Kim and Mom demand the guards to arrange tall vases of orchids. My sister directs some to the dining room while my mom focuses on the foyer. "Mount the vases below the borders." She turns to the dining room. "Kim, is the ice sculpture properly refrigerated?"

"Yes."

"Perfect."

"Hey, mom. Have you seen my fiancé?"

She looks to me, startled. "No. I haven't. Not since our dinner. What's the matter?"

"I'm not sure."

"Don't stress...she's just making you sweat a little before the big day. She'll turn up."

"Maybe." The pain from last night revisits my heart. An impending doom sweeps through my body. "Where's Tom and Sam? They're the last two I have to ask."

"The morons are boxing." Kim says from the dining room.

"Thanks." I ping an elevator to the lower level.

The boxing ring is right before the mall entrance. It's to scale...I didn't skimp out on the size. It has the same dimensions as a WWE ring. The two idiots are in black boxing gloves: throwing practiced hits. Jabs. Cross punches. Hook and uppercut. The footwork is flawless: side to side, forward and backwards in a sort of dance.

They mirror each other as if they're their own reflections. Quick ducks and ninja leg sweeps. This is Sam's strong suit. I remember when all of us got pairs of boxing gloves for Christmas. His eyes lit up. He out learned me and Tom. Even my father, who had military training. My brother was king of the house for 5 years straight. Until Tom finally got good.

I grin at his boasting swagger in the ring. I'm reminded of myself when I'm dominating on stage. He's in his element. The zone out, boss element. I clap him on. My brother looks over...and immediately lose his focus.

His dark eyes freeze on mine like a deer caught in headlights. He almost looks spooked...of me. There's remorse and empathy. A guiltiness... Why?? That's strange? Why does he look guilty? As if caught red handed. A look equivalent to being cornered by police.

"What's up, Jacy?" Tom breaks the ice. "Want to join?"

"No..." I stare at Sam with distrust. Why is he reacting this way? "I'm looking for Madison. Have you seen her, Sam?" I go for the weakest link. Tom is too resilient.

"No, we haven't seen her."

"I'm asking Sam, not you." My older brother is silent. Too silent. One of his tales is looking at the floor when he's found out. Mom always knew when he was lying as a teenager because of this trait. I keep my eyes on him as I enter the ring. The air between us is thick. The intensity is electric. I don't take my sight off of him as I approach him. I'm dead focused.

Tom blocks my path. "I said we haven't seen her."

"Speaking for him doesn't help. Now get out of my way before I stain those gloves red."

"I'll like to see you try." He unstraps his gloves one by one. His alpha energy taunts me. Tom gives me his gloves. "You need them more than me." He squares up and raises his fists.

I fling the boxer gloves to the side. "Let's see if you're right." I post up just as he is, fists and feet in first position.

"Guys, stop!" Sam works up enough courage to speak. He steps between us like a referee. "This is going too far!"

"You better shut your damn mouth! All of a sudden you have a backbone when he's around!"

"I never wanted to do this!"

"Oh please, you're just like us. Stop being a goody two shoe."

"I don't have much choice. It's either go along or be banned from the family. I'm sorry that I care more about our unity than you do!" Sam's emotions bleed through his voice. Years of frustration and pain are felt in every word.

"Then be loyal and shut the fuck up!"

"I'M SICK OF THIS!"

Tom laughs at his sorrow. "Here you go with the dramatics. Stop being a fucking pussy! Man up!!" He gets in his face as a drill sergeant would.

This works up a nerve in me. The fact that he thinks Sam is soft for admitting a hardship. As if men can't express themselves. The toxic masculinity angers me. How docile Sam becomes under his wrath is what fuels me. The control he has over him is sickening. Much like an abuser taming their victim. I'm reminded of my teenage years. Our father was the same. Tom is just like him. The verbal abuse. The chastising. The need to dominate everyone in the room.

I lay two hard punches to Tom's jaw. That gets rid of the smug smirk. He stumbles backwards. I shove Sam out of the way and charge at him, knocking him to the floor. I restrain his hands with mine and lock my knee hard against his nuts. "You're going to apologize to Sam...then you're going to tell me where Madison is."

"FUCK HIM!" He growls "AND FUCK YOU!! YOUR BITCH LEFT!!"

