Madison

The ceremony is beautiful, and I’m taking pictures of the three of them. Bryce’s smile is infectious, and he’s so proud of his baby sister.

“Okay, everyone, let’s get going!” Justine claps her hands, and we get into the limo to head to her brunch, which is actually a little party Bryce and I put together for her.

The surprise is a success! More of Bryce’s family comes over to introduce themselves, and it feels good to get to know the people who love him so much. Renee and I grab a glass of champagne and sit in a quiet corner.

“Something about him is different. You’ve done that to him. After he lost Blaire, I don’t know, everything good about him died. She was his whole world. Everything he did, he did for her.”

“How was his relationship with Tiffany?”

Renee rolls her eyes. “I never liked her. She always came over and overstayed her welcome. Everyone could tell she wanted Bryce. Freaking whore. I hate her.” She takes a drink and places the glass on the table. “The only good thing that came out of her was Blaire. I remember when Mom and I went to see her at the hospital. I miss my niece every day.” She sighs, gripping her chest and wiping a tear with her other hand. “It hasn’t been easy. Blaire was only three months.”

I place my hand on hers. “I’m so sorry. I said the same to Bryce. He’s slowly opening up to me, and I love him so much.”

“You have no idea what that means to us. Knowing Bryce is going to be happy is more than we can ever wish for.”

My mind goes to Bryce, wondering what I can do to help the pain about his daughter. I know nothing can replace the pain, and I won’t dare do that. Now I understand why he sheltered himself. The more Renee talks about him, the more I truly understand who he is.

“Don’t worry about Bryce. I promise you won’t have to worry about him. And I won’t allow him not to visit you and your mother.”

“That means so much to me, and I know it’ll mean a lot to Mom. It’s been so long since Bryce has been happy. He doesn’t allow us to discuss Blaire. The day she died, he closed his heart, and we thought it was closed forever. There’s something in the way he carries himself, like there's this guilt and it won't go away. No matter what we tell him, he carries the burden of her death. Shit, please don’t repeat anything I’ve said. He’ll be so pissed.”

“Of course not.”

I excuse myself, looking for Bryce, but don’t see him with his family. I wander around the restaurant and notice a light in the upstairs party room. I don’t remember another party. The steps are on the other side of the restaurant, so I walk over there, taking one step at a time, and around the corner, Bryce is there.

“I told you I have everything handled. She’s safe, and I’m going to always protect her. Why are you fucking here?”

“I paid you to take care of my daughter! To see that she will be safe. You were supposed to be her friend ... her damn confidante. Not her boyfriend! Don’t you get it, Hunter? I don’t want her with a man like you.” My dad’s gripping Bryce’s shirt. “When I found out everything, I flew down to stop this. End it. The deal’s done. You fucked up, Hunter!”

He laughs. “A man like myself?” Bryce pushes him away and straightens himself. “I love Madison, and she loves me. I’m going to give her a beautiful life. The fucking world. When you’re gone, who the hell will she have?”

Gone?

“You’re nearing thirty-five, and she’s barely in her twenties. You were only supposed to be her mentor. To get her out of that damn job and convince her to work for you. Jesus, Hunter. The type of man you are isn’t the man I want for her.”

Knives stab my chest over and over. A vise tightens around my throat, and I’m finding it hard to breathe. My chest constricts as my heart shatters, breaking away into a million pieces. I’ve never known hurt like this before. Not with Kent. It’s all been lies with Bryce. The puzzles fuse, the missing pieces filling in as I think about all my suspicions and doubts.

Everything’s starting to make sense. How Bryce found me to the way he wanted me. He doesn’t love me. It’s all part of the art of the deal. I’m a pawn in a sick and twisted game, and my father and my lover are the key players.

I feel sick.

Trying to hold on to something, I miss and lose my balance, falling to the ground and letting out a cry. A sob hiccups in my throat.

“Madison?” Bryce’s voice of pain fills my ears, and I shake it off. I shake it out. “Baby. Please. Look at me.”

I don’t register he’s in front of me until I open my eyes and see him on his knees and my father next to him. Neither of them says anything, and I cry. I simply cry.

My tears fall steadily as spring rain.

“Why? What did I do wrong?”

Bryce reaches to cup my face, and I shove his hands away. His touch burns me in an unpleasant way. “Please listen. It wasn’t anything like that. Your father sought me out, and I was supposed to take care of you. I never expected to fall in love, but I fell in love with you, Madison.”

I cover my ears, shaking my head, and trying to find my voice. “Why did you do this? You lied to me from the start. You knew exactly who I was that night. This whole thing has been a sham!”

“Baby, please...”

“No!” Then I turn to my dad, “Why?”

“I’m dying, Madison. The doctors are giving me a few more weeks. Stage four cancer.”

What? I shake my head, not wanting his confession to sink in. It’s all too much. Bryce’s betrayal. My father’s terminal sickness. I can’t do this. Not now … here with them …

My world goes black. I’ve lost my mom. I’m going to lose my dad. And I’m going to lose Bryce.

Not wanting to hear anymore, I carefully pick myself up and turn away, taking the stairs and rush outside. I feel terrible for doing this, especially at Renee’s party. Gasping for air, I run as fast I can. I have no idea where I’m going. Somehow, I hail a cab and get to the hotel in record time. Fumbling with my clutch, I pull out the room card and run inside to get my things. The room smells like him. He’s all around me. I can’t shake him off.

“Be strong,” I mutter and pick up my bag to leave.