There's a humongous library on the fourth level. It makes up the entire floor. Staircases reach high to the very top. The shelves are endless. I swear this is the exact library from Beauty and the Beast. There must be millions of books.

My mom and dad are busy browsing literature when we arrive. Lil has her arms crossed; her foot taps frantically. Jess consoles her by rubbing her back. I guess my sis put the pieces together. She knows. It's all in her eyes. "Why is Tom's face black and blue?" Lil sizes up Jace's hand.

"I'll explain everything." My parents leave the bookshelves to stand with Lil and Jess. Dad examines Jace's hand, his suspicions grow. I go to the middle of the floor. So that all the attention is on me. My posse waits on my explanation for disappearing. I start from the beginning, revealing how Mrs. Harrison degraded me...and that she didn't accept my apology. I share how Meredith trashed me and attacked my upbringing. How she criticized my womanhood. "Mrs. Harrison faked her niceness. Her true colors came out when we were alone. I decided to take her harassment for the greater good. I know I shouldn't have...but I didn't want any problems. But it led there anyway." I sigh and wait for them to speak.

Lil is bright rattled up, much like a furious cat. Her cute, chubby face is terrifying. Mom is as vengeful as a snake. Jess is too conflicted to respond. I guess I threw her for a loop. I acted so well...so convincingly. Even Jace believed my facade.

"What do you mean it led there, anyway?" Dad investigates with a squint of his eyes.

I glance at Jace. I'm not sure if he wants me telling everyone about his family sex tapes. It'll embarrass him. I sense this. So, I reword it. "Yesterday I met up with Jace's family to talk. I thought they were going to thank me. There was an issue with Tom the day before...I forgave him for it. I thought everything was fine."

"What was the issue?" Dad observes me closely. His sight bounces between me and Jace's injured hand.

"He got disrespectful towards Madison." Jace answers for me. "I made him apologize."

"Let me guess...it meant nothing, so you beat his ass?" Lil voice steams violently.

"Yes."

"What was the talk about? Why did you run away for 15 hours??" Mom frets, knowing there's more.

Why did she choose the word run away? I swear my mom is freaky when she knows exactly what's going on. "They tried scaring me away, using Jace's past."

"What exactly could they have used to make you disappear on us?"

I find a loophole to avoid discussing the family orgy. "His failed relationships." I reply cleverly. "They said everything they could to convince me that I'll be another one." I stare at my thumbs as I twiddle them together. "I almost believed it. That's why I went MIA...I was working through what his family told me. I was conflicted."

"I don't get why, Madi." Jess is confused. "You two are engaged. There's nothing to be conflicted about."

"Well...my in laws were very convincing." I admit.

Lily blows air through her nose like a Rhino. "We should've never trusted any of them. But we believed you, Madi. Why would you lie about everything being settled? We could've helped you with this instead of you doing it on your own. You didn't have to do this the hard way."

"I didn't want things to come crashing down." I reply sympathetically.

"It wouldn't have." She bickers.

"Are you sure about that? You mean you wouldn't have used a bat?"

Lil glances to the side. "Only as a scare tactic. Now...I'm not sure. Why did they escalate this?"

Mom shakes her head, her eyes go beady with outrage. "Because they're evil!" She gives an apologetic look to Jace. "No offense."

"None taken. Trust me, this upset me too."

"Your family should be banned from the wedding." She complains.

"Madi persuaded me to let them stay. I agreed, only because I want them to attend. It's my family's duty to be at my wedding."

"Not if their goal is to crash it." Mom argues.

"What is your father going to do about you attacking Tom?" Lil asks the right question. One I didn't even think of. "There'll be retaliation, right? He looks like the chastising type. This won't blow over."

"Me and Alonso will have his back." My dad says with badass swagger. "Three on three is a fair fight,"

"No." I shake my head, my heart races. "No violence."

"There will only be violence if my father pushes it there." Jace speaks rationally. "We won't go looking for it unless provoked. Your father is right. It'll be a fair fight if it gets to that point."

"Good for them." Lil walks to me. "Their retaliation won't be facing off with a bat. Unlike mine."

"Lil, you said it'll just be a scare tactic."

"It will...but if I'm egged on. It'll get physical. Don't worry, I won't mess up their pretty faces. I'll aim for spots they can cover up."

"Don't be ridiculous..."

