---- you know she's already being forced to marry someone else because of you? Isn't that enough for youe" She stopped him coldly. "Who told you I did this?" He abruptly fell silent, leaving her with nothing but the sound of his ragged breathing. Honestly, there was no point in explaining herself. To those who didn't believe her, it would only seem like she was lying and making excuses. Madeline sneered and said, "We're over, Timothy. " His breathing hitched. When he spoke again, his voice was barely over a whisper. "Because of Lacey?" He thought he'd guessed correctly when she didn't answer. He found that ridiculous. ''What is wrong with you again, Madeline? Either you get the hell over here right now and apologize to Lacey, or you get lost and stay out of my life forever!" Madeline only found the situation laughable now. ---- She said, "It's been so many years that I'm sick of this. It'd be exhausting to have raised a pet for so long, let alone be with the same person. So... Let's end things here." She felt like a weight was lifted from her shoulders after finally saying those words. She was a little melancholic, but she was more relaxed and relieved than anything else. Timothy was silent for some time. She heard him tapping his fingers on the table-a sign that he was thinking. A moment later, he asked flatly, " What are you trying to pull this time? I don't think I've done you wrong over the years we've been together. "Whatever you wanted, you got. Look around and see how many people out there are wearing themselves thin just to put food on the table. Yet they earn less in a year than the money spent on one of your rings. I've spoiled you and catered to your every need, Madeline. What else are you not happy about?" Yeah, what was it that she wasn't happy about? ---- She lived in the lap of luxury, making her the target of envy for countless people. Yet Madeline just wasn't satisfied. She wasn't happy that the relationship she'd chased so hard for since childhood would turn out to be a hollow version of love and an illusion of bliss. If Timothy were to get upset with her one day, or if Lacey were to hook a finger at him and say a few words, she would only end up being kicked to the curb. Madeline had originally prepared a whole speech for Timothy, but the words became lodged in her throat when she heard his questions. Suddenly, she felt like she didn't need to say anything anymore. She chuckled softly and said, "I'm not trying to pull anything, nor am I dissatisfied. I just ... don't want to have feelings for you anymore." The veins on Timothy's arm bulged from his anger, and he snarled at her from the other end of the line. "You'd better not regret this. I won't take you back-not even if you grovel at my feet." ---- With that, he hung up. Madeline's mocking smile widened as she listened to the dial tone. Perhaps Timothy was confident that she would soon appear before him again like the loyal lapdog she once was. However, this time, she wouldn't give him the chance to stomp all over her heart again.