Chapter 1
The day Rico’s movie wrapped up was supposed to be a moment of celebration. Maddie woke early, carefully arranging a bouquet of flowers and a small, thoughtful gift. With her heart pounding, she pushed open the doors of the banquet hall where the cast and crew gathered.
Her steps faltered.
Standing next to Rico, Jane Anderson—a rising actress—clung to his arm as they faced the cameras. Reporters swarmed, their questions sharp and probing.
“This is your second project together. Has your relationship grown closer?” one asked.
Rico’s signature charming smile appeared. “It certainly has.”
The reporter grinned, catching the subtext. “So, for your fans eagerly shipping this pairing, is it safe to say you’re a real couple, not just an on-screen match?”
Without hesitation, Rico turned to Jane, his gaze tender and cupped her face. He kissed her deeply. The banquet hall erupted in cheers and applause, whistles echoing through the room like a celebration for a victorious romance.
Maddie stood frozen in the doorway, the bouquet slipping from her trembling hands. Her breath hitched as Rico, still holding Janeclose, teased the reporters.
“What do you think? Real or fake?”
The cameras flashed, capturing Rico’s soft touch as he wiped away Jane’s smudged lipstick. Maddie, struggling to steady herself, was startled by the sudden buzz of her phone.
Her mother’s name flashed on the screen. Maddie stepped out into the chilly night air before answering.
“Mom,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
“I just saw the entertainment news,” her mother said cautiously. “Rico already has a girlfriend. Don’t you think it’s time you stopped staying at his place? Why don’t you come home?”
Maddie’s throat tightened. For the first time in years, she said the word she had avoided for so long. “Mom…” She choked on the word, then exhaled shakily. “I’ll come home.”
On the other end of the line, her mother’s voice cracked with relief. “Oh, Maddie… you’re finally coming back. Thank God. I’ll have your brother come pick you up immediately!”
“No,” Maddie said softly, her hand clutching her phone. “I still need a week to sort things out.”
Her mother’s tone shifted to gentle understanding. “Alright. Use this time to say goodbye properly, especially to Rico. He’s been like a brother to you for so long, taking care of you after the orphanage. If you leave without talking to him, it’ll be hard for both of you.”
“I understand,” Maddie replied, her voice faint.
When the call ended, Maddie stared at her phone. A new notification flashed:
[Rico Hughes and Jane Anderson Confirmed as a Real Couple!]
The accompanying photo showed Rico and Jane locked in that now-infamous kiss. Maddie’s knees buckled as she collapsed onto the sidewalk, tears streaming uncontrollably.
***
Maddie couldn’t erase the memories. There was a time when Rico cared deeply for her. He had been her protector. He was three years older and had fiercely defended her from bullies at the orphanage. At sixteen, his brash, rebellious nature caught the eye of a film director scouting locations. The director offered Rico a way out—a chance to leave the orphanage and make something of himself.
On the day he left, Maddie clung to him, sobbing into his chest.
“Rico, don’t leave me,” she cried.
He gently held her and promised, “Maddie, wait for me. I’ll come back for you.”
True to his word, Rico returned on his eighteenth birthday, two years later. He took her in and enrolled her in an ordinary high school, determined to give her a normal life. Maddie’s world revolved around him and for years, she had believed it always would.
But as she stared at the photo on her phone, the painful truth set in: she wasn’t part of Rico’s future anymore.
Chapter 2
To Maddie, Rico Hughes had always been her world—the one person who made her feel seen, cared for and safe. He was her salvation, the light in her otherwise dark life. So, it was no surprise that as a teenager, she fell hopelessly in love with him.
When Maddie received her college acceptance letter, she took a deep breath and confessed her feelings to Rico.
But Rico’s response wasn’t what she had hoped for. His brow furrowed, his voice calm but firm. “Maddie, the company has a strict rule: artists aren’t allowed to date. I can’t be with you.”
Maddie refused to give up. If 21-year-old Rico couldn’t fall in love, maybe 31-year-old Rico could. She told herself she could wait.
She could wait forever.
But that hope was shattered when Rico gave his love to someone else—Jane Harper. Maddie watched helplessly as Rico and Jane held hands, hugged and kissed in front of flashing paparazzi cameras. The final blow came when the tabloids plastered pictures of them entering the same hotel late at night.
Her five years of unwavering devotion suddenly felt meaningless. Maddie remembered all the sacrifices she had made for Rico, including abandoning her search for her biological parents and it all seemed ridiculous now.
That evening, Maddie dried her tears, stood tall and tossed the bouquet of flowers she had been holding into the trash. She was done. Done waiting. Done hoping. It was time to go home.
***
At two in the morning, the sound of the front door slamming jolted Maddie awake. Rico had returned home, but he wasn’t alone. Jane Harper stood beside him, her arm looped through his.
“You must be Maddie, Rico’s sister, right?” Jane said, her voice sweet yet cutting. “Hi, I’m Jane Harper, Rico’s girlfriend.”
Before Maddie could reply, Jane continued, her tone apologetic.
“I’m so sorry for the intrusion. We tried to check into a hotel, but the paparazzi were everywhere. Rico thought it’d be safer to come here. I hope you don’t mind?”
Maddie forced a stiff smile, feeling small and insignificant in her oversized pajamas. “No, it’s fine. Welcome…”
This was the first time Maddie had seen Jane up close. On screen, Jane was beautiful, but in person, she was breathtaking. Her flawless skin and striking features were accentuated by the small teardrop mole under her right eye, giving her an air of unattainable elegance.
