2 Madison’s Rebirth

Madison lay in her bed, sifting through memories shared with Ethan, but thoughts of him with another woman kept intruding. The more she dwelled on his betrayal, the angrier she became. She attempted to fall asleep, but nothing seemed to ease her mind. When Ethan returned home around 11 p.m. that night, he was surprised to find the house empty. Usually, his wife would be in the living room, watching TV and waiting for him. "Welcome home, Sir. Would you like some dinner?" Evelyn asked tentatively, taking his coat. Normally, Madison would give Evelyn instructions on what to prepare for Ethan, but tonight was different. Since Madison had returned earlier that day, she'd been holed up in her room and hadn't come down. Without any guidance, Evelyn was unsure what to do. Seeing the scowl on Ethan's face, she couldn't help but wonder if he was upset about not having dinner waiting for him. "No, I'm not hungry," Ethan replied sternly, then headed upstairs. Evelyn watched him go, wondering what had transpired between the couple. Ethan entered the room, barely acknowledging Madison lying on the bed. He headed straight to the bathroom, took a shower, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Coming out with wet hair, he noticed Madison still facing away from him. In the dim room, he dropped his towel, put on boxers, and approached the bed. Madison, though wide awake, pretended to be asleep. She knew when he arrived the moment his car pulled into the garage. Usually, she'd eagerly await his return, even late at night, welcoming him with a smile and food. But now, she realized she'd been naive. She decided she was done playing the fool. She saw no reason to invest in a relationship that seemed entirely one-sided. Ethan lingered by the bed, hoping for a response from Madison. Seeing her unmoved, he eventually got in, lying down comfortably. With one hand behind his head and the other on his stomach, he spoke softly, "I know you're still awake." He felt a pang of surprise at Madison's chilly demeanor that evening, reflecting on his own earlier rudeness, cringing at his behavior. Meanwhile, Madison debated staying silent and pretending, but she formulated another plan. Turning towards him, she ran her hand up his chest, then traced it down, her leg curling around his. Ethan's breath hitched in the darkness as he turned to her, sensing a shift in her mood. Perhaps she wasn't as upset as he thought. He kissed her shoulders and her neck. His warm exhale against her skin sent shivers down her spine. He rose on top of her and began pressing kisses on the jawline. Then, he gently nibbled her face and snaked his hand down along her back. Suddenly, Madison coldly said, "I'm ovulating tonight. I think it's about time we try for a baby." Ethan's hand stiffened from where he was reaching to push up her nightgown. Madison felt his entire body run cold. All the lust and passion dissipated within a matter of seconds. He stared down at her as he tried to look into her eyes in the dark, trying to decipher what had brought this up. "Is this the reason you called me this afternoon?" He asked. Madison lowered her head. "Your mother wants a grandchild. How do you think I'm going to achieve that without you? Am I supposed to get pregnant with another man's child, or should I go to a sperm bank?" Ethan sneered, turned away, and gave Madison a significant look. "Seems like you've thought a lot about this. If you have a solution in mind, go ahead and choose whatever you want. Being my wife is already a privilege, so don't try to tie me down any more than necessary." "I'd hate to lose you," Madison replied sarcastically. "If you don't want to lose me, don't bring it up again. This is the last time I'll entertain talk of having a baby. I don't care what reasons you have, but I won't bring a child into this world." He stormed out of the room, leaving Madison behind. Initially, Madison laughed, but soon her laughter dissolved into tears. The realization that he didn't want a child with her struck hard. She felt foolish, having loved him for so long, marrying him, only to find out he didn't share her desires. That night, Madison cried alone for hours on end. The next morning, Ethan returned from his morning run, took a shower, and sat down for breakfast. As he explored the business section of the newspaper, Evelyn placed his breakfast in front of him. "Enjoy, Sir," Evelyn said, handing him a cup of coffee. Ethan checked the time; it was 8:30 a.m. "Go upstairs and call Madison down for breakfast," he instructed Evelyn. They typically had breakfast together, just the two of them. Ethan chose to put yesterday behind them, looking forward to a fresh start today. Evelyn followed his instructions but hurried back downstairs moments later, clutching a piece of paper. "Sir, Madam has left the house. She's taken all her clothes, and I found this on the dressing table!" she exclaimed, handing the paper to Ethan. As he read the letter, Ethan scowled. Madison wanted a divorce and had already moved out that morning. He felt a surge of indignation. How could she ask for a divorce without discussing it with him first? Ethan, furious, slammed the letter down and immediately dialed Madison's number, but she declined his call. His anger surged as he tried again. When she finally answered, her tone was cold and detached, almost as if she were talking to a stranger. "Why are you calling me?" she asked flatly. "What's the meaning of this? Do you even have the right to file for a divorce?" Ethan shouted. "Of course, I do." "Why are you divorcing me?" Madison sneered. "Ethan, do you really think this is what marriage is supposed to be? We lack intimacy and any emotional connection. Honestly, there's nothing that defines us as husband and wife beyond the legal papers. I don't see any benefit in continuing this marriage for either of us. Divorce seems like the best resolution, freeing you to pursue Maya, the woman you love. Isn't that right?" Ethan was silent for a few moments. He was about to respond when Madison hung up. As soon as she hung up, Madison laid against her headboard, fiddling with her phone. For some reason, there was a strange calmness in finally being able to speak her mind. She felt as though a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She loved this newfound sense of freedom she felt and she was going to hold on to it dearly. No more will she continue to play the submissive wife while dying in silence. Madison's thrill at being single again was short-lived. During lunch outside the hotel where she was staying, Madison felt embarrassed when her card was declined while trying to pay. It seemed Ethan might have frozen her account. Fortunately, she had her personal credit card from before marriage, grateful for the backup. Ethan seemed willing to play dirty to manipulate her into returning, but she was resolute. Nothing would sway her unless he proved his genuine love, something she doubted he was capable of. Realizing her financial vulnerability, Madison called the bank, finding out her cards hadn't been frozen yet, but it remained a looming possibility. She knew she had to start working quickly to maintain her independence.