Chapter 109 CHOICE.

Chapter 109 CHOICE.
MADISON'S POV:
For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. “You… what?”
" I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but better now than after the wedding."
"You're lying." I stood so fast my chair crashed backward. "You're lying. Thane would never—he wouldn't—"
“I had to be sure,” he said. “I needed to know if he truly loved you or if he was after your wealth, your title. You’re the princess of Azuvia, Adanna. People are deceptive—”
"NO!" The word exploded out of me. "He doesn't care about money! He has money! He's rich, he's—"
"Not as rich as you." Dad stood too, moving around the table. "Adanna, sweetheart, you're the heir to Azuvia. Your wealth is beyond what most Americans can comprehend. Men will do anything for that kind of—"
“How could you belittle my fiancé with a stupid test?”
He met my fury with a heavy look. “I did what I had to do to protect you.”
The words burned through me. “You had no right!” My hand slammed the table so hard the silverware rattled. “He’s not like that. We’ve been through hell together, and he still stayed! Do you even know what he gave up for me?”
"That doesn't mean he doesn't have an ulterior motive and want to use you."
"Use me?" Fury burned through shock. "Thane found me when I had nothing! He loved me when everyone else thought I was a criminal! He fought for me when the whole world was against me! He gave up everything to find YOU because he wanted to give me a family!"
"And I'm grateful for that. But traditionally, you cannot marry a foreigner, not as heir to this throne. You must marry within Azuvia, someone who understands this world, these responsibilities—"
"I don't care about being a princess!" I was screaming now, past caring about propriety or staff or anything but the hole opening in my chest. I stared at him, my chest heaving. “You can’t decide who I love. You just found me, you don’t get to decide my life!”
I snapped, tears welling. “You both say you love me, but love doesn’t control. Love doesn’t test the person who gave up everything for me!”
Mama turned to Father, her own eyes glistening. “Honey, why would you do that? She’s right. That was cruel.”
"For her own good. She'll see that eventually."
"I care about Thane! I just got to know you, but he's been here longer! He's been my family when I had none!"
"Adanna—" Mom reached for me.
 I jerked away, whirling on Dad. "YOU just destroyed my life!" I shook my head in disbelief. “You’ve ruined everything.”
"I don't want to be here until I've found Thane!" I moved toward the dining room exit, decision crystallizing. "I'm leaving. Right now. I'm going to find Thane and fix whatever mess you created. And whatever role you think I should play here, whatever princess duties you're imagining, I'm not interested. I need Thane. I'm going to find him."
“Adanna—” mom called out.
"Seize her." Dad commanded.
My blood went cold. For a second, I thought I’d misheard him.
I spun around. "What?" I questioned, eyes wide.
Before I moved, two  guards gripped me by my arms.
“I lost you twenty-three years ago,” Father said, approaching me. “I won’t lose you again. Not to some boy who clouds your judgment."
"He's not some boy! He's the man I love!"
You think you know love, but you don’t. You have responsibilities now, ones that exceed feeling."
"I don't care!" I fought harder. The guards held firm. "I don't care about any of it! Let me go!” I thrashed, but their hold only tightened. “You can’t do this to me!”
"I can and I will. Until you learn that your life is bigger than teenage romance and impulsive decisions."
Mama’s voice trembled. “Please, stop this, Kwame. Don’t do this to her.”
But his face was set like stone. “She’ll stay here until she learns who she is and what her duty is.”
The guards started pulling me backward. Away from the dining room. Toward the staircase. My feet scraped against marble, trying to find purchase.
"Did I make the wrong choice?" I heard myself ask, voice breaking. "Was finding you a mistake?"
The question stopped everyone.
"I've come this far with Thane." Tears blurred my vision. "Through hell and back. We've survived everything. And now you, MY OWN FATHER, you're the one tearing us apart?"
"Adanna—"
"I don't care if you're family I just found. I don't care if you're the king of this entire country. I don't care about crowns or traditions or responsibilities." I met his eyes, let him see the absolute certainty in mine. "I'm willing to give up everything. Including you two to be with him."
"You don't mean that." President Kwame scolded.
"I mean every word." My voice steadied. "So you have a choice. You can let me go find the man I love. Or you can keep me here as a prisoner and watch me hate you for the rest of your life."
"Take her to her room." Dad's voice thundered. "Post guards. She doesn't leave until she comes to her senses."
"I'll never forgive you for this!" The words tore out as they  changed direction, dragging me up the stairs. "Do you hear me? NEVER!"
Mom's sobs followed me. Dad's silence louder than anything.
My bedroom door closed. Locked from the outside.
I collapsed against it, sliding to the floor, everything inside me shattering.
I'd found my family. Found where I belonged. Found a kingdom and a crown and parents who loved me.
And I'd give it all up, every single piece, to have Thane back.
Without hesitation.
Without regret.
If love meant choosing between a crown and the man who'd helped me find it, there was no choice at all.
I choose him.
I would always choose him.