In contrast, Maddie felt like a forgotten shadow—a plain, ordinary girl standing next to a movie star.
***
“Hey, Maddie, could you make some sobering tea for Jane?” Rico asked, his tone light but expectant.
Maddie hesitated. “I… I didn’t make any tonight.”
Rico frowned, his expression hardening. “What do you mean? You always have some ready. Why can’t you even handle this small thing?”
His sharp tone cut through Maddie and for the first time, he sounded impatient with her. She lowered her gaze, biting her lip to keep her emotions in check. If she spoke, the tears she had fought so hard to suppress would spill out.
She wanted to tell him she was leaving. That soon, the lights left on for him at night, the meals waiting for him when he came home and the sobering tea she always prepared wouldn’t be there anymore. But she said nothing.
Jane pouted dramatically and playfully nudged Rico. “Don’t be so harsh on her, Rico! Go take a shower already! We have an interview tomorrow, remember?”
Rico softened immediately, his frustration vanishing as he smiled at Jane. “Alright, I’ll go. Wait for me, okay?” He leaned in, affectionately brushing a hand over her cheek before heading to the bathroom.
Maddie felt a lump rise in her throat.
Once Rico was out of earshot, Jane turned to Maddie with a bright smile, pulling out her phone.
“Hey, can we exchange numbers? I think it’d be nice to stay in touch,” she said sweetly.
“Sure…” Maddie mumbled, fumbling to retrieve her phone.
After they exchanged contacts, Jane’s expression shifted. Her polite smile faded, replaced by a smug, calculating look.
“So,” Jane began, her voice icy now, “I heard you and Rico aren’t blood-related. How does someone like you manage to cling to him for so long? Must be nice, living off his kindness.”
Maddie felt her heart tighten as Jane’s words hit like a punch to the stomach.
Chapter 3
“Do you even realize how ridiculous you look, clinging to Rico like this?” Jane Harper sneered, her tone cutting through the silence like a blade. “What do you even bring to the table? Me? I have the backing of the most powerful company in the industry. Rico gets access to countless resources because of me. And you? What do you have? An entire orphanage?”
Jane laughed, covering her mouth delicately, as if the insult amused her.
Maddie froze, her heart pounding in her chest. This wasn’t the same Jane Harper who appeared so poised and gentle on screen. This was someone cold, calculating and cruel.
“I… I didn’t mean…” Maddie stammered, trying to explain, but Jane waved a dismissive hand.
“Save it,” she snapped, her patience wearing thin. “I don’t care what your intentions were before, but here’s the reality: Rico is my boyfriend now. Do yourself a favor—pack your things and leave. Otherwise…” She paused, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t blame me for being unpleasant.”
Without waiting for a response, Jane turned on her heel and strode into Maddie’s bathroom, leaving her standing there in stunned silence.
Maddie sighed deeply, fighting back tears. She told herself it didn’t matter. She was leaving anyway. Soon, Jane’s harsh words and accusations wouldn’t matter anymore.
As Maddie sat on the edge of her bed that night, her thoughts drifted back to the past.
During high school, she had leaned heavily on Rico’s support. At the time, Rico was just starting his acting career, taking small roles that barely paid the bills. Money was tight, but Rico had never hesitated to make sure Maddie had everything she needed.
When Maddie entered college, she wanted to ease his burden. She started writing novels, earning a modest income that gradually grew. From $200 a month to $2,000 and eventually tens of thousands, Maddie became fully self-sufficient. But even then, Rico insisted on sending her money every month. She had tried to refuse, but he always found a way to ensure she accepted it.
Quietly, Maddie saved every penny Rico gave her, including what he spent on her during high school. The money sat untouched in a separate account, ready to be returned to him if he ever needed it.
After graduating college, Maddie planned to pursue a job as an editor. But Rico asked her to stay.
“I’ve never had a real family before,” he’d said, his voice soft and vulnerable. “Now that I finally have one, I don’t want to lose it.”
Moved by his words, Maddie stayed. She took care of him, managed the house and wrote her novels. For a time, she thought she had built something unshakable with Rico—a warm, unbreakable bond.
But now, as Jane’s voice echoed in her mind, Maddie realized how naive she had been.
The next morning, Maddie woke late. She glanced at the clock—it was already ten. Panicking, she rushed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Rico.
She cooked millet yam and red date porridge, made fluffy egg cakes and fried two simple vegetarian dishes. Rico had a sensitive stomach and Maddie always took care to prepare meals that wouldn’t upset him.
As she finished setting the table, Jane sauntered into the kitchen wearing one of Rico’s oversized shirts.
“Good morning!” Jane chirped, her voice syrupy sweet. It was a far cry from the venom she’d spewed the night before.
Maddie forced a polite smile. “Morning.”
Jane scanned the table and pouted theatrically. “Oh no, it looks like someone forgot about me. No breakfast for the guest? Is this how you treat Rico’s girlfriend?”
Maddie blinked, realizing there were only two bowls of porridge on the table—one for her and one for Rico. Forcing herself to remain calm, she walked back to the kitchen and ladled another bowl for Jane.
As she turned to bring it to the table, she bumped into someone.
“Ah!” Jane shrieked, stepping back dramatically.
The bowl slipped from Maddie’s hands, crashing to the floor. Hot porridge splattered everywhere and the ceramic shattered. Maddie gasped as the scalding liquid splashed onto her feet. A sharp pain followed as a shard of porcelain sliced into the back of her foot, blood pooling instantly.
