MADELYN. My jaw dropped and I clutched my chest. I needed to get a hold of myself first. But I found it impossible to take my eyes off him. I just had the worst nightmare of my life and the supposed villain in my dream, tends to be my friend who hasn't visited in a while now, and then I wake up terrified from my dream only to find him in my room. I'm still trying to connect the dots. But first thing first, how did he get in? “ Xavier, you scared the shit out of me. Besides, how did you get in?” His eyes creeped the fuck out of me and for some reason, I kept seeing his face flash in my head after that horrible nightmare. The room was silent as a graveyard and I heard the clock tick loudly. Turning my gaze in it's direction, I found out it wasn't even 8pm yet. All I had planned on doing was take a short nap and then freshen up and prepare dinner. But, I slept off. “ Xavier?” Okay, he's beginning to scare me. He hasn't answered

Xavier.I was on my way home. I walked out of her life and got into my car. She's definitely going to pay for this. Maybe Cara was right, I have been the one taking things easy with her. For the nth time, hate circulated all over my entire system. I'm going to break her and Jason the worst way I know how to. My phone beeped. It was a text from Cara. I had texted her about what happened at Maddie's house. Cara: You see what I was talking about? You better do something about it quickly, Nicholas. I can't keep being engaged to you. I love someone else but I can't disobey my father. Get Madelyn and set me free from this bondage. With one hand on the wheel, I texted back. Me: You don't answer to your father alone. You answer to me too. Your father gave you to me as a little compensation for your incompetence. Besides, your sister is playing hard to get. Well, do your part and let's relieve you of having to stay engaged to a man you dislik

CARA I stood up when I heard dad's footsteps. He wasn't in a good mood, neither was I. I was still recovering from the pain inflicted by Nicholas's belt, and yet another heartbreaking news that could subject me to a forever life game with frequent assaults. If I ever got married to a man like Nicholas, or better put, if I ever get married to this new person who's Nicholas but isn't Nicholas, I'm not sure I'd be able to crawl out alive. “ How did this happen, Cara? I thought you said you have been sending death threats to her? Why didn't she back out? Oh, she's proving to be stubborn like her mother?” “ Father, I did. I sent a lot of letters to her, even had people follow her and her kids just so she could be frightened a bit. But, it didn't yield any results, father.” Unsettled, he frowned deeply and shook his head. “ She's crossing the line, Cara. She's getting on my nerves.” “ Father, why can't you just abduct her and bring her here?

Jason. “ Sir, it's past 4 pm.” Zoe had taken it upon herself to come over to the office and chastise me for still being in the office working my fingers off. With my fingers moving at breakneck speed, I answered her. “ Okay? What's the issue? It's not yet time to close up, or is it?” The company closes at 5pm, but I hang around till 7pm. She steps into my office and stands like a mom ready to scold her son. Without taking those eyes off me, she proceeded to remind me. “ It's Thursday, sir.” I get it, Zoe. I get all the hint, but I'm not planning on making it easy for her. “ Okay? And so what? What does the day of the week gotta do with what time I close from work?” That simple statement earned me a death warrant. “ CEO Jason Black, I came here to remind you that the time is past 4pm and it's a bright, sunny Thursday. Shouldn't a groom-to-be be home early so he can get as much rest in anticipation of his big day tomor

MADELYN. The night before my wedding was a memorable one. Jason and I had agreed on the no bachelor and bachelorette party. It would just be us spending the night awake with our kids and Grandma. That's if she doesn't fall asleep though, that lady loves her sleep! “ Mommy, you and daddy are gonna be married?” With the excitement building up in them, they never bring their selves to believe it. It's more like living in denial of it, and being pumped up about it, at the same fucking time. “ Yes princess, your mom and I would be getting married tomorrow. Wanna tag along?” Jason winks at me and our kids didn't find it funny. Seriously? Tag along? Like shut your mouth dude, we gonna be there and watch you both get married. If we ain't there, there's gonna be no wedding. He always addresses our daughters as princesses. It's heartwarming to see how much he loves and dotes on them. They can tell him anything, and everything. I like how he has ma