Maddox


    While Grayson leaned against the car with his arms folded as he watched the guy working on the t tire, his head shot up when he noticed me, but he soon looked away like I was nothing but an annoyance.


    I didn’t expect anything less, which was why I continued to make my way to him, my hands. casually shoved in my pockets and voice smooth when I finally spoke.


    “Need a hand?”


    He exhaled deeply. “Not sure where exactly I have a sign saying I need help.”


    His tone was way sharper than I expected, making me tilt my head in amusement.


    I stood right next to him and mirrored his stance by leaningzily against the car.


    “Is everything okay?” I asked, studying the stiffness of his side profile.


    He still faced forward, not even turning for a second to look in my direction. “Don’t you have a busy schedule?”


    “Come on, how could I just drive past my one and only brother–inw?” My voice wasyered with mocking sincerity.


    He scoffed, his arms folding even tighter across his chest.


    “Now, are you actually going to tell me what’s going on with you or should I assume my presence pisses you off this much?”


    He exhaled sharply, moving to the other side of the car. “Harper hurt Tiffany a few hours ago.”


    I raised my eyebrows with genuine surprise and curiosity as I followed him. “Oh, really? What happened?”


    His jaw flexed, like it pissed him off to even think about the incident as he told me. “Harper shoved Tiffany to the floor in thedies‘ room.”


    I let out a low chuckle. “Is that it?”


    “What’s that supposed to mean?” His tone got a little defensive as he shot me a re.


    “It means you still haven’t told me why Harper pushed Tiffany.”


    “Like you don’t already know how obsessed Harper is with Tiffany and me. She tried to y the victim, but I wasn’t falling for it.”


    “Did you actually see Harper push Tiffany?” My tone was deceptively calm.


    He briefly shut his eyes. “No. Tiffany told me and she was hurt.”


    “And just like that, you believed her.”


    “Why shouldn’t I believe her?” He balled his hand into a fist. “I’m never going to believe anything Harper says after her attempt toe between my wife and me failedst week. If Tiffany says she was pushed, then that’s what happened.”


    I let out a shortugh. “I just don’t understand why you’ve decided to be so blind.”


    “There’s nothing wrong with standing up for my wife. Now that she’s pregnant, I won’t let her get hurt.”


    “And what if she’s actually been lying to you?”


    I watched him closely and for a split second, his hard mask slipped, uncertainty all over his side profile before his mask slipped back on.


    “Why would Tiffany lie to me?” He poked his cheek as he turned to face me, his eyes sharp.


    Looking him right in the eyes, I leaned in with deliberate ease. “You know what Tiffany is capable of. You’ve also known Harper for years and she’s never tried to sabotage your rtionship, so why would she do it now? Last Friday, she came to London and showed me the pictures and videos she took of Tiffany and Josh. I believe it’s not fake.”


    It took him a few seconds to speak and when he did, his voice was low and strained. “So she actually came to you after what happened? Anyway, I’m not surprised that you’re defending her. I don’t expect anything less from the guy who’s fucking her.”


    I chuckled with a light nod. He just had to bring that up.


    “It makes no difference <i>to </i>me that you believe her. She faked it,” he insisted, his chest now rising and falling faster.


    “Did she? Fine, let’s say she faked it, why aren’t you saying the same thing about Kate’s proof that Harper was stalking Tiffany?”


    He pushed himself off the car to widen the distance between us. “If you’re trying to make me feel bad about Harper, it’s not going to happen.”


    “Actually, it’s quite the opposite.” My smirk widened. “I’m d you two aren’t friends anymore. Blocking her was a bit too extreme, but it worked because now, she has more time


    My lips curved into a forced smile and it wasn’t even because I was about to spare a few more minutes. It was because the Fords folded whenever Margot or Tiffany opened their mouths about what they felt was best in any situation. They both tried to suck up to my family no matter what.


    Margot and Tiffany knew this pretty well and they used it to their advantage whenever they wanted to. It didn’t matter what she and her daughter said or wanted, Mr and Mrs Ford had no objections. They never wanted to get on their bad side.


