---- Chapter 18 Madeline spent a week in the hospital. To her surprise, Timothy stayed by her side around the clock to care for her after the fight with Ellis that day. They barely spoke, though. She couldn't help wondering whether it was because he was afraid of Ellis coming to the hospital again, or whether he felt guilty about the ridiculous things he'd said. Madeline couldn't be bothered to ask or expose him. She noticed one thing about him, though- he was ina horrible mood. She thought it was because of her, but Octavia later told her it was because Lacey was going abroad to get married. Madeline was shocked upon learning that. Later, she understood why it had happened, and she was no longer surprised when she saw Timothy looking sullen. He picked her up from the hospital on the day she was discharged. She was taken aback when she opened the door to the front passenger seat. ---- She and Timothy hadn't gone out together ina long time, so it'd been a while since she'd last been in this car. She knew it was one of his favorites, though. There was a pink cushion on the front passenger seat, and the dashboard was covered in various decorative pieces. Even the glove compartment was filled with things that only women would use. All of this clearly pointed to someone else's presence in the car. Timothy hastily shut the glove compartment when he saw Madeline standing there dazedly. He explained, ''She and I are always out together for work. You know how fussy she is-she insisted on having these things around, and I just let her do it. You won't get mad over such a small thing, right?" "Of course not." Despite her words, Madeline shut the door and got into the backseat. When she saw him still standing outside the car, she asked, " Aren't we leaving?" He got in the driver's seat, looking nonplussed. As he started the car, he couldn't resist asking, " ---- Aren't you going to do anything about these things?" Madeline ignored him. Why should she? She wouldn't be riding in this car anymore. Why waste her time and energy? Then, she remembered that in the past, she would've gone berserk and tossed everything out of the car. Then, she would've screamed at him and asked why he would hire someone who had no idea where to draw the line. But what was the point now? Why did it matter? It suddenly started pouring when they were halfway home. Timothy frowned and picked up his phone. Then, he put it down without doing anything. They were almost at home when someone called him. It was Lacey. He checked Madeline's reaction in the rearview mirror and rejected the call. However, he was distracted for the rest of the journey. Madeline thought Lacey would be out of her life ---- since she was already getting married. However, when she saw the latter waiting in a drunken haze by the elevators, she knew some people just couldn't be shaken off.