Late Blooms, Early Goodbyes

Madeline had been hospitalized for a week, yet Tristan never visited her once. He didn't even call her.

As Sophie peeled an apple, she grumbled, "Tristan doesn't even deserve to be called a husband. You were right to divorce him. Just promise me you're not going back to putting yourself last for him."

Madeline and Tristan had argued more times than she could count. She had even thought about leaving him before. But somehow, it ended with her apologizing every time.

Looking back, she felt pathetic and foolish.

"Not anymore," Madeline said. "After all these years, even a dog would've grown attached to me. Maybe, to Tristan, I'm not even worth that much."

Sophie's heart broke hearing her say that. "Don't overthink it. There are plenty of men out there. Tristan's not the only one in the world."

…

On the eighth day, Madeline was finally discharged. But the thought of returning to that house made her chest tighten.

The moment she opened the door, a rancid stench of rotting food hit her. On the floor, the bouquet of daisies still lay where it had been thrown, now shriveled.

Madeline knew right away that Tristan had taken Annabelle to see Regina. It was his usual tactic. Every time they fought, he'd torment her like this.

He understood just how deeply Madeline loved both him and Annabelle. Yet, he used that love against her, knowing it would only make the pain worse.

The image of Tristan's violent outburst that day flashed through her mind. He had looked like a stranger, no longer resembling the man she once knew. In fact, there was something in his eyes that chilled her to the bone.

Right then, her phone chimed, pulling her back to reality.

Madeline picked it up and saw that Regina had sent her a short video.

In the clip, Annabelle was stuffing her face with ice cream. With a look of satisfaction, she said, "Regina, can you be my mommy instead? That ugly freak never lets me have anything good.

"She makes me eat garbage every single day! I can't even look at it without gagging. You're so much better. You let me eat whatever I want."

She continued, "You know what? She even came to my parent-teacher conference looking totally pathetic. She was dressed in cheap clothes and had that hideous scar on her face.

"I was too embarrassed to tell my classmates she was my mom. So, I said she was our housekeeper. There's no way I'd ever admit to having a mom like that."

Regina wore a smug smile on camera, but still played innocent as she stated, "But I could never compare to your mom. She must be amazing. Otherwise, why would your dad marry her?"

Annabelle tilted her head, disdain written all over her face. "She's just an ugly freak. How could she ever compare to you? I'm sure Daddy only married her out of pity.

"She got that scar trying to save me, but honestly, it would've been better if that shelf had crushed her to death. At least then she wouldn't be clinging to us like that!"

Madeline drew in a sharp breath. Though she had given up on her daughter, hearing those words still left her cold.

As it turned out, all the love she had poured into Annabelle meant nothing. In her eyes, it had all been a joke.

Another message from Regina popped up. This time, it was just a text. She wrote, "Your husband and daughter both despise you. They're disgusted by you. What makes you think you can compete with me?"

Even so, Madeline turned off her phone without replying and took a deep breath.

She had already made up her mind. Since she was done with all of it, there was no use grieving over people who'd never been worth it.

…

The divorce wouldn't be official for another couple of weeks. So, Madeline and Sophie spent those days traveling through Calastra, visiting old cathedrals scattered across the countryside.

The entire journey felt like a quiet baptism—one that penetrated from body to soul. Everything she had once held onto now felt insignificant.

The trip changed everything. It brought a quiet sense of renewal that finally gave Madeline's restless heart some peace.

During that period, Tristan never once reached out.

Madeline knew he was giving her the silent treatment as a form of punishment. In the past, it would've broken her. She'd feel like the entire world had turned its back on her.

But now, nothing stirred in her chest. Tristan and Annabelle no longer had the power to hurt her. In fact, they no longer mattered.

…

When Madeline returned from the trip, she didn't go home right away. Instead, she stopped by a fondue restaurant.

There had been a time when eating alone would've made her feel lonely. Now, she relished it.

As she dipped her meat into the bubbling pot of cheese, her eyes landed on a table nearby. The moment she saw who was sitting there, her expression changed.