Five Years of Comfort
“This should compensate you sufficiently for five years of service with my son,” Alicia Astor said, her voice smooth and unyielding as polished marble. She handed over the envelope, its weight far heavier than its physical substance.
Madeline stared at it, her fingers trembling as they closed around the crisp paper. This was the moment she had dreaded—the moment that had loomed like a storm cloud over her heart for years. The moment she would be forced to leave Liam.
“You’ve been diligent, obedient, and efficient during your time here,” Alicia continued, her icy gaze locking onto Madeline’s. “I trust you won’t make this transition difficult for any of us.”
Madeline nodded silently, her throat tight with unshed tears. She had always known this day would come, but the sharp reality of it was unbearable. The terms of the agreement were crystal clear: she was to be Liam’s companion until he finished university or found the right woman to stand by his side. Falling in love with him was strictly forbidden.
It was a twisted legacy passed down from her mother, who had once been a “companion” for the late heir of the Astor family. Madeline had been groomed for this role since her youth, taught to suppress her desires and live only for Liam. Yet she had failed spectacularly, allowing her heart to hope, to dream—to love him.
“One more thing,” Alicia added, her tone sharp enough to slice through Madeline’s spiraling thoughts. “I expect you to give him a reason to let go. I don’t want him searching for you or holding onto any foolish notions. He needs to start his future with Gwyneth with a clear mind. You have one week.”
Alicia rose gracefully, every movement calculated, her head held high like a monarch addressing a subject. Without another word, she turned and exited, leaving Madeline frozen in place.
Madeline closed her eyes, willing herself to breathe past the ache in her chest. This was the end—not just of her time with Liam but of the fragile illusion she had clung to for five years. Returning to the apartment they had shared, she felt every step echo the finality of her fate.
Their home had always been a gilded cage, provided by the Astor family to keep her close but contained. Last year, Liam had purchased a penthouse of his own in an exclusive high-rise downtown. He never invited her there. That omission had been the first crack in the facade, a silent declaration that his life was shifting toward Gwyneth, the dazzling actress who graced magazine covers and headlines.
Inside her small room, Madeline opened the envelope with unsteady hands. The check inside bore an amount that didn’t surprise her: two million dollars. It was a king’s ransom, enough to fund her dream of becoming a surgeon. Yet all she wanted in that moment was Liam. She would trade the money, the dream—everything—just to keep him.
But Liam had never truly been hers. He kept her hidden, a shadow in his life. They were together only within the confines of this apartment, and even here, his fidelity had been questionable. Her mother’s warnings echoed in her mind: Your role is to keep him focused. Nothing more.
She had played her part dutifully, becoming whatever Liam needed—friend, confidante, lover. But as the years passed, she realized she was nothing more than a temporary fixture in his life.
That night, Liam didn’t come home. He hadn’t the night before, either. When Ralph, her steady and unassuming friend, invited her to dinner, she said yes. For the first time, she allowed herself to step outside the boundaries of her role.
Ralph, the son of a senator, was an enigma—charming yet grounded. He treated her with an ease that felt foreign after years of navigating Liam’s tumultuous moods.
“We graduate tomorrow,” Ralph said as they walked toward his car. “Med school is next. That’s worth celebrating, don’t you think?”
His earnestness warmed her. She agreed, letting him whisk her away to his spa for a makeover. When she looked in the mirror afterward, she hardly recognized the woman staring back. Her short hair framed her face, drawing attention to her striking blue-green eyes—eyes Liam had always called mesmerizing.
The claret dress Ralph chose for her fit like a second skin, its thigh-high slit and plunging neckline daring her to be bold. When Ralph smiled at her, his admiration was evident.
“You’re stunning, Maddy,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “Absolutely breathtaking.”
Later, as they entered a restaurant on the ground floor of Liam’s penthouse building, her heart stuttered. Liam was there, his arm draped around Gwyneth. His sharp, possessive gaze found her instantly, freezing her mid-step.
Ralph’s steady hand guided her to their table, his quiet strength anchoring her against the tide of emotions threatening to sweep her away. They dined on delicate appetizers and champagne, Ralph’s cheerful banter a welcome distraction. But Madeline could feel Liam’s presence, his eyes boring into her, even as he left with Gwyneth.
Back at the apartment, she was shocked to find Liam waiting for her. The whiskey in his glass reflected the low light, but his eyes burned brighter, seething with barely restrained fury.
“How was your dinner date?” he asked, his voice deceptively calm.
She kicked off her stilettos, her feet throbbing. “It was nice. Ralph treated me in celebration of our graduation.”
His hand shot out, gripping the strap of her dress. “Did he buy you this?”
“Yes,” she replied, meeting his gaze evenly.
His control snapped. In one rough motion, he pulled her against him. “Are you planning to service him after me?”
Her hand flew before she could think, the slap echoing in the tense silence.
Liam growled, his lips crashing onto hers in a bruising kiss. His hands tangled in her hair, holding her captive even as she bit him, tasting blood. Her struggles only seemed to fuel his ferocity.
“You’re mine, Madeline,” he hissed. “No one else will touch you. You’re my whore. Mine alone.”
Madeline’s heart shattered at the words, but the fiery defiance in her gaze didn’t waver. This was the price of loving a man like Liam Astor.
