Chapter 16
These two nearly identical but equally obsessive, insane men used every disgusting method imaginable to relentlessly harass
her.
Blake tried what he thought was “making amends” and “repentance.”
He appeared religiously at her apartment building and college entrance daily, carrying priceless jewelry or rare flowers, trying to win her over with material goods and past “feelings.”
“Madison, I was wrong before. I was blind, I was a bastard.” He abandoned all pride, voice lower and more sincere than ever: “Give me one more chance, okay? Let me make it up to you. I’ll do anything.”
Madison’s response was to walk past him without a glance, like he was invisible, even pulling out pepper spray when he tried to get closer.
The first time she aimed the spray at him, he froze completely, eyes showing disbelief, hurt, and defeat.
Ryan was more extreme and emotional.
Sometimes he’d grovel and beg, crying and apologizing, slapping himself, talking about how sorry he was, how truly he loved
her;
Other times he’d lose control from her coldness, smashing things like crazy, even rushing out to forcibly drag her away when she was normally socializing with classmates, causing panic and police calls;
He even used the Morrisons’ influence to pressure Madison’s school and landlord, trying to cut off all her social and financial resources to force her compliance.
The brothers saw each other as the biggest obstacle.
Blake had people constantly monitoring Ryan, appearing to “coincidentally” interfere whenever he approached Madison;
Ryan found ways to sabotage all of Blake’s “romantic gestures”-smashing his flowers, throwing away his gifts, even making loud noises to disrupt Blake’s attempts at conversation with Madison.
This bizarre, suffocating competition and mutual sabotage didn’t make Madison feel any vanity about being pursued-it only disgusted and terrified her.
This wasn’t love-it was sick possessiveness and utterly selfish rivalry!
Her revulsion grew daily, reaching the point of physical nausea,
She studied hard, earned straight A’s, applied for scholarships, fought for financial independence;
She actively joined study groups, made new friends, tried to integrate into her new life;
She even started tentatively accepting interest from gentle, polite male classmates who showed her kindness, forcing herself to look forward despite lingering shadows.
Her resilience and coldness were like an even sharper knife, repeatedly torturing the Morrison brothers.
Ryan underwent subtle personality changes through repeated desperate rejections and crazy outbursts.
His playboy lightness almost completely vanished, replaced by something deep, painful, and destructive in its obsession.
He truly regretted, suffering heart-wrenching pain, but his way of expressing it was always wrong, only pushing Madison further away.
Blake also suffered in his torment. He tried learning how to really love someone, clumsily attempting to understand her preferences, focus on her needs, instead of just taking by force.
He swallowed some pride, learned to wait, learned to read her expressions, learned to stay calm under her cold stares.
But the damage was too deep.
His past hurt was too severe, his awakening too late. Any “goodness” he showed now seemed fake and laughable to Madison.
His “change” had minimal effect, made even more chaotic and annoying by Ryan’s presence.
The brothers were locked in a contest with no winners overseas-only endless pain and mutual torture.
Jealous of each other’s slightest progress, powerless against her complete indifference, frantic about possibly losing her
forever.
London’s three years were Madison’s self-tempering, phoenix-from-ashes rebirth.
She completely immersed herself in studies and work, using busyness and sweat to wash away past wounds and pain.
Excellent grades, a top university diploma, and that job offer from the domestic industry giant “Sterling Corporation”-these
were her most beautiful achievements.
She was no longer that Madison who needed to depend on anyone, who begged humbly for love.
She cut her long hair short and sharp, her eyes no longer holding the old timidity and confusion, now settled into calm, distance, and inviolable strength.
Past shadows hadn’t completely disappeared, but she’d learned to coexist with them, using a stronger heart to build walls.
Deciding to return home wasn’t from nostalgia, but career planning.
She was prepared to face everything-gossip, rumors, and that haunting pair of brothers.
She just wanted to completely sever all inappropriate entanglements and start a life that truly belonged to her.
Her return flight information was immediately reported back home by surveillance planted near her London apartment and
school.
Blake was in an extremely important international merger meeting when his assistant nervously entered, leaning down to whisper a few words.
Instantly, Blake’s composed control vanished, replaced by nearly hysterical urgency and tension!
He shot up, telling the executives on screen “Meeting suspended!” before striding out, leaving a room full of confused
executives.
“Get the car ready! To the airport!” He barked into his phone while speed-walking, voice trembling almost imperceptibly.
Three years-he’d been waiting for this moment every second! He couldn’t miss it again!
Chapter
Almost simultaneously, Ryan, who was dead drunk at an upscale club, got a phone call.
He shoved away the woman beside him, his bloodshot eyes blazing with obsessive light, joy and madness intertwined: “She’s back?! She finally came back! Quick! Airport! Can’t let my brother beat me there!”
Madison wheeled her suitcase through the crowded international arrivals terminal, looking sharp in her beige trench coat, posture straight and expression coolly indifferent as she emerged into the chaos.
Three years had washed away her last traces of innocence, adding maturity and aloofness that made her breathtakingly beautiful yet more unreachable than ever.
She’d just set foot on home soil, not even taken a breath of domestic air, when two groups swarmed her like sharks sensing blood, blocking her exit!
