Chapter 7 Tulips and Secrets

Madison's POV

Klaus had barely been gone for ten minutes when a soft tap sounded on the door. It opened slowly, and Cedric stepped into the room. He was not carrying a phone filled with photos or acting like a dramatic actor on a stage. In his arms, he held a massive, vibrant bundle of yellow and red tulips that smelled sweet and reminded me of childhood summers together.

The moment I saw them, a strange, warm sensation bloomed in my chest and made my eyes water with forgotten happy memories instantly.

"I saw Klaus leave," Cedric said quietly, his voice low and incredibly grounding. He walked over to the small bedside table, carefully setting the flowers down next to the plastic water pitcher. "The nurses told me you were getting overwhelmed. I can leave if you need to rest, Maddie." he offered gently.

Cedric paused briefly, turning his head slowly to look directly at me. Up close, he was absolutely breathtaking. The boyish, hesitant teenager I remembered vividly from ten years ago had completely and utterly transformed. He had a sharp, strong jawline, broad shoulders that perfectly filled out his casual dark sweater, and eyes that looked at me with a deep, heavy, genuinely aching longing. He looked way hotter than he had any right to be.

"You brought tulips," I murmured softly, staring quietly at the bright beautiful petals. "How did you know they were my favorite?"

A small, genuine smile softly tugged at the corner of his slightly smiling lips. "You told me when we were sixteen. You said roses were totally cliché and that tulips meant someone actually cared enough to find something different. I never forgot."

My heart suddenly did a violent flip against my ribs. I reached out slowly, my fingers gently wrapping around his wrist. The moment my skin met his, that same intense wave of raw, electric emotion completely flooded through me. It was not cold like Klaus's touch, and it was not carefully calculated like Dexter's. It felt real and it felt safe.

"Cedric," I said, my voice dropping to a low whisper as I tugged him a little closer to the bed. "Why didn't you come see me earlier? The doctor said I have been in a deep coma for three long months. If we were... if we were truly close, why did you stay outside my door for days without ever coming in?"

Cedric's bright smile vanished instantly. He looked down at my hand still on his wrist, his jaw tightening slightly. "Because I thought you still hated me, Maddie."

I blinked in utter complete confusion. "Hated you? Why would I ever possibly hate you? The night before I woke up here, I dreamt that you softly kissed me. I have been truly looking forward to seeing you again."

Cedric stiffened suddenly, his dark beautiful eyes snapping quickly back up to meet mine directly. There was a flicker of intense sharp pain in his tense expression, mixed with a dark possessiveness that made my breath catch instantly. He did not pull away from my grip, but his body went completely rigid.

"A dream," he muttered bitterly, more to himself than to me. "Of course. Because ten years ago, you did not want my kisses, Madison."

"What are you talking about?" I demanded desperately, my frustration rising. "Dexter told me that you and Klaus are completely lying to me. He said you are both just using my terrible amnesia to fight some stupid corporate war. But I remember our special promise, Cedric. Three years ago, we made a promise. You said you would chase me for ten years, and then we would get married. Why didn't we?"

Cedric forcefully pulled his wrist out of my grasp. He took two slow steps back from the bed, his handsome face suddenly pale and his broad chest heavily heaving under his sweater.

"Don't ask me about that, Maddie," he said, his voice straining as if he were holding back a flood of dark secrets.

"Why shouldn't I?" I pushed, throwing the hospital blankets off my legs and swinging my feet over the edge of the bed. "I have a right to know my own life! If you loved me enough to chase me, why am I married to your brother? Why did I block you on social media? What happened to us?"

"I said stop!" Cedric snapped, his voice echoing loudly in the small room.

I flinched, freezing on the edge of the mattress. Cedric immediately looked remorseful, running a hand through his dark hair in sheer frustration. He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of desperate love and agonizing regret.

"I can't do this right now," Cedric whispered, backing toward the door. "Dexter is right about one thing... you need to recover. Pushing for the truth right now will only break your mind again. I am running MADRIC Entertainment now, Maddie. I have to get back to the headquarters. I will see you tomorrow."

"Cedric, wait!" I cried out, reaching my hand toward him.

But he did not stop. He turned, grabbed the door handle, and practically fled the room, leaving the heavy door to click shut behind him.

I dropped my hands into my lap, staring blankly at the yellow and red tulips sitting on the table. My head was pounding again, but this time, it was not from the amnesia. It was from the sheer weight of the secrets everyone was keeping from me.

Cedric was hiding something massive. He was terrified of me remembering the past. Was Dexter right? Was the sweet boy I loved just using me as a pawn to get back at Klaus?

I clutched my stomach, feeling that familiar, haunting emptiness inside me. I was nineteen in my mind, but I was trapped in a twenty nine year old body, surrounded by three dangerous, handsome men who all had their own agendas. And right now, I had no idea who was trying to save me, and who was trying to destroy me.