MADISON

'Marry me,' he offered last night.

I spent the night in his arms wondering if he was intoxicated when he said those two words or if I was officially insane, imagining things that included getting married to Caden Thaddeus.

My legal stepbrother.

A few days ago, no one knew Caden could offer a full night committed without tossing you out of his room or sneaking to somewhere else to spend the night.

Yet today, he was helping me pack up while he reminded me how I'd have to live with his disorganized ass for the rest of my life.

It was obvious Caden was confident I was going to say yes to his proposal.

A part of me was too, but the other was uncertain of the real consequences.

Not that I care about what Dad will think since we're about to leave New York.

There, it was a bit better than here, even though we were still known as a family.

The thing is: I fell in love with Caden to the point where the earth isn't enough. Forever seems so near. I want him more than I wanted life itself because I was confident that with him, I was capable of surviving.

But I also know getting married to my stepbrother is going to be a feast for society.

And Dad could trek to Palo Alto just so he could assassinate Caden and disclaimed me as his child (Not that I want to be his daughter after last night). But all those results scare the shit out of me.

It was six in the morning after Caden had made some phone calls and our flight was in the next two hours, while our Uber was some minutes away. We were about to emerge from my room to exit this cursed house when I felt his hand circle around my waist, pulling me to him.

Surprised, my brows knitted.

"You okay?" I asked the angelic human staring down at me.

"Better than I've ever felt," he replied while I quietly paid extra details observing him. "I can't wait for you to say yes."

"You seem very certain," I uttered, dazed by the heavenly sculpted man holding me against his warm body.

He had a wild scent swirling around him, his skin remained naturally tanned despite the weather, and he had intense red lips that played magnet and steel with mine, misleading me into thinking he was smiling or approaching towards me.

He was flawless, angelic yet devilish at the same time.

His combination of gold, green, and blue eyes was soulful and soft, sealed with delight and joy and vaunting claim of me. They twinkled in the morning glow, bringing promises and hope. One could get lost in them.

His prominent cheekbones and jaw spoke of his pride, his style, and his superiority. How did I get this lucky?

"Is something wrong with being excited about finally having a life?" He asked. The richness of his voice was emphasized in each word he spoke.

Damn! I was ready to get back home, where I can have much freedom to claim every inch of him.

"Come here," I demand, pulling his head down to have his mouth on mine for breakfast.

That's when my life took a terrible turn for the worse.

The door creaked open, blowing in the chills of all terror I fear.

I instinctively pulled from Caden, but it was already late.

"What the hell?" His voice held a threatening edge, bitterness, and nausea.

While every hair on my body raises, I watch Dad's reaction, that's when I understand this isn't good.

The man's lips remained a slash of disgust towards us.

Oh, it's about to get crackers.

CADEN

"I am going to kill you." Dad growled, striding into the room, he grabs the lamp from Mad's drawer, ripping the cord and throwing the object at me.

He caught me off guard; I didn't make any move to step away so when the expensive item hits my forehead, I stumble back, losing balance from the sudden collision against my head.

I think I felt fluid dripping from my head and nose.

I didn't get a second to compose myself or recognize anything when I felt something so dominant crashes my stomach, taking me with it until I was hitting the carpeted floor on my back.

Then punches came.

When I say dominating, I meant very powerful; I wasn't spared a second to breathe or blink.

Dad did it. He finally has his hands on me. And I felt every communication, every hate, every pain he held for years.

He rapidly kept going, aiming for my face; I couldn't protect myself.

"Stop! You're going to kill him." Mad's alarmed voice warned.

But darkness was like venom; it had occupied him. All he saw was me as the target.

So he intends to destroy me.

"That's the objective." I heard him say, but I was completely knocked down, I could only understand how it felt when I ambushed Daisy at her workplace. "He should be dead." Every word accentuates his emotions. "He's a devil." Hit. "A monster." Hit. "I wish you were the one the car had swept."

Through his dagger-cutting words, I've heard footsteps scrambling.

"You took away my Jennifer." Hit. "My Cara." Hit. "I've managed to assemble another family, yet you defiled it."

"Jude!" It was Martha's panicked voice; it was rough and full of anxiety; it took over the room. "OH MY GOD."

"Mom, he's going to kill him." Mad cried.

Martha ran over to where I was getting my numb face wrestled and tugged the arm of the dick over me. "Get off of him now."

But he was clouded by anger and hatred, he shrugged her off, tossing her tiny frame on her ass.

Oops.

Instantly, he was on his feet, blinking as if he just found out he had committed murder when he was drunk.

"Martha?" He advances toward her, but she crawls backward away from him.

"Do not touch me." She warns as Mad helps her on her feet. "What is wrong with you?" She shook her head at her husband. "What happened? What changed?" She seems confused; I felt pity for her. "This isn't the man I married."

Sure, it wasn't; he had managed to cover up his genuine behavior all those years but Mad and I made him sparked today.

So there he was, the actual freak I told you about.

"I am doing this for us." He claimed. Deceiving himself.

"By killing your son? How is that what I want? What this family wants?" She ridiculously throws her hands around the room.

"I know him, okay?" He used his hands, motioning her to calm down. "He ravages my past marriage."

Seriously? Bro, I live with a woman; I guarantee you this is not how to make peace with one.

