By admin Midnight Call Ch 58
Madeline led Blake on a tour around the restaurant, explaining everything as they walked.
“Do you remember how my biggest dream in middle school was to open a Western restaurant?”
“Of course. You said you wanted European coastal decor, walls covered with Impressionist paintings, only black and white tables and chairs, and custom fragrances that would change daily with different floral scents.“[]
Hearing him recite her words verbatim, Madeline was momentarily stunned.]
“How do you remember it even more clearly than I do? Do you also remember…“]
“Certainly. You offered me thirty percent of the shares and invited me to be the restaurant’s bartender. Does that offer still stand?“]
A flash of delight crossed Madeline’s eyes as she put on a bashful expression.]]
“How could you take a joke from back then seriously? Besides, you may not be a pilot anymore, but you still have a family fortune to inherit. Becoming a bartender for me would be such a waste of your talents.“]
Blake’s eyes dimmed slightly. His lips parted, but he ultimately remained silent.[]
Charlotte observed everything quietly, her heart heavy with dark clouds of gloom and oppression.]]
She knew Blake meant every word he said. He genuinely wanted to be by Madeline’s side at all times, even if just as a bartender who could only glimpse her from afar.[]
After all, he had already tasted the bitterness of losing her once. Now that he had a second chance, he cherished every moment they could spend together.]
Even now, his gaze remained fixed on Madeline, never once looking back.[]
Charlotte trailed behind them, forgotten and unnoticed.]
When they reached their private dining room, Blake habitually picked up the menu
Madeline sat down beside him and, hearing his orders, deliberately spoke up.[]
“Blake, you’re ordering all my favorites! What about your wife? Shouldn’t you consider her preferences too?“]
Blake’s hand holding the menu paused. He glanced at Charlotte and casually passed the menu to her.]
“I don’t know what you like to eat, so I just ordered some random dishes. Order whatever you want.“[]
Seeing his indifference and the smug look on Madeline’s face, Charlotte’s breath caught, her fingers digging deep into her palms.[]
She had always known Blake was cold toward everything and everyone. So even when he forgot anniversaries, never planned romantic surprises, and never considered her feelings, she had tolerated it all.]
But after witnessing his attentiveness toward Madeline, juxtaposed with his neglect of her, Charlotte felt only sadness and helplessness.
She didn’t take the menu but stood up, her face pale, saying she needed the restroom.[]
Madeline, under the pretense of showing her the way, followed. She asked for Charlotte’s contact information while dropping
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suggestive comments clearly meant to provoke her.[]
“Don’t mind me, Ms. Wells. Blake and I have known each other for over a decade, so we’re very familiar with each other. He remembers my menstrual cycle and knows I get terrible cramps. He even went to a neighboring city recently to find a specialist for me. When I was abroad, he sent gifts for every Thanksgiving and Christmas…“]]
Hearing her seemingly explanatory but actually boastful tone, Charlotte felt something clogging her chest, making it hard to breathe.[]
Then she stopped and turned to face Madeline, her voice strained.[]
“So what? What are you trying to say?“]]
Madeline’s expression tightened slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips.[]
“Isn’t it obvious? I want you to know that even though you’re Blake’s wife, you’ll never replace me in his heart. Blake will eventually come back to me. If you’re smart, you should voluntarily step out of this relationship. It would be better for you, for me, and for Blake. Don’t you agree?“]|
Charlotte knew that everything Madeline said was undeniable truth.[]
She lowered her head and took a deep breath, about to speak when disaster struck.[]
CRASH.
The ornate chandelier above them suddenly came loose, plummeting straight toward where they stood.[]
Surrounding guests screamed in panic, the scene descending into chaos.[]
Neither woman fully comprehended what was happening until they looked up to see the dark shadow hurtling down. Their pupils dilated in terror.
Just as the heavy fixture was about to crush them, Blake sprinted from several meters away, yanking Madeline to safety.[]
Charlotte was left alone as the chandelier crashed down on her, leaving her bloodied and collapsed in a pool of crimson.]]
Excruciating pain radiated through her entire body, relentlessly tearing at her nerves.[]
Blood streamed from her forehead, staining her vision red. Forcing her eyes open, she saw a crowd of customers surrounding Madeline, demanding explanations from the owner.
Blake stood beside her like a knight, shielding her from all verbal attacks and aggression, protecting her from the center of the angry mob.
Watching their figures grow distant, Charlotte could no longer hold on. Her vision darkened as she lost consciousness…]
When she awoke, Charlotte found herself in a hospital.]
Her entire body was wrapped in bandages, and the slightest movement sent waves of agonizing pain through her, making her gasp and break into a cold sweat.[]
The room was empty. No one was there to look after her.[]
After a long silence, she endured the pain to reach for her purse on the table. From it, she pulled out a scorecard and deducted another ten points.]
As she tried to put it back, the paper slipped from her grasp and floated to the floor, where a nurse who had just entered to check on
Chapter 4
her picked it up.
The young nurse glanced at it curiously.
“What kind of scorecard is this? Why have so many points been deducted? What happens when all the points are gone?“[]
Charlotte’s gaze steadied as she took back the paper, her voice flat.[]
“It’s a marriage scorecard. Total of one hundred points. When it’s all gone… everything ends.“[]
“Ends? You mean divorce? But there are only ten points left on this card!“]
The nurse exclaimed in shock, and the next second, the door swung open.
Blake entered with furrowed brows, his gaze fixed on Charlotte.]
“What ten points?”
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