Chapter 48 It's Time to Give Up

Madison's heart felt as if a sharp knife had carved it. She didn't want to tell this man that she might not be able to get pregnant again. That was akin to forcing him to take responsibility.

Yet, Grayson's words cut her deeply. They made it difficult for her even to breathe.

She took a deep breath and smiled at Grayson. "Sure, I will."

Grayson's frown deepened. He had been the one to utter those words, but the moment she agreed, it filled him with an immense sense of discomfort. It seemed like she actually considered having a child with someone else.

His gaze, intense and profound, was fixed on Madison.

"Don't get too cozy with that thought, Madison. These days, a guy might have a kid with you and not necessarily be in love. You'll need to keep your eyes peeled when you're looking for a man."

Madison chuckled. "At least he wanted me to have his child."

Grayson's face darkened instantly. After what felt like an eternity, he suddenly spoke with a lack of enthusiasm. "Get some rest."

Madison closed her eyes. "Can you leave, please?"

Grayson let out a soft laugh. "What, do I affect your rest by being here?"

"Yes," Madison met his gaze, "You're disturbing my rest, Grayson. Please, can you step out?"

Grayson's eyes narrowed slightly. He definitely needed to get used to this version of Madison. She seemed to exude indifference from every pore. He had no doubts now. If it weren't for the legal agreement binding them, this woman would surely avoid him at all costs.

He grasped Madison's chin. "Be a good girl, Madison."

Madison let out a laugh. "Haven't I been good enough?"

Grayson arched an eyebrow.

Madison had been pretty good. Over the past three years, she had hardly ever talked back. Now, when she asked this question, it was as if she was covered in thorns.

"You could be better."

Madison looked at Grayson. "Do you like good girls, Grayson?"

Grayson's brow quirked up slightly. He didn't really have a thing for the obedient ones. He tended to prefer those with more outspoken personalities.

But with Madison alone, he wanted her to be good. He wanted her to stay put by his side.

Grayson's phone rang once again. The familiar ringtone shattered the room's silence.

Glancing at the caller ID, he ignored the call and patted Madison's cheek gently. "I like it when you behave."

Rising from his seat, he said, "Rest well. I have to step out for a bit."

With that, he turned and left the room.

The nanny approached Madison's bedroom. "Madison, you doing okay?"

Madison paused for a moment before responding. "I'm fine."

After her reply, she lay down.

The nanny, perceiving the brevity of the interaction, chose not to say more. But even from that short exchange, she could sense something. The relationship between these two was certainly not that of an ordinary couple.

Couples usually didn't go around calling each other by their names. However, she was just the nanny, and it wasn't her place to say much.

She only said to Madison, "Get some rest now," before slipping out of the room.

Quiet settled in the space left behind.

Madison lay on the bed, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. She had never imagined that things with Grayson would come to this point. She felt her enthusiasm waning.

With Grayson, it was as if her heart was cooling bit by bit. Her love for Grayson seemed to diminish with each passing moment. When it finally dwindled to zero, she may be able to treat Grayson the way he treated her.

As Madison was about to drift off to sleep, her phone rang. It was Amelia. "How are you feeling?"

Madison stared at the ceiling. "I'm okay, just a bit weak."

"You'd have to be after all the blood you lost last night."

Madison didn't know exactly how much blood that was, but she remembered it had started in the car.

"Is Grayson taking good care of you?"

Madison murmured an acknowledgment, "He's taking care of everything. He even got me a nanny."

Amelia sounded surprised. "Well, that doesn't sound like a man without a conscience."

Madison chuckled softly. If their relationship was purely transactional, Grayson was certainly demonstrating maximum goodwill. He didn't blame her for keeping secrets. On the contrary, he had someone look after her.

"Just rest up at home. I'll come by when I get a chance."

"Okay."

After a bit more small talk, Amelia added before hanging up, "Oh, by the way, let's go to our high school reunion together?"

Madison vaguely remembered that there had been talk about a reunion in the group chat weeks ago. She had been too upset over Nora's situation to pay it any mind, not realizing that it was actually set in stone.

"Sure."

After hanging up, Madison fell asleep. When she woke up again, it was the nanny urging her to eat something.

Madison opened her eyes and took a moment to orient herself. She asked without much hope, "Is Grayson back?"

The nanny shook her head, a response Madison had expected.

If Grayson could avoid taking Nora's call in front of her at a time like this, it was the most dignity he could afford her. Besides, Nora was injured. He couldn't completely ignore it. After all, she was his first love, a pristine memory in his heart.

Today, he had maxed out his ability to support them by not staying to help Nora with her dressing change at the hospital.

Taking a deep breath, Madison said, "Okay, I'll head out in a bit."

"Good."

Struggling to rise from the bed, she felt a sour ache in her midsection, and her legs were a bit weak. Yet, she didn't let the nanny help her, insisting on making her way to the living room on her own.

As she sat down, the nanny had already dished up her meal. It was still corn chowder but now accompanied by several side dishes.

"Madison, I need clarification on your preferences, and Mr. Grayhson didn't specify what you like, so I prepared a variety. Feel free to tell me your tastes so I can keep them in mind when I cook in the future."

Spoon in hand, Madison ate absentmindedly. Hearing the nanny mention preferences, she subconsciously listed a few. But midway through, she suddenly paused.

"Madison?" the nanny called out.

Snapping back to reality, Madison suddenly lost her appetite. She had grown up wandering with her mother, staying the longest in Southland.

However, Grayson had tastes typical of the North. When the nanny had asked, she had instinctively mentioned Grayson's preferences. Yet, in a daze, she somewhat struggled to recall her favorites.

There was a heaviness in Madison's heart.

She smiled at the nanny. "I like sweet things."

The nanny looked surprised, glancing at the list that didn't include any sweet dishes.

"All right, I'll make a sweet soup for you tomorrow."

Madison nodded her head. She picked up her bowl and continued eating. When she finished, she told herself to stop loving Grayson.

An unrequited love that had lasted so many years ought to be enough. She had met him at seven and harbored feelings for a decade. At seventeen, when she saw him again, he didn't remember her. Now, at twenty-seven, she was still silently in love with him.

Madison thought it was truly time to let go.