***
Jane’s scream drew Rico into the room. He rushed to Jane’s side, his eyes wide with concern.
“Jane, are you okay? What happened?”
“She just… bumped into me,” Jane said, her tone laced with accusation. “It’s fine, though. I’m not hurt.”
Rico turned to Maddie, who was crouched on the floor, clutching her bleeding foot. His brow furrowed as he noticed the injury. “Maddie, are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Maddie murmured, her voice strained as she fought back tears. She tried to stand, but pain shot up her leg, making her wince.
Jane’s gaze flickered to Maddie’s foot, but her expression remained indifferent. “I mean, accidents happen,” she said breezily, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “But Maddie, you really should be more careful.”
Rico helped Maddie to a chair, his concern genuine, but Maddie could see the way his attention kept drifting back to Jane. The dynamic was clear: no matter what happened, Jane would always come first.
Chapter 4
Maddie crouched on the cold kitchen floor, her injured foot stinging with pain. She glanced up at Jane Harper, catching the fleeting glimmer of triumph in her eyes. Jane had done it on purpose—of that, Maddie was certain.
“What’s going on here?”
Before Maddie could respond, Rico Hughes walked into the kitchen. Jane’s expression shifted instantly, her red-rimmed eyes glistening with unshed tears. She rushed toward him, her voice trembling with feigned distress.
“Rico! I just wanted to help Maddie in the kitchen, but I ended up making a mess.” She lifted her foot slightly, revealing a few rice grains stuck to her pristine, unblemished skin. “Look! I even burned my foot. It hurts so much…”
Rico’s face softened immediately. He knelt down, gently cradling Jane’s foot in his hands, his voice thick with concern. “Jane, are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?”
Maddie’s stomach churned as Rico shot her a sharp glare.
“Maddie! How could you be so careless? Apologize to Jane!”
Her breath caught. Apologize? Maddie blinked, her tears spilling over as she stared at Rico. Did he truly believe she was the one at fault? Did he even care about what had happened?
It was Jane who had bumped into her on purpose. Maddie bit her lip, swallowing her retort. This wasn’t the Rico she had grown up with—the boy who had once fought off bullies for her, who had promised to always protect her.
Her tears dripped onto her injured foot, mingling with the blood seeping from the cut. The pain was unbearable, but not nearly as deep as the ache in her chest.
***
Rico’s frown deepened as he glanced at Maddie crouching on the floor. “Maddie, did you hear me? I told you to apologize!”
But before Maddie could muster a response, Jane tugged on Rico’s arm, her pout firmly in place.
“Rico, don’t be so hard on her,” she said in a singsong voice. “She’s been cooking for you all morning, after all. Let’s not make a big deal out of it.”
Jane led him out of the kitchen, turning back to cast Maddie a victorious smirk.
“Go eat, Rico,” Jane cooed. “You’ll need your strength for that interview later.”
Rico hesitated, his gaze lingering on Jane’s foot. “Your burn needs to be treated. Change your clothes and I’ll take you to the hospital before the interview.”
“Okay, Rico,” Jane replied sweetly, glancing at Maddie out of the corner of her eye.
Rico’s voice turned cold as he looked back at Maddie. “Clean up this mess. Someone else could get hurt.” Without another word, he left the kitchen, his concern wholly reserved for Jane.
As their laughter faded, Maddie broke down. The sobs she had suppressed poured out in ragged gasps.
It hurt.
It all hurt.
She wasn’t sure if the burning pain from the porridge or the cut on her foot was worse—or if it was the ache in her heart that consumed her the most.
After wrapping her foot with a makeshift bandage, Maddie hailed a taxi to the hospital. The doctor cleaned her wound and stitched it carefully, offering advice about avoiding further strain.
As she stepped out of the hospital into the crisp morning air, her phone buzzed. It was her mother.
“Maddie,” her mother began, her voice warm but tinged with concern, “how’s the packing going? I bought you a plane ticket for six days from now. Your brother will come to pick you up in New York the day before.”
Maddie leaned against a bench, staring at her stitched foot. “Mom, I can handle the flight myself. Just have him meet me at the airport. I haven’t packed much yet, but I need to visit the orphanage before I leave.”
There was a pause on the line before her mother spoke again, her voice softer now.
“It’s important to go back, Maddie. That place raised you. Your father and I donated some money recently—I wanted the children there to have a little more, to live a bit better than before.”
The kindness in her mother’s voice cracked something inside Maddie.
“Mom… I don’t blame you or Dad,” she said softly, sensing her mother’s unspoken guilt. “I know you did everything you could. It was hard back then… transportation, communication… everything was harder.”
Her mother’s voice broke slightly. “We searched for you everywhere, Maddie. We never stopped. But the years…” She trailed off, unable to finish.
Maddie closed her eyes, her thoughts drifting to her childhood. Her earliest memories of the orphanage were cold and lonely, but she had always wondered—if circumstances had been different, would she have stayed with her family in Haichester?
***
Her mother’s words brought back painful memories. When Maddie was three, her family had been torn apart by greed and betrayal. Her uncle had demanded a split of the family inheritance, creating rifts that couldn’t be mended. In the chaos that followed, Maddie was separated from her parents, lost in the bustling streets of Haichester.
For years, she clung to the hope that they were searching for her. Now, after so many years apart, the ache of those lost years was still fresh. Maddie had found her parents, but the void in her heart remained.
And now, as she prepared to leave Rico’s home, she realized she was once again stepping away from a life she had fought so hard to build.
