Chapter 4 If I Died, Would You Be Sad?

• "Maddy, thank you. I didn't expect you to be so brave." Bella pretended to be kind as she spoke to me, holding my hands, but her eyes were full of threats.
• I shook off her hands and, feeling famished, left Flynn Residence.
• I should have given up then.
• At the hospital, the doctor said, "You're pregnant, already two months along. Didn't you notice? We should monitor this for a while."
• I sat in shock, staring at the test results, trembling all over.
• Pregnant. I was pregnant at the worst possible time.
• Marcus didn't love me, and he certainly wouldn't accept the child I was carrying. Even if I was pregnant, he wouldn't change his view of me. He would just think I was trying to force him into marriage.
• Five days before the incident. I mustered up the courage to tell Marcus about my pregnancy. If he didn't want the child, I would abort it and leave. I wouldn't cling to him anymore.
• I called him countless times, but he refused to answer. Finally, on the last call, someone picked up. But it was Bella who spoke.
• "Maddy, are you looking for Marcus? He's tired and needs rest."
• "Why bother talking to her so much? Just tell her to stop bothering me," Marcus's irritated voice came from the other end of the line, along with Bella's giggles. "Marcus, stop it. I'm on my period, so don't touch me today ... "
• Holding the phone, I sat numbly and stiffly on the couch.
• That night, Marcus came back, but he brought Bella with him.
• "Why did you bring her here?" Bernice frowned, clearly displeased.
• "Mom, Bella and I are getting engaged. I came to inform you," Marcus said in a tone that brooked no argument.
• Bernice was shocked and instinctively looked at me. My eyes were red, but I said nothing.
• "I don't agree. You have an engagement with Maddy ... " Bernice tried to protest.
• "Bella is being stalked by that serial killer, and he only targets single, unmarried women. I'll make our engagement public," Marcus declared, his favouritism for Bella blatantly obvious.
• My stomach churned, and I suddenly bolted to the bathroom, throwing up violently.
• What did he take me for?
• I remembered when I was eighteen, after my parents' car accident, I was trapped in the mangled wreckage, the car already on fire and at risk of exploding at any moment. Marcus had gone crazy trying to save me, smashing the car windows despite his bleeding hands, cutting through my seatbelt, and pulling me out to safety. Then he went back to try to save my parents. "Marcus ... it's dangerous ... " I weakly called out, watching helplessly as he risked everything to save my family. Just as my parents were being pulled out, the car exploded. The massive flames and shockwave left me trembling.
• Even though my parents didn't make it, Marcus's desperate attempts to save them were etched into my heart. He was a good man, always had been. But he didn't love me. After vomiting until there was nothing left, I collapsed on the floor, my vision darkening.
• He was going to marry Bella. And I was always just a joke.
• "Maddy, don't be afraid. You'll be okay, Maddy ... Maddy ... "
• I remembered him calling my name at the crash site, urging me to hold on, saying the ambulance was coming.
• Back then, I thought he liked me too. It had all been a misunderstanding, one that lasted all these years.
• "Madeline, stop playing dead!"
• The bathroom door was kicked open, and Marcus glared at me with clear irritation. "You're going to Hardy Lane tomorrow night. We've arranged everything. Stop pulling these stunts."
• "Marcus ... aren't you afraid I'll die?" I asked hoarsely.
• "Madeline, someone like you is too stubborn to die. You're perfect for this. Maybe you'll even be doing society a favour by distracting that killer with your persistence."
• "If I die ... would you be sad?" I asked, my voice raw.
• Marcus frowned. "Would you really go through with it? I'll answer that question after you're dead."