"You liar! You made him deny repeated physical abuse. You knew his mother was drowning him, yet you made him deny it so she would stay." Mad exclaimed before her mother could respond.

"What?" Let's say Martha didn't take the news well.

She froze, just like I did earlier when Dad dominated me physically for the first time.

"He blames Caden for Cara's death, he blamed him for his mother leaving. He blamed him for entirely existing." She accused angrily at the man blowing enraged breath.

"This is a joke, huh? You're going to believe that?" He desperately tells his wife, trying to poison her mind with the lies he kept telling himself. "He is a devil, and the devil will never redeem. I know my son; I know how troublesome, disastrous, and horrible he is. I saw all that through him since he was little. Are you blind to not see how poisonous he is in this family?"

"You are crazy." Martha asserted, her brows furrowed.

"I am trying to save your daughter from his harm. I promised you that." He convinced.

"I don't need your help; why not go to rehab? You need actual help for mentality." Mad angrily throws at him.

"What do you think, Maddie?" He challenged, stepping towards her. Martha was quick to shield her daughter behind her.

"Don't come near my child."

Dad chuckled and stepped back, running his fingers through his hair, just like I'd do whenever I was upset.

"He fooled his way into her heart, making her believe he is what she wants. Darling, he is my son, and I am telling you I know what he is capable of. He's bad news. He's a bad influence. I knew it; that's why he wasn't supposed to be at Stanford with you. He can't be anywhere near you."

There was a pause in the room that explained dread as everything became quiet.

Attempting to get myself up despite the damage to my body, I noticed Mad exchange a gaze with Martha.

Oh, that!

Martha just found out.

"Tell me, did he force himself on you? What did he do?"

What? He should know I don't go that low.

Dad turns towards me, his knee aiming for my instantaneously contracting stomach.

"I kissed him first, okay?" She blurted, behind him, saving me from the blow. "I convinced him." Madison's voice lowered a bit when she got his attention.

Beside her, Martha said nothing. "I snuck into his room all the time here. Dad, I was in his room last night. You know what that means." She hesitated. "I fell in love with him."

Flared and steaming, Dad spun to me when I was finally on my feet and ordered: "Get out of my house."

I felt the warmth and metallic smell of blood, some were streaming from my soaked hair while some were from my busted face.

"You will not..."

"I want you out of my life." He interrupted Martha, grabbing the two bags from the floor and yanking me by the arm, steering me to the first floor, then the entrance door, and to the main gate where he shoves me off his property. "I don't want your shadow staining my existence."

I don't want him either; he has no idea how settled this idea is for me.

"That's where you're wrong. Is not our fault you're a terrible father, with your love or not. Guess what? Your son is loved by any person who came across him because he is everything that's not you." She was my defender; she had my back even in my most vulnerable condition.

I couldn't protect myself; I know everyone will think it's very unlike me, but the truth is, I had been nothing but a stuffed doll around my dad.

Yes, I rebelled in some sarcastic ways. But wrestling or arguing with him was something I never had the courage of.

He was my father, I thought he was always more powerful.

Well, last night proved me wrong; it's obvious I've grown better than him, I had the strength and the loudness of voice, but hitting him didn't feel right.

I spent the night, wishing I could rewind my mistakes.

"Stop it right there, Maddie. Don't take another step." Dad warned her when she steps out of the house and came beside me.

"Or what? You're not my father, creep. You don't draw the lines for me. You can't even love your child why adopt additional? It's bullshit, Jude."

"Go with him then... But don't expect me to sponsor any one of you."

How dare he include her in this?

Is not like he sponsors me full-time. I am seeking a job to hold me until I am legally old enough to claim the trust fund my mother left for me before she disappeared. And I am talking about half his business.

So why bring mad into this? She did nothing to him. And he adopted her, he promised to support her as his own child.

Then again, he didn't support his real child. What should I expect of him?

He's a liar.

"I know Caden is my stepbrother, but I love him." She rushed. "I don't care what you think or what the people will think and also what you believe it would do to your reputation." She breathed, somewhat anxious. Knowing her, I could tell she was nervous. It took courage and love to make such sacrifices for someone. "We are not related by blood, we only have each other's hearts. And I will love him just like every woman loves her man. Just like his father and mother should've loved him."

Her words were strong; they weakened me in my stance.

Reminding me, she truly was the only one who ever loved me.

"GET. OUT." He rumbled, his eyes darkened, his nose flared, hands balled into fists.

"You can hate me, but you don't have to include Mad; I started..." But he interrupted me when our eyes briefly met.

"Behind you." He yelled as he set off in horror and trepidation.

I couldn't find out what was there, though I heard an intense horn of a car that woke every dying piece of me, before I made any move I was jerked over the sidewalk, by the wrong person.

Staring at him I saw the dread and panic in his eyes; I felt the throb of his heart and the quickness of his breath.

Dad instinctively saved me? Why?

I mean, he wanted me dead some minutes ago.

"Just leave here, Caden." He said despairingly and began turning away.

"You are unbelievable." Martha disgustingly says to her husband. "I am leaving; wait, I will give you two a ride." She told Mad and me.

"Where are you going?" Dad's eyes were hooded.

"Away from you."