I headbutt him and jam my knee deeper into his balls. "What do you mean she left?!" What did you do?!"

"Nothing. She left with your jet!" He spits.

"When?!"

"Last night!" He barks. "Now let me go!"

"I don't hear any apologies. That makes three. Now Madison and me are included. Start talking!" I free one hand and use my opposite arm to restrain him. I limit his motion by doing this...he can only move a few inches. I cock my fist back and wait.

Tom's eyes shift to the side. He's humiliated and beaten. My hold is tougher than he thought it'd be. I'm not as weak as he assumed. He closes his eyes in defeat. "I'm sorry...Sam. I'm sorry Jace." He mumbles dejectedly. "I'm sorry Madison."

I move my fist closer to his face. "I swear...if she's hurt in any way, I'll beat your face to a pulp!"

"You'll have to do the same to mom and dad." He sneers.

I pound my fist into a nerve under his chin. I watch his neck swing back and go limp. I knock him out cold. One hitter quitter.

"JACE!" Sam hyperventilates. "WHAT DID YOU-"

I stand. "He's fine."

"Where did you learn that??!" His frantic voice is appraising and frightened at the same time.

"Alonso." There's a rag hanging across the ring polls. I use it to clean my bruised knuckles. "What happened last night?"

"Please don't escalate this, Jace. Let's just look past it." He pleads.

"You all ran my fiancé away...I have the right to escalate this!"

Sam holds his hands up, surrendering to me so I don't beat him up next. "It'll never end...they'll never accept Madison."

"Where is she?"

"She took your jet...that's all I know."

I throw the towel against the wall, steaming like a bull. "You're wrong about this never ending...it ends today. Once I locate Madison. All of you are gone for good!"

"Jace, I don't hate your fiancé."

"But you stood by and let them push her away. You're an accomplice...that's worse than hate!" I scowl at him as I exit the ring. I check the drone search. They're combing the woods...that'll take a while. The island holds more forest than land.

I track the history of my jet through an app. It took off from here yesterday at 7pm and landed at the arena. Stayed there for 30 minutes...then flew off south. The ride wasn't long...she chose a meadow as her destination. I command the jet to fly home. Hopefully, my baby isn't done with me. There's no knowing what they told her to make her run away. I return to the elevator.

Kim and Mom are still directing interior design. I block out their mindless chatter. I ignore their words. I'll deal with my family later. I assign the jet to land on the beach. I go there and search the skies. There's an animated jet in the GPS map. It moves in real time. I up the speed to 60 miles so she'll be here quicker.

I hope I can fix this.

I meditate on my breathing. A heavy weight seizes my heart. I repeatedly glance from the phone to the sky with impatience. Please, Madi. Don't leave me. If I have to pray again, I will. Please come back to me. God, if you can hear me...listen to my wish. I need her back...I need my soul.

I spy the jet. I turn to watch it soar above the trees. I cover my eyes from the sun so I can peer through the oval windows. I know it's too far to see. But I hope to at least make out her hair. I see nothing. She could be laying down...asleep. There are beds on the jet. I'm guessing she's in one of them. Last night must have been a nightmare for her. Madison will have to tell me the truth this time. I let it slide last time. The spat with Tom was minor. I let it go. This I can't let go.

The craft shoots past me, slows down in a nanosecond, and lowers to the ground. I run to it in haste. I tap the door option in the app. One click unlocks it. Two clicks open it. I race inside. "Madi??!" I search each door compartment. There's three. Each bed is empty. Nothing. I check the two bathrooms. Nothing. She's not here...

I call Alonso. "I need you and your men to sweep the island. Madison is missing. I have my drones deployed, but a ground crew would ease my conscience."

"Where was she last?"

"The arena."

"My men and I will start there and branch out."

"That's a copy. I'll be there in 5 minutes." I drive the jet myself knowing I wouldn't trust it going 100 miles without experiencing balancing issues. I can't risk crashing. No matter how frazzled my mind is, I can't lose control. I have to keep it together. My baby is out there alone. Wandering around a strange place full of wildlife. I know she's in the woods.

What I don't know is why she ran there. Why would she do that? Why would Madi worry me this way? I scan the vast forests while flying. Many of my drones zoom in the distance, parting tree branches as they do. The ground isn't visible. I can't make out the ground.

