Kapitel 7: Madelyn Getting Slapped

Alicia felt like she was in a daze, with icy hands and feet, as she stood before Louis. He had finally woken up from his drunken haze and shoved Madelyn away, using the couch for support to get himself up.

Madelyn acted surprised and turned to Alicia, calling out, "Oh, hey Alicia! You're here too?"

Alicia felt like she had been jolted awake, her heart pounding in her chest. Without saying a word, she turned and left, forgetting to even close the door. Sometimes things are just too big and sudden, leaving people with no time to react. She didn't cry or cause a scene, she just felt her steps falter and the world around her blur.

The cold wind stung her face as she walked, making her feel numb. As she thought about what had happened, anger began to boil inside her. "Did Louis really ask Lucas to call me over just to humiliate me by flaunting his fling with Madelyn? I had already agreed to the divorce, so why did he have to hurt me like this? Just because he doesn't love me anymore doesn't give him the right to hurt me at will."

Her anger fueled her determination, and she walked straight ahead, finally reaching the gate of the mansion with a strong will.

Lucas was waiting at the door, opening the car door and saying, "Mrs. Martinez, Mr. Martinez asked me to send you back."

Alicia remained silent for a long time, then bent over and got into the car. Lucas closed the car door and called Louis, "Sir, I found Mrs. Martinez. I'll send her back right away, don't worry."

"Okay." Louis hung up and turned to Madelyn with a cold glare. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Madelyn hung her head and said pitifully, "I swear I didn't know Alicia was coming. I just fell and accidentally landed on you..."

"I might be drunk, but I'm not stupid!" Louis growled.

Madelyn pouted and tears streamed down her face as she said, "It's all my fault. I'll call Alicia to explain everything."

She reached into her pocket for her phone, but Louis stopped her and said impatiently, "No need, the more you try to fix it, the worse it gets. Just go back first."

"But what about you..." Madelyn hesitated.

"I'm just drunk, not dead," Louis slumped back onto the couch, pinching his forehead with his hand, looking very annoyed.

Madelyn didn't move, standing there with her head down like a submissive wife, her shoulders trembling with suppressed sobs.

Louis looked at her and felt a little guilty, "I'm not blaming you, Madelyn. Alicia didn't deserve any of this. I shouldn't have hurt her like that."

Madelyn argued, "But you hurt her when you asked for the divorce, didn't you?"

Louis was firm, "I'm doing my best to minimize the damage. I won't use these tactics to hurt her even more."

Madelyn added in a low voice, "Short-term pain is better than long-term agony. If you keep being so indecisive, you'll hurt her even more and hurt me too."

"We can't just take a break from our marriage. Grandma won't allow it," Louis said, looking at Madelyn with a cold gaze. "I decided to divorce her not just because of you. You were just the last straw."

Madelyn was shell-shocked, like someone had punched her in the gut. Her face went pale, and her lips quivered as she asked, "Louis, was that booze talking or were you being real with me?"

Louis rubbed his forehead and said, "I was hammered. I might have said some nasty stuff. Just go, okay?"

Madelyn feared that he would say even more hurtful things, and that the damage might be irreversible. So she left with a heavy heart and tears in her eyes. After she left, Louis called her father and asked him to keep a watchful eye on his daughter to prevent any suicide attempts.

The next day, Alicia received a bank card from Louis at Oddities of Time.

The delivery person said, "Ma'am, this is a little something from Mr. Martinez. The pin is your birthday."

Alicia looked at the card and laughed at herself, thinking, "Money can't buy happiness. Sometimes money is just a way to add insult to injury."

She pushed the card back and said, "Tell him to keep his money. I don't need it."

The courier insisted and said, "Mr. Martinez wants you to have it. He also says that things are often different from how they looked, and he supports any decision you make."

Alicia nodded. "I hear you."

After the delivery person left, Alicia sat still for a bit, then went to a nearby eatery.

On the way out, she ran into Madelyn, who was decked out in white and carrying a bouquet of white roses. She asked softly, "Alicia, can we talk?"

Alicia kept her composure, looked at her for a moment, and said, "Sure."

The two went to a nearby bistro. Madelyn put the flowers on the table and stroked the velvety rose petals. She smiled and said, "I never knew Louis could be so romantic. He sent me these flowers early this morning. It's been three years, but he still remembers that I love white roses. And twenty roses symbolize unchanging love."

Alicia's heart was in knots. They had been married for three years, and Louis had never once given her flowers, not even a single stem, on any special occasion. "So he can be romantic, but he just doesn't want to be romantic with me. Twenty roses, unwavering love, their love will never change. Pfft… How heartwarming."

The waiter brought their coffee. Madelyn stirred her coffee with a spoon and said flirtatiously, "Louis and I have known each other since we were kids. He's always had a soft spot for me..."

Alicia took a sip of her coffee and said calmly, "Can you get to the point? I'm swamped, and I don't have time for your ramblings."

Madelyn shrugged and said, "So you have a temper after all. You just hide it well when you're around Louis."

Alicia sneered, "I'm still Louis's wife. You came into my house at night and hung onto my man, but I didn't throw hot coffee in your face. That was me being polite. Don't be shameless."

"Whoa," Madelyn exclaimed, sticking out her tongue and making a surprised face. "Alicia, you're like a mother lion."

Alicia's grip on her coffee cup trembled slightly. She really wanted to dump the coffee on Madelyn's head.

Madelyn waited for a moment, but when Alicia didn't act on her impulse, she felt let down. She had set a trap for Alicia, but Alicia didn't fall for it, so she had to use her next tactic.

Madelyn sneered at Alicia, "You should know you're just a placeholder for Louis until someone better comes along. That someone is me, and you should leave now."

Alicia raised an eyebrow, "Really? I must have missed the memo that I'm not actually married to Louis anymore. Last I checked, we're still legally bound."

Madelyn scoffed, "You're just in denial because you know our love is stronger. You're about to be divorced, so why not save face and take this check for two million and leave him now? I know you married him for money."

Alicia took the check and examined it before replying calmly, "Sorry, money can't buy my loyalty or my love. And I didn't marry Louis for money in the first place."

Madelyn laughed sarcastically, "Oh, please. You're just a gold digger who's trying to have her cake and eat it too."

Alicia glared at Madelyn, "You don't know me or my motives. And let's not forget your own family's support of you being a mistress. Is your father the one who gave you this check to buy me out?"

Madelyn's face turned red as she retorted, "You're delusional! And what does my family have to do with this?"

Alicia stood up and threw the check at Madelyn, "Keep your dirty money. I don't need it, and I don't need to be in the same room as someone as shameless as you."

Madelyn lunged at Alicia, ready to attack, but was quickly restrained by someone who had been watching the whole exchange. "That's enough," the person said, "You need to leave now."