Chapter Twenty-Three
MADDIE
I should’ve known things were too good to be true.
Liam and I were living in a perfect bubble with only the two of us and happy as hell. I knew Victoria was being her normal pain in the ass self and had him by the balls.
But I trusted him.
Perhaps I should’ve known better.
The moment Victoria showed up with Liam’s dad, it was game over. She announced she’s pregnant with twins and claimed Liam’s the father.
But when I saw the panicked look on Liam’s face, I could tell he knew and kept it from me. My heart shattered at the realization he betrayed me, again.
After Victoria butters up Liam’s dad and talks about Liam moving to Vegas, I fake politeness and get the fuck out of there. Even when he tries to apologize, there’s nothing he can say that’ll stop the anger boiling through me.
Once I’m in my room, I lock the door and focus on my breathing so I don’t have a full-on panic attack. Tears threaten to surface, but I hold them back. I won’t break down while she’s in this house. I refuse to give her that satisfaction. Or him.
I spend hours in my bed, waiting for the darkness to swallow me whole.
My worst nightmare has come true, and I can’t do a damn thing about it.
Victoria’s the puppet master, and Liam has no choice but to do what she says.
Now that she’s pregnant, nothing can go back to the way it was when we were sneaking around.
There’s no way she’ll let him go if those babies are his.
Liam blows up my phone with text messages, and it’s not until he sucker punches me with our promise that I finally find the strength to respond.
Liam
You promised, Maddie. You promised no matter what, you were mine, and I was yours.
Maddie
That was before you knocked up your WIFE, asshole. Fuck off. Go to Vegas and stay there this time.
I don’t mean it. I want him here with me, but I’m so damn hurt that I convince myself it’d be for the best. He needs to leave so I can get over him once and for all. It’s his final text that has me falling apart.
Liam
I am so sorry, baby. I’ll make this up to you.
So much meaning in those words.
Sorry for what he did, sorry this happened, sorry it has to be over.
Nothing can fix us now.
Tears fall down my cheeks without permission, but I don’t have the strength to wipe them away.
I gave him my heart, my virginity, and trusted him amongst all the Victoria drama.
I’d fallen for him so effortlessly and he lied so easily.
Liam kept the truth from me and used me as a distraction to his reality.
My body shakes as the tears come faster now, soaking my pillowcase. Curling up into a ball, I pray for the ache in my chest to take me under.
It’s sometime after midnight when I get up to use the bathroom and grab a banana from the kitchen. Everyone’s passed out, and by morning, Liam and Victoria will be gone. None of this feels real.
Once I’m back in bed, I fall asleep with my heart shattered into a million pieces.
“Maddie, wake up,” someone whispers, shaking my shoulder. “Wake up. Time’s running out.”
Huh?
“What?” I ask, blinking and holding up a hand to cover the bright light coming from my lamp. “Victoria? What time is it? Is Liam okay?”
She rolls her eyes as if me worrying about him annoys her. “It’s after three and you need to get your ass moving. Pack a bag. You’re leaving.”
That gets my attention enough to sit up and glare at her. “Excuse me?”
“You need to do exactly as I say, Madelyn,” she roughly whispers.
I scoff. “And why should I? In case you haven’t realized, I hate you.”
A slow, smug smile spreads across her face.
“Listen, little girl.” She closes the gap between us, leaning down until our eyes meet, and jabs a finger into my chest. “I know you’ve been fucking my husband and that stops right now.
You’re a distraction he doesn’t need. If he’s gonna keep up with his part of the deal, then I need you out of the picture. ”
I swallow. “I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
“I’ve got it covered,” she confirms. “And unless you want Liam to get killed for betraying me and my family, you’ll do what I say. Trust me, it’s for the best.”
“For you, maybe,” I mutter. “I’m in college, so I can’t just vanish. Plus, my sisters and Liam would look for me.”
“Don’t worry, princess. You can defer for a semester, leave your sisters a note, and I’ll keep Liam plenty busy.” Victoria grabs one of Sophie’s suitcases from the closet and throws it on the bed. “Hurry up, Maddie. It needs to look like you left of your own free will. Take what’s important.”
“Where’s my phone?” I ask when I notice it’s not on my nightstand.
“You won’t be needing it.”
“You can’t just kidnap me and expect I’ll go quietly…” I stand, wondering if I can make it to the door without her grabbing me first. If she’s as crazy as Liam’s said, she could be carrying a gun.