Chapter 5
The turmoil in Maddie’s life began long before Rico Hughes came into it. As a child, her family had been torn apart by greed and betrayal. Her uncle, desperate to force Maddie’s father into splitting the family fortune, kidnapped her one night. His plan unraveled quickly. Maddie’s uncle, drunk and reckless, died choking on his own vomit in a dingy bar, leaving her abandoned in a hotel.
Terrified and alone, Maddie wandered the streets until a childless couple found her and took her in. They renamed her “Lana,” hoping the name would bring them luck. Their prayers seemed to work—six months later, Maddie’s foster mother became pregnant.
One crisp autumn morning, her foster father packed a small bag of her belongings and brought her to a train station. They rode for an entire day until they reached New York. He left her in front of an old brick building.
“This will be your home now,” he said flatly, handing her the bag. Without waiting for her reply, he walked away, his steps hurried and final.
Maddie stood frozen, clutching her bag. Tears welled in her eyes as she stared at the looming building that would become the orphanage she called home. She was on the verge of crying herself to sleep on the cold steps when a boy’s cheerful voice startled her.
“Hey! What’s your name? Did your mom and dad not want you either?”
She looked up to see a boy with messy hair and an oversized shirt peeking through the iron fence.
“My name is…” Maddie hesitated. She didn’t like the name Lana. Somewhere deep in her heart, she remembered being called something else. “Maddie. My name is Maddie.”
The boy tilted his head, grinning. “I’m Rico. My mom and dad don’t want me either. Don’t worry! I’ll go get Mr. Walker!”
Before she could respond, Rico darted off. Moments later, a kind man with graying hair led her inside. Rico was waiting by the door, a proud smile on his face.
“Maddie, don’t be scared,” he said, reaching out to hold her hand. “My parents don’t want me anymore, either. But now we can be a family.”
***
Life in the orphanage wasn’t easy, but Maddie found solace in Rico’s unwavering protection. The staff tried their best and occasionally, donors would visit, bringing toys or supplies. But with so many children and limited resources, fights and bullying were common.
Whenever Maddie was teased or cornered, Rico would appear, fierce and unrelenting, to defend her. Over time, no one dared to bother her anymore.
As the years passed, Rico became her rock, her safe place. But somewhere along the way, things changed. The warmth between them faded, replaced by a distance Maddie couldn’t understand.
She couldn’t pinpoint when Rico began to drift away. All she knew was that the boy who once promised to protect her was now a man whose heart belonged to someone else.
***
Maddie sat beneath the golden ginkgo tree outside their shared apartment complex, her gaze fixed on the balcony of the 23rd floor. The plants and flowers on that balcony were her pride and joy—each one nurtured with care. But soon, they wouldn’t be hers anymore. Perhaps they never truly had been.
As the midday sun burned her skin, Maddie let her tears fall freely. She reached up to wipe them away, only to be interrupted by the buzz of her phone. A message from her editor appeared on the screen:
[Maddie, why didn’t you update yesterday? The readers are begging for the next chapter. You can’t miss another deadline!]
She stared at the message for a long moment before typing a curt reply.
[Okay.]
Standing with a wince, Maddie limped toward the elevator. Writing had always been her escape. Her current novel—a story of two children who grew up relying on each other—mirrored her own life in many ways. But unlike her story, the heroine in the novel was the one who saved the boy and the boy had fallen in love with her.
***
At her desk, Maddie opened her laptop and pulled up the comments section beneath her latest chapter.
[Maddie, when will the two of them finally get together? I can’t take the suspense anymore!]
[Please don’t break my heart. Let them be happy. They deserve it.]
[Don’t let the hero leave with his real parents. The heroine needs him!]
[If you write a sad ending, I swear I’ll send you a razor blade!]
Maddie stared at the screen, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. Readers poured their hearts into the story, rooting for her characters to have the happy ending she had always dreamed of. But how could she give them something she didn’t believe in anymore?
With trembling fingers, she began to type. Her thoughts wandered as the words appeared on the screen. Was she writing for her readers, or was she rewriting the life she wished she could have?
Chapter 6
Maddie gave a bitter smile as she closed the comment section on her latest novel. Writing had been her escape—a way to preserve the moments she shared with Rico Hughes. For years, she’d poured her heart into crafting a love story inspired by their bond, believing her characters could find the happiness she longed for.
But reality was different. Rico had chosen Jane Harper. The dream Maddie clung to had shattered, leaving her grasping at memories that no longer felt real.
In her senior year of college, when Maddie’s biological parents finally found her, she made the difficult choice to stay by Rico’s side. She hadn’t told him about her family, fearing that her newfound completeness would only alienate him further. Maddie had sacrificed so much for Rico.
And what had she received in return?
Nothing but distance.
Rico had long since stepped out of the fragile bond they shared. Maddie was the only one left, trapped in a cage of her own making, guarding feelings that now felt like a lie.
She stared at her laptop screen, her chest tightening. With trembling fingers, she typed the title of her newest chapter: Leave.
***
After updating her novel, Maddie moved through the apartment like a ghost, packing her belongings. She placed her favorite clothes in a suitcase, then gathered the rest into large bags. Once her room was stripped of the little touches that made it hers, she sank onto the bed, exhausted.
Reaching into her nightstand, Maddie pulled out a worn photo album. She flipped through the pages, her fingers brushing over the glossy images.
