Chapter 7

Tyler’s POV

The silence that followed Madison’s abrupt departure was thick with tension, like a storm brewing on the horizon. My mother’s disapproving gaze bore into me, her unspoken disapproval casting a long shadow over the room.

In that charged moment, I couldn’t contain the torrent of emotions that surged within me. I pushed my chair back abruptly, its legs scraping harshly against the floor, the sound a jarring contrast to the hushed atmosphere.

My mother’s words, echoing her thinly veiled threat, reverberated in my mind. “You will lose your entire inheritance if you move an inch,” she had warned.

For a brief, heart-stopping moment, I was struck by the weight of her words. The inheritance had always been the safety net, the ultimate insurance policy that had made me tread carefully around my family’s expectations. It had been the invisible shackle that tied me to their plans and desires.

However, in that pivotal moment, I could no longer be held hostage by the promise of wealth and security. I had entered a contract with Madison, and in the process, I had discovered a depth of emotion I hadn’t anticipated.

My mother attempted to speak, to redirect my course, but her voice was drowned out by the surging tide of my emotions. “I’m never going to marry Brenda,” I declared, my voice unwavering. The words hung in the air, a declaration of my newfound resolve.

Brenda, who had been a spectator to this turbulent family drama, her voice trembling with a mix of frustration and anxiety, tried to interject as I declared my intentions. “Tyler, you can’t just—”

I didn’t allow her to finish her sentence. With a firm, unyielding tone, I interrupted, “Brenda, this isn’t what I want. I can’t go through with it.”

My mother retorted with a mixture of exasperation and disbelief. “Tyler, you’re letting some gold digging whore dictate your choices? You can't just—”

Our voices clashed in a heated exchange, back and forth, as we argued about the situation. Finally, I couldn’t contain my true feelings any longer, and my voice carried a mix of resolve and revelation. “I’m not going to marry Brenda,” I asserted. “I love Madison.”

The declaration hung In the air like an unspoken truth that had finally found its voice. Love was not part of our contract, yet there it was, a powerful force that had woven its way into my heart.

My father, who had remained silent for the most part, finally broke his silence with a voice of reason and support. “Tyler,” he began, his tone steady and comforting, “sometimes, we must follow our hearts, even when it means going against our initial plans. You have my unwavering support.”

His words were like a lifeline in the midst of this family storm. In response to my father’s sage advice, I nodded and spoke with renewed determination. “Thank you, Dad.”

This built tension between my mum and I. It was a crucial moment for me, a point of no return. Pushing my chair back with a resounding screech against the floor, I rose from my seat more confidently.

“I’m sorry Brenda, but we can’t be together” I told Brenda. With that, I walked away from the dining room, leaving behind the chaos and tension that had gripped our family gathering.

Brenda, not one to let go so easily, followed me with purpose in her steps. I couldn’t allow her to continue the act, the pretense that had bound us for far too long. “Stay away from me,” I warned her, my voice firm and uncompromising.

In the hallway, I found Madison, waiting with flushed cheeks and eyes that revealed the pain and anger she had endured. The tears that freely strolled down her cheeks hurt me, this was something I’ve never felt before. Her presence gave me a sense of solace, a reminder of the unconventional path I had chosen.

I adjusted myself trying not to appear weak “ sorry about what happened, I told you it wasn’t going to be easy.”

“What! You brought me to your home to be treated like a piece of rag and you say this? Just go back to your riches, I have ordered my ride already.

With an air of dominance, I leaned over and took Madison’s phone, my voice firm. “Cancel your ride.”

I leaned over to take Madison’s phone, her defiance blazed in her eyes, and she refused to back down. With a stubborn determination, she shook her head and responded, “No, Tyler. I won’t cancel it.”

My patience wore thin, and I couldn’t let this insubordination stand. In a firmer tone, I assert my dominance. “Madison, remember that you signed a contract. You will do as I say.”

“I signed a contract for marriage, I didn’t sign to get treated like a truckload of waste!” she spat back. She has a lot of nerve, I think that’s her superpower.

Tension hung thick in the air, and it seemed like our confrontation would escalate. Madison was not one to back down, and her defiance showed that. However, I was not going to be swayed. Our verbal standoff continued.

As Madison’s ride pulled up, the driver waiting for her departure, she turned toward the cab, making a move to step inside. However, I reached out and gently grasped her arm, preventing her from getting into the car.

“Madison, you’re not going,” I asserted, my voice firm.

She met my gaze with a mix of confusion and frustration. “Tyler, why won’t you let me go?”

“I told you to get in the car,” I replied, my tone unwavering.

The cab driver, observing our exchange, was growing impatient. “Sir, if you’re not taking the ride, you’ll have to pay for it,” he chimed in.

I looked at Madison, my gaze unyielding. “I’m not taking the ride, but I’ll settle the fare.”

I paid the cab fare to the driver, and as the car departed into the night, Madison and I remained standing in the chilly darkness, our unspoken tensions still lingering in the air. The situation had taken another turn, and our journey was becoming increasingly complex.

With a resigned sigh, I turned back to Madison, who stood there with tears welling in her eyes, her face reflecting a mix of reluctance and defiance. It was evident that this confrontation needed to come to an end. My voice, still carrying the weight of our binding contract, issued one final command. “Get in the car.”

Madison, her emotions laid bare in her tearful nod, reluctantly obeyed. As she closed the car door, I took my place in the driver's seat and glanced at her.

“I’m sorry, Maddy,” I said, my tone sincere but tinged with frustration.