Chapter 0148
“Hello?” Madison’s tone was noticeably cooler this time.
Prank calls? In this day and age?
From the other end of the line, a hoarse male voice finally spoke, ” Madison.”
The voice sent a shock through her.
Lucas?
It was raspy, but unmistakably his.
Madison instantly became icier, “What do you want?”
She didn’t even bother to ask ‘is there something wrong?’
Was it any of her concern anymore?
Even if there were something, he shouldn’t be turning to her.
“I’ve split up with Sophia, I regret it. I see my mistakes now. I know I wronged you, and I realize the depth of my errors. You’ve had your revenge, so let’s turn the page. Can you forgive me just once and come back so we can start over?”
Lucas’s voice was ragged, perhaps from a cold or recent troubles, his words laced with desperation, as if he were repenting with every fiber
of his being.
Madison had never seen this side of Lucas, and for a moment, she was speechless.
Lucas mistook her silence for a sign of hope.
He hurried on, “Madison, really, I know I was wrong. I didn’t appreciate you until I saw what Sophia was like. I hurt you. And I know you’re not
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mercenary; you’re with Ethan only because you’re mad at me, right? Don’t worry, I don’t mind what you’ve done. Can we start fresh?”
“Where are you? I’ll come to you, okay?”
Finally snapping back to reality, Madison was almost amused by Lucas’s pathetic and presumptuous plea.
Her laughter rang out, and Lucas, naively, laughed along, “I knew you still loved me. We were together for two years; you couldn’t have forgotten me that quickly!”
“Lucas,” Madison uttered his name sharply.
On the line, Lucas fell silent.
Across the table, Ethan’s once gentle eyes sharpened like blades.
“Is it Sophia who gave you the confidence to think you can choose. anyone at will?”
Madison’s eyes were full of contempt as she hit back, “The biggest regret in my twenty-something years has been associating with you. And the best decision I’ve made was choosing Ethan. Don’t flatter yourself thinking I still love you. Two years mean nothing. I’ve
forgotten you already, and not only that, but I’m also about to marry
him.”
“Lucas, you better stay away from me,” Madison spat, her hatred undisguised.
She hung up angrily and immediately blocked the number.
Looking up, she found Ethan’s penetrating gaze on her, and she hurried to explain, “I… I never reached out to him. That was an
unknown number. And…”
“What did you just say?”
Ethan moved closer, his eyes reflecting only her, his voice tinged with
urgency, “Did you just say you’re about to marry me?”
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That was meant to infuriate Lucas, nothing more.
Yet faced with Ethan’s expectant and anxious expression, Madison couldn’t bear to deny it anymore.
She avoided his intense stare, murmuring, “I’m not against marrying you, but…”
“Really?”
Ethan dropped to one knee before her, gripping her hands tightly, his eyes brimming with joy, “You really want to marry me? I didn’t hear wrong? Is next month good for you?”
Madison looked down at the man kneeling before her, “Please stand up; everyone is watching.”
But Ethan never cared for bystanders when he was so eager for ar answer, “When do you want it? Just name the day.”
“It’s not that…”
Madison was overwhelmed by his fervor, “We’re young, why rush into marriage? I’m not leaving you. Plus, we haven’t been together long enough for you to truly know me. Don’t be so impulsive.”
“You were impulsive once; now you’re telling me not to be?”
“Because I was impulsive, I’m advising you.”
Leaning in, they touched foreheads, her voice sweet and soft, “Ethan, I want your life to be full of joy. So I prefer to work hard now, hoping when we walk down the aisle, no one will question your choice.
because of me.”
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“Being with you puts a lot of pressure on me. Can you understand that?”
Ethan’s initial impetuosity quelled by her words.
He fixed his gaze on her, feeling the complex emotions in her eyes,
his heart clenched.
“Is it because I haven’t given enough, that you think so much?”
“Ah?”
Ethan spoke earnestly, “Can’t you just be a woman who enjoys the fruits of success, who leans on a man, even just a little?”
“I’ve never heard such a dream-like request before,” Madison was stunned.
“Just spend my money, live in my house. I’ll handle your job,
everything. Don’t worry about anything; leave it all to me. Can you just agree to marry me?”
Madison’s pride was strong, subtly so, but Ethan felt it keenly.
Yet in his eyes, she was already exceptional. Any more exceptional and he feared she might leave him behind.
When Ethan put it that way, she was at a loss, “Ethan, what are you. saying? Why would I leave you? You’re amazing.”
“There are rich guys everywhere. But an outstanding female pilot like you is rare. Don’t you know the value of scarcity?”
Madison facepalmed, “Babe, let’s not flatter each other for business’ sake.”
Ethan, his legs going numb from kneeling, stood abruptly, “What did you call me?”
Madison was taken aback, regretting letting the nickname she used
with Jessica slip out.
“Nothing, nothing.”
“Can you promise me?” Ethan persisted.
“What?”
“To rely on me from now on.”
“Not at work.”
That was Madison’s firm line.
Ethan gritted his teeth, “Fine!”
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The result?
The next day, Madison was filled with regret, perhaps greater than Lucas’s.
As they stepped out of the hotel in the morning, Ethan handed her a card, stating clearly, “There isn’t much on this, you have to spend it all today. If you don’t, when we get back to Slandon Harbor, I’m taking you to get a marriage license…
It wasn’t until midday, shopping till she was weary, that Madison realized.
Her and Ethan’s idea of ‘not much money’ were worlds apart!
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