She had always loved photography. As a child, she didn’t have the means to capture moments, but in college, she’d saved up from her writing income to buy a camera. Most of her photos were of Rico, frozen in candid moments like sitting by the dining room window, sunlight highlighting his features as he ate breakfast. Not only that, he was also lying on the balcony, a cigarette dangling lazily from his fingers, curling up on the sofa after a night of drinking, his expression soft in sleep, wearing an apron in the kitchen, brushing soap suds off a plate, and smiling reluctantly in a goofy birthday hat, his eyes shut tight as he made a wish.
Each photo had once made Maddie’s heart flutter. Now, they only deepened her ache.
Gripping a pair of scissors, Maddie prepared to cut the photos into pieces, but her phone buzzed, interrupting her.
Her best friend’s voice came through the line, frantic. “Maddie, have you seen your phone? You’re trending.”
“Trending?” Maddie asked, her brows knitting in confusion.
“Yes, someone uploaded a video of you standing outside Rico’s hotel yesterday, holding flowers and crying. Jane’s fans are all over it.” Lucy’s tone softened, worried. “They’re saying awful things. Don’t take it to heart, okay? You know how those fans are—they’ll attack anything that moves.”
Lucy had been Maddie’s college roommate and the only person who knew about her connection to Rico.
“I’ll take a look,” Maddie said quietly, slipping on her headphones as she opened the app.
The top trending hashtag blazed across the screen: #JaneHarperRicoHughesSoSweet. Below it, another topic hovered ominously: #RicoHughesSponsoredOrphan.
Her stomach dropped as she clicked the second tag.
Photos flooded her screen: A shot of her crying outside the hotel, flowers clutched tightly in her hands. Besides, there were images of her entering and leaving Rico’s apartment complex and a rare picture of her and Rico together as children at the orphanage.
The accompanying comments were cruel, each one like a dagger aimed at her heart:
“Who does she think she is? Rico took pity on her and paid for her education and now she’s clinging to him like a leech!”
“Does she seriously think she has a chance with him? What a delusional toad trying to eat a swan!”
“Rico belongs with Jane! This shameless woman needs to leave and stop embarrassing herself.”
“She’s so pathetic. Jane is classy and beautiful. Maddie is just… nothing.”
Maddie’s fingers hovered over the screen as she read the comments. Her throat tightened, but she refused to cry. Not again.
Setting her phone aside, Maddie leaned back in her chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Was this how the world saw her? A pathetic hanger-on, clinging to someone who no longer wanted her?
She had given up so much for Rico—her independence, her family, even her dignity. And now, the only thing she had left was the memory of what they once shared. Maddie’s heart burned with shame and anger.
For years, she had tried to preserve their bond through her writing, immortalizing their moments in a fictional world where love conquered all. But now, the reality was too stark to ignore. Rico had moved on. He had Jane.
And Maddie? She had nothing but the echoes of a past that no longer existed.
She exhaled shakily, turning back to her laptop. The comments section of her latest chapter was still open, filled with eager pleas from her readers:
“When will they finally realize they’re meant for each other?”
“Please don’t let the hero leave. The heroine needs him!”
“If you give them a sad ending, I’ll cry for a week!”
Maddie’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. They wanted a happy ending, but her life wasn’t a novel. Sometimes, the hero didn’t choose the heroine.
Sometimes, he walked away.
Chapter 7
Maddie stared at her phone, her hand trembling as she scrolled through the venomous comments flooding the screen.
"Does anyone else think Maddie looks a bit like Jane Harper? She has a tear mole under her right eye, too!"
"Seriously? Tear moles aren’t rare. If every girl with one looked like Jane, the world would be overrun with wannabe rivals."
"Let’s pressure Rico to get rid of her! Someone like Maddie doesn’t deserve to stay around him."
"If she doesn’t leave, let’s protest outside their neighborhood. She won’t dare step out!"
The cruel words made Maddie’s chest tighten. Her gaze shifted to the group photo from the orphanage sitting on her desk. Only two people could have leaked it: Rico or Jane.
Rico rarely mentioned his past in the orphanage to anyone. The only person who had been in her room recently was Jane Harper. The betrayal hit her like a punch to the gut.
“Maddie, are you alright?” Lucy’s voice was laced with concern.
“I’m fine,” Maddie replied, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.
“Sweetheart, let me fly over. I can be there in two hours.”
“No need, Lucy,” Maddie said, “I’ll handle this myself.”
After hanging up, Maddie immediately dialed Rico’s number. The first call went unanswered. So did the second. By the third attempt, Maddie’s frustration turned to desperation. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he picked up.
His voice was calm, almost detached. “Maddie, I’m busy. What’s going on?”
“Rico,” Maddie began, her voice trembling. “Did you see the photo? The one Jane posted online?”
There was a pause and then Rico sighed. “Maddie, Jane didn’t mean any harm. She was just curious. She didn’t realize—”
“Stop.” Maddie’s voice cracked as she interrupted him. “She didn’t realize? Rico, that photo has the entire internet calling me a greedy, shameless woman. Do you think that’s okay?”
“Of course not,” Rico replied softly. “You’re my family, Maddie. You always have been. I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life. Don’t let this get to you.”
Her grip on the phone tightened. “So you think I’m the problem? That I’ve been too greedy? That I’m unworthy?”
Rico’s tone shifted to exasperation. “That’s not what I said. Maddie, I’ll talk to you when I get home, alright? I have things to do.”
Before she could respond, the line went dead.
Maddie collapsed onto her bed, clutching the phone against her chest. Tears streamed down her face as memories flooded her mind.
Once, Rico would have fought tooth and nail to defend her from anyone who dared speak ill of her. Now, even as the internet tore her apart, all he could offer was indifference and empty reassurances.
