On the third day, Madison checked herself out of the hospital against her doctors' protests. She had a finals competition to attend.

This was her gift to her unborn child, and the foundation on which she and her baby would build their future.

Backstage at the venue, she ran into Alexis Pruitt.

Alexis sauntered past her with a look of unbridled triumph.

"Madison, surprised to see me here? So what if you two were childhood sweethearts? So what if you sat by his bedside after the accident? In the end, you couldn't hold on to any of it. His body, his heart, the title of Mrs. Delgado. It's all mine now."

"And today, I'm going to destroy what's left of you."

The finals presentations followed a randomized order. Alexis happened to be slotted right before Madison.

She walked onto the main stage and unveiled her finished designs, and the blood in Madison's veins turned to ice.

The collection Alexis presented was her Starlight Memories series.

Alexis held the microphone and shamelessly narrated every design concept and creative inspiration that Madison had poured countless sleepless nights into developing.

In the audience, Joel sat front and center in the VIP section, his face radiating undisguised pride.

"Alexis has a real gift for design," he remarked.

The judges nodded in agreement, murmuring their approval.

Madison's mind went blank. She never imagined Joel would take designs she treasured like her own flesh and blood and hand them to another woman.

The host called her name several times before she snapped back to reality and walked onstage.

She drew a deep breath, presented her designs, and met the stunned gazes of the audience head-on. Her voice came out clear and unwavering.

"Esteemed judges, hello. My name is Madison Maddox. This Starlight Memories collection is my original work. The pieces Miss Pruitt just presented are a complete plagiarism of my designs."

The moment the words left her mouth, the venue erupted.

The judges exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes drifting toward Joel in the VIP section, waiting for him to weigh in.

Joel rose slowly to his feet. His gaze swept over Madison, cold as a blade, and his lips barely parted.

"Madison, what do you think you're doing?"

"Look at yourself. What kind of spectacle is this? You call yourself Mrs. Delgado? You're an embarrassment."

Madison swallowed the agony churning inside her.

"I'm making a spectacle? You took the work I poured my heart and soul into, night after night, and gifted it to your mistress. And I'm the one making a spectacle?"

Joel's expression remained glacial.

"Is your heart really that ugly? Just because we're married, no other woman is allowed to exist near me? When did you become this person?"

Madison laughed out loud. "Who changed here, Joel? You or me?"

"In your eyes, everything I am is worthless. But of course it is. You can't even remember your own promises."

"You said you'd love me until the end of your life." Her voice dropped. "Turns out your life was shorter than I thought."

She turned to Alexis, who stood there glowing with satisfaction, and the corner of Madison's mouth curved upward.

Then, in front of everyone, she walked to the fire safety station, grabbed the extinguisher, and brought it down on Alexis's counterfeit pieces. The display shattered into wreckage across the floor.

Alexis shrieked the moment she processed what had happened. Her fans surged forward, lunging at Madison, screaming at her to drop dead.

The venue descended into chaos. Madison was hopelessly outnumbered and shoved to the ground.

Joel's first instinct was to pull Alexis into his arms and rush her out of the building.

Madison curled into herself on the floor, both hands locked over her lower abdomen, objects raining down on her body. She trembled with pain but refused to let go.

It wasn't until security regained control that she was finally pulled free.

Her hair was tangled and wild, her appearance wrecked, and a thin line of blood seeped from a gash at her temple.

Reporters lifted their cameras in unison, capturing every frame of her humiliation.

Mockery and vicious remarks swirled around her. She seemed to hear none of it. She simply kept walking, steady and resolute, toward the exit.

She had barely stepped outside when a message from Phyllis came through.

"Tomorrow is Grandpa's birthday. I'm hoping you'll come one last time. I'd also like to hand you the divorce papers in person."

Madison stared at the screen for a long time before typing back a single word: "Okay."

The next morning, she arrived at the Delgado estate early, planning to offer her well-wishes and leave.

She never expected Joel to walk in with Alexis on his arm.

The courtyard erupted. Guests turned to one another, whispering in disbelief.

Phyllis's face drained of color.

"Who told you to bring her here? Security—get this woman out of my house!"

"I dare anyone to try."

Joel stepped forward, shielding Alexis behind him. His gaze swept the crowd, every word razor-sharp.

"Alexis is carrying my child. A Delgado heir. I brought her here today so everyone can acknowledge that."

The teacup slipped from Madison's fingers. It shattered against the floor, hot tea splashing across her legs. She didn't feel it.

Joel's expression was hard as stone as he pulled a folded document from his jacket pocket.

"Madison is infertile. The child Alexis is carrying is the Delgado family's only heir."

Phyllis stumbled back a step. She snatched the report with trembling hands, her face white with shock. The relatives erupted into chaos, voices overlapping, gasps rippling through the room.

Madison steadied herself. She stepped forward, her gaze locked on Joel like a blade.

"Where did you get this report?"

Joel's voice shook.

"If Alexis hadn't found out, were you going to hide this from the Delgado family forever? Let the bloodline die out?"

Madison let out a bitter laugh. No words came.

Alexis turned to her, eyes glistening with tears.

"I know my background isn't good enough. I know I'm not worthy of Joel. But this baby is innocent. All I want is to keep it..."

"This family does not recognize that child, and it certainly does not recognize you!"

Phyllis's voice cut through the room like a whip. She moved to Madison's side and stood there like a wall.

"Anyone who tries to set foot in this house with that woman will answer to me first!"

Joel raised his voice.

"Mom. Alexis is carrying a boy."

The room went still.

