Chapter 3

Madison's POV

Yesterday was a mistake. As I drove back home with Andy from the club, I tried to pretend like there was nothing wrong with what I did, but the regrets kept looming. I had prayed that the regrets would be gone by morning dissipated, but I lied. If anything, the wave of disgust I was feeling was overwhelming.

My goals were clearly spelled out when I returned, and it definitely wasn't supposed to start with a one night stand with a stranger. A stranger that was forcing himself into my dreams, and gave me one of the best sexual experiences of my life. This was messed up and I had no one else to blame for it but myself. Maybe, I had a knack for screwing things up.

The door of my room flew open, startling me from my thoughts as Gemina stood at the entrance; her face contoured into a scowl that made her deep blue eyes less kind.

"I don't think you should still be in bed by now, Maddy," she pouted.

“I wasn't even asleep, Gem, and I don't think that's the best way to speak to your older sister,” I grumbled; dragging myself out of bed.

"Maybe you should consider coming up with a solution to our dilemma, then, because my friends are beginning to gossip," she responded with the petulance of a spoiled child.

If I didn’t know better, I would have barked some mean words in response, but I was older so I ought to be more understanding. It had been a rough period for us and everyone was scared that the life we knew was slowly slipping away from us. Maybe even worse for her because we might have to sell the house she grew up in.

“I know you’re stressed out, Gem, and we all are,” I called out softly, reaching for her shoulders.

“I’m scared, Maddy. There’s so much happening all at once, and I don’t even know what to feel anymore,” she replied, tears welling up in her eyes.

My heart broke to see her like this, honestly my heart was breaking even more because I still had no idea what to do about the situation. We were drowning and everyone was looking up to me to save us, but I didn't know how. Hell, I've been drowning for the longest time and couldn't even save myself, talk more of now.

“You want to know a secret, Gem? I'm also scared out of my mind, but I can't show it. We'll figure things out, we always do,” I reassured, stroking her hair until I felt the muscles on her shoulders relax.

"I think we should head out now, Mom has been waiting and I need to get to school," she sniffled, wiggling out of my arms.

We walked over to the living room, where my mom was seated on the dining chair. She managed a weak smile when she saw us and I couldn't explain why my heart broke at the sight of how frail she looked.

“Hey, my Angels,” she said with a weak smile, planting a kiss on Gemina's forehead.

“How are you doing, Mom?” I asked, placing a light kiss on the cheeks.

“Better than I felt yesterday, and you have Rose to thank for that,” she replied softly, squeezing the hand of her help.

“Thank you once again, Mrs. Rosaline, for everything you do,” I said with a bright smile.

“It really is nothing, Maddy. To me, you guys are like family,” Rosaline responded shyly.

Roseline had been here when we first found out about the hole in my mother's heart and she remained here long after my father died. To me, she was more than family; she was a messiah.

“I would love to sit and chat, but high schoolers don’t get to enjoy such privilege,” Gemina said, interrupting my thoughts.

“I love you too, Gem,” I called out with a smile as she rushed out the door.

“She reminds me of your father, Maddy, always so mischievous,” my mother commented and I could hear the sadness in her voice.

“She does,” I nodded in approval.

I hated talking about my Dad because it reminded me of how perfect our life had been before his death. Maybe even how perfect our life would have been if he were still here and if I didn't leave.

“Are you okay, darling?” my mom asked, taking my hands in hers.

“I will be fine, mom. Don’t worry about me,” I answered with a reassuring smile.

"Alright, I think I'm ready to go," Andy called out, walking towards us and dressed in a black suit with his chestnut brown hair, slicked back. .

“Well, if it’s anything, you will definitely be the most handsome man at the firm today,” my mother encouraged with a wink.

“That just lifted my self-esteem to a hundred percent, ma,” he said with a bright smile, kissing her forehead fondly.

"You don't have to work for him, you know. I read somewhere that he's an asshole," I mumbled under my breath but loud enough for him to hear.

