CHAPTER 3
It took her the whole afternoon to finish sorting through all her things. By sunset she was loading it all into a truck.
“Did you have to throw out so much?” Oliver asked, frowning. “You do know that Cecelia isn’t staying forever right? You’ll have your room back in no time, so what’s the drastic packing for?” “I’ve had all this stuff for years,” Madelynn answered. “I figured it was time for a change.”
“You hate being wasteful.”
Yes she did. Even though she had grown up rich, she hated people that wasted things anyhow.
‘Some things just need to go,” she answered him.
Some people just need to go too,’ she added silently in her head.
As usual, Oliver didn’t want to waste time on a conversation with her. He changed the topic.
The annual auction is tonight. I’ve been invited back this year. You’ll come with me… and Cece.”
‘I don’t think that’s-”
Oliver cut her off before she could finish protesting. “You’re going, Madelynn. It’s not like I car show up at events like that without my secretary.”
His words made her wince. His secretary. Not his wife.
f he was taking her as his secretary, she wanted to ask why he was taking Cecelia, but she lidn’t. She nodded obediently. It was just one more thing she would have to endure before she vas truly free.
When they arrived at the auction hall later that night, Oliver held the door open for Cecelia anc ed her to the front door, letting Madelynn trail behind them.
The parking lot was full of luxurious cars and the hall held the most important people in the city f you didn’t get an invite to the auction, then it simply meant that you weren’t that important.
The host rushed up to them immediately as they entered.
Mr Kane. My name is June and I’ll be your host today. I’ll take you to your seats, right this way.”
June led them to two empty seats. “We were informed you were coming with your wife? The second seat is for her.”
Madelynn’s blood turned to ice. And she could see Oliver and Cecelia freeze too.
f there was one thing Oliver did well, it was hiding their marriage from the public. Only family and a few friends knew about it. Madelynn turned to him, waiting to see what he would do.
He had two women, and one seat. Who would he pick?
But of course, she already knew the answer.
“Wife?” He scoffed. “I have no idea where that rumor came from.”
The poor host blushed in embarrassment. “Oh… what about these two then?”
Oliver slipped his arm around Cecelia’s waist and pulled her closer. “This is Cecelia Fontaine. Daughter of Fontaine Tech’s CEO.”
“Ah,” recognition flashed in June’s eyes. “Miss Cecelia Fontaine.” She nodded politely.
Then he turned to Madelynn, almost like he was being forced. “The other one is my secretary.”
Madelynn didn’t react. She already knew that Oliver would rather die than introduce her as his wife. But that knowledge didn’t stop her heart from shattering.
Still, she stood up straighter and swallowed the pain. She might not have anything left, but she would keep her dignity intact.
Oliver and Cecelia took their seats, while Madelynn stood behind them like the secretary that
she was.
Maybe it was the cold air in the hall, or the fact that she was standing in five inch heels, or naybe it was the shameful situation that she was in. But the pain wouldn’t stop. It spread hrough her chest and body till it settled in her stomach.
She pressed a hand to her belly and quietly slipped out of the room like the unwanted presence hat she was.
she found a balcony that was empty and stayed up there, trying to inhale the fresh air.
I was impossible for her to get her period, so why did the cramps hurt so much? She had also ad a doctor’s appointment the day before, so she knew that her baby was safe.
he stayed there for a few more minutes, trying to ease the pain but to no avail. When she finally ecided to go back to the hall, the glass doors to the balcony wouldn’t budge.
was locked from the outside.
