Madeline absentmindedly raised her hand to her face, feeling the wetness on her fingers. Confusion swept over her as she wondered why she had been crying. She didn’t even realize when the tears had started.
She wandered out of the house, not returning until it was dark. The quiet emptiness of the place greeted her, and Nathaniel still hadn’t come home. She didn’t care. Her stomach growled with hunger, reminding her she hadn’t eaten all day. She made herself a bowl of noodles, but as she ate, Nathaniel finally returned, holding a bowl of hot and sour noodles.
The scent of alcohol lingered around him, but as he stepped into the house, a strange emptiness seemed to settle in his chest. Yet, when he saw Madeline, his concern softened. He smiled and, though slightly tipsy, asked, "Madeline, why are you eating so light today?"
"Oh, I forgot," Madeline murmured, only then realizing that, despite her love for spicy food, she had made a simple bowl of clear soup noodles. Was it some maternal instinct? She didn’t know.
She got up, walked to the kitchen, and added a generous amount of chili peppers to her noodles. The spiciness hit her immediately, and she choked, coughing violently as tears streamed down her face. Nathaniel rushed over to wipe her tears, gently patting her back.
Once she regained her breath, he took her noodles away and swapped them for the hot and sour noodles he had brought. He didn’t mind eating her leftovers. "It’s too spicy for you. Eat these," he insisted.
"I’m not hungry," Madeline said, pushing the bowl back toward him.
Nathaniel looked at her indifference and suddenly remembered the strange feeling he had earlier when he noticed things were missing from their home. "Madeline, there are a lot of things missing at home."
Madeline nodded, her voice steady. "It's useless. I put it in the utility room."
Nathaniel frowned, displeased. "How can it be useless? Those were the gifts you gave me. I like seeing them around. They make me feel at ease. I’ll take them out and put them back where they belong."
Madeline panicked, afraid he’d catch her in a lie. She quickly stopped him. "I don’t think they look good there. You’ll get more gifts in the future."
Though Nathaniel felt something was off, he pushed the discomfort aside. He remembered what his mother had said earlier when he took Zoe to meet her. He and Madeline still had a long way to go, and if she didn’t like it, he wouldn’t force it.
"Okay, whatever you want," he muttered, trying to dismiss the nagging feeling in his chest.
Later, when Nathaniel cleaned up, took a shower, and lay down beside her, Madeline had already closed her eyes, asleep.
Nathaniel hugged her tightly, pressing her close as a wave of unease washed over him. Whether it was from the alcohol or the thought of Zoe about to give birth, something in him felt unsettled. Even with Madeline in his arms, he felt the growing fear of losing her.
"Madeline, are you asleep?" he asked softly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Madeline’s eyelashes fluttered, but she didn’t respond. His anxiety deepened, and he leaned down, kissing her lips with reckless abandon.
Sensing things might go too far, Madeline pretended to stir, letting out a soft sound as she pushed lightly on his chest. "Don’t make trouble, I’m so tired."
Her playful voice eased some of his tension. He held her tighter, his words slurring slightly as he whispered, "Madeline, if I did something wrong, will you forgive me?"
She didn’t answer right away, her voice calm. "Go to sleep. I want to sleep."
"No, you promised me," Nathaniel persisted, his tone desperate. "You promised we’d be together forever, no matter what."
Madeline opened her eyes and met his gaze. Her words were deliberate, each one full of weight. "As long as you don’t let me down, I won’t leave you."
Nathaniel stared at her for a long moment, his expression softening as the words sank in. Finally, he pressed her head to his chest, his voice barely a whisper. "Madeline, I love you. I won’t betray you. We’ll grow old together."
