Chapter 1
I loved Caleb for six years, thinking he'd one day propose, but after making a career, he brought his beloved girl home.
Heartbroken as I was, I still harbored the smallest hope that he would regret the breakup and eventually realize I had always been the best choice for him.
After all, I had loved him so deeply that I lost myself—my pride, my dignity, everything.
However, when I got to the private room, I heard people laughing at me.
"Can you believe Madelyn stuck with him for six years and didn't even get to be his fiancée?"
"And speaking of fiancée... remember when Norah announced she was going abroad? Caleb was heartbroken and treated Madelyn like a toy to cheer himself up, while she drunkenly went around claiming she was his fiancée. Isn't that ridiculous?"
As everyone laughed, someone asked, "Caleb, are you really going to marry Madelyn?"
Caleb just shrugged, cool as ever. "Of course not. She doesn't deserve it."
That was it. My last shred of hope vanished, and I called my dad.
I said, "Sorry, Dad. I want to go home.
"And it's time to pull our investment from the Guzman family."
*****
I was barely asleep when a bunch of noise woke me up.
I forced my eyes open and saw Caleb Guzman carrying Norah West, who looked totally wiped out, back home.
It was freezing outside, and Caleb had sweetly put his own coat over Norah's shoulders.
He said, "Madelyn, grab a blanket for me. Norah is worn out.
"And don't pick anything too heavy. It will make her uncomfortable."
He carefully settled Norah onto the couch, then turned and barked at me, like he'd completely forgotten I'd just had surgery and was still barely able to stand.
After a while, Caleb finally saw I was still lying in bed, and his temper flared.
He said, "Didn't you hear what I said? Always living an easy life, huh? Now you can't even do something this simple."
He ripped the blanket off me, trying to haul me out of bed.
I just stared at him, too weak and heartbroken to even sit up.
Did he seriously forget I just had surgery?
I guessed I really was spoiled. I was my dad and my brother's precious girl at home; they never let me do anything.
After I met Caleb, I stuck by him, always supporting him quietly, never once complaining.
My dad never approved of our relationship from the very beginning.
For his career, I went behind his back and pleaded with my dad to invest in him, but he just assumed the investors were drawn in by his talent alone.
"Caleb, I just had surgery," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Even though I had already made up my mind to leave, I still wanted to hear that he still loved me.
Caleb said, sounding totally unconcerned, "Yeah, I know. It was just a little surgery, wasn't it?
"You're fine. Stop acting so fragile. Can't you at least play hostess when we have a guest?"
Caleb said all this like he couldn't care less.
His words froze my heart.
Six months ago, before Norah showed up again, he wasn't like this at all.
Back then, even if I just felt a little under the weather, he would be so worried, always hovering around and asking if I was okay.
However, now, half a year later, when I needed him most, he just didn't care anymore.
It was painfully clear. He didn't love me anymore.
"Caleb, is this your house? Won't she get pissed?" Norah mumbled.
Before I could even process what was happening, Norah, half-sprawled on the couch, looked at me.
"Why did you bring her home?" I snapped, unable to hold back my anger any longer. I pointed at Norah, demanding an answer from Caleb.
I'd just caught Norah giving me a sharp look before she said that; she was obviously pretending to be sick.
"Don't yell at her. That's not how you treat a guest," Caleb chided, his tone cold. "She's not feeling well. She can't help what she says. Is it really worth getting so upset?"
Caleb didn't show a hint of remorse. Instead, he just started lecturing me.
And then, I saw it for myself. Caleb, the man who wouldn't go near a stove, actually cooked up some food just for Norah, gently spooning it into her mouth like she was some fragile princess.