Madeline wasn't a saint. What was hers could never be left for another woman to take.

Elias didn't notice anything unusual about her behavior because his attention was entirely on his phone and he was busy chatting with someone on the other end.

Taking advantage of the moment when Elias was retrieving their luggage, Whitney deliberately approached Madeline. "Mrs. Fisher, I have to say, your patience is impressive. Your husband shares passionate nights with me, yet you can still calmly watch it all happen."

Madeline didn't really want to pay attention to Whitney, but this chick kept provoking her. She glanced sideways at Whitney.

"Miss Young, I admit you have some impressive tactics. The moment you laid all this out in front of me, I knew you had no chance of ever taking my place. Because you can't make Elias divorce me for you, that's why you resorted to this."

Madeline was right. She could have easily clung to her position as Mrs. Fisher. As long as she stayed, Whitney would remain the mistress.

However, this suffocating marriage was unbearable for her. Knowing everything that had been going on, Madeline made up her mind—no matter how much it hurt, she had to end it.

"You … Mrs. Fisher, let's see how long you can stay this composed. Hmph!"

Seeing Whitney talking to Madeline, Elias nervously hurried over. "Madie, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?"

Madeline casually waved him off. "Miss Young's perfume is just too strong—it's making me a bit dizzy." She even raised her hand to rub her temples, feigning discomfort.

Elias immediately panicked and turned to Whitney. "Miss Young, my wife dislikes your perfume. Please switch to a seat farther inside and don't sit near her."

Whitney hadn't expected Elias to treat her this way because of Madeline. Though anger bubbled inside her, she didn't dare defy him after catching the sharp look in his eyes. "Understood, Mr. Fisher."

As soon as Madeline boarded the plane, she said she hadn't slept well the night before and needed to rest. It was precisely the opportunity Elias had been hoping for, so he naturally went along with it. "Alright, Madie. Have a good rest. I'll be right here with you until you wake up."

Listening to her steady breathing, Elias called her name a few times softly, "Madie … Madie?" Once he was sure Madeline was fast asleep, he rose and went to the plane's restroom.

Even though Elias had booked out the entire first-class cabin, Mr. Hall still needed to attend to some business and was on a later flight.

The moment Elias entered the restroom, Whitney swayed her slender hips and followed him in. As soon as they were inside, they were kissing passionately. Whitney intentionally left the restroom door slightly ajar, just enough for Madeline to see everything.

"You're so bad! You scolded me earlier, hmph!"

The coquettish tone struck a chord with Elias and he immediately pulled her into an embrace. "Aren't I making it up to you now?" he replied.

Hearing their heavy breathing, a sharp pain unexpectedly pierced Madeline's chest. She thought she was over it, but the pain was so intense that beads of sweat broke out on her forehead.

She didn't back down this time. Fighting back the nausea, she turned on the voice recorder on her phone, capturing their conversation—along with certain other sounds.

"I'm still upset," Whitney sobbed pitifully.

Her tearful voice pierced Elias' heart and he spoke in a tender tone that felt like needles stabbing into Madeline's.

"Don't cry, sweetheart. It breaks my heart to see you like this. I was wrong, okay? It's my fault."

Then came two voices, overlapping. Madeline was glad they were on a plane. Otherwise, she might have fainted from the awkwardness.

Seeing that it was about time, Madeline put away her phone and left the place. She returned to her seat and pretended to be asleep.

One thing about Elias was that he was a businessman who valued every second. His time management was impeccable. As he returned to his seat, she opened her bleary eyes.

"Madie, we're almost there. Freshen up; we'll be landing soon."

"Got it."

The moment she got off the plane, her phone was bombarded with messages. Glancing at them, she saw they were all from Whitney. Madeline ignored them because they were the same old taunting remarks.

At first, it used to bother her, but now it seemed to be fading. She believed she would genuinely be able to let go.

Madeline stood by the window, gazing at the scenery outside. It was beautiful, but she no longer felt the same way about it.

Elias watched Madeline, feeling like she was drifting further and further away. Lately, she had been especially cold towards him. A little anxious, he pulled her into an embrace.

Madeline looked at him, puzzled. "What's wrong?"

Elias stared at Madeline for a long moment before finally speaking. "Madie, have I been neglecting you? Are you upset with me? You've been so cold lately." He was most afraid of Madeline ignoring him, so he held her tightly as if afraid she might disappear.

She couldn't help but laugh softly. "No, I know you've been busy with work. I'm not upset. Haven't we always managed this way?"

