Chapter 9

The next morning, just as Sullivan was leaving, Madeleine called out, “Tomorrow’s our fifth anniversary. I booked us a yacht. Come and see the sunset with me.” With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she had always been the type to act on a whim. He hoped she wasn’t going to do anything strange this time. After humming curtly in acknowledgment, he left the house.

Perhaps the hopefulness Madeleine felt made the day fly by.

At last, it was the day she was going to take her life. She carefully got ready before heading to the yacht with Sullivan.

The views were excellent. The lingering light of the sunset bathed the sea and the yacht in hues of gold. The warm light also seemed to make Madeleine glow. Set against the gorgeous backdrop, she looked like a painting come to life.

As Sullivan took this all in, his eyes flickered strangely.

Yet, at the very next moment, a ringing sound broke the peaceful calm between them. When Madeleine turned back to look at Sullivan, he was already on the phone discussing work with someone. She knew that in just a few hours, the project he had been working on would officially be released on the market. Once it did, it would become an overwhelming success.

This was a turning point in his life—and hers as well.

“What are you going to do once you’re rich?” Madeleine asked.

Sullivan, whose call had ended, responded to her unusual question by saying curtly, “I’ll do what I want to do.”

He remained fairly expressionless, as if he had merely answered off the top of his head.

However, staring at his stoic face, one that never revealed even the slightest bit of affection toward her, she couldn’t help but think to herself, “Once you’re rich, the first thing you’ll probably do is get away from me. But this time, you won’t need to do it yourself, Sullivan.”

The staff began serving dinner out on the deck. Soon, the table was filled with a delectable feast. By now, the sun had almost set. Madeleine and Sullivan sat at the table across from each other.

Despite how mouthwatering the food looked, Madeleine had no appetite. Although Sullivan was looking at her, he remained as silent as he always was.

However, he was startled when his phone started ringing again, breaking the silence. He saw Isabel’s name on the screen, and after a brief pause, he took the call. Immediately, Isabel’s tearful voice came through the speaker. Both Madeleine and Sullivan heard her clearly.

“I just got into a car accident, Sully. Can you come by the hospital?”

Brows furrowing, Sullivan turned to Madeleine.

She set down her cutlery and said, “Thrilled? Do you want to go?”

“Isabel needs me now. We can celebrate our anniversary anytime,” Sullivan replied without hesitation.

Madeleine looked at him calmly without saying anything, and for some reason, the sight of that made his heart pound. Even as a child, he had always been able to keep his composure no matter what; it was the first time he felt as if he was starting to lose control.

Thus, he made the last-minute move of promising, “I’ll make it up to you next time.”

Then, he grabbed his phone and left.

Madeleine watched as he disembarked from the yacht. She didn’t try to stop him. After much time had passed, she murmured, “There won’t be a next time, Sullivan.” She stayed on the yacht and enjoyed the rest of the sunset alone. As the final traces of sunlight disappeared behind the horizon, the lights on the yacht slowly came on. A figure appeared and approached Madeleine.

“Ready, Madeleine?”

Keeping her eyes fixed on the distance, Madeleine asked, “How will I die?”

“You’ll slip and fall into the sea. The news will be released four hours later, and your body will be found after being in the sea for three days so that the police can confirm your death.”

Madeleine nodded in response; she had no objections to the plan.

Once everything was ready, she disembarked from the yacht and took one last look at the city. Then, she put on the cap and mask she had prepared, destroyed her phone, and headed straight for the airport.

“Sullivan, this time, I personally deliver you to your female protagonist while I, the antagonist, disappear from your world for good!”