The night breeze brushed against their faces, and the lights on the crystal tform were all turned off. The surroundings were dim, with only the distant streetlights casting a faint glow.


    Madison poured two sses of wine and handed one to Edward.


    "Let''s drink away our sorrows, Edward. Here''s to you," Madison said, raising her ss and clinking it against his, producing a crisp sound.


    Madison tilted her head back and finished her drink. Seeing Edward sitting still, she looked out at the river in the distance. "Edward, why do you like Phoebe?"


    Edward looked at the deste scene below. Earlier, when he had led Phoebe onto the stage, he had been so full of confidence. Now, he felt deste and forlorn.


    His public proposal was actually a way to pressure Phoebe.


    He knew Phoebe was kind-hearted and wouldn''t want to see him be a


    Phoebe had given him a hug but refused to let him into her future.


    "Is love with a reason still love?" Edward took a sip of his drink. The surroundings were quiet, with only the distant sound of the riverpping against the shore.


    Madison was at a loss for words.


    "Phoebe and I have known each other since the day we were born. Later, we lived under the same roof, spending every day together. I thought I saw Phoebe as a sister until puberty hit. My eyes would often linger on her, and no matter what she did, I found it adorable."


    Madison poured herself another ss of wine and took a sip, grimacing at the bitterness.


    Edward seemed oblivious. "At first, we were in the same ss, butter we were separated. I would often lean on the ssroom railing, searching for Phoebe. Seeing her appear in my sight made me feel happy and content."


    Madison could imagine what a lovestruck Edward looked like because his eyes were glowing as he recounted these memories.


    He had truly given his all to love Phoebe.


    In the past, she would have been insanely jealous, but now, she just felt sorry for him.


    "We got together because everything just aligned perfectly-the right time, ce, and people. I even thought we would get married after graduation because I loved Phoebe so much. I had even nned our future together."


    "But Phoebe had her own ideas. She didn''t want to listen to me and felt I was trying to control her life. I just wanted her to stay by my side. Was I wrong?" Edward said, finishing his drink in one gulp.


    "You weren''t wrong, and neither was Phoebe," Madison said.


    Phoebe had a strong personality, and having lost her father at a young age, she would never allow anyone to dictate her life.


    This was evident from her interactions with Theodore.


    Edward let out a bitterugh. "We had never fought in all these years, but that day we had a huge argument. I was so angry I didn''t know what I was saying. I was driven mad by the fear of losing Phoebe, so I suggested breaking up."


    "I thought breaking up would scare Phoebe, but that one time, Theodore seized the opportunity. Our twenty-something years of rtionship were destroyed just like that. Do you think I''m willing to ept that?"


    Madison hesitated for a moment, then gently patted his back. "Edward, it''s all in the past. Let it go."


    Edward gave a bleak smile. "I can''t."


    Edward then fell silent, drinking one ss after another until he waspletely drunk. Madison put down her ss.


    She raised her hand, and a waiter approached. "Miss Reynolds, is there anything you need?"


    "Help me get him back to the hotel. He''s had too much to drink, and I can''t support him alone." Madison hadn''t drunk much herself; she had been watching Edward get drunk.


    The waiter said, "Mr. Vanderbilt had previously booked a suite at our hotel. Shall we go there now?"


    "Yes."


    Madison smiled and stood up, helping the waiter support Edward down the steps. The drunk man was so heavy that they almost tumbled down the stairs several times.


    After much effort, they finally got him back to the hotel suite. Madison was sweating profusely. She took out a wad of cash from her bag and tipped the waiter.


    The waiter thanked her and respectfully left the suite.


    Madison wiped the sweat from her neck and looked at Edward lying on the bed. She slowly walked over, cing her hands on either side of him, looking down at him.


    "Edward, Phoebe doesn''t love you. Let me love you, okay?"


    Edward, who had his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. Madison panicked and was about to stand up when a warm hand grabbed her waist.


    The next second, the world spun around her.


    Madison''s body sank into the soft bed, with Edward pressing down on her. The scent of wine was intoxicating.


    Edward looked down at her, his drunken eyes seemingly looking through Madison at someone else. After a moment, he murmured and leaned down to kiss her neck.


    "Phoebe, I love you!"


    Madison''s eyes widened. Her hand instinctively rose to push him away, but she had longed for this moment. Even if she was just a substitute, so what?


    As long as Madison got Edward, she could fulfill her long-cherished wish and even use this night to sessfully marry into the Vanderbilt family.


    Then, the threat that had been looming over Madison since the true and false princess incident would no longer scare her. Without the Reynolds family, she still had the


    Vanderbilt family. She would still be the enviable wealthydy.


    However, the next second, Edward suddenly started to retch.


    Madison''s mind went nk. Before she could react, Edward vomited all over her, and the room fell into a deathly silence.


    After a long while, Madison finally suppressed her nausea and pushed Edward off her. Looking at the mess on her, she couldn''t help but feel like throwing up.


    She turned to re at the unconscious Edward, gritting her teeth in anger.


    Why did she feel sorry for Edward? He deserved to be thrown out to sleep on the street!


    Madison, full of resentment, walked into the bathroom. She closed the door, took off her soiled clothes, and stood under the shower, letting the water wash away the mess.


    Edwardy on the bed, his vision blurry, but his mind was unusually clear.


    No matter how far he fell, Edward wouldn''t stoop to sleeping with a promiscuous woman. Besides, if he wanted to get back at Phoebe and Theodore, sleeping with Madison would only make them happy.


    He wouldn''t let any of them have their way, never!


    Phoebe took a cab back to Lakeview Estates. The car stopped outside the gatedmunity. She scanned the code to pay, got out, and the taxi drove away. She dragged her tired body into themunity.


    After a few steps, she suddenly stopped.


    At the end of her line of sight, Theodore was leaning against a streemp at the entrance of themunity. His features were hidden in the shadows, but his eyes were as intense as a leopard''s.


    Even from a distance, Phoebe felt a chill in her heart.