---- Chapter 14 After Timothy left for work the next morning, Madeline followed soon after, preparing to pick up the documents she would need when reporting after her transfer. However, she saw an unwelcome visitor as soon as she opened the door. Lacey stood there in a pale pink dress with a V- neck. It was paired with a silk scarf of the same color. Her makeup was impeccable, and she looked spirited. She was a far cry from the pale, haggard woman she'd been on the day of Joseph's birthday, and she didn't look depressed in the slightest. Madeline asked flatly, "What do you want?" Lacey looked inside the house. "I'm already at your door. Aren't you going to invite me in?" Madeline didn't want any hint of Lacey's presence in the home she shared with Timothy, so she said bluntly, "No. We can talk here if you have something to say." "You sure about that?" Lacey raised an eyebrow ---- and looked to the right. Madeline followed her line of sight to see her next -door neighbor watering the plants. She had no choice but to take Lacey to a cafe in the neighborhood. As soon as they sat down, Lacey crossed her arms and looked at Madeline haughtily. "Break up with Timothy!" Madeline laughed and had a waiter get her a cup of coffee. Lacey felt insulted after being ignored, and her mask of arrogance cracked. Her voice turned shrill as she screeched, "Do you think you would've had the chance to be with Timothy if I hadn't remained abroad? Do you even know why he got together with you in the first place?" Madeline's heart clenched, as did her fist. She didn't say anything. "Because he wanted to piss me off!" Lacey picked up her coffee, sounding confident yet resigned. " Don't you get it, Ms. Carlton? You've never been able to come between me and him because he was ---- only with you to get back at me. He's never loved you." Madeline stood up, her face pale. "Are you done?" Lacey shook her head. "A love born of weakness is like a castle made of sand-one wave is enough to make it topple. Now that I'm back, Timothy will definitely come back to me!" Madeline recalled the state Timothy had been in right after his and Lacey's breakup. She supposed Lacey was right to say that she'd slipped in during amoment of weakness. Still, that wasn't enough to make her break up with him. Even if they were to call it quits, it would only be because she no longer loved him. She looked at Lacey disdainfully. "Keep waiting, then. I'll hand him over once I no longer want him -once I've had enough of him." Ahint of humiliation flashed in Lacey's eyes, but it was gone in a second. She snorted. "Timothy doesn't even love you. Why cling to this relationship? Look at this if you don't believe me."