<b>Chapter </b><b>19 </b>
Maddox
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<b>I </b>came upstairs to the only ce that still felt like mine in that whole estate, my old room. I stood by the door, looking at the threeyer <b>steel </b>doors that I had put in ce so no one would get in without the keys I had.
Pulling them out of my pocket, I unlocked the threeyers before I could unlock the door.
I walked in and looked around, every spot filled with fond memories from back when I was eight years old. It was a little dusty since it hadn’t been cleaned in four months, so I opened the windows to let some fresh air in.
I sat on the bed and reached for the picture on the bedside table but before I could even take in the moment, I was interrupted by my father.
“I was looking for you,” he said as he stood by the door. “I knew I’d find you here. May Ie in?”
Everyone knew I didn’t like anyoneing into my room and he was one of the few who always asked.
“Sure.” I nced at him.
Sitting beside me, he said, “You know, I’ve always told you that this room can be cleaned once every month.”
“It only gets to be cleaned when I’m around,” I reminded him.
“I’m aware of that. Maybe you coulde home every month and-”
“I can’t. I’m too busy.”
He sighed. “At least that way, I get to see youe home.”
“I’m here, aren’t <b>I</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
“<b>I </b><b>just </b>want to see you here more often. Margot is-”
“Please don’t mention her name in this room, not in front of my mother.”
He pressed his lips together, rising to his feet and closing the door. “We’re finally alone and can talk about why I insisted that youe home today.”
His tone was so serious that I turned to face him and at the same time, heels got louder in the hallway,
Right when he was about to speak, the door creaked open. We both looked over and Tiffany and Kate made their way inside, looking around the bedroom with scrunched noses.
“Thest time I saw this room,” Tiffany began, “it looked so old and well, still looks old.”
“This room always looks like jail because of these steel bars,” Kate added.
“I don’t remember saying you two coulde in.” I tightened my grip on the frame in my hand.
<b>7:25 </b>Tue, <b>Sep </b><b>16 </b>
“Right.” She forced a chuckle. “Dad, do you have a second? It’s urgent.”
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Before getting up from his seat and heading to the door, he looked at me and said, “I’ll be right back.”
I only gave a light nod, furrowing my eyebrows when I looked to the side. Whatever it was, he didn’t want to say it in the presence of anyone else.
It made me wonder what it could be but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t figure it out.
After gently putting down the picture, I approached the window, watching the trees outside as I thought about how that was one of the longest conversations I had with my father in a long time.
It was only when the bedroom door closed that I nced behind me. I thought I was now alone, but I wasn’t. Kate was still with me.
Running her fingers through the ends of her hair, she said, “I remember the first time I met you years ago. You were fifteen and had just moved back in after living with your uncle for all those years. This room looked exactly like this. I actually didn’t believe it when Tiffany told me you gave clear instructions that no one should dare change anything about it when renovating the mansion. Now, it even has all these freakingyers just to make sure.”
I had nothing to add, so I looked outside the window.
I could feel her getting closer by the sound of her heels, but I didn’t look back again.
Then, she wrapped her arms around me from behind, resting the side of her face right on my back.
“I’ve missed being this close to you,” she said quietly. “I know you’ve been so busy but,e on, you could have at least replied to one of my texts.”
I pushed her hands off of me, getting away to widen the distance between us. “Why did you tell everyone we fucked two days before Tiffany’s wedding?”
Her lips curved into a teasing smile, like it was just a harmless misunderstanding. “I didn’t tell anyone. I only let them assume. That’s a big difference right there.”
I scoffed. “You can’t be serious.”
She shrugged, moving towards me. “It’s not like it wasn’t going to happen eventually. You and I have fucked quite a few times.”
“The first time was six months ago and the second, two months ago. That only makes it twice.”
“And that’s why I still want more.” She ced her hand on my chest, then trailed it downwards, her breath a little heavier. “I miss it. I know you very well. You miss it, too.”
I didn’t even take a few steps back right away. Kate thought she knew me because we shared a bed a few times.
“And you know what?” she added, lowering her voice, “I look forward to the day you go down on me. I know you just don’t do that for anyone.”
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My mind immediately drifted to Harper and the way I shoved my tongue deep inside of her even the previous night. Everything about the way she looked made me want to give her everything. It was the same thing on that first night.
Kate grabbed my attention again when she pressed her hand against the buckle of my belt.
Thest thing on my mind was sex at that moment and I was just about to tell her when she suddenly pushed me on the bed, my dyed reaction making me fall on it.
Straddling me right away, she ced her hands on the sides of my face. “Remember how good you fucked mest time? <b>It’s </b>just you and me here. We don’t have to make thingsplicated.”
She kissed me but I pulled away and looked to the side. “Not here.”
“Why not?” She began to unbutton the shirt of my suit. “Tiffany’s downstairs with your dad. No one is going to walk in here.”