The bond she had cherished—their shared history, their childhood dependence on each other—meant nothing to him anymore.
To Rico, it seemed their connection was a relic of the past, not worth defending.
When Maddie woke the next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains. Her phone buzzed relentlessly with unread messages.
The first was from her older brother: [Maddie, I’ve had the hot search suppressed. Don’t worry—I’ll take care of everything when you’re home.]
Her mother’s message followed: [Maddie, do you want your father and me to issue a statement? We can let the public know you’re part of the Evans Family, not an orphan.]
Next came Lucy: [Maddie, the hot search about you is gone. It looks like Rico still cares about you, even if he has a girlfriend now.]
And then Jane’s message, dripping with mockery: [Wow, Maddie. It must be nice to have Rico spend so much money to clean up your mess. How did you manage that?]
Maddie clenched her jaw, her emotions roiling. The cleanup wasn’t for her sake. It was to protect Rico’s image.
Maddie sat in silence, rereading the messages. Each one brought a different weight to her chest—her brother’s protective nature, her mother’s concern, Lucy’s optimism and Jane’s taunts.
She had spent her life believing in the strength of her bond with Rico. Now, it felt as though every piece of that connection had crumbled.
For years, she had been his shadow, supporting him, waiting for a place in his world. But Maddie realized something now: Rico had outgrown their shared past. And if she didn’t walk away, she would be stuck in a version of herself that no longer existed.
Chapter 8
Maddie sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone. The social media frenzy that had consumed her yesterday was now eerily silent. Every scathing post, every cruel comment and even the leaked photo were gone, wiped clean as if they had never existed.
But Maddie knew this wasn’t Rico’s doing. This time, the one standing behind her wasn’t the man she had spent years trusting—it was her brother.
"Thank you, Frans," Maddie texted, her fingers trembling.
A moment later, she sent another message to her mom: [Don’t worry about me too much. Once I’m back in Haichester, I’ll let you introduce me to someone new.]
Her mother’s reply came almost instantly: [Alright, sweetheart. Mom is counting down the days until you’re home.]
The image of her mother waiting by her phone, anxious for a response, made Maddie’s eyes sting. This was what she had been missing all along—a sense of family, love without conditions, a place where she was wanted.
Maddie was about to reply to Lucy when her phone buzzed with an incoming call.
“Maddie! You scared me half to death,” Lucy exclaimed, her tone frantic. “Why didn’t you answer my messages? I thought something had happened to you!”
“What could possibly happen to me?” Maddie replied with forced lightness, trying to put her friend at ease.
“Well, Rico took down the hot search, didn’t he? That must mean something. You’re not as upset now, right?”
Maddie hesitated, her voice softening. “Lucy, it wasn’t Rico. It was my brother who handled it. And honestly, I’ve stopped caring about Rico. I’m getting ready to go home.”
The words barely left her mouth when a knock came at the door.
“Maddie, breakfast is ready,” Rico’s voice called from the other side.
Her heart jolted. She had slept so deeply the night before that she hadn’t heard him return. Panicking, she quickly ended the call with Lucy and opened the door.
Rico stood outside, dressed casually in his pajamas. His dark hair was tousled and his expression was unreadable.
“You said you’re going home?” he asked, his tone sharp.
Maddie’s mind raced. “You misheard,” she said quickly. “It was Lucy who’s going home.”
Before Rico could press further, a soft voice floated in from the kitchen.
“Rico, has Maddie gotten up yet? Breakfast is ready!”
Jane appeared, balancing a plate in her hands, wearing Rico’s shirt from the night before. She beamed at Maddie as though the previous day’s chaos had never happened.
“Good morning, Maddie!”
Maddie bit back a bitter retort. “You two enjoy. I’m not hungry.” She turned to close the door, but Rico grabbed her arm.
“Don’t be rude,” he said, frowning. “Jane worked so hard to make breakfast despite her burned foot. She even woke up early to cook for you and you won’t eat?”
A laugh burst from Maddie’s lips—sharp, bitter and uncontrollable. The emotions she had buried for so long finally erupted, spilling out in a flood of anger and heartbreak.
“Rude? You’re calling me rude?” Her voice trembled, but it was steady enough to cut through the air. “Rico, it was Jane who bumped into me yesterday. But you didn’t even care to ask what happened. You blamed me—me! And now you’re talking about her burned foot? Did you know I had to get stitches? Did you know I needed a tetanus shot? Of course not. You didn’t even notice!”
Rico froze, his eyes dropping to her feet. For the first time, he noticed the thick gauze wrapped around her right foot. Maddie was barefoot, standing on the cold floor and tears fell silently, splashing against the ground.
“I didn’t know…” he murmured, his voice tinged with guilt. He moved as if to crouch down and examine her injury, but Jane quickly intervened.
“I’m so sorry!” Jane’s voice quivered with practiced regret. She stepped beside Rico, her face a picture of remorse. “I had no idea you were hurt. I didn’t mean to bump into you yesterday—I swear!”
Maddie’s jaw clenched as she watched Jane’s theatrics. The sweet, apologetic tone was for Rico’s benefit, not hers.
Maddie’s chest heaved as she took a step back, leaning against the doorframe for support. “Save it, Jane,” she said coldly, her voice sharp enough to slice through the air. “You’ve done enough.”