I spot Alonso and his men. All three thousand. Each guard span out from the center and into the woods. My feet hit the ground before the jet does. I go to the middle where Alonso is. "She must have tossed her phone. Either that or it died. I'm unable to track it."

I rub the back of my head. "The jet was parked in the meadow. That should be ground zero."

There's a radio strapped to his suede jacket. He presses the button. "5 clicks out, North. Search every inch of the meadow."

"Roger that, General Vela."

I make my way down the stairs to follow the men. I hear my five-star general trailing behind me. "What sparked this?"

"My family."

"I thought everything was settled."

"I did too..."

"Ms. Hart must have lied. That's the only explanation."

"I'll get that confirmation once we find her."

"About that..."

I halt and turn to face him. I know that tone. The tough love voice used when weighing the outcome. Of being realistic. "Don't." I caution him.

"This has a chance of ending 50/50. You have to prepare yourself. Ms. Hart has been out on her own for 15 hours. There's a possibility we may not find her...and if we do, the result may be tragic."

"Last I checked, it hasn't been 48 hours. There's no need for grim assumptions." I snap. "Is that clear?!"

"Crystal clear, sir."

I march on, pissed that he even mentioned that. My baby isn't dead...she's missing. Most likely mad at me over whatever lie my family fed her. It must have been a bad one. Bad enough to have Madi ghosting me.

I try calling again. It rings until the voicemail prompt sounds. The ground turns muddy the closer we inch into wild nature. The tree coverage is thick. The guards whack the thick branches to the side to clear a path. The location isn't far. The whirling of drones and crunching of leaves echoes the air. I wish her footsteps were amongst ours.

I should invest in a body tracker for times like these. Or motion detection cameras throughout the forest. The meadow is vacant aside from us. The sight dawns on me. I needed to see her here...I'm losing hope. What if she left the island on a boat?? There are personal sailboats docked close by. For emergencies. Would she take one??

My heart stings. A hot blade seems to plunge into it. My breathing shutters. The sharp numbness returns. I grip my chest and clutch. My heart is going to stop. I brace a hand on a nearby tree. Alonso places his hand on my back. "Keep calm, boss."

"I'm thinking she took a sailboat."

"Is there a way to track it?"

"No. The sailboats are standard...only meant for emergencies if technology fails. There's no way of knowing if she did."

"If that's the case...Ms. Hart may have returned to the states. She's had enough hours to make landfall. I'll alert the police and coast g...and the ocean if she's stranded." My breaths lengthen beyond labored. They're shortened and dense. My lungs are thick...full of suffocation. "Deep breaths. You're having a panic attack. It'll pass."

"No, it won't..." I huff heavily. "Tap into the guardian satellite. Her fingerprints are registered. Do it before I have a damn heart attack!!" Icy trickling spikes my heart rate through the roof. I hunch over and draw air from my gut. My stomach plasters to my ribcage. I guess Alonso is following my request. The satellite is my last hope.

Please find her. I pray to God that he finds my baby. If he doesn't...I know the truth. I'll know that I lost her to death. Bi-code is offline when untraceable. Dead body cells can't be accessed by the tech . If this is a possibility...I'd blame myself for losing the best woman I've ever had. I'm not prepared for this. Chills drench over my soul as a subzero wave of water would. I just need to know she's safe.

Alonso helps me stand straight. "I've got a signature. Active vitals, heart rate and temperature."

I let out an exhale of relief, yet I'm still physically disabled. "Where?"

"3 miles away. At Silver River."

I heave in air. "Let's go." My feet speed the ground. I nearly run. My legs half jog in the direction. I out pace my men in black and whip through the trees. Leaving them behind. I have no time to waste. I need to get there before my angel moves again. What is she doing by the river?? I hope her troubled mind didn't lead her to darkness. The thought of suicide creeps in before you know it. I've learned that from experience...from my therapy sessions.

Please God, don't let the river be a resolution for her. I step over broken down tree trunks and high vines. My feet hasten. My hands clear the last leaf branch, revealing a clean view of the entire river. Shiny blonde hair catches my eye. Madison is sitting on a boulder next to the fast water. I stride her way. My feet triple to turbo speed. I hear my men behind me. They finally caught up...but I can care less. My fiancé is the only one in my universe.

