MADISON'S POV:
The incident at the gala wasn't what killed me inside—it was seeing evil people like the Wallaces happy and whole while I crumbled. I'd resorted to finding a private investigator, more serious than ever, though I'd been meeting nothing but dead ends since the day I set my mind to using one.
I finally stumbled upon one that looked nothing like someone who could get the job done, but left with no choice and desperate, I went with him.
I started pulling away from Maverick and Thane. For sanity, for survival, for anything that felt like control. Especially after Maverick's mom paid me an unexpected visit, hurling insults and mockery at me. She'd vividly warned me to stay away from her son, both as friends or whatever she thought was going on.
"I'm his mother and I know what'