Victoria smiles, not at all bothered by my words. “Oh, you’ll go willingly. Trust me.” She rubs a hand over her small belly bump. “Because if you don’t, Liam will suffer the consequences.”
My heart stops, thinking about what they’d do to him.
I have no doubt she’d take it out on him, considering the bomb she dropped tonight.
Her father’s bodyguards have been following him for weeks and probably have all the evidence she’d need to prove his infidelity.
Lord knows what they’d do to him once revealed.
“Tick tock.” She taps her wrist where a watch would sit.
“Take what you want or I’ll pack for you.
And trust me, it won’t be those sports bras and booty shorts you wear around my husband.
” She clicks her tongue. “And during yoga and those car rides.” She dramatically rolls her eyes.
“It’s like you two weren’t even trying to hide it. ”
“You’re the one who had us followed.” Liam relentlessly asked her to ask her father to stop watching him, but it was Victoria all along.
“And you’ve underestimated what I’ll do to get what I want. I saved Liam’s life and he owes me. So unless you want my family to know what my husband’s been doing behind closed doors, you’ll do what I say and walk out of here. Got it?”
I grind my teeth, knowing I have no choice. She doesn’t love Liam like I do—even if she pretends she does—so she won’t think twice about ending his life. All she cares about is getting her trust fund money and doesn’t care what happens to him in the process.
“Fine,” I say begrudgingly. Grabbing my necessities, I watch as she types on her phone. “Do I at least get to know where I’m going?”
“On a plane,” she says dryly, not taking her eyes off the screen.
“For how long?” I ask, digging through my closet.
“As long as it takes.” She finally looks at me. “That’s all you need to know.”
As long as what takes? This is sounding worse by the second.
I glare, though she’s not fazed. “How am I supposed to know what to bring?”
“There’ll be a washer and dryer. Whatever fits in your bag should be enough.
The bathroom will be stocked with whatever you need.
You’ll have a warm bed and food, so don’t worry.
In fact, it’s gonna be like a luxury vacation compared to being in this dump.
” She sticks her nose up as if this place is beneath her, which pisses me off.
I’d rather sleep in a cardboard box than go where she’s sending me.
After grabbing a few things from my closet, I dig around in my dresser for leggings and underwear.
“Don’t forget to take your school shit or whatever it is you do. It has to look like you brought your essentials.”
“I’m a dancer,” I tell her, reaching for my backpack that already has some of my notebooks, books, and practice clothing.
“Well, whatever. Make it look like you left to go live with a friend, so they don’t question it.”
I snarl but keep my lips sealed as I move around the room, making it seem like I packed in a hurry. “They’ll never buy it.”
“Liam’s life depends on it,” she reminds me. “By the look on your face tonight, he didn’t tell you we were expecting. But you care about him, so you’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe.” The amusement in her tone has me digging my nails into my palms. I want to rip out her throat.
“If they’re even his babies…”
“They are, trust me. It was planned, so we had a lot of sex. Unprotected.”
My blood boils, nearly causing my entire body to overheat. According to Liam, they were together once since they got hitched and used a condom. I so badly want to trust his word, but after this shitstorm, I don’t know if I can.
“Either way, DNA doesn’t matter because we’re married. It’ll be enough for Daddy. His first grandchildren and adding heirs into the family legacy are all he cares about.”
“You’d deceive your family and your own children? That’s the kind of mother you’re gonna be?” I arch a brow, zipping my bag closed.
Victoria stalks toward me, scowling. “Mind your own damn business. Liam’s life isn’t the only one on the line.”
“No? Gonna kill me too?” I deadpan, not letting her words get to me. I hope she burns in hell for all the pain she’s caused.
“If necessary,” she confirms. “Liam’s father, Sophie, Mason.
Don’t forget who my family is, Maddie. My father’s a powerful man and no one in their right mind messes with him or me, including the authorities.
So listen to what I say, and no one will get hurt.
” Then she plasters on a saccharine smile. “Time to write your goodbye note.”
I grab a piece of paper from my notebook and choke back the emotions swirling inside me. Victoria tells me to keep it short and simple.
Sophie,
I had to leave and get away from the memories of Liam here. I’m sorry, but please don’t come looking for me. I’ll come back when I’m ready.
Love you,
Mads
“Good enough?”
“It’ll do.” She shrugs, then holds out her hand. “I’ll place it in the kitchen so she finds it right away.”