Chapter 51 Are You Feeling Sorry for Her?

Nicholas was caught off guard by Grayson's remark. He raised an eyebrow, intrigued as he looked between Grayson and Madison.

"Grayson, you're not feeling sorry for her, are you?" Nicholas asked.

Nora's eyes were already brimming with unshed tears as she looked at Grayson with a mix of hurt and expectation. Grayson seemed to exude an aura of cool detachment.

"You're reading too much into it, Nicholas. I was merely stating the facts," he said, clearly wanting to end this line of discussion. Then he turned to Nora. "How's your arm?"

Nora's tears fell immediately, and she glared at Grayson with annoyance while wiping her eyes. "Do you even care about me at all?"

Grayson was not in the best of moods. Madison's pallor was a suffocating sight for him. So, when Nora acted like this, he could only respond with a touch of irritation.

"Don't I care about you?"

Nora was taken aback, not expecting Grayson to speak to her with that tone.

Tears rolled down her face. "I just wanted a bit more of your attention, that's all. Nothing else."

She usually acted coy, and Grayson would dote on her. To her, such a plea was nothing more than a typical coy request. She couldn't understand why Grayson would suddenly get angry.

Grayson's face was stern, watching Nora's tears fall when his voice finally softened. "If you're hurt, you should rest at home instead of running around outside."

"I understand. I won't do it again." After saying that, she wiped her tears. "Can you come with me later to change my bandages? I was really scared just now. Will you come with me, please?"

Grayson glanced at the gauze wrapped around her arm and finally nodded. Nora's tears instantly turned to laughter.

Nicholas looked at Madison with a smirk playing on his lips. Madison met Nicholas's gaze and, a moment later, nonchalantly averted her eyes.

She thought she wouldn't feel the pain again. But witnessing this scene, a prickly ache bubbled up inside her. It wasn't intense, but it left her breathless.

She had been by Grayson's side for three solid years. He had merely spoken a word for her, which, to others, seemed like a forbidden act.

On the contrary was Nora. No matter how well Grayson treated her, it seemed to be taken for granted.

"Grayson, I'm tired and would like to rest. Can you ask these two to leave?" Madison requested.

Grayson raised an eyebrow, but before he could speak, Nicholas let out a chuckle. "Are you showing us the door?"

Madison locked eyes with him. "Exactly, Nicholas. Sharp as ever."

Nicholas's face soured instantly. He scoffed at Madison. "I wasn't aware that Whitney calls the shots around here."

After a pause, he turned to Grayson. "I have other matters to attend to, so shall we catch up another day?"

Grayson glanced at Madison. "If you're feeling unwell, go on and rest in the bedroom. Nicholas, let's head to the study."

With that, he strode toward the study. Nicholas gave Madison a fleeting look and followed.

The living room was left with Madison and Nora, the only two remaining.

Madison lacked any interest in being alone with Nora, pivoting on her heel toward the sanctuary of her bedroom. But after barely taking two steps, Nora's voice stopped her cold.

"Madison, did you have a miscarriage?"

Madison's body tensed, a sharp pang seizing her breath. Suppressing the pain that clawed at her heart, she responded, "I don't know what you are talking about."

Nora let out a soft chuckle. "Why pretend? I've dug up the dirt at the hospital. You had a miscarriage after being pushed down by that fan's father, didn't you?"

Whirling around to face her accuser, Madison snapped, "So, you know everything and still dare to play the penitent seeking my forgiveness?"

Nora's laugh was icy. "Yes, I did it on purpose. What are you going to do about it? You know what they call this? Karma! Everyone sees the truth now. You're the villain who not only homewrecked but also destroyed a child's future!

"And, do you really think Grayson would've let you keep the baby even without that fan involved?"

Nora's words hit Madison like a knife through the heart. She couldn't save the baby, and she couldn't deny that even if the baby had survived, Grayson wouldn't have stayed.

The pain was suffocating.

But Nora, relentless as ever, whispered venomously, "Madison, when will you understand? You were nothing but a bed-warmer. Did you really think a child would elevate your status?"

She sneered, "Guess what? If I were pregnant, how do you think Grayson would act?"

Madison didn't need to guess. She knew he would be nothing but protective and caring. Her fists clenched so tight her knuckles turned white, and she faced Nora head-on, forcing a smile and a breezy tone.

"Well, you better step up her game. You've been back for quite a while, and Grayson shows zero signs of rekindling things with you. Looks like you're far from pregnancy."

The words bit into Nora, her teeth grinding in anger, but it was equally a jab at Madison's raw wounds.

Despite being back for so long, Grayson showed no intention of reconnecting with Nora. Even after she manipulated an acknowledgment of their past relationship out of Grayson for the public, and all the online commotion.

Even when her fans started addressing the official Ivy Jewelry website, calling out to their idol's husband, Grayson remained unmoved.

"Madison, mark my words. Someday, Grayson's going to kick you to the curb!"

Madison gave a small laugh.

"I'll be waiting," she said, then fell silent.

Having had her fill of provoking her, Nora stood up and marched straight to the study.

Grayson's study was a place Madison usually entered with a knock, but Nora breezed right in as if she owned the place. Whether intentional or not, Nora left the study door slightly ajar.

From her spot, Madison could hear laughter emanating from inside. Grayson's voice was a deep, occasional murmur dripping with indulgence.

A stifling sensation grew inside Madison. She decided to walk to the balcony.

The housekeeper was there, watering the plants. Upon seeing Madison, she promptly closed the window.

"Madison, it's gotten a little chilly lately. Don't catch a cold. I'll fetch you a blanket."

With that, she brought Madison a blanket.

After a murmur of thanks, Madison wrapped herself in the blanket, staring blankly at the flowers lining the balcony. All the flowers on the balcony were Grayson's doing.

Statice Avenue, they were called, blooming in all colors. Those were her mother's favorite.

As a child, her mother always filled their yard with swathes of Statice Avenue. Whenever Grayson would call out for Lily, Madison would lift her head from the bellflower bushes and smile at him.

"Statice Avenue is really beautiful."

To this day, she remembered the way that boy's eyes shone when he said those words.

"Madison, what are these flowers called? They're so beautiful," asked the housekeeper.

Madison snapped back to reality; her eyes now tinged with bitterness. Grayson had always adored Statice Avenue but seemed to have completely forgotten her.

"Statice Avenue," she replied, then turned and walked away from the balcony.

The study door swung open, and three people emerged, chatting and laughing.

"Grayson, come on, we'll wait for you downstairs."

Grayson nodded and headed to his bedroom.

Madison's face turned slightly pale. "You heading out?"

He nodded again, changing into a fresh shirt.

"Call me if you need anything."

After a pause, Madison asked in a low voice, "Can you stay?"

After she spoke, Madison's gaze shifted to Grayson. Grayson paused, his brows lifting ever so slightly.

"What's up? Something wrong?" he asked.

Madison's lips were tightly drawn, and it took her a moment before she could respond. "It's nothing."

Grayson squinted slightly. "Feeling under the weather?"

Madison avoided his gaze. "No."

But Grayson approached, gently tilting her chin up to meet his eyes.

"What's really going on?"

Madison looked at him. "Didn't you say you were staying home to take care of me?"

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