After he said that, he hung up the phone.

When Madeline called him again, his phone was switched off.

Madeline started sobbing and sniffling when she saw the darkened screen.

She felt a thorn stabbing deep inside her heart. She could not see it, but it was making her bleed profusely.

Ryan held Madeline gently. He did not know what he could say to make her feel better. Perhaps nothing he could say would ever comfort the hurt in her heart.

Madeline cried for a long while, but she could not so