Chapter 34: You're Not Falling for Him, Are You?

Amelia froze in shock.

Back when Madison insisted on terminating her pregnancy, she had already mentioned that she wanted to end things with Grayson. Yet, somehow, the child survived. Whether it was for the sake of the child or not, the matter just fizzled out.

Since then, Madison had rarely brought up Grayson. Amelia was surprised that she brought the topic up again today.

"Did that jerk Grayson do something inhuman again?" Amelia asked, looking at her. "Is it because of Nora?"

Madison shook her head. "I've been thinking about it for a while."

She just hadn't been able to leave because of various reasons. Be it Ethan, her mother's medical expenses, or now the child inside her. These were all concerns holding her back.

She had, in fact, saved up for her mother's medical costs for a few months. But with a child on the way, she couldn't be sure that she could find work immediately after leaving Grayson.

Besides, after the birth of the child, the time and cost of raising them would be too high without enough savings. So, she stayed by Grayson's side.

She watched how he treated Nora, and remained consistently indifferent to her.

She thought she could persist for the child's sake. She thought she could persist long enough to calmly walk away. She thought she could persist, even if it meant watching Grayson and Nora in bed.

However, she was now discovering how hard it was.

She thought she was unshakable, but Grayson always seemed to have a way to throw her off balance and then tear her heart open.

"Are you really sure about this?" Amelia asked, her brow furrowed.

Even though she always spoke poorly of Grayson, she still harbored a slim hope. She hoped that Grayson would develop feelings for Madison.

After all, having both parents was best for the child. Most importantly, Madison was burdened with hefty medical bills.

It was over twenty thousand a month.

If she left Grayson, Amelia feared the medical bills would crush her, not to mention the added child.

So, when Madison didn't act on her plan to leave Grayson, Amelia dropped the subject. After all, it was Grayson who had fathered the child. It was unfair for her best friend to bear all the hardship while he faced no consequences.

That was why she reasoned that sticking with Grayson wasn't so bad. She would have money while she occupied a space in his life.

The only nuisance was an old flame that popped up now and then. But as long as Madison didn't take it to heart, it was no big issue.

At that moment, Amelia suddenly froze. She reached out and grabbed Madison's arm.

Madison turned to look at her, furrowing her brows.

"You're not falling for Grayson, are you?"

Madison's expression tensed up. She had never confessed her feelings for Grayson to anyone. Not even Amelia.

Amelia always assumed that what Madison shared with Grayson was nothing more than a transactional relationship between flesh and money.

Madison let out a laugh. "How can I? Falling for him will just be asking for trouble, right?"

Despite the jest, Amelia wasn't entirely convinced but still felt compelled to remind her friend. "Madison, the last thing you want in a financial arrangement is to get emotions involved."

Madison responded with a bitter smile, "I know."

...

Later that afternoon, Amelia had other matters to attend to and didn't stick around.

After parting ways with Amelia, Madison headed straight to the hospital. Her mother's condition hadn't changed.

After spending some time at her mother's side, Madison stepped out of the room.

A group of caregivers were chatting nearby.

"He's so handsome, and I've heard he's loaded."

"Exactly, part of the Mellon family, they say."

"Do you think they're dating?"

"Who knows? But they sure look like a perfect match."

Madison's stride halted abruptly at the mention of the Mellon family. Her attention was captured, and she edged closer.

"What are you all talking about?" she asked one of the caregivers.

The caregiver quickly passed her phone to Madison.

"Here, see for yourself," she said, "We're all just gossiping."

Madison glanced at the phone screen. It displayed a photo of Grayson with Nora, attending an art festival in City B.

Just like the caregivers said, they looked incredibly well-suited to each other.

So, this explained Grayson's absence over the past few days. He had been accompanying Nora to the festival.

Madison couldn't help but feel like she was masochistic. She didn't even have to ask.

She returned the phone with a smile and left the hospital without a second glance.

Grayson was never scarce when it came to women, and he certainly had his share of dalliances with various celebrities. However, he had always kept himself clear from any scandals with the stars. He was not one to engage in such public spectacles, let alone appear before the cameras.

This was a first.

Madison chuckled bitterly to herself. What they said about first loves being exceptional seemed true. Their blatant coupledom caught Madison off guard, causing Nicholas's words to echo in her mind once more.

She felt like a thief, someone who had slyly taken another's place, low and shameless.

...

Madison rode the bus home. When she got off, she noticed Ethan from a distance.

Clutching a bottle of booze, he swayed while seated by their apartment complex's entrance. To each passerby, he slurred, "Do you know Madison?"

Madison's pace halted sharply, and she swiftly took cover behind a nearby tree. Hidden there, her mind buzzed with noise.

'Why is Ethan looking for me again? Has he blown through another million already?'

Leaning against the tree, she let out a soft sigh, took out her phone, and called the property management.

The response from them was that they had already tried several times to remove Ethan, but he refused to leave. All he did was ask if anyone knew Madison at the entrance. It wasn't enough to warrant a police call.

While Madison hesitated, debating whether to confront the situation, her phone suddenly rang. It was a call from her executive.

Taking in a deep breath, she answered.

"Madison, Grayson wants you to pack your bags. A driver will pick you up shortly. You're needed on a business trip to City B."

Madison furrowed her brow.

"May I ask why I'm being sent to City B?"

The executive's voice remained calm. "Grayson did not specify. He just requested your presence there."

Madison didn't want to go. Grayson was supposed to be with Nora, attending an arts festival in City B. She didn't need to be there to witness their paired attendance. She hardly found the prospect appealing.

"Can I not go?"

The executive replied, "Grayson mentioned that you need to have a valid reason if you wish to opt out."

Madison was silent. She couldn't conjure a reasonable excuse. Grayson was her boss. Refuting a business trip request without a legitimate reason wasn't exactly an option.

"I'm not feeling well."

The executive paused for two seconds. "That's likely insufficient. Grayson mentioned that your health should not interfere with business travel. Furthermore, you missed the medical check-up he scheduled for you, so he assumes it's not a serious issue."

Madison fell silent for a moment. Grayson had indeed made an appointment for her with his doctor to check her stomach, but she had skipped it. She thought Grayson didn't care, yet here he was, holding her accountable.

"Okay, then. I don't need to pack. Just send the car to pick me up," she conceded.

Madison frowned all the way to the plane. She had no clue why Grayson wanted to see her, nor could she fathom what Ethan's visit was all about.

Seated on the plane, Madison's mind was a tangled mess.

By the time the plane touched down in City B, it was already eight at night. Stepping out, Madison was swiftly escorted to a vehicle. It was ten when she arrived at the hotel where Grayson was staying.

Grayson sat on the couch, his shirt unbuttoned at the top. His long legs stretched out lazily as he flipped through a document with deliberate slowness. At the sound of her entrance, he looked up and met Madison's gaze.

"Grayson," Madison called as she entered.

"Mhm," Grayson hummed, his attention returning to the papers. "Go freshen up."

Madison didn't move. Grayson frowned.

"I didn't bring clothes."

Grayson chuckled. "Are you so eager to come that you forgot to pack?"

Madison nodded sheepishly. "Yes. After all, it's been two days since I last saw you."

Grayson gave an ambiguous smile. "Go, I'll have someone send up some clothes."

"Okay."

After her shower, Madison saw several outfits laid out on the bed. She hung them in the closet and glanced at the coffee table beside Grayson. She went over and brewed him a cup of coffee.

"Grayson, did you need me for something?"

As she offered the coffee, Grayson didn't take it but grasped her wrist instead.

"Did you see Nicholas today?"