However, her tone didn't sit well with him. "Madie, I've told you before. Nothing and no one are more important than you in my heart."

He spoke as if he was telling Madeline that her place in his heart could never be shaken. However, someone had already shaken it, right?

Madeline didn't voice this thought, only letting it echo silently in her mind. "Mmm, I know."

Elias reached to kiss Madeline, but she turned away. That brief rejection made his eyes flush with anger. "Madie, are you avoiding me? Do you find me disgusting?"

Madeline could feel Elias' hands trembling. This man might genuinely love her, but he also couldn't give up his clandestine affairs.

She sniffled, trying to hide the slight sting in her nose from Elias. "Just teasing you. I wanted to see your reaction. Didn't we say we were going to a banquet tonight?" Madeline quickly changed the subject.

Hearing this, Elias finally relaxed a little.

Madeline watched as Elias personally dressed her, did her hair, put on her jewelry and even knelt to slip on her heels—the princess shoes he'd picked just for her. "Elias?"

He looked up, waiting for her to continue. Yet, she just stared at him, lost in thought. "Madie, what's wrong? Is there something you want to say?"

Madeline gazed at Elias' tender expression, her hand gently caressing his face. "Elias, do you love me?" she asked softly.

Upon hearing this, a flicker of annoyance crossed Elias' face. "Madeline, who doesn't know that you're the only woman I've ever loved?"

"You don't believe me? Do I have to dig out my heart for you to trust me?" As soon as he finished speaking, Elias grabbed a fruit knife from the table and aimed it at his chest.

Before he could go any further, Madeline stopped him. "Elias, I believe you. I really do. I was just testing you a little because, well, women like to be dramatic sometimes."

Elias put down the knife and pulled her into his arms. "You can doubt anything, but you can never doubt my love for you."

His love for Madeline was undeniable, yet his infidelity was also an indisputable fact.

While watching Whitney's dress at the banquet, Madeline couldn't shake the feeling that Whitney was doing it on purpose. Throughout the entire event, Elias escorted both Madeline and Whitney, drawing envious glances from all the men present.

Some of his former business partners couldn't resist teasing him in French. "Mr. Fisher, you're really living the dream—one on each arm! We're jealous, so jealous."

Others joined in the jokes. "Exactly! You've mastered the art of time management, keeping both your wife and your secretary in perfect harmony. Your secretary sure knows her place."

Whitney didn't seem embarrassed by the remarks. Instead, she smiled coyly. Elias even chimed in, "Isn't that the point? I like her because she listens—and because she's irresistible."

Although Madeline had married Elias, she didn't fit in with his social circle at all. She was too conservative and lacked a sense of fun. "Exactly. When it comes to the bed, men prefer someone like Miss Young. After all, no man likes a woman who's like a dead fish in bed, haha!"

Elias raised his glass and smiled but said nothing, tacitly agreeing with the comment. The men kept praising Whitney while putting down Madeline. They all assumed she couldn't understand, but she absorbed every word.

To them, she had no redeeming qualities. As she watched Elias chat easily with them, she realized this was blatant infidelity. Not only that, but he even agreed with their insults about her.

If he despised her so much, why couldn't he say it to her face? Madeline could tolerate strangers' mockery, but Elias' silent approval? That was the real betrayal.

Madeline had expected to cry. After all, no one could hear those words and remain completely unmoved. Her initial reaction was a bone-chilling cold as if she'd been plunged into a freezing lake. Every movement felt like shards of ice piercing her heart.

So, when she raised a hand to touch her cheek, she was surprised to find she hadn't shed a single tear. It was the only thing preventing her from completely falling apart.

Her rational mind kicked in, whispering, "You can endure this. Once you make it through, you can let go of everything."

From a distance, she watched Elias and Whitney chat happily with the other guests. Whitney would occasionally glance at her with a smug expression. She then told Elias she wanted to sit alone for a bit.

"Sure. Just don't wander too far. I'll come find you once I'm done."

No sooner had Madeline stepped away than she noticed Elias and Whitney entering an elevator together. Moments later, her phone buzzed with a text message from Whitney. "Parking lot."

Madeline's grip on her phone tightened, but she still got up and followed them. She took the elevator to the location Whitney had texted her. As soon as the doors opened, she saw the two of them already locked in a passionate kiss.

Once they closed the car door, they became even more impatient.

Madeline didn't approach. She crouched behind another car, watching through the window. Inside, Elias seemed utterly at ease, his face full of enjoyment as Whitney straddled his lap.