Temptation 2

30 - madden

After twenty minutes, Hailey—followed by Justin, come back with Hero and I's packed suitcases. "We need to get going," Justin announces. Hero takes the packed suitcases and follows Justin outside to the cars. Hailey gives me a hug and then joins them outside, leaving me to get cleaned up. I run up to the bathroom and rinse my face but just when I thought my tears were all dried out, they come back. My eyes are swollen and heavy already, as I try to keep the rest of them in and wipe my face with the washcloth but it's no use. Frustration and pain get the best of me, as I smash the mirror in front of me with my fist and then drop down to the bathroom floor.

I don't even notice Tom come into the bathroom, but he bends down in front of me, wraps a towel around my bloody fist. "Madden, what happened?" I shake my head at him. I can't get any words out. I just want to scream at the world right now. Just as Hero and I are building our new home together, just as we're planning our wedding and getting settled, more shit comes our way. Why is the universe so against us? But no words escape my mouth and I'm just stuck sobbing and with my own thoughts running through my mind.

Tom manages to stop the bleeding. He must have grabbed the first aid kit from under the sink and wrapped my hand in gauze and tape. It was a shit patch up, but he did what he could. "Madden, come on. We have to get going." I look up at Tom, bloodshot eyes, and swollen face. "What if I don't want to do any of this? Why don't I get in a say?" Tom sighs and takes my good hand in his. "You would do anything to protect him—and that's not a question, it's a statement because I know it's true. I don't always agree with the lad, yet this I can agree with him on. Madden, this what's got to be done. The wedding, you two getting married was always going to happen but I think that for him, this happening now...He's scared to lose you in the chaos Madden." Tom stands up and drags me to my feet with him. "So, we have this dramatic breakup...I run away and hide and then what? Can I leave the house? Will Hero come visit me? What's next Tom?" Tom is at a loss for words because no one really knows what comes after this secret wedding. He doesn't say anything, we just walk out of the house in silence.

* * *

The private jet took us to Vancouver—where Hero and I first met. The entire plane ride was silent. Justin and Hailey whispered, Tom and Hero chatted but I had nothing to say. I felt like I was being flown to hell. When the plane landed, we all got into an SUV that was out on the terminal so that we could leave without being seen. The driver brought us over to a beautiful white chapel. And now Hailey is helping me into my wedding dress in the back room of the chapel.

"I know it's not a dress you choose but with such short notice and limited selection in your size, this was the best I could do." Hailey pins up space buns in my hair, leaving a few loose strands in the front as I stare at myself in the mirror. The dress is actually stunning but she's right, the A-line cut with the ballgown skirt is not my style. I would have chosen something slimming, but I guess I can't complain. Instead of wearing heels, she hands me a pair of all white Nike dunks and a bouquet of white peonies. At least I got my favourite flowers. Once my makeup and hair are all done up, Hailey hands me a small velvet box. "Hero saw you scrolling one day for wedding bands, and he spotted one he liked for himself." I open the box to find a thing white gold bad with my initials engraved on top. Simplicity is something we both can appreciate. I close the box and hold onto it tight in my good hand.

When Hero saw my bandaged hand before leaving LA, he freaked out. Tom told him it was an accident and that I was going to be okay. Tom was wrong but, I put on a fake smile and went with it. I don't want to make things harder for Hero right now.

The piano for the classic "walk me down the aisle" song started playing and I took that as my cue. Hailey walked out of the small room first and then I followed. I am walking slow with my head down, watching each of my own steps. Halfway to the end, I look up to see Hero dressed in a dark grey suit with a white peony attached to the pocket. He wore a backwards baseball cap, which brought a smile to my face. When I looked into his eyes, he was tearing up. I step up the two-step staircase and hand my bouquet to Hailey. I barely noticed the man in front of us. "You look beautiful," Hero choked out. "Very handsome," I said back to him. The man cleared his throat and got started. "Welcome, friends to this celebration of love where two individuals are going to be brought together as one, for eternity. In life, love brings us joy but also pain and you must remember that in those painful moments, to love even deeper than you do in the joyful moments." We don't take our eyes off each other. I am barely paying attention to the man until he says, "Madden, please share your vows." I frantically look around as if there will be someone to hand me a cheat sheet on vows. Hero whispers to me, "Wing it," followed by a wink. I take a deep breath in and go for it. "Hero, you are my everything. In this life or in any, I will only ever love you and I promise to love you with all of my being until my dying breath." I start to feel the lump in my throat but keep going. "No matter where you are, I'll always miss you because I can never get enough of you. It's you and me, for the rest of my life and no one can ruin that. I promise you Hero that I'm here to stay, never forget it." Hero nods then looks at the man who signals him to go. Hero clears his throat then pulls me into his chest. "Madden there is no life without you. You in my arms is all I want for the rest of my life, and I will jump over any hurdles and run through all obstacles so I can grow old with you. Separate or side by side, I'm here and I will always be here. I promise to protect you and love you until the day I die—you have my word. I love you baby girl." I mouth back, "I love you." We exchange wedding bands and when the man says, "You may now kiss the bride!" Hero dips me and kisses me with so much force; like it's the last time he's going to kiss me.

Then it all ends quickly. We run outside and instead of the one SUV, there's now two. I turn to Hero and that's when I see it. "No." I say, trying to stand my ground. "Madden. I-I..." "Hero, please no." Tom puts his hand on Hero's shoulder and they both start to back away from me. I try to reach him, but Justin grabs my hand. I turn to look at him, but he just shakes his head at me. I see Hailey closely behind him, with tears streaming down her cheeks. "Madden, I love you and whatever you see in the media, it's not true." Hero jumps into the SUV and quickly closes the door behind him. Tom runs to the other side and jumps in. The SUV starts pulling away and I break free from Justin's hand and run up to the SUV. As it picks up pace, I try to run after it but it's no use. The car is down the street and around the corner faster than I could ever run. I drop to my knees, look at the engagement ring on my finger, now with a wedding band. It's beautiful, the band is full of multiple diamonds that compliment my engagement ring. I twirl the band around, sitting in the middle of the street until Justin comes to help me up. I'm still wearing this ridiculous wedding dress when we get into the SUV and drive off.

* * *

"Now that we're on the plane, flying 30 thousand feet in the air, can you please tell me where you're taking me." I snap at Justin and Hailey. "We're taking you to the cabin like we said we would." Hailey states. "You could have mentioned my wedding day would also be the day Hero rips us apart." Justin stands up and hands me a bottle of water. "Don't look at it like that." "Easy for you to say. You get to sit here with your wife when my new husband is God knows where doing God knows what." "He's trying to protect you and if I were in his position then I would be doing the same thing." "And what exactly is that Mr. and Mrs. Bieber?" Hailey goes to the back of the plane where there is a small bedroom. She tried to apologize to me five times already, but I just don't want to hear any sorry's, I want explanations, and no one wants to give me any. "There's going to be a leak to TMZ about your breakup and it's going to be nasty. I don't know what the story is supposed to be so don't ask me. Once you're at the cabin, Hailey and I can't come visit you, it'll be too risky. Madden, none of us can." I stand up and start pacing, "Hero can't come see me?" Justin shakes his head no. "Can I leave?" He shakes his head no, again. "For how long?" He shrugs his shoulders. "Look, I've met Spics before, briefly. I get the that she doesn't let go easily and turns out she doesn't. Hero didn't know there was an expiration date on the restraining order. When she texted him, he looked into it and turns out, it expired. She never gave up, she was just patiently waiting for her opportunity and now, here we are." I flop down into the seat and put my hands over my eyes and my head between my legs. "I think I'm going to be sick," I mumble.