CHAPTER 508: THE PAINFUL ASSUMPTION

Maddy sat on the couch in the dimly lit living room, staring blankly at the empty pill bottles scattered across the coffee table. The room was a mess—discarded tissues, food wrappers, and crumpled receipts littered the floor, reflecting the confusion in her mind. Her eyes were swollen and red from days of crying, her once-beautiful face now pale and drawn. The drugs had started to take hold, sending her thoughts into a haze. She was lost in the fog of her sad feelings, unable to distinguish between the pain she felt and the numbness she sought. How could he? she thought repeatedly; her heart ached from the betrayal. How could Ryan bring someone else into our home and leave me like this? The room felt hot and suffocating. Maddy hugged herself, shivering despite the warmth of the room. The distant memory of happier times with Ryan played in her mind like a cruel joke, a reminder of what she had lost. She reached for another pill, her hand trembling. She barely noticed as she fumbled wi