MADISON

"Try and eat something, here are some cupcakes; you need sugar in your body for energy," he suggests from the coffee table.

"That's very professional of you," I smile at him.

"I can be very smart."

Bryan returned after the call from his manager some hours ago.

At the hospital, the nurses said he had stayed all night while I was unconscious, just as Asher did. The two got me home after I was discharged this morning, and in their company, I even dozed off.

Bryan had so much kindness in him that he helped clear all the charges against me for violating the road rules. Yes, with too many witnesses at the event, I was blamed for stopping in the middle of the freeway, and you know all those laws that I failed in driving school. I guess they also apply to bicycles.

"Look how the table turns. Now you're my therapist," I joke.

I had awoken some minutes ago before Asher left, and I was grateful Bryan had returned because God knows I cannot deal with the busted face stepbrother of mine sitting opposite me with an emphasizing expression that resembles Hulk. Did I mention he's piling a very red apple with a table knife? Which is creepy.

It makes the atmosphere tenser. I'm glad Bryan dominates the coffee table and ignores the fuming young man behind him.

Is good to know that other people aren't psychotic as Caden is.

"More of a physician," he grins widely, exposing that charming look that got him millions of followers on Instagram.

Gnawing on my bottom lip, I begin to rise from the couch since I can notice the alerting filled-up bladder in the lower region of my stomach.

When I stand on my feet, there's a typical ache around my thighs, so I wince from the pain.

"Come, I will help you," Bryan offers, sitting the white box of colorful cupcakes beside him, he shoves his cell phone into his pants' back pocket and reaches for me.

"SHE DON'T NEED IT."

With a deep breath to calm me down, I join Bryan's gaze and drive my eyes to the jerk shooting Bryan a deadly glare.

However, like the gentleman that Bryan is, he ignores the hissy fit granny holding onto a table knife from across us.

"Okay... Up," he urges playfully, while I straighten against his broad muscular body.

"Don't you think this is sexual harassment, following a vulnerable girl to a bathroom because she can't help herself? Unless you want me to believe all those frequent celebrity scandals."

That got Bryan stiffening.

Of course, Caden's going to continue being a jerk. I mean, it's no surprise; he's always been this way to everyone who wants to know me.

"What's your problem, man?" Bryan sounds kind of infuriated.

I heave a frustrating sigh and swallow when I scowl at the satisfaction on the face of the jerk making himself more comfortable on the chair I found him sitting on since I woke up.

Doesn't he have to pee? Anything a human being does to relieve themselves?

Oh, I forget he messes around; that's what he's good at. Messing with my species.

"Not that she's a virgin, so don't be that delighted. But still, harassment is harassment whether you're doing it with a mother of twenty children or an older man of a hundred years old." He has that smug, putting on that malicious lopsided smile that makes me go insane.

"You will never grow up, will you?" I throw at him, not caring for the sharp headache racking my brain. I held his harsh challenging glare for twenty seconds.

Yes, I counted; I do that when I'm either nervous or exhausted from CADEN's crap.

He smiles and demands: "He needs to leave, it's almost family video call time, Sister."

"He leaves when he decides." I challenge, with a smile matching his. I could feel Bryan's gaze shifting from me to Caden.

I wish we can have a normal time like yesterday at the cafe.

A genuine smile takes over Caden's complexion, enhancing his distracting charming looks. I mean, isn't he supposed to look terrible with bruises? But it seems 'attractiveness and hotness' heighten even more on him when he's not even trying.

"All right, good to me. Just don't blame me for the aftermath. At least it's going to be just Martha, dad, you, me, and Mr. tiny shirt. So the personal information will be just within the circle." He drawls, knowing he had gotten to me.

He crosses his legs and chuckles at the horrifying expression on my face.

I mean, even after going through an accident and having injuries around my weary body, he wouldn't cut me some slack?

But yes, he would remind me of our mistake every day as a mother does to her child for breakfast and dinner.

I hate him.

"I should leave," Bryan announces from above me; he was really tall, suitable for his profession.

When I look up to him, he doesn't seem to take offense to Caden's attitude. He understands my situation and decides to help me out instead.

"I am so sorry," I tell him while he grabs his jacket and begins heading for the door.

"I understand."

"You do?"

He tugs back a strand of hair that falls over my forehead and chuckles. "I mean all the encounters we had, he always has a busted face. He must be hmm..."

He doesn't need to; the word is pretty precise.

"An idiot," I interject.

Bryan's eyes narrow, his tongue sweeping over his dry lips. He appears speechless for a moment while he thrusts his hands into his pockets and slowly steps back.

"Okay, uhm. Well, you have my phone number, just call when you're free. I would like to see you again. Please take some rest."

"I will." I return the soft smile.

He looks down to either my barefoot or his boots and trains back those brilliant brown eyes to mine, leaning in to leave a kiss on my cheek. "Later, Madison." He whispers.

Damn, I can feel my blood rushing to the spot he pecked.

Pull it together, girl.

"Bye, Bryan," I reply, folding my lips between my teeth.

With a smile, I watch him get on the elevator before closing the door and aiming to go relieve my bladder.

"I can help you to the bathroom."

And there he comes, rising from the chair, with a natural smile on his alluring lips.

"I don't need your help." I turn away and take another step.

"Why? He was about to help you there? Unless you were planning on boning him there?"

Sure he would stand across the room and throw insults as he always does.

I spun around and scoff. I was drained. I don't know how to make him understand.

"What's your problem actually? You wanted me out of your face, I am trying. I'm actually trying to step back from caring about a certain person who doesn't have human feelings. So why won't you let me be?" I throw my hands around, confusedly.

He hesitated and responded with a shrug.

I almost walked away until he reluctantly began speaking: "I don't know how to do that; you're the only girl I first popped the cherry for. I don't know how to put it. Do you understand? Like, be the first to pop a sealed bottle of champagne? You get me, right?" He smirked, winking devilishly from there.

I didn't have a comeback to that. Instead, I just spat, "You're disgusting," and walked away.

I wish I could lock myself in the room, but I need to get ready for the video call, which is in the next ten minutes.