It was my last attempt at talking him out of his idea of serving as an intern for that Hedge Funds firm. I had no idea who the owner was, but everyone else thought he was a dick, and that was good enough for me. I didn’t want my brother being tossed about by a bully.

“I’ll be fine, Maddy; and you might not believe it, but I do love my job just as much as I love you,” he answered, which was his own way of telling me to drop it.

“Will you be fine, Mom?” he asked, throwing a worried look at her.

“Like I told you all; I’m perfectly okay and stronger than I look,” she replied with a smile.

"Mom, you're sick and I know with everything happening with the business, you're even more worried," Andy insisted and he was right even though mother managed another weak smile.

I knew she was lying, because I knew what it felt like to live a lie. Lately, the smile looked more forced, and I knew her condition was growing worse, but she hated being treated like a sick person even if she was one.

“She’ll be fine, Andy,” I said more firmly.

The look on her face showed her gratitude, and it was enough to put Andy’s mind at ease. If I pretended she was fine, she just might wake up to be.

“Coward,” my subconscious taunted, but I swallowed the lump in my throat and maintained a straight face. It is better to be a coward than to be the one who tells your siblings that their mother is dying sooner than expected and there’s nothing you can do about it.

"Tell me the name of your boss, in case I ever have to file a complaint against him," I said, trying to change the topic.

"Come on, Mr Marshal isn't that horrible," He laughed in response, halfway through the door. .

"Don't be silly, Andy, that company tried to buy off our firm when Dad was still alive and I would never forgive them for that," I barked angrily, trying to recall the name of the boss who was in charge at the time.

"Whatever it is, all of that is in the past now," Andy sighed before walking out of sight.

As Andy drove out of the compound, I was once again left alone to deal with the crashing weight upon my shoulders and the endless threats that kept coming in from my uncle. My strength was hanging by a thread, but I wasn't going to go down without a fight. It was better to fight and lose, than to do nothing at all.

“Don’t allow him to break you, Maddy. He tried before with your father, don't let him win this time," my mom called out after me with concern in her voice.

" It's alright mom. I'll find a way to save us, no matter the cost, I promise you that," I reassured, planting another kiss on her forehead before walking into my father's office.

Leonard Byers was not just my uncle but the biggest threat that stood against my family. But unlike my father, I don’t bend easily; I refuse to bend to his threats.

Sorting through the company's files proved to be more tasking than I imagined, and it was even more difficult to understand how my father had ended up in so much debt. Why on earth didn't he reach out to me when things got really bad?

My phone chimed, with a text from Andy.

“Hey, are you still stuck organizing Dad’s documents?” he asked.

“Trust me, it’s a huge mess,” I texted in reply.

“Maybe working on Hedge Funds doesn’t sound like a bad idea anymore. Ps. I gave my boss your number but only because he said you were friends,” he texted

The confusion I felt was beyond words since I could have sworn I had never met this Mr Marshal. Ever.

“I think he has the wrong person,” I texted, still confused.

"He said you guys met at the club yesterday and had an amazing time," Andy insisted and slowly my thoughts began to come together, taking me back to a reality I didn't want to relive.

“Please don’t tell me his name is Tyler,” I texted, dreading his reply.

“You do know him after all,” he replied and I could feel a bile rising in my throat.

My phone rang almost immediately with a strange number and when I answered, my heart hummed with terror mixed with guilt.

"Hello, Maddy, I think we need to talk. Meet up with me by 7pm tonight," Tyler said from the other end of the receiver.

"Why on earth would I do that?" I managed to choke out in response.

"Because I asked you to and because deep down you know you want to see me," he answered and I could envision the lopsided smirk on his face.

Before I could think of a response, he ended the call and the wave of dread consumed me even more. This was a disaster and somehow I managed to create this recipe myself.

" You're so screwed Madison," I cursed aloud, slamming my fist against the table.