Contracted To The Beast novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Chapter 45

My head cracked sharply to the side. The sound of the impact rang around the room as I stared at her stunned. I placed my palm on my cheek trying to soothe the sting. My skin burned hot under my fingers. The metallic taste of blood touched my tongue where my teeth had cut the inside of my cheek.

Her hazel eyes carried so much hurt as she clenched her fists to stop her hands from shaking. Her chest rose and fell fast. like she was fighting to breathe through the anger.

ow dare you?” her voice cracked as she spoke.

red, still stunned, regretting the three words that just came out of my mouth. They hung in the air like something ugly I ldn’t take back.

“I made one stupid mistake in high school with you and you’re judging me years later by it?” she asked. “Answer me Maddox.

I continued staring, still silent. Lacking the right words. Heck. Lacking words in general. My throat felt tight. My mind spun in circles. Part of me wanted to shout back. Another part wanted to pull her close and say I was sorry. A bigger part just felt sick with myself.

“What if I did? In fact, yes I did. Go ahead Maddox, call me a whore” she said gesturing wildly.

Her words cut deepe

came out

lap. I felt my stomach twist. Shame burned in my chest. I opened my mouth but nothing

Merrupted.

ook a step towards her.

Get the fuck out of my apartment,” her voice as cold as ice.

I walked out without even daring to spare her a second glance. Damn, I really screwed up this time.

I screwed up royally.

The hallway felt too quiet.

My cheek burned where she slapped me. Every few seconds my tongue brushed against the cut inside my mouth, tasting blood.

“Did you fuck him?”

Jesus Christ.

I squeezed my eyes shut briefly as the words replayed in my head./

What the fuck was wrong with me?

The look on her face after I said it would probably haunt me for a long time. Hurt. Shock. Rage. And disappointment.

That part hit the hardest.

I leaned against the elevator wall and dragged both hands through my hair roughly. I wanted to go back upstairs already. Wanted to knock on her door and apologise properly.

14:54 Thu, Jul 9 nu

Chapter 45

But another ugly thought kept clawing at my chest. What if she actually did sleep with him? The thought made something violent twist inside me.

Beck:

My fucking brother.

I let out a harsh laugh under my breath. Since when did I become this guy?

Jealous. Possessive. Losing sleep because Nia Page had dinner with another man.

No. Not another man. Beck. That somehow made it worse.

Yet, something about the fact that she stayed with Beck late into the night really triggered me. What if she actually slept with him? What if they’re dating? Beck usually avoids confrontation, but what if this time he actually decided to fight for her?

Wait? Why am I even bothered about this? Who she chooses to date is none of my business as far as she keeps them away from the media.

Right?

Why does it feel so wrong?

There’s no way I’m going to be comfortable letting another man get close to Nia. The thought alone is sickening. My hands clenched at my sides. My jaw tightened until it hurt.

I still don’t get why she’s so comfortable with Beck and not me.

Why him and not me?

Because Beck was safe.

Beck listened.

Beck was patient.

Beck brought her flowers and probably remembered stupid little things about her like her favorite color or how she took her coffee.

Meanwhile I kept hurting her over and over again and somehow still expected her to trust me.

Maybe I really was the problem. I’ve been asking myself that question for a while now and I still haven’t figured out the

answer.

“Maybe it’s because you’ve been a jerk,” A tiny voice in my head whispered to me.

She has a valid reason to hate me if I’m to be completely honest. I just hope she’ll hate me less at some point.

I didn’t need her to love me.

Hell, I wasn’t even asking her to like me. I just wanted her to stop looking at me like I was the worst mistake she had ever made and I don’t think that’s happening anytime soon. The thought made my chest feel heavy. I rubbed my face hard, trying to push the guilt away, but it stuck.

“What’s going on? big Man” Liam asked as he leaned on the elevator door.

“I dunno bro” I tried to brush it off.

“You and your Mrs voice have been echoing around the condo building and it’s fucking midnight” He said crossing his arms.

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14:54 Thu, Jul 9

Chapter 45

“Not now Liam” I said, turning away from him.

“We’re talking about this now. Look at me man, I standing out here in my fucking pyjamas bottoms” He said, gesturing to his squidward pants. He was topless. His dreads were placed in a man bun at the top of his head. “C’mon, come with me.”

!

I followed him into the elevator. His apartment was in between mine and Nia’s. No wonder he was so disturbed by our

arguments.

The smell of cinnamon and mint hit me as soon as we stepped into Liam’s apartment. He was a big plant dad and had dozen plants around his apartment. His walls were pastel yellow and his couches were army green.

“Take a seat, I’ll get us a drink” I sank into the plush sofa as we walked into the kitchen. He returned holding a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.

“Talk to me Maddy, what’s been going on?”

“With what?” I asked, feigning confusion.

“What the hell big man? Talk. Y’all can’t be shouting the whole place down for nothing and I’ve never seen Dr. Page react like that. She’s always so chill, never visibly triggered” He took a sip of his drink and turned to me. “Start talking.”

I took a deep breath and a mouthful of whiskey, feeling the burn run through my gut.

“I’ll start from the beginning and make it very short.” I paused to take breaths in and out.

“So, I and Nia aren’t actually a couple. The day she resumed Mr Hale and Coach Riggs coerced her into signing a fake-date contract for 6 months, to sort out the scandals that have been going on with me. Mr Hale informed my father about the arrangement and despite that he wants me to get married to Bella. It’s why she’s been acting up and making crazy posts all over social media. My little brother, Beck, is in love with Nia. He has been right from our high school days. Yes, we all went to the same high school, and I’m worried she may love him too.”

Líam set down his glass and paused for a while, as if to assimilate all I have said, before exploding in a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

“What the fuck is your problem man?” I spat.

“I’m so sorry?” Liam said amidst laughter, wheezing as he clutched his ribs.

I rose to my feet, poured the remaining whiskey in my glass down my throat and made to leave.

“Woah Maddox chill,” He said. “Relax man, where are you rushing to? I won’t laugh again I promise.”

I remained standing for a bit, not fully convinced. “I swear, I won’t laugh again.”

“Bro,” Liam said slowly, staring at me over the rim of his glass. “You are so fucked.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means you’re standing here looking ready to commit first degree murder because Nia had dinner with your brother.”

“I am not-”

“You literally camped outside her apartment for hours,” he cut in. “That’s insane behavior, by the way.”

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