She must have heard the rustling leaves. My honey rotates her head to the side and clamps her eyes on mine. The lightheadedness that follows baffles me. The feel of her eyes on mine is dizzying. It's as if I'm experiencing vertigo. I'm standing still while the earth is spinning. I near her, placing all my concentration on walking properly so I don't fall over. Does she know what she's doing to my body? Or know what she's done to my heart since last night? I don't think she does. My darling looks so unhappy.

I make out the tracks of her tears...she's been crying nonstop. Why? I kneel so I can stroke away the wet lines down her cheeks. She's so broken. Madi sniffles and lowers her eyes to the river. It's obvious that my baby is trying to piece together everything that happened. "No more lies...Madi." I say softly. "Tell me the truth."

"I just wanted to protect you." My fiancé's voice shivers. "I don't want you hurt by them...I hate when you cry. So, I took your mom's abuse."

"Why would you do that??!" I ask a little too harshly, I correct my tone and exhale. "Tell me why you would do that?"

"Because I'm in love with you..." Her navy eyes gloss up. Madi stares deeply into my eyes. "I'm willing to fight off obstacles for our relationship...just like you have."

I hold her hands in mine. "I understand that...but being my mother's punching bag isn't acceptable. You've been through enough trauma as it is."

"I just wanted to keep you happy. Your family should be at the wedding. I promised you that I'd tolerate them so they could attend. I was doing fine until last night."

"What did my family do?"

"I'd rather avoid a family feud."

"You're not starting it! They are!!" I holler.

Madi recoils from the boulder, scared of my rage. This is the first time I've seen her flee from me in terror. She notices my bruised knuckles from the brawl with Tom. "Who did you fight?"

"That's not important."

"It is." She combats me. "Your temper is getting the best of you. You'll do something you'll regret."

"I should've been done something!" I stand and ball up my fists. "Instead, I let them play you like a game!"

"I can handle it."

"You shouldn't have to!"

"I asked if you wanted your family at the wedding, you said yes! Regardless of all the drama, they're still your blood. They're important to you."

"Not after today...they will have no connection to us. No holiday invites! No interaction with me or you! You'll tell our children that daddy's family is dead!" I hiss relentlessly. "Tell me what happened last night!"

Madison covers her forehead with her hand, overwhelmed by my question. She closes her eyes and says, "your father set up a talk at the arena. He told me they all wanted thank me for my understanding. I was told to meet at the Arena. And to not bothered you with this...to keep it between us." She takes a long pause.

MADISON

How do I word the next part to avoid him from exploding?? He's already fought someone. Possibly Sam or Tom. Or his father. Who will he fight after I tell the truth? Jace's anger is consuming him. I have to word this smartly. "Then what?" He steams, his fists are still balled up.

"They tried scaring me away..." I rake my brain, trying to phrase the next sentence in the best way possible.

"Madi, stop editing the details. You're easy to read. Just say it!"

I jerk back again, alarmed by his temper. I shut my eyes and exhale. "There were videos... of you sleeping with women. Your brothers and father had footage with the same ladies. I was told that you four share bed partners...and that...the same would happen with me." I open my eyes to find fury growing in his. "Your mom convinced me to run away...she said you'll cheat. I was so close to leaving...but I trusted my gut. I know how manipulative they are. I'm sorry for going MIA...I just needed time to work everything out."

My fiancé inhales intensely, flaring his nostrils. He rubs a fist against his palm. I'm guessing to stop from punching something. "I don't have sex tapes...that would ruin my reputation. I'm not sure what footage my family showed you. It's fake."

"What about sharing women...??"

He paces around instead of answering. He got mad at me for editing my thoughts, but he's doing the same. His brain is carefully producing his next words. Is it true? Does he share women with the men in his family?? Jace eyes me a bit reluctantly. "It was a phase...call it male bonding or whatever. We passed around sluts for fun."

My eyes fill with alarm. So, Meredith was being truthful about her husband having affairs. And....the attraction from Tom and Mr. Harrison was real??? They were actually hitting on me??! Did the two honestly want to get sexual with me?! It's best I omit this part from Jace. He'd kill them if he knew. "Do you still pass around women?"

"No...not in years. It was a weird phase."

"How do I know it won't happen with me...in the future?"

