Page 238 of Mad As Hell

I cringed when I heard it lock.

“You must be thirsty,” the woman went on, like this was freaking normal. She lifted the straw to my lips.

I slowly took a sip, letting the liquid saturate my mouth. I considered spitting it at her, but had a feeling that wouldn’t help.

“There. Feel better?” She set the cup down on the floor and settled into the chair. “Madelaine, do you know where you are?”

I shook my head. “I was… I was kidnapped. There was a girl…”

The woman’s lips pressed together in an unhappy line. “Madelaine, my name is Dr. Sharon Browne. I’m a doctor here at the Shadyvale Institution.”

I frowned, not really caring about that. “You need to call my husband—”

She sighed, shaking her head and jotting a note on her clipboard. “No, Madelaine. You’re safe now.”

“Safe? No, I’m not safe. I was—”

“Madelaine, you were brought here because you’re suffering a psychotic break,” she informed me. “It’s no wonder, what with the abuse you’ve been suffering for the last few months, but you're safe. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

I shook my head and tugged at my restraints. “Can you untie me? Please?”

She glanced down at the straps and buckles holding me in place. “Not yet. These are for your own safety, I’m afraid. Your father—”

I hissed. “My father is a fucking monster. He’s the one who had me taken! I was at a game with my friends and there was a woman who needed help, but it was a trick. My father is the one who did this to me.”

A tiny crease formed in her brow. “Your father is very concerned for you, Madelaine.”

A hysterical laugh bubbled out of me. “My name isn’t Madelaine—it’s Madison. Madison Porter.”

She tilted her head. “Oh?”

I sucked in a deep breath, trying to be calm. “Months ago I found out I had a twin sister named Madelaine Cabot. We decided to switch lives for the summer, but she was killed. No, she was murdered by our father, Gary Cabot.”

Dr. Browne nodded slowly and made another freaking note.

“I’ve been living my sister’s life for the last few months, and I know that sounds crazy—”

“We don’t like to use that word here, Madelaine,” she interrupted me gently.

I almost screamed. “My name is Madison.”

“No,” she said firmly. “Your name is Madelaine Cabot. You did have a twin sister, yes, but Madison Porter-Cabot was killed in a tragic fire nearly five months ago.”

“No, she wasn’t!” I shouted, jerking again at my restraints. “I’m Madi—”

“Madelaine, you must calm down or we’ll have to give you something,” Dr. Browne advised.

“Are you fucking insane? Listen to me! My name is Madison Porter. Call Ryan Cain, okay? He’s my husband.”

Dr. Browne’s gaze flicked to her notepad. “I do have that you married Ryan Cain a week ago. Your father is very concerned about Mr. Cain. We know about the abuse and the way he’s manipulated you.”

What fucking parallel universe had I woken up in? “Listen, lady, you’re wrong, okay? You’re flat fucking wrong. Gary is the bad guy here.”

Dr. Browne sighed and stood up. “I see we’re not going to be able to continue. Perhaps when you’re calmer—”

“I’m tied to a fucking bed and I was kidnapped!” I snapped. “How calm am I supposed to be?”

Dr. Browne knocked on the door. It was unlocked and opened, and the same nurse stepped in.

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