Chapter 6
On the day Maddie was discharged from the hospital, her roommates came to see her and took her to a class reunion.
The event was held at a restaurant that had gained fame online. As soon as she entered, she felt some unfriendly eyes on her.
“Oh look, isn’t this the busiest top student in our grade? Didn’t you move out of the dorms ages ago and stop socializing with us? Why the sudden availability of a gathering? Not with your sugar daddy today?”
“Maybe he dumped her. Some people seem innocent, but who knows how tangled their personal lives are? They’d even chase after 50–year- old men for money.”
“We can’t indulge in this kind of vanity!”
A group of girls who had always disliked Maddie gathered together, making sarcastic remarks. Maddie’s roommates were angered by what they heard and couldn’t help but respond.
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Maddie moved in with her boyfriend, not some fifty–year–old man like you claimed!”
“That’s hilarious. Boyfriend? I’ve seen Maddie getting into a fancy car late at night more than once. What else could that mean if not being someone’s kept woman? Instead of making up stories, you should convince her to stop selling herself—she’s tarnishing Boston University’s reputation!”
These unfounded accusations finally sparked the roommates‘ anger.
0.00%
14.46
Chapter 6
Just as they were about to confront the gossiping girls, they noticed a familiar figure outside the window and burst out excitedly.
“Hey, all you trash–talkers, look! That’s Maddie’s boyfriend!”
Everyone in the room immediately turned to see.
As soon as they spotted Andy, their jaws dropped in shock.
“Andy? You’ve got to be joking! Who does Andy even go out with? Maddie isn’t fit to polish his shoes!”
“Whether she’s fit or not isn’t for you to judge. I’ll show you right now!”
When Andy showed up, the roommates suddenly found their courage and guided Maddie toward him.
Amidst the astonished looks, they managed to glimpse Andy as he walked over to the passenger side and helped a woman out of the car with a personal touch.
The pair stood closely, their body language clearly more than just friendly.
A girl watching from afar immediately recognized Crystal upon seeing
her face.
“Isn’t that Andy’s ex–girlfriend, Crystal? They were seniors at my brother’s old school. Their relationship was quite the talk of the town back then–their Olympiad award–winning photo still hangs on the school bulletin board!” she exclaimed.
“No wonder. Andy is so loyal–how could he end up with Maddie? I bet someone is trying to latch onto him. Even though her sugar daddy is a man in his fifties or sixties, she still won’t admit it.”
21 82%
14.46
Chapter 6
With these comments, public opinion shifted instantly. Everyone began to look at Maddie with contempt.
Amidst the commotion, Andy glanced up at the restaurant and turned to speak to his assistant.
Moments later, the assistant walked quickly in their direction.
The roommates, seeing this, held onto Maddie’s hands with hope, thinking the assistant might be coming for her.
However, the assistant merely passed by their group without stopping, heading straight to the restaurant manager.
“Mr. Loreine and Ms. Patter wish to dine here today. Kindly clear the venue–Mr. Loreine prefers a tranquil setting.”
Thrilled to have such a prestigious client, the manager eagerly instructed the staff to offer complimentary items and compensation to encourage guests to leave.
Maddie’s table was also ushered out. As the group noisily exited, Andy appeared with Crystal by his side.
Maddie didn’t want to meet their eyes, so she lowered her head.
The girls took advantage of this, raising their voices in the crowded
room.
“Mr. Loreine, we’re from the Design School at Boston University. Are you familiar with a student in our department named Maddie?”
When Andy heard the name, he stopped and looked around the crowd.
Crystal quickly spotted Maddie in the corner and responded before Andy could.
43 81%
14:46
Chapter 6
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“Oh, not much,” one of the girls replied. “She spends her time daydreaming and spreading rumors about being involved with Mr. Loreine, damaging his reputation. We just want to confirm the truth.”
Upon hearing this, Crystal slightly loosened her hold on Andy’s hand, fixing her gaze on him.
“Andy, do you… have any connection with Maddie?” she questioned.
Andy looked up slightly at her words.
Crystal was well aware of the connection between Maddie and him.
He could also plainly see that the group in front of him was belittling Maddie.
Yet, Crystal asked a question both of them already knew the answer to.
Maybe she wanted to gauge how much Maddie meant to him..
Admitting it now would only complicate his efforts to reconcile with Crystal.
So he bluntly denied it, “No, I don’t.”
Andy’s casual tone made the students laugh, their mocking eyes turning toward Maddie.
Faced with such open hostility, Maddie closed her eyes. Amid the taunts, her phone vibrated several times.
When she checked it, there was a message from Crystal.
“Andy doesn’t love you at all. That’s why he will never give you a
65.17%
14460
Chapter 6
密室
proper status or care about your feelings. Your four years together
mean nothing to him. No matter how much a canary is cherished, it’s only a temporary plaything. It remains a caged bird, unable to soar like an eagle or become master of its own sky.”
Maddie gazed at the message, reminiscing about the day, two years prior, when her roommates had discovered her kissing Andy at the school gate.
They had been thrilled, eagerly speculating about her connection with Andy.
Before she could react, Andy had wrapped an arm around her and declared, “Boyfriend and girlfriend.”
From that moment on, Maddie had believed they were in a relationship.
But now, she realized it had all been a figment of her imagination.
Andy had been waiting for Crystal’s return, and the title of “lover” was meant solely for her.
Maddie had just been a means for him to mend his broken heart, a mere distraction.
She was just a fleeting presence in his life, destined to be forgotten.
8400%