"Madi..." All the air expels from his lungs as if he took a blow to the gut. His hard exterior softens. Jace goes weak for me. He clears the distance to cage my face in his warm palms. "I'm not sharing you with anyone. You're mine, always. In case you didn't notice...I'm in love with you, too."

I give a rushed grin. "Enough to do me a favor?"

"Of course."

"I'm not saying you should forgive your family...but you should let the wedding be their last involvement with us. The day is too important to be ruined." Jace looks off to the side, debating my favor. "Please...do it for me?"

"I'm not letting the assholes win."

"They won't..."

"No, they're gone by tonight. We're done being nice after what they caused." He cups my face and kisses me. "I love how big your heart is. I know you think I'll regret this, I won't."

"I know they're cruel, but you can't erase your family. You can hate them for who they are, but at the end of the day you all share the same blood."

"I'm tired of being the bigger person. It's exhausting."

I sense the weight of the world on his shoulders. I sense years of frustration and sacrifice. "Yet you do it because of unconditional love." I give him a nose nookie. "Admit it."

Jace lets out a long sigh. "Maybe."

"Just the wedding day...then you can send my evil in laws off."

"I'll consider it."

I take his battered hand and carefully stroke it. "Who did you fight?"

"Tom...he deserved it. My parents are most likely aware that I know the truth. I guess I'll knock them out too."

"Jace!" I snort. "That better be a joke."

"Yeah....sure." He pokes sarcastically. "It's a joke."

"I'm shocked by this side of you."

"I'll never hurt you....unless that's a kink of yours."

I playfully whack his shoulder. "We're supposed to be having a serious discussion."

"I'll let them stay only as wedding participants, nothing more. I'm warning you now, my silent treatment will be professional."

"That's acceptable..." I smooch his lips. "Plus, our unbreakable love will piss them off."

"Definitely."

"It's a win for us, not a loss." My lips peck at his injured knuckles. "You need to ice it." I survey how swollen they are.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. Let's go home." My lovebug signals to his men; the hand gesture mimics a bird.

I'm glad we're out of that mess. Glad we're flying home together and not apart. It'll take God himself to separate me from my love. No one on earth will tear us apart. I'll always doubt what others claim about Jace and go to him for answers instead of believing it. I waited this long for a reason. I waited to give my eternity and my undying trust to my husband. Our story is nowhere near the end.

I start up my phone. It buzzes 20 times in a nonstop melody. Texts. Calls. Voicemails. My parents are the only ones who use voicemails. I find it odd. I call our group chat so all 4 of them are alerted.

"Princess, where have you been?!!"

"Sis, I've been calling you, explain yourself!"

"Madison, you had us worried sick. We haven't seen you for damn near 2 days!"

"I was starting to think you ditched the wedding." Jess is the only one who isn't as peeved about me ignoring my phone. She sounds more so relieved.

"You can't scare us like this! People go missing on islands as much as they do in cities." Mom schools me. "I signed up to put out an amber alert."

"I'm sorry, I..." I look at Jace, wondering if I should let the big secret out.

"You should tell them. It's best my family has the most enemies possible."

"Is that Jace?" Dad asks. "Where did he find you?"

"We have a lot to talk about...it's serious." I admit. "I don't want to say it over the phone."

"The jet is about ten minutes away. Let's meet in the library." Jace sets a place.

I didn't know there was a library here. "Be there soon." I say before hanging up.

"Did my mother accept your apology? Or was that another lie?" He watches me stare ahead and clench my teeth. "You told your folks everything was good."

"I know...I told so many lies."

"Why?"

"To keep the peace." I make eye contact with him.

"I'm sure your fam will blow up like I did."

"I'm expecting that."

"Lily will threaten their lives like she did with me."

I giggle. "Yep...only she'll be one hundred percent serious. It was a scare tactic with you, but now it's real. She wanted to beat Brad with a baseball bat. I wonder what your folks are in for."

"Possibly hard swings to their heads to knock some sense into them."

"Try kneecaps." I laugh.

"I'll steer clear from getting on her bad side."

"You better...her overprotectiveness outranks yours."

"Because she's into you?"

"Jace..." I roll my eyes and smile wide. "It's not like that." He shares a cocksure look with me. "Don't look at me like that!" I guffaw.

"Excuse my dirty mind."

"That's impossible."