"I will make sure Alexis delivers this child safely. He is my only heir. As for you, Madison—you'll always be Mrs. Delgado. Once the baby is born, he'll be handed over to you to raise. That should be enough."

Let Alexis bear the child to continue the bloodline. Keep Madison as the legitimate Mrs. Delgado to preserve the family's reputation.

Madison laughed. A cold, hollow sound.

Enough?

"What a perfect little arrangement, Mr. Delgado. You really do want it all."

Across the room, Elijah Delgado heard every word. His whole body trembled. He clutched his chest and sank into his chair.

Madison looked at the grotesque farce unfolding before her. She drew a long breath, forcing the storm inside her down, and turned to face Otis Delgado, Phyllis, and Elijah. She bowed deeply.

"The Delgado family's affairs are no longer my concern."

She turned and walked away.

"Wait! Please, wait!"

Alexis rushed after her, catching her by the arm. Tears streamed down her face, the picture of fragile, rain-soaked beauty.

"Please, I'm begging you. Let me have this baby. I'm begging you..."

"Let go of me."

Madison wrenched her arm, trying to break free.

Alexis only gripped tighter. She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper meant for Madison's ears alone.

"Madison Maddox. I never thought he'd still insist on keeping you as Mrs. Delgado."

The words landed. In the same instant, the grip on Madison's arm vanished.

Alexis's body pitched backward. She hit the stone steps with a sickening thud, and a piercing scream tore through the air.

"Ahhh—!"

"Alexis!"

Joel burst through the door to find Alexis crumpled on the steps, both hands clutching her stomach, her face chalk-white.

"Joel... she pushed me. My stomach... it hurts so much... the baby... my baby..."

A shocking bloom of crimson seeped across the hem of Alexis's dress.

Joel's eyes were bloodshot. He lunged forward and locked his hand around Madison's throat, his voice a raw, ragged snarl.

"You vicious bitch! You can't have children of your own, so you had to kill hers? How can you be this heartless!"

The suffocating pressure crushed inward. Madison clawed at his fingers, desperate to say she hadn't pushed anyone, but his grip sealed her windpipe shut. Not a single word escaped.

Then he released her—not gently, but with a violent shove that sent her flying.

She hit the ground hard. Instinct curled her body inward, arms wrapping around her stomach before she even registered the pain.

Joel was already gone. He scooped Alexis into his arms and ran for the door, his voice cracking with panic.

"Don't be scared. I'm taking you to the hospital. The baby's going to be fine…"

Phyllis rushed out after them. The moment she saw Madison crumpled on the floor, white as paper, tears spilled down her face.

"Madison, I'm so sorry…"

Madison braced one hand against the wall and dragged herself upright. She managed a thin, brittle smile.

"I'm sorry I ruined Grandpa's birthday."

Phyllis's eyes were red and swollen. Her hands shook as she reached into her purse and pressed the divorce certificate into Madison's palm.

"From this day forward, you are not Mrs. Delgado. You are my daughter. You always will be."

Madison's nose burned. She nodded once, turned, and walked away.

She hadn't made it far before several bodyguards in black closed in around her and shoved her into a waiting car.

The car tore through the streets and screeched to a halt at the hospital.

Inside the private room, Alexis lay propped against the pillows, tear tracks glistening on her cheeks. The moment Madison was dragged through the door, her sobbing intensified.

Joel rose from the bedside and walked toward Madison. He towered over her, looking down with glacial contempt.

"The baby is gone. Get on your knees and apologize."

A bodyguard seized her shoulders and forced her down. Her kneecaps struck the tile floor so hard it felt like every bone in her legs shattered at once. The pain ripped through her, and her whole body trembled.

But her gaze didn't waver.

"I didn't do it. Why should I?"

Fury twisted Joel's face. He had told her—no one would replace her. The child would have been given to her to raise, and Alexis would have been sent away afterward.

So why did she have to kill his child?

He pulled out his phone and dialed.

"That ten-figure contract Maddox Group is counting on—pull it. Have Legal terminate the partnership immediately."

He hung up and fixed his stare on Madison, every syllable laced with threat.

"You won't apologize? Fine. Then I'll bankrupt your family by morning. Your father barely survived last time. This time—"

Madison's heart plummeted.

She knew Joel meant every word. He had the power to reduce the Maddox empire to rubble in a single phone call.

Her father was older now. His health couldn't withstand another blow. She would not let her family be destroyed because of her.

The cramping in her lower abdomen was getting worse—sharp, twisting knots of pain. She bit down on her lip until the taste of iron flooded her mouth. Only then did she slowly bow her head.

"I'm sorry."

Behind the curtain of tears, the corner of Alexis's mouth curled into a triumphant smirk.

"Get out."

Joel spat the two words without an ounce of warmth left in his eyes.

Madison stood. Her knees screamed with every step, each one unsteady, lurching. She didn't look back.

Behind her, Joel's voice turned impossibly soft as he soothed Alexis.

"Don't be afraid. I'll stay right here with you."

The hospital doors opened to a wall of cold night air. Madison lifted her hand and pressed it gently against her lower belly. Her fingertips were cool against the fabric. She lowered her head and whispered.

"It's okay, baby. Mommy's taking you away from here. We're never coming back."

She didn't go home. There was nothing left in that house she wanted.

She drove straight to the airport and bought a one-way ticket on the next international flight out.

Then she opened her phone and sent a single file to a reporter.

Release this in three days. Front page.

The plane lifted off the runway. Madison watched the churning sea of clouds roll past her window, and her eyes held nothing but certainty.

Joel Delgado. This is goodbye.

I loved you for so many years. Consider this my parting gift.

After that—a new beginning.