The Maddox before her was nothing like the one from three years ago.
Back then, there had still been traces of youthful innocence in his features.
Now, time had sculpted him into something sharper, more refined, yet it hadn’t left a single blemish on his face. If anything, he had only grown more striking.
"You know I look good, but staring at me like that isn’t very polite," Maddox suddenly interrupted, amusement lacing his voice.
Hailey instantly pouted, crossing her arms. "I wasn’t staring."
A lazy hum escaped his lips, his smirk deepening. "Alright, alright, you weren’t staring. You just love pretending."
His teasing was as effortless as ever, but this time, he let it go, perhaps out of consideration for her thin skin.
By the time they arrived at the Fourfold Manor, the night had settled in completely.
But to Hailey’s surprise, Maddox hadn’t taken her to the old mansion. Instead, he brought her here.
Sensing her confusion, he spoke with casual ease. "Grandmother doesn’t like the villa. So, I transferred the Rosewood Estate to your name."
Hailey scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I didn’t ask you to."
Maddox was giving himself away with that unnecessary explanation.
It wasn’t until Hailey saw Charlotte, Maddox’s grandma that she truly understood how ruthless time could be.
In her memories, Charlotte had always been round and kind, a woman of simple habits despite coming from an aristocratic family. She never indulged in luxury, never sought extravagance.
Now, she was still the same Charlotte. But when her gaze fell on Hailey, tears shimmered in her eyes.
She hurried forward, her voice trembling with affection. "Hailey, Hailey!"
Maddox quickly steadied her, his expression exasperated. "Grandma, Hailey just got back. She needs rest. You can see her properly tomorrow, alright?"
But Charlotte huffed like a stubborn child, unwilling to listen. She clung to Hailey’s hand, her words spilling out in excitement, her tone almost smug, like a child showing off a treasured possession.
Hailey humored her patiently, warmth filling her chest.
Meanwhile, Maddox sat on the balcony, rocking slowly on the swing, eyes lifted toward the night sky.
A man nearing thirty, stargazing, or at least pretending to.
His fingers idly rolled a pocket watch, his gaze flicking to it more often than the stars.
The cigarette between his fingers burned quietly, its ember glowing faintly before crumbling into ash. A stray spark kissed his skin, leaving a tiny burn on his long fingers, a fleeting burst of light, gone in an instant.
When the clock struck nine, Maddox clicked his tongue and cast a knowing glance at the stubborn Charlotte.
"Grandma, Hailey needs to sleep now."
Only then did she finally let go, grumbling under her breath like a child reluctant to part with a favorite toy.
Maddox wasted no time dragging Hailey upstairs.
By the time she finished washing up, her voice had turned hoarse.
"Hailey, go to sleep," he murmured, his voice low, steady.
He never asked what had happened. Never pried. Instead, he quietly preserved the last shred of dignity she still held onto.
"Hailey, stop tossing and turning. Do you want me to tell you a bedtime story again?"
Her ears burned instantly. She pouted. "I never said that."
When Maddox had first taken her in, thunderstorms would keep her awake at night. Back then, he would always come to her room and tell her stories until she drifted off to sleep.
The sound of his voice had filled her childhood, weaving warmth into the coldest of nights.
And now, as the memory surfaced, a quiet warmth bloomed in her chest. She suddenly felt lucky, so incredibly lucky, to have met Maddox.
"Alright, don’t sulk anymore. Tonight, I’ll tell you the story of the Little Mermaid."
"A long, long time ago, in the eastern seas, there was a mermaid…"
That night, the Fourfold Manor glowed softly with warmth, and Hailey slept soundly, dreamless, wrapped in peace.
Meanwhile, in Cortland, a chill crept into Enzo’s heart, cold and unshakable.
His head felt heavy, clouded with a dull haze. He had never imagined Hailey would vanish so completely, so silently, without a trace, without even a moment for anyone to catch their breath.
Allison had called him more times than he could count, but Enzo ignored every single one. Each ring only stoked the restless irritation clawing at his chest.
“She just left like that? Do I even matter to her?”
