Chapter 3
Caleb paused in silence for a moment, his gaze lingering on Norah before he finally gave her a nod.
He said, "Madelyn, did you forget? I'm the owner of this place.
"Since you're dead set on breaking up, then you're the one who should pack up and leave."
He said everything he'd been holding back.
I was left speechless for a long moment after hearing that.
I regretted being with him.
Back then, I was so sure that we'd spend the rest of our lives together.
Therefore, I pestered my dad until he bought this house for me, and I even went behind his back to secretly put Caleb's name on the deed. I never thought that one reckless move would backfire six years later.
"Fine," I muttered, feeling suffocated, with nowhere to vent my frustration.
"Madelyn, just apologize to Caleb, and maybe I'll let you crash here for a few more days," Norah said, acting all high and mighty.
She was already playing the part of the queen bee around here.
I didn't even bother responding to them. I just walked straight back to my room and started packing.
As pathetic as I was, I refused to give Caleb, the guy who kept letting me down, even a single glance.
However, just as I finished packing up my bedroom and walked into the living room, I walked in on something that made my blood boil.
"Why are you throwing out my stuff?" I snapped.
My stuff from the study was all dumped outside, scattered everywhere.
"Since you won't apologize, and I'm the hostess here, I have every right to toss your things out, don't I?" Norah said smugly, her eyes full of mockery.
"Caleb, do you even realize how important that diary is to me?" I turned to Caleb.
I hurried over and picked the diary up.
I gently brushed the dust off, worried it would get stained.
When Caleb heard me, however, he just looked away in silence.
He knew that the diary held all the little moments between me and my late mom.
He knew how much it meant to me.
However, he didn't do a thing to stop it; he just let Norah toss my things out without lifting a finger.
Caleb kept quiet, and Norah's mocking tone rang out again. "Why are you still here? Are you trying to play the victim and leech off Caleb?"
"Caleb, don't forget what you did today. You'll regret it, I swear," I shouted.
Caleb stared at me, trying to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.
"Get lost," Norah said.
Before I could even finish picking up the stuff she'd thrown out, she hurled my suitcase out right after.
The huge suitcase slammed into me, making me stumble.
"Don't show your face around Caleb. He won't see you again." Norah sneered.
With that, she slammed the door shut, leaving me outside, humiliated, picking up my scattered things all by myself.
*****
"Hey, what happened to you?" Elias asked with concern. "What did that jerk do to you?"
While I was still covered in dust and trying to gather my stuff, my brother, Elias Hayes, pulled up in his car.
After I called Dad yesterday, he hit the road immediately to get here.
Elias snarled, his anger barely contained, "He'll pay for mistreating you. I won't spare him even if he comes to beg for mercy."
When Elias saw the state I was in, he stormed up and kicked Caleb's front door hard, rage written all over his face.
"Elias, stop," I said, trying to calm him down.
Not wanting him to get into trouble, I quickly grabbed his arm.
Elias was about to strike again, but when he felt how feverish my hands were, he froze.
"How could they be so ruthless?" Elias muttered, his voice shaking with anger. He stroked my forehead, and he looked genuinely freaked out.
I was still burning up.
"Madelyn, let's get you to the hospital," Elias said. "I'm not done with him."
Elias put his anger on hold for now and hurried me into the car.
The tension in my chest finally loosened with Elias by my side.