Hellooooo everyone. đđ„
what do you love about the story? I'd love to hear! spoiler? THE STORY'S JUST GETTING STARTED!! brace yourself for twists and turns!MADDEN'S POV:I woke up pissed off.Not because of the cold or the ache in my shoulder or the relentless knock of responsibility. No. I was pissed because of her. Because somewhere between midnight and the first breath of sunlight, I dreamed of Isadora laughing. She was not screaming like a woman possessed or glaring. This time, she was holding my hand like it was something precious. And I didnât want to let go.God.What the fuck is wrong with me?I groaned, dragging my hand across my face, already regretting being conscious. I needed a shower. I needed black coffee. I needed someone to punch.Instead, my phone buzzed. And buzzed again. And again. What on earth?I turned it over and squinted at the screen. Isadora has spammed me with countless messages. Is she sick in the head?? I almost wanted to ignore them because of my foul mood.âDonât forget about dinner tonight ââ7PM sharp. No excuses.ââIâm dressing up for this. Donât be a troll.ââSeriously. I will hunt you down and drag
General POV: ~Flashback~24 YEARS AGO.The storm outside rumbled like a beast awakening. Rain lashed against the windows, scaring the hell out of him. His parents were arguing again, madly.âDonât lie to me, Genevieve!â Kaneâs voice cracked like thunder, deep and venomous.Madden was small thenâSix, to be preciseâcurled up at the top of the stairs, barely breathing, heart hammering like a drum in his tiny chest.âIâm not lying, Kane! Youâre the one sneaking around with Celine like I wouldnât find out!â Genevieve spat back. She was fire when she was angry. Her voice shook with rage.A glass shattered and Madden nearly screamed from his hiding spot. He knows how deadly their arguments can't get.âYou think Iâd want you anymore?â Kane hissed, his voice low now, vicious. âYouâre nothing but a whore who plays dress-up like a wife. You parade around this house like a queen but youâve been fucking me over since the day I married you.âMaddenâs little hands pressed tighter to the banis
Madden's POV;She couldn't help me upstairs to my room so she took me to the lounge and helped me on a couch.The ice had long since numbed my ankle, but her hands were still on me, wrapping, adjusting, and smoothing the bandage like she wasnât the same woman who once screamed she hated me.She sat beside the couch like she belonged there. She was rubbing her hands nervously, as if she didn't know what else to do.I didnât say anything either. Mostly because I didnât know what would come out of my mouth. I prayed it wouldn't be something soft because these few days my mindâs unpredictable as hell.From across the room, Genevieveâs voice still crackled faintly from the floor where the phone lay. âMadden?â Her voice was rich with contempt. âWhatâs going on? Why is she there? Why is she touching you?âI sighed out.. shit! I forgot I didn't disconnect the call. I'm pretty sure she's been talking all this while but I paid no attention to her because someone else got it.Isadora finally l
Maddenâs POVThe next day. I stared at the messages Nyla sent me after I had her reassigned, trying to guilt trip me into changing my mind â as if she doesn't know Madden Blackwell. Sob stories don't work on my impervious heart.I deleted them all immediately, grabbing my cup of black coffee, sighing out. I don't know why she's here but something feels very off. Two days ago, she called me begging for her job backâ despite me countlessly telling her that she's not fired but reassignedâ and Isa mentioned last night that she was kidnapped. How is that true??A shift in the air made me glance toward the corridor. And speak of the devil, it was Nyla coming out.She paused when she saw me, then gave a small wave like we were friendly. âHi.âI didnât respond. Just looked at her.She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and gave a tight smile, pretending not to notice the silence. âUm⊠I just wanted to say Iâm heading out. Isadora got me a place somewhere in the city. Itâs a nice apartment
Calla's POV:Nylaâs fingers trembled like bird wings as she clutched the edge of the guest bed. Her eyes kept darting around the room like something might leap out of the walls and murder her.âItâs okay,â I said for maybe the tenth time, easing her into the mattress. âYouâre safe now. This place has a security system so tight, even ghosts need clearance to haunt it. Relax.â I laughed awkwardly. âThey'll never find you, okay?" She gave me a tiny nod, her lips still quivering.âIâll get the maid to draw you a bath, okay? Something warm and calming. Maybe lavender, or eucalyptus. Or hell, both. Youâll smell like a spa threw up on youâin a good way.âStill no words from her, just a pitiful smile. The sight hurt badly. She used to be vibrant and sweet. Even slightly annoying. Now she looked like a shadow of herself.I sat beside her, forcing a smile even though my heart was heavy. âLook, I know this is sudden. And confusing. And yes, maybe terrifying. But youâre not alone anymore. You do
Calla's POV:I had no idea my feet could move that fastâ or someone could move that fast. One second she was darting off crazily and the next I was tearing after her like my life depended on it.âNyla!â I called again, heart thundering in my chestânot because I was tired, but because nothing about this made sense. Nyla. Of all people. Looking like a ghost that had crawled out of a grave!And with all the shits going on? It exhausting to deal with.She kept running past shops and cabs. And my heart skipped with fright when I realized she was running towards the bridge that arched over the river. âNyla, stop! PleaseâŠstop!âShe stumbled and her knees buckled, and I finally caught up to her just as she collapsed against a railing, gasping for air. I reached for her, but she flinched hard, recoiling like she thought I might hit her.My hands hovered uncertainly. âItâs me⊠itâs Isa.âShe blinked up at me. Her eyes were red-rimmed filled with terror. âOh God,â she whispered, âOh God⊠I didn