Chapter 7 Let's Call Off The Engagement

Colten's words were tinged with a sharp bite of annoyance, a sharp contrast from his earlier tenderness.

Madison's hands clenched into tight fists for a fleeting moment before she released them and swung the door open with determination.

Inside the office, Lana clung to Colten, her arms locked around his neck. Her eyes shot wide open in alarm at Madison's entrance, and with a sharp intake of breath, she staggered backward, clumsily tripping over the desk's corner and collapsing back into Colten's ready arms.

Colten didn't reject her; instead, he secured her by the waist with a firm grip.

"Colten," Lana purred, nuzzling closer to him, her voice dripping with sweetness.

The sight of their cozy embrace drove a dagger of pain through Madison's heart.

At that moment, the need to present the USB drive in her pocket seemed pointless.

As Josie had pointed out, if Colten truly harbored any sincere feelings for her, finding the truth would be no challenge.

His actions spoke clearly: there was neither trust nor love on his part.

"If you've got something to say, make it quick. I'm very busy!" Colten snapped, his brows knitting together as his eyes flicked to Madison's left leg and then hastily away.

Madison forced out a laugh, empty and devoid of real emotion.

Yes, he was indeed very busy-deeply engrossed in a workplace romance.

Taking a moment to steady herself, she drew in a deep breath and said, "Let's end the engagement."

The office was enveloped in a suffocating silence, the air thick with tension.

Suddenly, Colten's voice shattered the stillness, laced with a biting, sarcastic tone. "Unbelievable, Madison. Are you seriously doing this now, right before tonight's family dinner? Do you really think you can intimidate me into agreeing to your brother's contract?"

His disbelief was palpable; he couldn't fathom Madison leaving him.

No one in the entire world could match his confidence in Madison's unwavering love for him.

He had always assumed her schemes were tied to either the ambitions of the Dixon family or her attempts to capture his undivided attention.

He couldn't understand how the once sweet and adorable girl had become so calculating and detestable.

From the sidelines, Lana watched Colten's face contort with frustration, her voice dripping with faux sweetness as she interjected, "Colten, is this the same contract you discarded in the trash earlier? When you mentioned it, I was intrigued to find out who would have the audacity to demand such a favor without offering anything in return. I never imagined..."

Her voice faltered as she noticed the impact of her words on Madison, her features softening. "I'm so sorry, Madison. I had no idea that the contract was from your brother."

In the days of their youth, Madison's grandfather and Alfred were as close as brothers, their fortunes intertwined like the roots of ancient trees.

Yet as time passed, the Dixon family found themselves dwindling in wealth, while the Pearsons' star ascended brilliantly. Now, the Dixons clung to the engagement like a lifeline, hoping it might hoist them back to their former glory.

Colten ignored Lana's scorn directed at Madison, a slight, dismissive smirk curling the edges of his lips.

Madison, her hands balled into tight fists at her sides, struggled to keep her composure. "I'll have a word with my brother about the contract and make sure he stops bothering you. When the engagement is cancelled, you won't have to deal with him anymore, and we can both move on."

She steadied herself, determined to sound composed. If they were parting ways, she hoped it would be on good terms.

Yet, as she spoke, Colten's face darkened, his mood souring. The expensive pen in his grip punctured the contract forcefully, causing ink to bleed across the paper like a dark cloud over his emotions.

Flinging the ruined document aside, he declared with a frosty resolve in his gaze, "I'll have a new contract drafted. At the banquet this evening, I will consent to marry you. Does that satisfy you? If so, leave my sight!"

Madison felt a dull ache of disillusionment settle in.

He viewed her as nothing more than a stepping stone to secure Pearson Group, just as he believed she depended on him to restore the fading reputation of the Dixon family.

Their entire relationship was a strategic arrangement, devoid of any real affection.

Raising her chin defiantly, she countered, "I disagree."

His piercing, murderous stare followed her as she turned and strode out without a second glance.

The door shut with a resounding bang, and though Lana could barely contain her joy, she managed to muster a look of sorrow.

"Colten, I'm really sorry. Madison wouldn't have had such an outburst if it weren't for me."

Colten's anger radiated from him like heat from a fire; his tone was biting and icy, his gaze locked unyieldingly on the door that had just closed.

"It's not on you. I'm eager to see what she's really made of!"

......

Outside the towering building of Pearson Group, Madison basked in the warm sunlight, her heart flooding with an inexplicable relief.

Since her youth, the engagement that had been arranged for her had steered her life, binding her heart and thoughts solely to Colten.

Loving Colten meant everything to her; she carefully uncovered his likes and dislikes, molding herself into what she hoped would win his heart.

He had once mentioned that women who danced possessed a certain elegance, so she gave up her cherished motorcycle, repressed her spirited nature, and wore white dresses, enduring the pain of contorting and conditioning her body.

His mother had insisted that the spouse of a man from their affluent circle must exhibit dignity and poise.

Therefore, she mastered the art of etiquette, perfected her speech, and learned the intricacies of pleasing others.

Madison had gradually retreated into a shell, one she named Colten, slowly forgetting the fiercely independent woman she once was.

The cacophony of revving engines filled the motorcycle shop, blending seamlessly with the pungent aroma of grease and gasoline.

The thirty thousand dollars meant for the video was instead spent on a strikingly vibrant, scarlet-red red motorcycle, its glossy surface shining provocatively.

Riding had been a forgotten pleasure for her. Pushing past the bustling crowd, she set her sights on the secluded mountain paths to the east.

The sheer velocity stirred a liberating euphoria within her, soothing her very essence. Reaching the summit, she hoisted her helmet skyward, unleashing a victorious yell into the echoing expanse, her laughter unrestrained and infectious.

"Wow, you're bursting with energy, aren't you?" a voice tinged with familiarity remarked, catching her off guard and nearly sending her spiraling over the edge.

A firm, reassuring hand clasped her waist, his breath a warm whisper against her ear. "Careful now."

Startled, Madison recoiled, her face clouding with a mix of reflexive reserve and palpable alarm.

"Mr. Pearson."

Chris' hand lingered in the air momentarily before retreating smoothly back into his pocket, his eyes cloaked in mystery as he observed her.

Just a day prior, she had been a portrait of despair, yet today, after her trip to Pearson Group, her spirits seemed uncharacteristically buoyant.