Chapter 5: The Voice That Ruined Everything

[Maddox]

The rain wouldn’t fucking stop

It hammered against the hotel windows like it’s the end of the world.

The outdoor field ceremony was canceled, and everything got moved inside the grand wedding hall downstairs. 

I stood in my room in a black suit, staring at the downpour while Daniel and Daisy argued over my tie.

“You look like you are about to shit your pants.” Daniel said, yanking the knot loose again.  

“Shut up,” Daisy shot back, slapping his hands away. “He looks hot. Stop messing with him.”

They had driven all the way from Alpharetta just for this. The only two people here who actually knew me. Their teasing was the only thing keeping my nerves from exploding.

“I need to see my mom,” I muttered, slipping out before they could follow.

Her dressing room was quiet except for the soft click of the door. The second I saw her, my chest tightened. 

She looked… younger. The white dress hugged her perfectly, and the smile on her face was real. This is what I’ve been working my ass for. Seeing her glow from happiness.

“Mom,” I breathed.

The stylist stepped out to give us a minute. Mom pulled me into a hug, careful not to wrinkle anything.

“You’re here,” she whispered. “My baby boy.”

Of course I’m not gonna cry, I’m grown.

We stood there for a second, just holding each other. Then she pulled back and looked at me with wet eyes.

“Do you think your father would be happy for me?” Her voice cracked. “Would he approve? I keep wondering if I’m betraying him by moving on.”

I swallowed hard. The guilt I carried every single day rose up like acid in my throat. I forced a smile and squeezed her hands.

“He’d want you happy, Mom. He’d want you to live again. You’ve carried enough.”

She let out a shaky laugh and wiped her eyes. “You always know what to say.”

Inside my head, the words echoed back at me. 

The same should apply to you, idiot. Stop hiding. Stop punishing yourself for a car accident that wasn’t your fault.  

But I pushed the thought down. Today was about her.

I kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you out there.”

Back in the hall, I slid into the front row beside the twins and my cousins. The seats were full of people I barely knew. Daniel leaned over, elbow bumping mine.

“So… still no sign of the mysterious stepbrother?”

I scanned the crowd again. “Nope. Maybe he’ll skip his own dad’s wedding too.”

Daisy snorted. “Rich people are weird.”

You can say that again.

The music started and mom walked down the aisle on my new stepfather’s arm. 

She looked radiant, and he looked like he couldn’t believe his luck. The priest kept it short and sweet: vows, rings, a kiss that made the whole room cheer. When the priest pronounced them husband and wife, I clapped along with everyone else, throat tight.

They were married.

During the reception, guests flooded forward to congratulate them. I hung back for a second, then walked up to my new stepfather while Mom was busy hugging someone else.

“Hey,” I said, offering my hand. “Congratulations.”

He shook it firmly, smiling like he meant it. “Maddox. Finally, we can now officially call ourselves family now.”

He seemed… Chill. Easy-going. The kind of guy who laughed at his own jokes and actually listened when you answered.

I let myself think maybe this wouldn’t be a disaster. If the dad was this normal, the son couldn’t be that bad, right?

“If there is anything you need, I mean anything. Do not hesitate to reach out to me.” He continued.

I know he’s rich, he’s got wealth. But I’m not asking him for shit. I’ve long taken care of myself that it feels foreign asking for help. I don’t know how you see it but it’s how I survived.

He looked towards my mom, who was smiling with my aunt and some guests surrounding them.

“I’m the luckiest man alive, well after your…” he trailed off.

I just nodded, saving him the discomfort. “I haven’t seen her that happy for a long time and I have you to thank for that.”

“We bring out the best in each other.” He squeezed my shoulder, “and you are truly a sweet boy like she often says. I know we’ve met multiple times but she wouldn’t stop talking about you.”

I looked towards my mom, of course she always finds a way to squeeze my name in every discussion she’s having, bet she’s doing that now too.

I was still talking to him, back turned to the main entrance, when a deep voice cut through the chatter like a knife.

“Dad?”

Everything inside me froze.

That voice. I knew that voice.

My stomach dropped. I didn’t want to turn around. I really didn’t. But my body moved anyway, slow and mechanical, like someone else was controlling it.

I turned.

And there he was.

Damian Prescott standing perfectly in a tailored black suit, hair still slightly damp from the rain, looking every bit the campus king even here. His hazel eyes locked on mine.

The color drained from his face.

I felt the same thing happen to mine.

The only word that made it out of my mouth was a broken whisper.

“Damian?”

For a second the entire hall seemed to go silent. Or maybe that was just the blood roaring in my ears. My new stepfather turned, beaming.

“Damian! You made it, son!”

Son? No fucking way, right?

Damian’s jaw clenched. His eyes flicked from me to his father and back again. The shock on his face melted into something darker; anger, disbelief, maybe even panic.

I couldn’t breathe. This wasn’t happening.

The guy I’d made a secret deal with less than a week ago, was my new stepbrother?

The universe had to be laughing at me.

Daniel’s voice hissed behind me, low and stunned. “No fucking way.”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Because all my attention was on Damian

Damian’s hands curled into fists at his sides. He took one step back and another and then he turned and ran.