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Stunned and outraged, he jerked back.
“What’s going on here?” Madison’s furious voice brought him back to the present.
Chloe’s hands fell, and she stepped back.
They both spun to face Madison.
“Maddy, meet my first boyfriend, Rick Lambert. He’s come back to me. Now, everything will work out for me.”
“What are you talking about?” Madison’s eyes shot daggers at him.
Rick grabbed her arm. “Madison—”
“Now that I know you never tried to hurt me and truly loved me, I’ll have the strength to leave Ben and come back to you, Rick.” Chloe reached for his shoulder.
He stepped back.
“Are you crazy?” he spat. “The past is over. I’ve turned that page. Madison is my fiancée.”
Chloe shrugged. “She’s also my cousin. She wouldn’t build her future on my misery. She knows what I’m going through with Ben.”
“Your cousin? Madison, is that true?”
“Our mothers are cousins. I’m going home, Rick. I have a monster of a headache.”
“Coming with you.”
“We’ll talk again, Ricky.” Chloe’s dogged look contrasted with her syrupy smile.
He shrugged, turned his back, and followed the woman he loved.
A hand grabbed his arm. “Rick Lambert, stay away from my daughter. I warned you once. I’ll send you to hell this time.”
He peered into the man’s eyes with contempt. “Go to hell,Joseph Powell.” He yanked his arm out of the man’s hand and darted away, trying to locate Madison.
“Yeah! Run away. That’s what you do best, Lambert.” His nemesis called after him.
Rick gritted his teeth, but didn’t stop. Keeping Madison was more important than fighting with people from the past. “Be patient, Powell,” he hollered. “The truth will come out, and when it does, you’ll pay for everything.”
The evening had turned into a nightmare, like the appendix to a bad chapter. But he wasn’t a youngster anymore. He would uncover the truth and make those responsible pay for their lies.
Chapter Eighteen
Madison paused by her mother’s chair and kissed her cheek. “Thanks for a great party. Bye.” She dashed out of the lounge before anyone could stop her.
Her heart had almost stopped when she’d found her cousin kissing Rick. Chloe’s explanations had fueled her anger and erased any chance of possible misunderstanding. Her breathing labored, she’d stomped through the lobby and exited the building in desperate need of fresh air. Her own condo within walking distance, she strode to the sidewalk, despite her high heels.
An arm wrapped around her waist. “I said I was coming with you. Why didn’t you wait for me?”
“I’m in no mood to chat now.”
“I’ll explain everything.”
She scoffed. “I don’t need any explanation. As they say,a picture is worth a thousand words, and I’ve seen enough.”
“What you saw was none of my doing. She jumped at me.”
“Oh yeah! You were enjoying her kiss, a disgusting blissful expression on your face.”
