---- supposed to be a grown-up!" Madeline was resigned. She shrugged and said, " I'm not mad. It's up to you whether or not you want to be nice to her. It's not my place to say anything." It was true. It was his heart and body. Would he stop himself from doing whatever he wanted just because she said she didn't like it? Oddly enough, Timothy barked out an exasperated laugh at her words. "What is this, if not jealousy? You never used to act like this! When did you become like this? I've been busy lately, and my mind is everywhere. You'll be doing me a favor by being more sensible. Stop causing trouble for me!" The air between them grew heavy, and his voice was hard and terse. Yet it was at that moment that he met Madeline's gaze, seeing the calmness and resolution in it. She blinked slowly, not shying away from his eyes. "Don't worry, I won't do that anymore. You'll see whether I ever bother you again." ---- Tension hung in the air, wound so tight that it would snap at any moment. After a brief silence, Timothy said coldly, "That had better be the case. I need to deal with something, and I won't be back for the next few days. We can talk again once you've thought things through!" That was the last thing he said to Madeline before leaving. Outside the villa, he lit a cigarette and made a call. His gentle and affectionate tone was a stark contrast with his earlier impatient one-he asked Lacey why she was still awake and coaxed her to talk to him. Madeline remained in the living room, her limbs cold as Timothy's words reverberated in her mind. He'd said them so easily, yet they weighed heavily on her. She didn't stay there for long, preparing to leave after making sure everything was packed. She looked around at the place she'd lived in for three ---- years, noting how empty it now was. A trace of relief flickered in her eyes. Then, she turned and left without another look back.