"There has to be justice for what they've done." Mom supports my sis.

"I understand that, mom. But not this way."

"Meredith verbally abused you, Madison. I won't let that go without returning the favor."

Okay...this is getting ridiculous! Dad and Jace are being silly about a fight. Alonso might be the one to talk sense into them. Lil and mom are being irrational. Maybe Jess will side with me. That way it's 2 on 2 instead of me disagreeing on my own. "Jess? Are you with me?"

Her pale eyes are decisive. "I don't know. We should just focus on tonight's bachelorette party. Your wedding is tomorrow. There shouldn't be any stress on you. You need beauty sleep. But your in laws can't get away with mistreating you and trying to jeopardize your wedding."

JACE

I don't understand why Jess and Madi are on the fence. So far Lil is the most reasonable. Although I'm not sure if I want her using a bat on my mother and sister. Yes, I hate them. But seeing them hurt will affect me. I'm sure it's just a scare tactic...and she's all talk.

Then again, tiny people have insane courage. I know Madi won't let it escalate if Lil starts swinging. She already doesn't want any fights. She said herself: "no violence." But if my father challenges a show of strength, I'll return it.

"Jess is right. There has to be consequences. "And there will. We have to confront them." " I explain. "But don't let this ruin tonight. Try talking it out." I rub the middle of her back and smooch her forehead to ease her mind. Madi is all tensed up. I have the fix that. Starting with Lily. "Avoid any altercations...for Madison's sake."

Lil sighs. "Fine...I'll be nice."

I open the security app on my phone. There are 65 camera views. I scroll down the massive list until I locate my family. They're out by the pool. I find it out that they're all there once again. Is it their meetup spot? I text Alonso to meet us in the foyer. Paul and I board the elevator.

My father-in-law lets out a huff. "This won't be pretty. If I ever bashed my brother's face, my father would've whipped my ass."

"Good thing we're bigger than him." I press the main floor button.

"Why can't your folks just let it be? Why are they so involved in your personal life??"

I give a harsh laugh. "I lost the rights of a personal life as soon as I stepped into the spotlight. What my family is doing is just the tip of the iceberg. I'm used to my privacy being invaded."

"This is different...they're your blood."

"Not by choice...it's complicated."

"It shouldn't be. You're with my daughter, whether they approve or not!" He gets worked up. "Madison is a blessing to your family. She tried fixing this. Suffered to make it work. I don't know where she gets that strength from. I'm telling you, if it were me and my wife, fists would've been thrown day one."

I raise my hurt hand to agree with him. "We'll get along just fine." I grin. "And you're right...I don't know where she gets that strength. It may be her stubbornness."

"Possibly..." Paul inhales deeply.

My secret agent man awaits us in the foyer. I expected cluelessness from him. "How can I assist?"

Paul and I share a comical look. We both know we need babysitting. The chuckling that follows is pure gold. Alonso squints at us with a stoic expression. The laughter catches him off guard. "Well...we need a...umm...rational adult." I answer in titters.

"A boxing referee is more like it." Paul clarifies, trying to fight his cackling as best he can.

"If it gets physical." I collect my wits.

"Ahh...I see." He's amused. "Yes... child sitting is in my resume, sir. I'm flattered that you remembered." Alonso pokes and turns on his heels. "Where to, children?"

"The pool." He escorts us there. It isn't far. The pool is right off the kitchen doors. My evil spawn are huddled together in cahoots. I wonder what the plan is now?

"Say this goes south, how will you stop 5 men from tussling?" Paul asks Alonso.

"5 is nothing. My capacity for destabilizing brawls exceeds 30."

"Now you're just showing off." I roll my eyes.

"Jealous, sir?"

"I order you to drop the conversation."

He snickers, then opens the door for us. The huddling is interrupted by our presence. Sam is the first to move. He backs away, aware of what can happen. He's never used his boxing skill as a true weapon against anyone. Tom's eyes are bitter. I sense a butt hurt man screaming in his head. I did a number on his face. Honestly, I didn't mean to go that far...my older brother appears as if he's recovering from plastic surgery. Red and dark purple bruising. Deep puffiness along his eyelids and nose.