She tried to kiss me again, but I gently pushed her off and said, “This isn’t just a room. Haven’t you looked around? Most of the things here are about my mom, even these sheets. She personally picked them out.”
She sat up, confused. “Okay? Come on, just a few minutes.”
When she reached for the buckle of my belt again,I pushed her hand away, a little harder this time.
“I just told you what this room means to me and you still want to fuck me here?”
“Damn, Maddox, it’s not that deep. It’s not like she’s watching or something and these are just sheets. Don’t be so dramatic.”
My blood instantly boiled. “Get out.”
“What?” she asked, her eyes growing wide.
“I said get out.”
She stared at me for a few seconds, like she couldn’t believe I was serious.
“I–I’m sorry,” she said<b>, </b>quickly pulling down her dress. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just-”
“Get the fuck out!”
She flinched with her eyes shut. Whatever lust or cockiness she walked in with waspletely gone.
Quickly, she rushed to the door with her head low then stopped in her tracks, as if hoping that I would change my mind, but I didn’t.
Before stepping out, I gave it a few minutes just to make sure she was far enough.
Not only did I m the door shut when I was out, I also roughly dragged and locked the grill doors then shoved the keys in my pocket as I made it along the hallway with rushed strides. I still wasn’t over Kate’s attitude.
7:25 Tue<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>16
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I meant to go downstairs but spotted Margot making a way up. That made me change direction and I proceeded straight to the other side of the hallway.
“There you are,” she said as she followed behind me. “I was actually looking for you so we could talk. Your birthday’sing up and I’d love to n something for you. I want it to be a proper celebration this year and something you deserve.”
I nced at her with a side eye. “I’ll handle it.”
Herugh was soft but fake. “Come on. You’ve spent every birthday for thest fourteen years with Sebastian. Isn’t it time you let me step in? How about I make it special, hmm?”
I stopped in my tracks with irritation, turning to face her. “What makes you think all the other birthdays weren’t special?”
“Dont be so harsh.” She forced anotherugh. “That’s not what I meant. I was just thinking that as your mother-”
“Step,” I corrected her, my voice cold.
Her smile didn’t falter, but she narrowed her eyes with a dramatic gasp. “Why do you always shut me out? I’ve done nothing but try-”
“I don’t need your help,” I cut in, not moved by her performance. “Never did.”
Her mask slightly cracked when her mouth twitched and her eyes turned a little cold.
<b>“</b><b>I </b>see you’re still that angry little boy. Still punishing everyone for your mother’s death?”
<b>I </b>smiled, only because I expected nothing less of who Margot really was.
I took a step forward just to show her I wasn’t rattled in any way. “And you’re still the woman who just couldn’t wait to rece her.”
Quickly, she cleared her throat and smiled again to slip back into that fake friendliness.
“Well,” she said, her voice sweet. “You know where to find me when you change your mind.”
“I won’t.”
Tiffany’sughter echoed along with my father’s and Grayson’s, breaking the tension between Margot and I. She gave me one final empty smile, then made her way down the stairs like she hadn’t just exposed her bitterness.
The three of them soon came into view after turning at the corner and Tiffany was all smiles like some innocent girl. I subtly shook my head. She must have thought I had no idea what she was up to.
While approaching the three of them, I spoke with no hesitation. “I have to go.”
“So soon?<b>” </b>Tiffany frowned like she was going to miss me,
7:25 Tue<b>, </b>Sep 16
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“I have work to do.” I knew I was lying, but I just wanted to get out of there.
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“I guess that makes things easier,” my father responded. “I was on my way to inform you that I also have work
to do. Something urgent just came up. We’re still going to have that discussion.”
“What’s this about?” Tiffany tilted her head with curiosity.
“Just work,” my father assured her as he excused himself.
I still had no idea what it was, but I didn’t believe him.
“Hey, since you’re leaving now, how about you drop Kate back at her ce?” she suggested.
“How did she get here?” I asked.
“I had someone personally bring her here.”
“Then they can take her back,” I bluntly replied.
“Come on, Maddox,” Grayson chimed in. “Be a gentleman and drop off thedy.”
I chuckled, only because I was certain he was in on it too. Why wouldn’t he be? He wanted me to stay away from Harper.
Kate was one of the reasons I was leaving early and I couldn’t stand the sight of her after what she had said in my old room, but I still decided to drop her off, just as they hoped I would.
“Fine, where <b>is </b>she?” I asked.
The three of us headed downstairs, Tiffany’s phone buzzing a few times but she didn’t check it right away. She was too focused on adjusting Grayson’s sleeve.
Right at the bottom of the stairs, Kate came rushing to us as fast as she could in her heels, like something huge had happened.
“Shit shit shit! Tiff, have you checked your post?” Her voice was filled with panic as she ced a hand on her
chest.
“No. What’s up?”