When Madeline saw Tristan and Annabelle, she felt nothing. The disgust she once harbored had faded.

With only two days left, she figured they'd probably never cross paths again. So, it was better to part on good terms than stir up more trouble.

Her indifference unsettled Tristan. Yet, he couldn't quite put a name to the feeling gnawing at him.

In the past, if he and Annabelle had been gone for two days, Madeline would blow up his phone with dozens of calls and hundreds of messages. They'd be full of apologies and desperate pleas for them to come home.

This time, they were gone for over ten days. But Madeline hadn't reached out once.

Tristan tried to rationalize the unease brewing in him. He told himself it was just pity. Madeline was all alone in that house, and he simply felt sorry for her.

He was confident that Madeline loved him to the point that she had completely lost herself. That was why he dared to torment her like that again and again. He even saw his return as a generous act and a chance for her to prove herself.

But the moment Tristan saw her icy expression, a dark look clouded his face. "Why are you giving me that look? You're not happy to see us back?"

Madeline didn't see the point in saying anything more. With only two days left, there was no need to argue or drag things out.

Thus, she opened the door and walked to the yard.

Tristan saw the indifference in her eyes, and his heart sank. His emotions tangled into a knot, and when he thought about the past, panic crawled up his spine.

After all, Madeline had stood by him through his darkest days.

…

When Madeline came in to get a glass of water, she noticed something had changed in the living room.

Flower petals were scattered across the floor, and a candlelit dinner for two sat waiting on the table.

The sight felt almost laughable. She didn't need grand gestures anymore. What was the point of putting on a show like this?

Madeline's brows furrowed. Then, she raised a hand to cover her mouth and nose.

Seeing her reaction, Tristan rushed over. His voice was tinged with concern as he asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"I'm allergic to pollen," Madeline replied calmly.

She had never liked flowers. In fact, Regina was the one who loved daisies.

Tristan's temper flared, but he held himself back when he remembered how much Madeline had changed lately.

She was no longer predictable, and he was starting to feel like he was losing his grip on her. For some reason, that scared him.

Maybe he had been too distant lately. And after everything they had been through, he couldn't bring himself to say something cruel.

Tristan's sudden silence caught Madeline off guard. The man who used to lash out at the smallest thing was actually holding himself back. He didn't say a word.

As she tried to make sense of it, Tristan pulled out two tickets for an evening cruise and said, "For your birthday and our anniversary. I owe you, so I'm making up for it. It'll just be the three of us."

Madeline stood there, watching him quietly. Yet, she made no move to take the tickets.

Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. Had she changed so much that Tristan was finally starting to notice? Was that why he was acting like this out of nowhere?

But whatever the reason, it didn't matter anymore. What good was love when it showed up after everything was over?

At that moment, Regina waltzed in with Annabelle's favorite ice cream.

Annabelle's face lit up with excitement. She immediately grabbed Regina's hand and squealed, "Thank you, Mommy! You're the best!"

"Don't call her that," Tristan said sharply, his expression darkening.

But Annabelle ignored him. "I want Regina to be my mommy! I don't want that ugly freak!"

Without missing a beat, Tristan picked her up and carried her upstairs. It was time she got a proper talking-to.

Once the two of them were gone, Regina glanced around the decorated living room. Then, her gaze landed on the cruise tickets, and a smirk tugged at her lips.

"You can keep clinging to Tristan all you want, but it's useless. I'll make sure you see soon enough who he really loves."

Madeline knew Regina was saying all that just to push her buttons. Even so, her expression didn't change as she replied, "I've already decided to walk away. I'm not going to fight you for anything."

Regina let out a mocking laugh at that. "Oh, please. If you wanted to leave, you'd have done it a long time ago. But here you are, shamelessly sticking around. I know you're only after the money.

"By the way, how were the daisies I asked Tristan to give you? They were beautiful, weren't they?"

As soon as those words settled, Madeline's expression darkened with something unreadable.

Even Regina knew about her pollen allergy, yet Tristan had no clue. He had been used and didn't even realize it.

