. Without sparing Madeline a second glance, he tossed one last comment over his shoulder. "Consider this a warning. Next time, you won't get off so easily."

And just like that, the two of them walked out, leaving her there like she didn't matter.

Madeline, gasping for air, slowly dragged herself toward the couch. With the last of her strength, she grabbed her phone and called her best friend, Sophie Zeller.

…

When Madeline regained consciousness, she found herself in a hospital bed.

Even though she had already decided to walk away from it all, a wave of pain washed over her as she thought back to Tristan's cruelty.

She kept telling herself to hold on a little longer. It was almost over, and freedom was just around the corner.

Just then, Sophie walked into the room. She stood by the window with her arms crossed as she looked at Madeline.

"You nearly died from that allergic attack. I called Tristan, but he didn't show the slightest concern. Instead, he started hurling insults. What kind of husband does that?"

A bitter smile tugged at Madeline's lips. "Once the divorce is final, he and I will be nothing to each other."

Sophie blinked, a little surprised. Then, she nodded. "I'm really glad to hear you say that. I've been telling you to leave him for years, but you wouldn't listen. Just look at yourself now. You're wrecked."

Madeline didn't respond. Instead, she told herself to hang in there. Just a little longer, and she'd be out of this misery.

Madeline had been hospitalized for a week, yet Tristan never visited her once. He didn't even call her.

As Sophie peeled an apple, she grumbled, "Tristan doesn't even deserve to be called a husband. You were right to divorce him. Just promise me you're not going back to putting yourself last for him."

Madeline and Tristan had argued more times than she could count. She had even thought about leaving him before. But somehow, it ended with her apologizing every time.

Looking back, she felt pathetic and foolish.

"Not anymore," Madeline said. "After all these years, even a dog would've grown attached to me. Maybe, to Tristan, I'm not even worth that much."

Sophie's heart broke hearing her say that. "Don't overthink it. There are plenty of men out there. Tristan's not the only one in the world."

…

On the eighth day, Madeline was finally discharged. But the thought of returning to that house made her chest tighten.

The moment she opened the door, a rancid stench of rotting food hit her. On the floor, the bouquet of daisies still lay where it had been thrown, now shriveled.

Madeline knew right away that Tristan had taken Annabelle to see Regina. It was his usual tactic. Every time they fought, he'd torment her like this.

He understood just how deeply Madeline loved both him and Annabelle. Yet, he used that love against her, knowing it would only make the pain worse.

The image of Tristan's violent outburst that day flashed through her mind. He had looked like a stranger, no longer resembling the man she once knew. In fact, there was something in his eyes that chilled her to the bone.

Right then, her phone chimed, pulling her back to reality.

Madeline picked it up and saw that Regina had sent her a short video.

In the clip, Annabelle was stuffing her face with ice cream. With a look of satisfaction, she said, "Regina, can you be my mommy instead? That ugly freak never lets me have anything good.

"She makes me eat garbage every single day! I can't even look at it without gagging. You're so much better. You let me eat whatever I want."

She continued, "You know what? She even came to my parent-teacher conference looking totally pathetic. She was dressed in cheap clothes and had that hideous scar on her face.

"I was too embarrassed to tell my classmates she was my mom. So, I said she was our housekeeper. There's no way I'd ever admit to having a mom like that."

Regina wore a smug smile on camera, but still played innocent as she stated, "But I could never compare to your mom. She must be amazing. Otherwise, why would your dad marry her?"

Annabelle tilted her head, disdain written all over her face. "She's just an ugly freak. How could she ever compare to you? I'm sure Daddy only married her out of pity.

"She got that scar trying to save me, but honestly, it would've been better if that shelf had crushed her to death. At least then she wouldn't be clinging to us like that!"

Madeline drew in a sharp breath. Though she had given up on her daughter, hearing those words still left her cold.

As it turned out, all the love she had poured into Annabelle meant nothing. In her eyes, it had all been a joke.