Rico glanced between the two women, conflicted. “Maddie, she didn’t mean any harm—”
“No, Rico.” Maddie’s voice cracked, but she held his gaze. “You didn’t mean any harm either, right? But every time Jane hurts me, you’re the first to defend her. Every time I need you, you’re too busy. Do you know what that feels like?”
He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out.
“I’m done,” Maddie whispered, her voice barely audible. “I’m done waiting for you to care.”
Chapter 9
Maddie’s voice trembled with fury as she glared at Jane Harper. “Heh, Jane. Stop with the innocent act. Are you seriously going to tell me that leaking those photos from the orphanage wasn’t intentional?!”
“Maddie!” Rico’s sharp tone cut through the air like a whip. His eyes narrowed and his voice carried an edge Maddie had never heard before. “How can you talk to Jane like that? She didn’t mean for this to happen. She was just curious about the photo, sent it to a friend and it got passed along. It was an accident! The hot search has already been taken down. What more do you want?!”
Maddie clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought back tears. “And I’m supposed to just forget it? Those words people wrote about me, all that abuse—does taking down the hot search erase it? So if I accidentally hurt someone, does that make it okay as long as I say I didn’t mean to?”
“That’s completely different, Maddie,” Rico snapped, his frustration mounting. “Why do you have to be so unreasonable? Just let it go!”
Before Maddie could unleash the retort bubbling in her chest, her phone rang. She took a deep breath to steady herself before answering.
“Hello?” she said, her voice still taut with emotion.
“Hi, Miss Evans. I’m with the clothing donation service. You scheduled a pickup for today? I’m at your building now—may I come up?”
“Yes, I’m home. Please come up to the apartment,” Maddie replied, grateful for the distraction.
After hanging up, she dragged three large bags of clothing from her room to the front door.
Rico watched her with a frown. “Why are you giving away so many clothes?”
Maddie shot him a cold glance. “They’re my clothes. What does it matter to you?” Her gaze shifted to Jane. “If you two don’t want to be seen, I suggest going back to your room before the donation staff gets here.”
Jane flinched at Maddie’s tone but quickly masked it with a polite smile. She tugged on Rico’s arm and they retreated to his bedroom.
After the donation staff left, Maddie reluctantly joined Rico and Jane at the dining table for breakfast. Under Rico’s insistence, she picked up a bowl of cereal and forced herself to eat.
Jane had prepared simple milk cereal and sandwiches, but Maddie hesitated before taking a bite. She eyed the sandwich cautiously, remembering the past few days of tension.
“Rico,” she began, breaking the silence, “do you have time to go back to the orphanage with me tomorrow?”
Rico looked up, surprised. “Why do you want to go to the orphanage?”
“I want to see Mrs. Walker,” Maddie said simply. “It’s been a while.”
Rico sighed. “I can’t tomorrow. Jane and I are heading to the beach for a few days to celebrate wrapping up the drama. I’ll go with you when I’m back.”
“And when will that be?”
“Five days.”
Maddie froze. Five days later, she would already be gone—flying back to Haichester to start a new chapter of her life. Rico wouldn’t even notice until she was already out of reach.
She swallowed hard, her throat tightening with disappointment. “Never mind,” she said quietly, picking up the sandwich and taking a small bite.
The moment Maddie bit into the sandwich, her eyes widened in shock as a fiery heat exploded in her mouth. She coughed violently, her eyes watering as she scrambled to spit the bite into the trash can. Grabbing a glass of water, she gulped it down, trying to douse the burning sensation.
Jane’s voice was soft, laced with feigned hurt. “Rico, is my cooking really that bad?” A single tear slid down her cheek, accentuating the tear mole beneath her right eye.
Rico frowned, glancing at his sandwich and taking a bite. It tasted perfectly normal. His brows furrowed as he turned to Maddie. “What’s your problem now? Are you just trying to make Jane feel bad?”
Maddie’s patience snapped. She slammed the sandwich onto the table and pulled apart the slices of bread. A smear of spicy mustard coated the inside, far more than anyone would ever use. She held it out toward Rico, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Here. Why don’t you try this version of her ‘cooking’?”
Rico froze, his eyes darting between Maddie and the sandwich. For a moment, doubt flickered in his expression, but Jane quickly stepped in.
“I must have made a mistake,” Jane said, her voice trembling. “I didn’t mean for it to be too spicy. I was trying to add a little flavor…”
Maddie’s laugh was humorless. “Of course. You didn’t mean to.”
Chapter 10
The sandwich was warm and inviting, but the red chili sauce spread thickly in the middle was anything but. Maddie wrinkled her nose, the pungent aroma making her eyes water.
“Why is there so much chili sauce in my sandwich?” she exclaimed, setting the offending meal back on the plate.
Rico glanced up from his cup of coffee, looking puzzled. “Wait, chili sauce? That can’t be right. I made the sandwiches with ketchup!”
“You sure about that?” Maddie asked, her tone sharp, eyebrows raised. “Because this looks—and smells—like chili sauce.”
Rico scratched the back of his head, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. “Maybe I mixed them up? I swear it looked like ketchup.”
Jane, standing awkwardly by the counter, let out a nervous laugh. “Oh, Rico, you’re always so scatterbrained in the kitchen. No harm done, right?” She turned toward Maddie, attempting a playful smile.
Maddie wasn’t amused. Her lips curled into a tight smile, masking her irritation. “No harm? Jane, even if you can’t cook, surely you can tell the difference between chili peppers and tomatoes. I mean, the bottles are labeled. Or don’t you bother reading?”
