Page 57 of Sweet Addiction

MADISON

Vanessa ushers me into the back of the conference room. It’s full of people. Reporters, if I had to guess. Finding two empty chairs, we quickly drop down in them. My heart hammers in my chest, my gaze darting around the room. Sensing my anxiety, Vanessa takes my hand in hers, gently squeezing.

“Breathe honey,” she whispers.

Flashing her a grateful smile, I settle in my seat. Although my apprehension hasn’t completely dissipated, I feel slightly better knowing I have my stepmom by my side. I’ve always had an amazing relationship with her, but she has been absolutely amazing these last couple of weeks, really stepping up and being there for me.

Unlike my mother.

Not that I expected her to or even blame her. I have sent the odd message, but they have all gone unanswered. I miss her, but I can admit our relationship was not healthy. I haven’t asked her about the father of her baby. I don’t want to make things worse than they already are. I know what I did was wrong, but I think it’s time that I stopped being the one to try and fix things. Wait for her to reach out, whenever she is ready. I hope she does—I love my mother—but I will understand if she doesn’t. Sometimes in life, you need to put boundaries in place with people, even if they are blood. And right now, I think we both need those boundaries.

These past couple of weeks have made me realize just how much Mom emotionally abused and manipulated me. I should never have let things get as far as they did, but a part of me never wanted to upset or disappoint her. I always felt guilty for what she gave up when she had me. I now know, with the help of Knox, my father and Vanessa, that I have nothing to feel guilty about. We all make choices that shape our lives and Mom made her choices back then. It was wrong of her to make me feel shame and like I owed her something because she brought me into this world. It’s as much my fault as it is hers. I spent many years enabling her when I should have stood up to her, told her what I really wanted. But that all stops now. Maybe things would be different had I done this sooner? Or maybe things are exactly as they should be.

“Good afternoon and thank you for being here,” a feminine voice booms through the room, dragging me from my thoughts. My head snaps up, chest tightening when my eyes land on Knox. My breath hitches in my throat at the sight of him. He is gorgeous in sweats and a shirt but in a dark gray suit with a white dress shirt he is otherworldly. With his tousled dark hair, dark eyes, chiseled jaw and big dick energy, he is every woman’s wet dream, I am sure. “My client would like to address what is being said in the tabloids. He would also like to set the record straight on his relationship. When you are ready Knox,” the woman who I know is Clarissa, my mother and Knox’s publicist says with a smile on her face. But it’s fake. Forced. And if the tension in her features and body is anything to go by, she is not comfortable with whatever Knox has up his sleeve.

The man on Knox’s right, leans in, whispering something in his ear. Knox nods curtly before stepping up to the mic. Clearing his throat, he starts, “First, I would like to thank you all for being here. This is by far the most important press conference of my life. I hope by the end of this, you will understand me instead of judge me.” I frown, my heart rate kicking up to speeds I’m sure are not healthy. “I hope that you will respect my honesty instead of vilifying me. I hope you will see that I am here before you today, a changed man. And even though I know what I say will come as a shock and maybe even a little controversial, all I ask is that you be open-minded and respect my honesty. Before I say anything further, I need the world to know that I am just a man that fell in love. A man in love, that is trying to be the best version of himself for the woman he loves.” My breaths come in thick and fast as I stare at Knox. I know where this is going. He is about to go public with our relationship.

“Jesus, talk about a grand gesture,” Vanessa whispers beside me. I barely hear it over the blood pounding in my ears. I think I’m going to throw up. My hands and back have turned clammy as my heart pounds so hard I think it’s going to punch out of my chest. What the hell is he thinking?

Knox exhales a harsh breath, his eyes closing briefly before popping open. A look of determination flashes across his gorgeous face. Looking out into the crowd, his gaze drifts around as if he is searching for someone. I have no doubt that someone is me. I shuffle down in my seat, hiding behind the big body seated in front of me. I can no longer see Knox but when he starts talking, I hear him clearly, when he says, “And that woman isnotScarlett Grisham.” Gasps and murmurs break out collectively around the room.

