Chapter 3 - MADISONâS TRUE COLORSHOOK: When the money vanished, the "first love" showed who she really was.

Mark was released from the police station at midnight after Attorney Vance declined to press formal criminal chargesânot out of mercy, but because Emily wanted him out on the street to suffer the consequences in real-time.
With no car, no credit cards, and only fifty dollars of cash in his wallet, Mark walked three miles through the rain to Madisonâs luxury penthouse downtown. The heavy rain soaked through his designer jacket, ruining the leather shoes he was so proud of.
He slammed his fist against Madisonâs door until she finally opened it, wearing a silk robe and holding a glass of wine.
âMark?â she snapped, stepping back to avoid the rain dripping off him. âWhat are you doing here? Do you have any idea what time it is?â
âMaddie, thank God,â Mark breathed, pushing past her into the apartment. âItâs a nightmare. Emily... she found out about us. She stripped my accounts. She fired me from Vance-Global! She took the triplets!â
Madison froze, her glass of wine halfway to her lips. The warm, affectionate look she always gave him evaporated instantly, replaced by a cold, calculating glare.
âWhat do you mean she fired you?â Madison asked, her voice dropping an octave. âYouâre the Senior Vice President!â
âSheâs the heiress to the whole company, Maddie!â Mark cried, pacing around the marble living room. âI didnât know! She set me up! I have no money, my cards are declined, and the police arrested me at the hospital! I need to stay here with you while my lawyers fix this.â
Madison let out a sharp, mocking laugh. âYour lawyers? Mark, with what money are you going to pay lawyers?â
Mark stopped pacing, looking at her in confusion. âMaddie... what are you saying? We love each other. You said todayâI mean, Tuesdayâwas about us!â
âTuesday was about us because I thought you were about to inherit a twenty-million-dollar buyout package from your firm!â Madison sneered, folding her arms. âI donât need a jobless, broke ex-husband with three sick babies and a criminal record hanging over his head!â
âI turned off my phone for you!â Mark screamed, his voice breaking as reality shattered around him. âMy daughter almost died because I stayed with you to cut that damn cake!â
âYou turned off your phone because youâre a weak, pathetic coward who wanted to play house with me while your wife did the hard work!â Madison barked. She opened the front door wide and pointed out into the hallway. âGet out of my apartment, Mark.â
âMaddie, pleaseââ
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âGet out before I call building security and tell them youâre trespassing!â
Mark stood frozen as the woman he had ruined his life for looked at him with pure disgust. Seconds later, the heavy oak door slammed in his face, leaving him in the cold, carpeted hallway with nothing to his name.