Chapter 4
Madison went to the cafeteria alone, forcing down some tasteless food, then headed straight to the registrar to process her withdrawal.]]
Hearing her reason was “studying abroad,” the registrar felt some regret about her previous excellent grades, but thinking about the recent photo scandal and plagiarism incident, just gave a polite understanding without trying to keep her.[]
“This paperwork’s gonna take a couple days to clear. Keep going to class for now though, alright?“||
“Got it, thanks.” Madison replied quietly, expressionless.]
She went through the motions of attending her classes like a zombie. When the bell rang, she walked out with the crowd, passing the campus garden where she noticed people rushing toward something, voices excited with gossip:
“Oh my GOD move move move! Fight by the quad!“]
“Wait, is that BLAKE?! I didn’t even know Mr. Perfect could get angry!“]]
“It’s all about Harper! Boy’s got it BAD for her!“[]
Madison’s steps faltered, her heart pricked by a thin needle.[]
She found herself following a few steps and sure enough saw a small crowd gathered ahead.[]
In the center, Blake was wrestling with another guy.
Usually so composed and controlled, he now seemed like someone had hit his pressure point–violent, ruthless, every punch landing hard, his gorgeous face twisted with rare fury.
Fragments of conversation reached her:[]
“So this guy was hitting on Harper, she shut him down, then he wouldn’t take no for an answer…
…“[
“I can’t believe Blake actually lost his shit! He’s always so composed…“]
“But he’s with Madison, right? This doesn’t make sense…”
…0
“Come ON, after that whole photo scandal? Blake’s probably been looking for an excuse to dump her anyway…“,
Madison listened to these words, feeling fresh stabs of pain in her already barren heart.]
Just then, Harper rushed out of the crowd like a frightened deer, crying as she threw her arms around Blake’s waist from behind: “Blake! Stop! I’m scared… please stop fighting…”
Blake immediately froze.
He released the beaten up guy and turned around, all his violence instantly melting into a kind of tender clumsiness Madison had never seen.
He carefully wiped Harper’s tears, voice low enough to drown in: “Don’t be scared. I stopped. Did I frighten you?“]
That ultimate tenderness and care was like a poisoned ice blade, shattering Madison’s last shred of self–deception.[]
He’d never looked at her that way ]]
Never spoken to her in that tone.]
Hell, even sex–the most intimate thing possible–he found so disgusting he made his brother do it insteadi
How bland had she been to think he actually liked her?{}
Just then, blake’s eyes swept across the crowd and locked with Madison’s.[]
He looked surprised to see her there, something complicated and unreadable flashing in his gaze.[]
His lips moved slightly, like he wanted to say something!]
But Madison looked away fund, treating bun like any random stranger, and walked off without expression.[]
Blake watched her leave without hesitation, his frown deepening unconsciously
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Chapter 4
“Blake, what’s wrong?” Harper snuggled against him, voice soft with concern.[]
“Nothing.” Blake refocused on her, voice gentle again, but that strange feeling lingered.[]
He pulled out his phone and texted Ryan, briefly explaining today’s argument with Madison and the fight, telling him to smooth things over tonight.]
Ryan quickly replied: [? Why bother? Just dump her already.]]]
Blake stared at the response, his finger hovering over the screen.[]
Yeah, why bother?
He couldn’t explain it himself.[]
After a moment, he found what seemed like a reasonable excuse: [The grad school spot isn’t officially Harper’s yet. Gotta keep up the act. Madison’s emotionally unstable right now–if she makes a scene it could hurt Harper.]]]
Ryan immediately responded: [Got it bro, I’ll handle the smoothing over tonight.]]]
That night, Madison returned to the apartment exhausted and went to bed early.]]
Soon she heard the door–Ryan was back.[]
“Babe, why’d you crash so early?” He came over with his usual cocky intimacy.]
Madison turned away from him: “Nothing. Just tired.“[]
Ryan heard the coldness in her voice and wrapped his arms around her from behind, launching into his practiced routine of sweet–talking and excuses about the paper incident and fight.[]
Madison listened numbly, thinking: One plays bad cop, one plays good cop. These brothers had their act down to a science.]]
She closed her eyes, not wanting to waste another word on him.]
Ryan saw her ignoring him and went for it anyway–kissing her neck, hands going straight for her body.
Madison shoved him away hard: “I told you, I’ve been tired lately. Not tonight.“]
Ryan had been rejected repeatedly and his expression darkened, but seeing how pale she really looked, he held back: “Fine. Get some sleep then.“[] Next morning Madison woke up surprised to find Ryan still there instead of vanishing like usual.[]
“Why are you still here?“]
“Where else would I be?” Ryan grinned naturally, moving to hug her. “I upset my baby yesterday, so I took the day off to make it up to you, okay?“[] Madison immediately understood.]
Blake probably couldn’t be bothered with the performance, so he dumped the whole “girlfriend maintenance job on his brother.[]
Her heart stabbed with pain. She was about to say forget it, but Ryan didn’t give her a chance: “Didn’t you always want to do that ‘100 Things Every Couple Must Do liat? Today we’re doing ALL of it
He dragged her out despite her protests–movies, amusement parks, fancy desserts… all the supposedly sweet romantic stuff.
It lasted until evening when he took her to an upscale club.
“Let’s have some drinks, relax” Ryan settled her on the private room couch. “Til order drinks, be right back.“[
After he left, Madison was alone in the room.
She slumped on the couch, exhausted, just wanting this charade to end.[]
Suddenly the door burst open and several drunk men stumbled in, eyes lighting up when they saw Madison.[]
“Well hello there: Whut a hottie! Come drink with us, sweetheart![]
“How much for the night, gorgeous7
Im not Madison shot up, face pale, trying to explain !!
front play innocent! Everyone knows what girls do in places like this! The drunks didn’t believe her, laughing lewdly as they surrounded her, even locking the
Chapter 4
door!
Madison backed away in terror, struggling and screaming, but she was no match for several drunk men. Her clothes started tearing, despair washing over her like icy water.
Just when she thought she was completely screwed-
BANG!
The door exploded inward![]