“Can everyone please quieten down so my client can continue,” a masculine voice says, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The room turns so silent you can hear a pin drop. “As I was saying that woman is not Scarlett. In fact, Scarlett and I were never together, and her baby is not mine. Our whole relationship was fabricated for the sole purpose of improving my image and furthering Scarlett’s career. At the time, I was in a bad place. I had done some very… questionable things. It was decided that we would enter a PR relationship and both signed contracts. It wasn’t what I wanted but it’s what I needed. My position with the Rams was on the line and to the world I was seen as an arrogant playboy. One who messed around with lots of women, never worrying about their feelings. Someone that didn’t take responsibility for his actions. The truth is, and I am ashamed to admit this, I thought I was above everyone and everything. My ego got the best of me.” He sighs like he is genuinely disgusted at himself. “And though, I know people will be disappointed and feel like they have been duped by me, I hope you can forgive me and understand that there was no bad intent.” He picks up a bottle of water, taking a quick sip before putting it down. “Although I was never Scarlett’s fiancé, I have come out of this situation with a better understanding of who I am and what I want. I may not have originally wanted to enter into this agreement with Scarlett, but I can honestly say it was the best thing to happen to me. It brought me to the woman I love. I never believed in fate, but I do now and let me tell you, fate has a funny way of fucking with us.” He chuckles, the room following. He sobers. “Now again, I ask that you be open-minded and also give my girl and me the privacy we deserve. I ask that you don’t hound her once this goes public because she doesn’t deserve that or any judgment. She didn’t ask for this. We are just two people who happened to fall in love.” He sucks in a breath at the same time I hold mine. This is it. My whole body tightens as I wait for him to say my name. “I would like to reiterate, and I cannot stress this enough, that I have never had any kind of sexual relationship with Scarlett. It was strictly platonic.” He clears his throat again and I push up in my chair wanting to see him when he blows up our worlds. Although he looks confident, I can see a hint of worry in his eyes. He runs a hand through his dark hair and opens his mouth. “I, Knox McCabe,” he sucks in a breath as the whole room goes deathly silent. “Am in love with Madison Devereux. Scarlett’s daughter.”

Voices break out across the room as they rapid-fire questions at him. Though I hear a couple of them, I try to drown them out.

“Scarlett’s daughter?”

“What does Scarlett think about this?”

“Were you sleeping with Madison behind Scarlett’s back?”

“Talk about keeping it in the family.”

“Quiet. Quiet.” That no-nonsense masculine voice rumbles, making the room do just that. “Knox is quite happy to take questions as long as you all calm down.” His face is stern as he whispers something to Knox.

Knox nods. Looking out at the crowd, he leans into the microphone. “I asked for understanding. I know what you are all probably thinking. Had the circumstances of how Madison and I met been different, then you probably would not be questioning any of this. I understand that you have questions, and it seems controversial but again, Scarlett and I never had a sexual relationship. We barely had a relationship. Now, I will be taking a few questions. You.” He points to someone in the crowd.

“Knox, you have repeatedly said that you and Ms. Grisham did not have any sexual contact. So why is it that she released an article saying that you were going to have a baby together?”

“I don’t know why Scarlett released that interview, but it was false. I’m not going to bad mouth her, but you can expect the article to be retracted. I am also sure that at some point, you will hear the truth about her pregnancy. You.” He points to someone else.

“How does Scarlett feel about you falling in love with her daughter? And are you and Madison a couple?” the feminine voice asks.

Knox chuckles. “Let’s just say she wasn’t thrilled. And as for Madison? She is mine. That is all anyone needs to know.” The possessiveness in his voice does things to me. I want to run to him, throw myself in his arms. But I can’t do that. I can’t give him a free pass just because he has gone public. There is still so much for us to talk about.

“Let’s go.” I nudge Vanessa who is staring around the room with wide eyes and a gaped mouth.

She glances at me, and she must see the desperation in my eyes because she nods. “Come on honey.”

Grabbing her hand, I rise out of my chair, only to freeze when I glance at Knox and find his eyes already on me. As if he knew I was here the whole time. A smirk plays on his lips, causing a maelstrom of emotions inside me. Lust, anger, love, desire, hurt, to name a few.

Blowing out a breath, I turn and leave the room before all the reporters notice his attention on me. I am willing to talk to him.

But not in front of the world.

ChapterThirty-Nine

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