    It wasn’t always like that. There was a time when Mr and Mrs Ford tolerated no disrespect from Margot and Tiffany. They didn’t even want her for their son at the time. But she imed to have changed and wanted to do better because she loved him, so she was once again embraced but I wasn’t buying into that shit. Tiffany hadn’t changed.


    After getting back with Grayson, I soon learned that behind the scenes, she and her mother belittled the Fords. Grayson never found out because his parents never said a word about it. Why would they rat out Margot and her daughter when they were able to score several million–dor contracts that were only possible because of Margot?


    “I really can’t stay,” I said, already moving past them. “The meeting starts soon. I have to go.”


    I had onlye to the estate so I’d be present while my old room was cleaned. They’d taken advantage of my visit by making a meal and that had only irritated me even more. I wasn’t there to socialize. The meeting wasn’t even starting soon. I just wanted to get away.


    Margot’s voice followed behind me while she tried to keep up. “You and Tiffany haven’t actually spent time together since we all came to London. You’ve been too busy giving attention to that…thing.”


    My steps came to a halt as I clenched my jaw while ncing at her. “Her name is Harper.”


    “Of course it is.” She rolled her eyes.


    Then, Mrs Ford chimed in with that fake motherly concern. “I still can’t believe Harper’s this type of girl. It was so disappointing when my daughter–inw told me what’s been going on. She used to be such a sweet girl. Who knew that she would turn into someone like this? While I’m d she doesn’t cause problems for my son’s marriage-”


    I scoffed before I could stop myself. If only they knew what was actually going on.


    Mrs Ford frowned, ncing at Margot, then back at me. “Did I say something funny?”


    “Not at all,” I said smoothly. “You were saying?”


    the


    If Grayson and Tiffany hadn’t told them what had happened with Harper trying to expose infidelity, I wasn’t going to say anything either. I was just going to sit back and wait for the day


    the whole truth would be exposed.


    Grayson wasn’t fooling me when it came to Harper, but when the situation got too extreme, he chose Tiffany, ready to bury his friendship with Harper just so he could stand by his wife.


    I hadn’t even had the chance to talk to him in private since that had happened and I wasn’t going to do it over the phone. Too bad they weren’t at the estate when I was there.


    As I made it back inside the house and came to the living room, I found my father with Mr Ford, who wouldn’t stop bragging about thetest contract he’d signed thanks to Margot.


    “Maddox, there you are!” Mr Ford said. “I was just talking to your father about the southern region-”


    “I’d really have to stay and chat, Mr Ford, but I’m runningte.” My tone was polite just so I could hide my irritation.


    “Is your room as clean as you want it to be?” My father asked, rising to his feet.


    “Yes, it is.”


    “And the keys?” He stepped closer.


    “Right here.” I patted my back pocket.


    “Good. Keep me posted.” He ced his hand on the side of my arm.


    That simple gesture and unspoken approval lit something in me.


    I nced at Margot and caught her subtle re, like it was so wrong of my father and I to share such a moment.


    After onest goodbye, I made my way outside to the car, but heard footsteps behind me.


    I nced back and nearly rolled my eyes in their faces. Margot was following me, Mrs Ford apanying her like she just had to be part of it.


    “Since you can’t stay and have some dessert,” Margot began, “why don’t you just give me a minute and I’ll pack something for the road?”


    “Thanks, but there’s no need.” I looked away and faced forward,


    Grabbing my arm from behind, she said, “Come on, my s-”


    “I said no.” I yanked my arm free with a sharp tone.


    Margot clutched her pearls, like I’d just hurt her deeply. “Well, I just wanted to do this for you


    :


    since you can’t spend more time here with me.”


    Mrs Ford brought her hands together, like it broke her heart to see me treat Margot like that, but I knew exactly what this was – Margot making sure she looked like the patient and loving stepmother in front of a witness. She wanted the story to get back to my father and I’d be painted as cold, resistant and ungrateful. If only she knew that she’d be exposed in the worst way possible one day.


    I finally left the estate and made it to the city, the noise sounding like music to my ears because it wasn’t Margot.


    As I turned into one of the streets, I spotted a familiar car parked on the side of the road with <i>a </i>t tyre. There was no sign of Tiffany but Grayson was there and he was just the person I was looking for. I was hoping to get inside his head regarding the incident with Harper.