CHAPTER 146 A STRANGER.

The sound of music, laughter, and clinking glasses filled the air as Madison stood there, frozen in shock. The woman's words hung in the air like a challenge, a reminder that Madison had been living in a bubble of denial. The party sounds grew louder, more vibrant, a stark contrast to the emptiness Madison felt inside. She couldn't believe she had been so blind, so foolish. Michael, the man she thought she knew, was a stranger to her now. With a quiet sigh, Madison hung up the phone, the music and laughter still echoing in her ears. She felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff, staring into an abyss of heartache and betrayal. But as she looked around her, she saw the familiar walls of her room, the comforting sight of her bed, and the realization that she was safe, that she was free. With a newfound sense of determination, Madison took a step forward, away from the phone, away from the past, and into a future that was hers alone. The party sounds faded into the background a