Clearly, Madeline never mattered to him.

In no time, Tristan came out with Annabelle. He glanced at Madeline before saying, "She's just a kid and didn't mean any harm. I've talked to her. We'll head out for the evening cruise soon."

The moment he finished speaking, Regina quickly pulled out two concert tickets. "Tris, it's that band we've loved since university. Tonight's their very last performance."

Tristan paused, evidently torn. In the past, he would've chosen to attend the concert with Regina without hesitation.

But this time, he sensed something was off with Madeline. That was why he had suggested going on the evening cruise.

He feared Madeline wouldn't be able to handle it if he chose Regina again. So, he held his ground.

"Sorry, but I don't like that band anymore. Besides, I've already made plans with Madeline."

With that, he turned and went back to the bedroom to change.

Regina hadn't seen that coming. Tristan had always given in to her. But today, he rejected her for Madeline, that ugly freak.

Her face contorted with rage as she glared at Madeline. "You freak! What kind of trick did you use on him?"

Madeline couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on Regina. Thus, she didn't respond.

However, her deliberate silence only made Regina feel like she was doing it to provoke her.

Blinded by fury, Regina snatched the massive bouquet of daisies from the table and started hitting Madeline's head with it. She struck the latter again and again, each blow more vicious than the last.

It didn't take long before Madeline inhaled too much pollen. Her allergic reaction was overwhelming. In the next second, her face flushed red, and her breathing grew labored.

A triumphant smile spread across Regina's face. "Let's see who Tristan chooses now."

Then, without warning, she collapsed onto the floor, clutching her stomach and howling in pain.

When Tristan emerged from the bedroom, he found the two women sprawled on the floor. His wife was gasping for air with a swollen face, while his first love was doubled over, crying in pain.

His eyes darted nervously between the two, not knowing who to help first.

Madeline knew she was going to die if she didn't get to a hospital soon. She couldn't care about anything else right now because staying alive was all that mattered.

"Tristan, take me to the hospital. I can't hold on much longer…"

Tristan snapped out of his daze and nodded. But just as he reached for Madeline, Regina grabbed his leg and yelled, "Tris, my stomach hurts so bad. It feels like someone's stabbing me! I can't take it anymore!"

As if on cue, Annabelle rushed to Regina's side, crouched beside her, and pointed at Madeline.

"It's all her fault! That ugly freak upset Regina on purpose!" she shrieked. "She knew it'd make Regina sick, and she just wanted to see who you care about more. She's faking it! Come on, we have to get Regina to the hospital!"

All at once, Tristan's features hardened with fury. He glared at Madeline and roared, "How could you stoop this low? Madeline Sterling, you've gone too far!"

With that, he scooped Regina up and rushed out, leaving Madeline behind. It was as if her life meant nothing.

A wave of despair crashed over Madeline. The fact that she had begged Tristan, still clinging to hope he'd help, was almost laughable.

She reached out with difficulty and managed to grab her phone from the couch. After calling Sophie, she quickly lost consciousness.

…

When Madeline came to, she was lying in a hospital bed.

Sophie stood by her bedside, frustration and worry written all over her face. "Are you trying to get yourself killed? If I had been any later, you'd be dead!"

Madeline remained silent.

This time, she didn't stay in the hospital for long. She signed the discharge papers on the same day the divorce became official.

Just like before, Tristan didn't care enough to show up.

…

When Madeline got home, she saw the dried flower petals scattered across the floor. Just like her marriage, they were long dead.

After packing her bags, she placed the divorce papers on the coffee table, right where it was most visible. Then, she took what little she had left and walked away without a single glance back.

Madeline had lived here for years, yet it had never felt like home. Instead, it had been a prison in disguise.

Leaving felt like shaking off a set of invisible chains. At last, she was free.

…

Madeline had booked her flight well in advance, so she headed straight to the airport. While she waited to board, her phone rang. It was Tristan.

But she didn't answer. She simply declined the call and turned off her phone.

From that moment on, no matter how far their paths diverged, she and Tristan were nothing to each other.