Kim and mother clear away to the tables. Far away from the spite of my father. I feel the steam emitting from his body. The authoritative power he thinks he still holds over me is yielded like a sword. His stifling temper...his puffed out chest. None of it scares me. "I DIDN'T RAISE YOU TO BE A BARBARIAN!! LOOK AT TOM'S FACE!!! YOU HAVE NO RESPECT FOR YOUR BROTHER!!"

"You failed teaching him to speak with respect...fair is fair."

"DON'T TEST ME, BOY!!!" He strides my way as a giant would. All show and no force. My father has started a war. He made the wrong move. He thinks he's still spry and young. 55 years old. His age defeats him. I stomp ahead. Everything slows.

"NOO!!" Kim yells.

"STOP IT! JUST STOP IT!!!" Mom cries.

Tom is pleased by what's coming. The smug smile on his face is childish. Sam races ahead, trying to grip father's arms, but our dad is a fully revved engine. There's no stopping him...or me. All my level headedness banishes. I see red.

I know what he and Tom did. I know that they came onto Madison. That they sexualized her to play their little act well. To sell her on the bed partner sharing. I know when Madi is editing her mind. She kept this part for me...when they...my father and brother, hit on her. When they flirted with my fiancé!!!

Before our fists can collide to our faces, a high pitch frequency erupts the air. I cover my ears in discomfort. The noise is damaging to the eardrums. Mines vibrate a storm. The pain is sizzling. I find that this is the same for everyone else, by how they cringe and plug their ears.

It takes me a few seconds to figure out where the sound is coming from. Alonso whistles the destabilizing tone. He stands between me and my father. Unfazed by the high pitch frequency. He acts as if he's whistling a show tune out of boredom. My bodyguard abruptly ends the insane sound emitting from his mouth.

Paul exclaims in relief, the same as the rest of us. "God damn!" He massages his ears.

"My apologies...there's no way to target who hears it. Still, it's effective." Alonso comes between me and my father to prohibit any violence. "It's best if I remove the guests, so no confrontations occur."

"Remove us??!" Father steams. "We're not the ones using punching as a solution!!"

"No...instead you're using mind games!" I spit crossly. "Madison told me everything." This shocks them to their core. They assumed she left the island. Assumed the plan of theirs was successful. The expressions of shock please me. Especially my mother's. The Queen bee is speechless and alarmed by the news. "You were so sure your little scheme would have her far from the island. My fiancé is still here. How does it feel to lose??" I gloat viciously.

Mom breaths shutter in her lungs, her breathing is choppy and her expression is fearful. "Please, Jace! Let's talk about this-"

"No...I'm done talking..." I evil eye Tom and my father. "Especially with men who tried seducing my bride to be! I'm no fool...you're all so desperate to get your way. All of you are lower than scum!" I inhale sharply. "Alonso, escort these men to loft 17." This loft is the farthest from the main house, at the edge of the island.

Alonso crease his bushy eyebrows into a tight pinch. "Loft? Not off of the island?" He's baffled.

"As much as I want that." I stare down the pathetic excuse I have for a family. "You all have Madison to thank for prolonging your stay. She has more heart than any of you."

Paul steps to my father, closing in to intimidate him. He's a towering giant, taller than I am. At least 6′6 and packing more muscle mass than fat. My father is wise to not give any threatening body language. He won't win a one on one. Paul's brown eyes are hellish; weighed down by deadly protectiveness. "From this day on, don't speak to my daughter. If you so much as whisper or even eye her in a way I don't like. You'll fall to the floor faster than the bodyguard can whistle." His eyes are wrathful. Paul chastises my father, by flexing his hefty arms.

I enjoy the pure silence from all of them. They're caught red handed and are on the wrong side of the chessboard. Tiny pawns alone in a fight with knights.

"You can take them now." Paul says to Alonso.

"Come." The vile snakes file after him.

"No...you two stay put." I order my mother and sister. They halt in place faster than I can complete the sentence. Tom, Sam, and father stop in their tracks, confounded by my words. My eyes meet theirs, speaking the intensity of my hatred. They're quick to break contact with my icy gaze. They're too embarrassed of their failure. Too wounded.

"Come." Alonso beckons them ahead. They're skeptical of leaving. My words have them curious. Has them wondering why Kim and mom must stay.

"Why are we staying?" Kim works up enough bravery to question me. She's half afraid, half stubborn. It's an odd mixture to see.

"Karma...the women will deal with you momentarily."