---- Chapter 10 The dinner party was just about to start when Madeline arrived at the Bloomberg residence. She handed the gift she'd prepared to a maid and looked at Timothy, who was already seated at the table. He was talking to someone else, so he didn't notice her arrival. She looked around, relieved when she didn't see Lacey anywhere. It seemed the latter wasn't in attendance. Joseph frowned slightly when he saw her. "Why have you only just arrived, Maddie?" "T got caught in traffic. Happy birthday, Joseph." The look on Madeline's face was infallible. She smiled as she took the empty seat beside Timothy. Only then did he notice her. He returned to his senses and lowered his head in her direction, asking in a voice only audible to them both, ''Were you working late? What took you so long to get here?" She didn't expect him to ask that. After a pause, ---- she said, "You told me to wait for you in the parking lot. You said we would come together." The realization dawned on Timothy. He said apologetically, "Sorry, Maddie. I forgot." "T texted you." Madeline lowered her eyes, her thick lashes concealing the emotions in her eyes. She sounded like she always did, but the hand she'd placed on the table balled into a fist. "You didn't answer my calls, either. I thought something happened to you." "Here you go, Timothy. You left your phone in my bag-I only saw it when I was touching up my makeup." Lacey popped out of nowhere and approached Timothy from behind, holding out his phone. Madeline froze. So, he'd handed his phone to Lacey. No wonder he hadn't seen her texts or heard her calls! Timothy frowned, looking a little displeased. Meanwhile, Lacey put on airs and tugged on his hand. "This is my first time meeting Ms. Carlton, ---- Timothy. Can I say hi to her?" He nodded, but she didn't say anything to greet Madeline. Instead, she looked at the bracelet on the latter's left wrist in surprise. "Timothy, isn't this the bracelet you wanted to give me on our anniversary four years ago? I rejected it because it was ugly, right? I remember you had my name carved on each heart. Why is she wearing it?" Madeline looked down. She already knew Timothy and Lacey were involved in some way and had lost hope in him, but Lacey's words still made her heart clench painfully. She felt like something was yanked hard from inside her; it was a horrible feeling. She saw the flash of panic in Timothy's eyes and smiled. "Since this was never meant for me, it's only right for me to return it to its original owner. " With that, she took the bracelet off without hesitation. However, Timothy grabbed her wrist. " Who said you could do that?"