Nathaniel’s voice was laced with impatience. “Whatever.”
Zoe, undeterred, continued to act coy. “Just try it on. Aunt Victoria never liked your usual style. She said I have good taste. She’s just back from her trip abroad, so let’s surprise her this time.”
Madeline’s heart, already shattered, took another blow. So, Nathan’s mother knew about Zoe. All this time, it had been Madeline buying Nathaniel’s clothes, trying to please a woman who had never once liked her. No matter what Madeline did, it was never enough.
She had been kept in the dark from the start, a fool in her own life, a mere shadow of the person she once believed herself to be. She smiled bitterly to herself.
Zoe pushed Nathaniel into the fitting room next door, and Madeline could hear the rustling of clothes as he changed. A part of her wanted to see what kind of clothes he was wearing now—what would make Nathan's mother finally approve of him?
Suddenly, Nathaniel’s voice cut through her thoughts, sharp and commanding. “Who let you in?”
Zoe’s voice responded hesitantly, “I wanted to help you sort it out.”
“No. You go out.”
Zoe persisted. “You didn’t do it right in the back, and the clothes will get wrinkled. I’ll be quick. We can leave after this, Aunt Victoria must be waiting.”
Nathaniel finally relented with a sigh, and Madeline could hear the soft hum of Zoe as she began to sort through his clothes.
“Nathan, you look so handsome. Aunt Victoria will be so happy.”
Unable to resist, Madeline quietly cracked open the door to peek at Nathaniel’s outfit. It was simple, nothing extraordinary. But as long as it wasn’t something she had picked out for him, Madeline thought bitterly, it would surely be praised by Aunt Victoria.
“I’ll go check out,” Nathaniel said, adjusting his collar as he walked toward the cashier.
“Yeah, you go first,” Zoe responded. “I’ll sit for a while, my legs are tired.” She leaned back in the chair and began to rub her legs, acting as if she were a spoiled child.
Nathaniel's expression was tinged with concern. Zoe, sensing his unease, reassured him softly, “Don’t worry so much. I’ll let you know if anything happens.”
Nathaniel frowned slightly, but didn’t press the issue, turning instead to pay the bill. Madeline quickly closed the door behind him and sank into the chair, waiting for Zoe to leave.
"I know you're in there," Zoe's voice rang out, startling Madeline. Her heart began to race, and she held her breath, paralyzed by the fear of being exposed, as if she were the one in the wrong.
Zoe, however, paid no mind to her silence and spoke as if to herself, “Nathan is so good to me. He really loves this child. I just hope you can stop bothering him. Of course, even if you insist, you'll end up with nothing."
Madeline's blood boiled in her veins. Zoe, the one who had interfered, was now talking as though she had every right to claim Nathaniel. It was as if she was issuing a command, demanding Madeline leave.
Her hand gripped the door handle, and for a moment, Madeline considered rushing out to confront them. But then, the weight of helplessness sank in. She let go of the handle and sank back into the chair. What was the point of going out? She had already decided to leave. Why make this any more humiliating than it already was?
Even knowing Nathaniel had betrayed her, Madeline couldn’t bring herself to confront him as he protected another woman, the one who had taken her place.
She closed her eyes, resigned. In just two days, everything will be over. At least she'd leave with some dignity and the memory of eight years of marriage with Nathaniel.
"Who are you talking to?" Nathaniel’s voice came from outside, tinged with suspicion.
"No one," Zoe replied smoothly. "I was just talking to the baby. He must be so eager to meet his father. Are you looking forward to it, too, Nathan?"
"Let’s go," Nathaniel replied curtly, as Zoe eagerly led him out, chattering about the beautiful future they would have with the child.
As Nathaniel instinctively placed a hand protectively on Zoe's stomach, Madeline waited for them to leave completely. The moment they were gone, she stepped out of the fitting room.
The shop assistant, noticing her tear-streaked face, asked gently, "Miss, why are you crying?"
