Chapter 13 Breaking Point
Mayzie sprinted down the hallway toward the main stairs, her footsteps echoing sharply against the polished floors, ignoring the two men shouting after her. Their voices bounced off the walls, but she refused to slow down or even glance back. They were not actually trying very hard to catch up; they assumed she was just playing hard to get, expecting her to stop after a few yards like she always did. They did not realize that Mayzie was not even playing at all this time; she was totally done, completely fed up in a way they had never seen before.
When she reached the front doors, Dalton and Ariel stopped at the top of the staircase, exchanging uncertain looks as they waited for her to turn around and talk, convinced she would come back. Instead, she threw the doors open with force and vanished into the night air without hesitation. Stunned, the two men traded a look of pure disbelief before racing down the steps after her, their earlier confidence instantly gone.
"Mayzie, wait! You cannot walk home from here!" they called out as they hit the pavement.
"For God's sake, please leave me alone!" she screamed back. She marched down the massive driveway, which felt longer than an entire city block.
"I will have my driver take you home!" one of them shouted, but she did not care which one it was. She kept sprinting away from both of them.
In the center of the brick path sat a large white fountain. As she got closer, the shape of an angel with spread wings came into focus. Suddenly, Ariel caught up and grabbed her arm. "Wait, Mayzie!"
Mayzie spun around. Her eyes were burning with a mix of rage and deep embarrassment. "This is entirely your fault!" she yelled, gesturing at Ariel just as Dalton caught up. "You had planned to bring me here for what, huh? Just... just to let this disgusting pervert touch me!"
"Touched you?" Ariel looked confused. "What are you talking about? I'm confused, and I actually don't get it."
"I... I... I just... kissed her! She's just overreacting," Dalton snapped, trying to save face.
"You pinned me against the wall and forced yourself on me! Don't you dare imply that I'm only overreacting!" she spat, wrenching her arm free from Ariel’s grip.
"Hey, what the hell is going on out here?" Arking asked, running up to join the group. He stepped up next to Mayzie, facing his friends.
"All three of you are nothing but disgusting!" Mayzie shoved Arking back when he tried to comfort her. "Stay away from me! I do not want anything to do with any of you at all!" She stood her ground, hands clenched into tight fists.
They were all caught off guard. At school, Mayzie was always the quiet, mellow one, the type who avoided conflict at all costs. Even when people like Terrence picked on her, she never cracked just like that, never raised her voice this way. But somehow, Dalton had really pushed her past her breaking point.
"Mayzie, you do not mean that," Arking said, reaching out again.
She smacked his hand away. "I mean every word and don't play dumb as if you're not getting it! Don't you ever come near me again!"
She turned on her heel and headed toward the fountain, her vision slightly blurred from tears and adrenaline. But as she tried to pass it, a heavy weight suddenly slammed into her side out of nowhere. She lost her footing and went down hard, her head cracking against the stone edge of the fountain with a sickening thud.
"Mayzie!" Dalton yelled. He lunged forward and hauled a massive, tan English Mastiff off of her. "Siohban, you idiot!" He swiped at the dog’s nose to get him back.
Ariel knelt down and helped her sit up. "Hey… Mayzie? Are you okay?"
She let out a low groan and rubbed her head, her eyes unfocused. She did not seem to know where she was.
"Can you hear me?" Arking asked, dropping to his knees beside his brother.
She groaned again and tried to stand, but her legs gave out, and she slumped back onto the ground.
"What the hell happened here?" Madeline called out, running from the front porch.
"Siohban jumped on her. She hit her head on the stone," Dalton explained quickly.
Madeline knelt in the dirt and snapped her fingers in front of Mayzie's face. "Honey? Look at me." Mayzie did not even blink.
"I think she's blacking out," Ariel said quietly.
"Let us get her inside. Now," Madeline ordered.
Ariel reached for her, but Dalton was faster. He scooped her up and carried her back into the house and up to his bedroom. He laid her across his bed, a massive piece of furniture that matched the rest of the oversized room. The space was cluttered with luxury — a lounge area with a big-screen TV, a private bar in the corner, and a balcony overlooking the grounds.
"What is going on?" a servant asked, following them into the room.
"Siohban," Ariel muttered. That was all the explanation she needed.
The two-hundred-pound dog was notorious for tackling guests, especially women. Despite all the expensive training, he just could not help himself. No one noticed the dog sneaking into the room behind them and curling up guiltily in the corner.
"I will get ice," Madeline said, heading for the door.
Ariel and Arking stood at the foot of the bed while Dalton sat by Mayzie's side. "We should call a doctor," Ariel suggested. "That was a hell of a hit."
Dalton nodded and pulled out his phone.
"She told me she could not afford a doctor," Arking reminded them.
"I will pay for it! It was my dog after all!" Dalton snapped. He hit a speed-dial button for his family physician — a man he often called for fight-related injuries.
Madeline returned and pressed a cold pack onto Mayzie's forehead. "Who are you calling now?"
"I'm calling Dr. Trent."
"We cannot wait for him to drive out here," Madeline said firmly. "She needs a hospital. Head injuries are serious. Pick her up... we are going now. Hurry up!"