Chapter 005

Madison's Pov

My mom smiled at Derek, and he returned the gesture, causing my stomach to churn.

"Since we will be getting married, we decided to move in together," she said.

"What?" I yelled, kicking my chair backward as I stood up in anger.

I didn't know if I was acting out of jealousy or if I was just mad that my mom always made decisions without telling me.

"Why do you always do this?" I yelled.

My mom got angry and marched over to where I was.

She grabbed my hand and pulled me closer.

"Madison, upstairs, now!" she demanded, clenching her jaw.

I could tell she was furious.

Derek was staring at me, but I turned my gaze away as I followed my mom upstairs.

We got to her room, and she closed the door.

"Honey, what is your problem?" she asked.

"I noticed you've been acting up since I came back."

"Oh, I'm acting up?" I scoffed, crossing my arms.

"You dated a man for almost a month and didn't tell me. You just decided to move in with him, and you're only telling me now?" I asked in disbelief.

"Sweetheart—"

She tried to touch me, but I moved backward.

"No, don't touch me and tell me you're sorry because I know you're not," I said firmly.

"You always hide things from me and treat me like I'm some child who will follow every single word you say."

"Honey—"

"It's not fair!" I cried, breaking into tears.

I knew I was overreacting, acting this way, and my mom thought I was mad, but I was just heartbroken.

I was using my anger as an excuse to pour out my emotions.

"Honey, I'm sorry," my mom apologized as she hugged me, and I sobbed in her arms.

"I didn't know you felt this way. I didn't tell you about Derek because we weren't certain if it was going to last," she explained.

She rubbed my back, and I sniffed.

"Derek is a nice guy, and I promise you're going to like him," she assured.

"Mom, I do like him," I wanted to say, but the words got stuck in my throat.

I took a deep breath and wiped the tears from my eyes, feeling ridiculous for crying over a man who didn't even remember me.

I held my mom's shoulders and smiled.

"Mom, are you happy?" I asked.

"Of course I am," she smiled, flashing her diamond ring at me.

"I wouldn't be getting married to him if I wasn't," she said.

"That's good. I'm happy for you," I said, forcing a smile.

"Don't worry, with him our future is secure." she added.

"What?"

"Derek is a fashion designer, and even better, he's a billionaire."

"How old is he?" I asked in shock because he looked too young to be a billionaire.

"He's thirty-five," my mom replied, biting her lip.

"Mom!" I exclaimed in shock.

"What is it?" she remarked, rolling her eyes.

"Mom, you're forty," I half-yelled.

"Does he even know that?"

"He doesn't, but it's not my fault he didn't ask," she shrugged.

"And you didn't think to tell him?"

"It's not my fault. We fell in love, and boom, we started dating."

"Plus, he's really good in bed," she added with a grin on her face.

"Believe me, I know," I muttered rolling my eyes.

"What did you just say?"

Fuck! I didn't just say that out loud, I cried inwardly.

"What I mean is, I know what it's like having sex with someone you love," I chuckled nervously, hoping she wouldn't ask more questions.

"Look at you, all grown up," she said with a wink.

"Mom, do you love him?" I asked bluntly.

"Of course I do. But as a woman, you need a man who can take care of your needs because love isn't going to put food on the table."

Mom sounded really excited, and I knew she was with him because of the money—or maybe she really did love him.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied.

"That's my girl," my mom smiled, pinching my cheeks.

"Let's go down so we won't keep Derek waiting," she said as she walked over to the door.

When we got downstairs, Derek had already cleared the table and replaced the food with decorative desserts.

"Aww, babe, you didn't have to," my mom pouted as she pressed a kiss on his cheek.

I rolled my eyes as I took my seat and reached for the watermelon on the table.

"How is she?" he asked in a low tone.

"She's fine," my mom replied.

My heart almost fluttered at the fact that he was worried about me, but I had to remind myself that he was going to be my stepfather.

He was talking to my mom, but I could feel his eyes on me.

I felt panic rising up—did he finally recognize me?

"So, Derek, what are your intentions with my mom?" I asked.

It sounded funny, but I had to say something to keep him busy so he wouldn't start trying to figure out if I looked familiar or not.

"We're engaged, so I'm pretty sure my intentions are well known," he replied.

"Hmm," I remarked.

I took a bite of the watermelon and smiled.

"How did the two of you meet?"

"Well..." He started, turning to my mom, and they smiled.

"We met at the hospital after I got into a car accident. It wasn't anything serious, though."

"How did you get into a car accident?" I shot in quickly.

"Was it drunk driving? A hit-and-run case—"

"Maddy..." My mom gritted her teeth as she gave me a bombastic side-eye.

"Don't worry, Mom. We're cool," I assured her.

"So..." My voice trailed off as I waited for his response.

"Someone lost control of their brake and crashed into my car."

"Hmmm," I hummed, narrowing my eyes, racking my brain to figure out what to say next.

I decided to keep my mouth shut and eat the dessert before he started thinking I was weird.

After we finished eating, I packed up the dishes so I could wash them.

I tossed them into the sink and turned on the water.

I was already halfway through washing when I felt a presence behind me.

A scent hit my nostrils, and my heart raced.

I spun around and saw it was Derek.

He moved closer until both of his hands were on the counter, trapping me beneath him, and I was stunned.

He leaned closer, and I clung to a plate I held in my hand.

Our faces were only an inch apart when he muttered,

"How long were you planning on acting like we don't know each other?"

The plate I held slipped from my hand, crashing to the ground and breaking into pieces.

"He remembers," I whispered to myself, my hands over my mouth as I gasped in shock.