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Ready

Author: Bea Baum
last update Last Updated: 2025-09-12 06:32:09

BRYNNS POV

For the next 36 hours, I mainly stay in my room. Only leaving to eat and stretch my legs, wondering around. I haven’t really seen Vex or Kade. After Vex’s little tantrum, I figure they’re both keeping their distance.

The day of the gala I wake up to a soft knock on my door.

“Ms. Mason, my name is Sera. I’m a maid for Mr. Maddock. He’s asked me to come help you get dressed and ready for the gala.”

I open the door and see a skinny blonde holding some containers.

“Mr. Maddock needs you to look a certain way, I’m

Here to do that for him.”

She sets the containers down, opening them. One has makeup, the other hair styling tools and the last one, jewelry.

“I need you to go eat something and then come back, this is going to take all day. Mr. Maddock has breakfast prepared on the island for you”

I walk out of the room and down the long hallway, entering the kitchen. I see Vex leaning against the counter, drinking coffee and on his phone.

I sit down on one of the hig
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    BRYNN POV The door opens again. I feel it before I hear it—my body tightening, breath going shallow, muscles coiling like they’re anticipating something my mind still can’t name. He steps inside. The same man. The same calm. The same wrongness. I lift my head, heart pounding. “You didn’t answer me.” He closes the door behind him, the click final, deliberate. “You didn’t ask the right question.” I swallow. “Then ask it for me.” He studies me for a long moment, eyes dark and intent, like he’s memorizing my face all over again. Not hunger. Not cruelty. Ownership. “You asked why you don’t remember me,” he says quietly. My pulse spikes. “Yes.” “Because Robert didn’t just erase memories,” he continues. “He dismantled a life.” Cold spreads through my chest. “You were his,” I say, forcing the words out. “You keep saying that like it means something.” “It means everything,” he replies. He moves closer, stopping just out of reach. I can smell him now—clean, sharp, familiar in

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  • Cage to Cage   Almost normal

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