Ray Maddox
I knew the moment I walked into the estate that something was off.
It wasn't the silence. The Maddox mansion was always quiet, a little too pristine, a little too polished. Like no one lived here, just haunted it.
It was the way the butler didn't meet my eyes. The way the air felt heavier.
Then I saw him. My father.
Standing at the head of the dining table, hands behind his back, that damned watch ticking too loud in the silence.
"Sit down."
I didn't.
"You knew this was coming," he said, his voice cool, clipped. "You've been reckless."
I stayed standing. "If you've been stalking me like Sky's father has been stalking her, then yeah. I figured you'd throw a fit eventually."
He turned slowly. "So you admit it?"
"What, that I love her?" I raised my chin. "Yeah. I do. I'm not gonna lie to you about it."
His face didn't flinch. But the silence? Louder than ever.
"She's Valen's daughter, Ray," he said. "Do you even begin to understand the implications of that?"
"She's Sky."
"She's a threat."
"She's a girl who smokes too much, drinks Diet Coke for breakfast, wears baggy hoodies, and cries when her dad tells her who she's supposed to be."
He paused. Just for a second.
I took a step forward.
"She's the only real thing in my life right now. And you—you—don't get to decide what I do with that."
"You're letting your emotions blind you."
"No," I said sharply. "I'm finally seeing clearly. You think I don't know what love is just because I grew up under your roof? You think because I'm your son I'm not allowed to want something that isn't built on blood contracts and bank accounts?"
His jaw tightened.
"She's not safe," I said, quieter now. "Not with him watching her. Not with some guy trailing her to class and dorms. And you know what I think? I think you don't hate that I'm with her. You hate that I chose something you can't control."
He didn't respond. But his silence was the confirmation I needed.
I stepped back.
"You can try to lock me down. Threaten the trust fund. Pull me from law school. I don't care. But I'm not walking away from her."
"Then you're walking away from me."
I smiled coldly. "Maybe that's not the tragedy you think it is."
And I left.