Jane’s face flushed red, her embarrassment evident. “I—I didn’t see any labels! Both bottles looked exactly the same and they didn’t have any packaging. How was I supposed to know?”
Maddie shot to her feet, leaving the table as Rico frowned. “Come on, Jane, Maddie didn’t mean it like that. It was just a mistake,” he said, trying to smooth things over.
“Mistake or not, I’m checking,” Maddie muttered, storming into the kitchen.
Sure enough, two nearly identical bottles of red sauce sat on the spice rack. Their labels had been ripped off, leaving no clear indication of what was inside.
“When did this happen?” Maddie murmured under her breath. “Yesterday, the ketchup bottle still had its label…”
Rico followed her into the kitchen and picked up one of the bottles. After inspecting it, he chuckled softly and reached out to ruffle Jane’s hair. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Jane. Without the labels, I can’t tell the difference either.”
Maddie crossed her arms, glaring at them both. “So why is it that your sandwiches don’t have any chili sauce and mine is practically drowning in it?”
Rico looked taken aback. “Hey, there’s no need to be aggressive. Jane even asked me what you like and I told her you love ketchup. She just tried to make it special for you. We don’t care for ketchup, so we skipped it.”
Maddie clenched her fists at her sides, biting back a retort. She knew Rico was too enamored with Jane to see through her clumsy excuses. It didn’t matter anymore—none of it did. After all, she had already made up her mind.
The day after Rico and Jane left for their trip, Maddie packed her things and went back to where it all began: the orphanage. She carried a bag full of gifts for the children, hoping to leave a part of herself behind in the only place that had ever truly felt like home.
“Maddie!” Mrs. Walker, the headmistress, called out, rushing to embrace her. “Oh, it’s so good to see you again! But where’s Rico? Didn’t he come with you?”
Maddie offered a small smile. “He’s been busy. Didn’t have time to visit.”
Mrs. Walker sighed, her expression turning wistful. “Busy with that actress he’s dating, huh? I saw the news. Such a shame. I always thought the two of you would end up together.”
Laughing softly, Maddie shook her head. “There’s no shame in it, Mrs. Walker. Rico’s always seen me as a little sister. Now he has his own life and I have mine.”
“But he took care of you for so long. When he finally had enough to support himself, he brought you home. That boy has always put you first.”
Maddie’s voice softened. “That was a long time ago. Things change. We’ve both moved on.”
Mrs. Walker nodded, but her expression brightened. “Your mom donated another two million dollars to the orphanage last week. She said it was in your name! You’re so lucky to have found your family after all these years.”
“Yeah,” Maddie murmured, a bittersweet smile on her face. “It’s about time I went back to them.”
Back at Rico’s house—soon to be just his house—Maddie began packing up the remnants of her life. Every day, she dragged bags of her belongings down to the trash. With each trip, she discarded more than just clothes and trinkets; she let go of the past, of the memories, of the part of her that had clung to what could never be.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Maddie made one final trip to the trash bin, her arms full of discarded dreams. This time, she didn’t look back.
Chapter 11
One by one, Maddie erased every trace of herself from Rico’s home. Even the plants she had nurtured on the balcony found new homes with the friendly cleaning ladies in the neighborhood. She left no sign that she had ever lived there.
That evening, Maddie sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone, when the news flashed before her eyes: Rico and Jane were trending again.
The photos painted a perfect picture—Rico and Jane walking hand-in-hand along the shore, laughing, hugging and kissing beneath the fading sunlight. Their love seemed effortless, their smiles meant for the world to see.
Maddie’s heart ached as she swiped through the images, but she kept scrolling, unable to stop herself. Finally, she logged out of her social media account. It wasn’t just any account; it was one she had created specifically to support Rico. Disguised as an anonymous fan, she had joined his fan groups, shared posts about his accomplishments and stayed up late helping other fans boost his popularity.
At one time, it had been her secret joy—a quiet way of giving back to the person she loved. But now, that chapter was over. He no longer needed her devotion and she no longer needed the pain of holding onto him.
***
Not long after logging out, her phone buzzed. A dozen photos from Jane appeared in her messages.
Maddie hesitated before opening them.
The images were deliberate. Jane was dressed provocatively in swimsuits or bathrobes, the beach serving as a backdrop. In every photo, Rico was there, close enough to remind Maddie of their connection.
Then came the text:
[So, Maddie, will you be moved out before Rico comes back to town tomorrow?]
Maddie’s fingers trembled as she typed her reply:
[Yes.]
Jane’s response was instant. [Good. I’m looking forward to it.]
The photos vanished seconds later as Jane deleted them. But she had underestimated Maddie. The images were already saved to her phone.
In a rare moment of defiance, Maddie stared at them, a hollow smile on her face. The photo album she’d once filled with pictures of Rico wasn’t complete. Now, these new pictures would be added. They would mark the final pages of a story she had once dreamed would never end.
***
When the morning came, Maddie’s room was bare except for two things: first, a bank card containing every dollar Rico had ever spent on her, along with the interest she had calculated over the years, and also the photo album.
Maddie couldn’t bring herself to destroy it. The memories, though painful, had been beautiful once. The last page held a photo of the two of them from the orphanage. She carefully cut it in half, keeping only the part with Rico.
On the back, she wrote a single line:
“Rico, I’m leaving. I wish your happiness.”
After placing the photo in the album, she set it down on the nightstand, closed her bedroom door and walked out of the house. Her suitcase in hand, she took one last look at the place that had once been her sanctuary.
Then, without a second glance, she stepped into the night and hailed a taxi, leaving everything behind.
