---- Chapter 24. Gremlich was still ablaze with lights and drenched in indulgence even late at night. Half a month had passed since Madeline had left. Timothy had spent that time by Lacey's side, calming and pacifying her. It was only then that he had some room and time to breathe, so he met some friends for drinks. Then, without realizing it, he returned to the home he shared with Madeline. But as soon as he set foot inside, he was enveloped by a sense of silence and loneliness that had never been there before. "Madeline! Madeline, where are you?" He called her name several times as he leaned against the doorframe, his head spinning. However, silence was his only answer. Had she pulled the "run away from home" trick again? Timothy stumbled inside, his attention soon attracted by the emptiness. Everything and ---- anything related to Madeline was gone. His heart suddenly clenched tightly. "We're over, Timothy." Those were the words Madeline had said to him two weeks ago. They suddenly popped into his mind. He hadn't even taken her seriously at the time. But before he could dwell on it, intense pain shot through him, starting from his abdomen. His old illness was acting up again! Back in the early days of his career, he'd wrecked his stomach with too much alcohol from wining and dining with potential clients and business partners. From then on, drinking even one drop too much would trigger searing pain in him. Madeline had learned how to make herbal remedies because of his condition. In the past, whenever he returned from these dinner parties, he would smell the aroma of the remedies she prepared. She would bring him a bowl of it as soon as he returned. They'd lived together for three years, and his ---- condition had never once acted up during that time. Yet now, pain gripped him, contorting his handsome face. Yes, he had medication. Timothy was about to go get it when he realized he had no idea where it was kept. He kept a hand on the wall to steady himself, but he tripped over a step and fell to the floor. "Timothy, why did you go drinking again? Why torture yourself when you know you have a weak stomach? "Wake up, Timothy. I made you a herbal remedy. Come and have it. "What do you want to have this weekend, Timothy? I'll make it for you!" For some reason, he found himself missing Madeline's voice. He pulled out his phone to send her a WhatsApp message, but he only saw a single gray tick after sending the message. The sight pierced his eyes and heart, even helping to clear some of his drunkenness.