Instead of the familiar voice Edward was expecting, a mechanical prompt sounded.


    “Sorry, the number you dialed is unavable. Please try againter.”


    Edward froze. He didn’t know why the number could be unavable.


    He hung up and redialed Macie’s number repeatedly. But each time, he got the same response. Anger immediately surged within him.


    Before, when he had called her over a hundred times, the calls had at least gone through. She had just refused to pick up. But now, it seemed that she had blocked his number.


    Edward clenched his fists, a coldugh escaping his lips. He thought, “Very good, Macie. I gave <b>you </b>an out, and you refuse to take it. Do you really want me to go to the hospital to find you? Dream on!”


    It had been four days since the gas leak incident, and he hadn’t even scolded her. He had even arranged for Sharon to move out. Not only was Macie ungrateful, but her attitude had gotten worse. Now<b>, </b>she was even pulling this stunt. 1


    Seething, Edward felt like he had spoiled her too muchtely. In the past, she would never have dared to defy him. She had always been submissive and never questioned him. 1


    But now, she had even put him on her list of blocked contacts.


    Since Macie had cut him off, he had no intention of sending her any messages. If he did, even he would feel pathetic. It would be like he was groveling before her.


    At the bus stop near a shopping district, Alice spotted a familiar slender figure and immediately recognized her. She approached the person and brightly greeted them. “May!”


    Macie turned in surprise. When she saw Alice, a smile naturally spread across her face–until she noticed


    Alice’s stunned expression.


    She tilted her head in confusion. She wondered if Alice couldn’t recognize her after two years of not


    meeting each other. But she thought that it didn’t make sense as Alice had just called out her name.


    “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost in daylight,” Maciemented.


    “May!” Alice ced both hands on her shoulders, her expression serious.


    “What happened to you? Weren’t you traveling abroad? Why do you look like you’ve been drained of all


    vitality<b>?</b>” she asked, shocked.


    Macie paused and instinctively raised a hand to touch her face. “Maybe it’s because I’m not wearing any


    1/2 <fnd7a6> This update is avable on find(?)ovel</fnd7a6>


    makeup.”


    “That’s not it. You hardly wore makeup in college, but your skin was glowing back then, and you looked so full of life. Now? You look like you’ve been through hell. Even your eyes have lost their spark,” Alice said, sighing. She sounded full of concern. (1)


    Macie pressed her lips together in silence. Had these two years really drastically changed her?


    Then again, she thought that it made sense. She had nearly died from the relentless mental and physical torment, the constant suppression, and the suffocating emotions. So, how could she possibly look


    radiant?


    “Tell me. Did something happen while you were abroad? Or were you trafficked and forced intobor? Don’t tell me you were stuck in a scam ring, barely escaping with your life!” Alice spected wildly.


    Hearing Alice’s increasingly exaggerated theories, Macie chuckled. “If that were the case, wouldn’t you


    have received a scam call from me in the past two years?”


    “I’m not joking!” Alice said, her tone serious.


    “I know. Thank you for worrying about me. I’m fine. I just see things differently now,” Macie said, her


    smile gentle. “People change with their experiences. It’s normal.”


    Alice remained skeptical. But seeing that Macie was in one piece, she felt relieved. Without hesitation,


    she pulled Macie into a tight hug.


    Macie gasped softly.


    Alice quickly let go, rmed. “What’s wrong? Did I squeeze you too hard? You really don’t look well.”


    “It’s nothing. I fell a while ago, and the hug just pulled at the injury a bit,” Macie reassured her.


    Chapter <b>64 </b>