Another message from Regina popped up. This time, it was just a text. She wrote, "Your husband and daughter both despise you. They're disgusted by you. What makes you think you can compete with me?"

Even so, Madeline turned off her phone without replying and took a deep breath.

She had already made up her mind. Since she was done with all of it, there was no use grieving over people who'd never been worth it.

…

The divorce wouldn't be official for another couple of weeks. So, Madeline and Sophie spent those days traveling through Calastra, visiting old cathedrals scattered across the countryside.

The entire journey felt like a quiet baptism—one that penetrated from body to soul. Everything she had once held onto now felt insignificant.

The trip changed everything. It brought a quiet sense of renewal that finally gave Madeline's restless heart some peace.

During that period, Tristan never once reached out.

Madeline knew he was giving her the silent treatment as a form of punishment. In the past, it would've broken her. She'd feel like the entire world had turned its back on her.

But now, nothing stirred in her chest. Tristan and Annabelle no longer had the power to hurt her. In fact, they no longer mattered.

…

When Madeline returned from the trip, she didn't go home right away. Instead, she stopped by a fondue restaurant.

There had been a time when eating alone would've made her feel lonely. Now, she relished it.

As she dipped her meat into the bubbling pot of cheese, her eyes landed on a table nearby. The moment she saw who was sitting there, her expression changed.

Tristan was at the restaurant with Annabelle and Regina, surrounded by a group of people. Aside from the three of them, Madeline didn't recognize anyone else.

It was Regina's birthday. She wore a party hat and sat beside Tristan, looking every bit the doting girlfriend.

Seeing that, everyone else at the table started cracking jokes.

"Mr. Fowler, you and Regina make a perfect couple. You guys are practically a match made in heaven. So, when's the wedding?"

Regina blushed and shot Tristan a bashful glance. When he didn't say anything to dissuade them, her smile deepened.

The table buzzed with laughter and chatter. No one noticed Madeline sitting a short distance away, quietly taking it all in.

But she felt nothing. There wasn't even a flicker of emotion in her gaze. If anything, the three of them looked more like a real family.

Right then, Regina turned and spotted her. Without missing a beat, she leaned her head against Tristan's shoulder and said sweetly, "Thank you for giving me such an unforgettable birthday."

"You don't have to thank me for anything," Tristan replied, his gaze brimming with affection.

As he spoke, Regina feigned a drunken daze and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her eyes were hazy, and her expression was laced with intent.

The others egged them on, watching with barely contained excitement.

Tristan didn't hesitate. He leaned down and kissed her, pulling her into his arms. The kiss was intense and reckless.

A chorus of whoops and whistles broke out around them instantly.

Meanwhile, Madeline calmly watched the scene unfold. A beat later, she rose and walked away.

However, she accidentally knocked over a glass. It hit the floor with a sharp crash, drawing everyone's attention.

Tristan glanced over and froze. A flicker of panic crossed his face. The last thing he had expected was to see Madeline there.

His eyes followed her retreating figure.

Regina noticed, but she swallowed her jealousy and spoke with carefully feigned concern. "Tris, was that Madeline? Did she see us? I'm sorry. I must've had too much to drink. I'm sure she misunderstood. She might kick up a fuss later."

Tristan let out a cold laugh, trying to sound unfazed. "So what if she saw? If we were really doing something wrong, would we do it in front of all these people?"

After saying that, he downed another drink like he didn't have a care in the world.

But later, during a bathroom break, he texted Madeline. He wrote, "You came to the fondue place too?"

In the past, she would've responded within a minute. Yet, even after the dinner, Tristan still hadn't gotten a reply.

And so, he brought Annabelle home. As he took off his shoes, he was already bracing himself for the inevitable fight. He was certain Madeline would be crying or shouting.

However, when Tristan stepped into the living room, he saw her curled up on the couch. She didn't say a word or even glance his way.

There was something about Madeline that felt off.