Chapter 4

Isaac's words stabbed Madeline's heart like knives. She swayed on her feet.

An outsider? Was that all he considered her after all these years?

It was laughable!

Rachel was delighted to hear this but feigned concern and said, "We can talk about the sleeping arrangements later. Queenie's injury is too serious. Can you accompany me to the hospital so we can get it tended to, Isaac?"

He immediately lifted Queenie into his arms and turned to leave. Rachel followed him.

Madeline stopped him and said plainly, "Let's call off the engagement, Isaac."

He didn't believe she was being serious and thought this was another one of her tricks. He didn't even turn back as he said, "I've had it up to here with your dumb tricks. Stay here and reflect on your mistakes!"

With that, he hurried off with Rachel and Queenie.

As soon as the door was shut, Madeline felt her strength leave her. She slowly crouched on the floor with the painting in her arms. It was almost as if she were holding her whole world.

Tears filled her eyes as bitterness washed over her. Her nose prickled, and she found it hard to breathe. Her vision seemed to go black.

She didn't know how long she stayed there crouched up like that; she only moved when her phone vibrated. A notification indicated that Rachel had requested to follow her on Instagram. She approved the request, but Rachel didn't follow up with anything else.

Just then, she received a text from a colleague. "I just shared an Instagram story for a giveaway, and I need people to like it. Could you help me, Dr. Snow? Please!"

Madeline scrolled through the available stories to look for the colleague's story when Rachel's stories caught her attention. They were mainly photos of Isaac sitting by Queenie's bedside and peeling an apple for her. Rachel had captioned, "Thank the heavens for bringing you to me."

The last story was a video that hadn't been muted. Rachel and Isaac's conversation was recorded.

Rachel asked worriedly, "Are you sure things will be okay with Dr. Snow, Isaac? She looked like she was packing her things earlier. What if she's so angry that she moves out?"

Isaac sounded like he couldn't care less. His tone even carried a hint of mockery. "She's just an orphan. Where can she go? At most, she'll go out of town to perform a surgery or two. I've seen her pull this trick one too many times."

Madeline locked her phone and shut her eyes as she laughed bitterly. She felt pathetic.

Her memories of Isaac standing before her and shielding her from harm now felt like knives stabbing into her. They reached her bones and hurt her to the core.

…

Madeline didn't return home for a week after that. She stayed at the hospital and worked longer hours than before. She was genuinely busy—she needed to clear the surgeries she'd already scheduled, and it didn't help that there had been a huge fire in the city.

There was an increase in the number of patients requiring surgery, and all the surgeons were so busy that they could barely catch their breath.

"Thanks for your hard work, Dr. Snow!" a colleague said.

Madeline took off her surgical mask and nodded in acknowledgment. She changed out of her scrubs and headed to her office. Before she could even drink water, Rachel came over with Queenie in tow.

"Please don't chase Queenie and me away, Dr. Snow!" she cried. She fell to her knees before Madeline's desk and pulled Queenie down with her.

She didn't have makeup on that day and looked a lot more haggard than usual. It was almost as if she were a fragile flower, and she looked pitiful as she cried.

The nurse who had accompanied Madeline to her office had yet to leave. She was stunned when she saw this but didn't dare linger. She hurried out of the room and shut the door.

Madeline didn't even move from her seat. She frowned and asked coldly, "What's with the act when Isaac isn't here?"

Rachel continued weeping. She sounded aggrieved as she said, "I know you hate me, Dr. Snow, but know that I have no intention of taking Isaac from you!

"Queenie and I don't know anyone in Summeria—we're only temporarily living with Isaac so we can have a roof over our heads. We'll move out in the future! How do you expect us to survive if you kick us out of Isaac's place now?"

Madeline retorted, "When did I ever—"

Before she could finish, her phone rang. It was a call from Marie.