Chapter 31

Sam's Point of View

"Samantha, do you take Maxwell to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love and to adore, rich or poor, in sickness and in health? Till death do you part?"

The priest looks up at me, awaiting my answer. I stare at Max, my heart racing. If I wanted to say no, now is the time. I look down the aisle, just wishing Ryder would come barging in.

My brows furrow as I realize he isn't coming.

I am so angry with him, though!

However, if Ryder barges in here, I'll run away with him. Who am I kidding?

"Sammy? Baby?" Max asks me as he looks around.

I can tell me not answering the priest is unsettling.

"Yes! I do!" I yell, looking toward the priest and then my parents. My mom looks around, embarrassed. However, I can't read my father's reaction. I know he isn't happy with my decision.

"Then!" The priest clears his throat and smiles. "By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you, Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell Crawford! Max, you may kiss your bride."

The reception is a blur. I, of course, have my first dance with Max, my dad, and my mom. She cries the entire dance.

I would feel embarrassed, but because of her, the wedding is more than I could ever dream of, and it's going without a hitch.

Max and I spend the entire night greeting everyone, even those we don't know.

Like I had originally predicted. I also spend the entire reception in a haze, never really caring for Max or how happy my guests are.

I honestly thought marrying Max would make me feel a little better, but it doesn't.

God, I just want to stand under a hot shower and cry!

That will not happen, of course. After the reception, we are going straight to our honeymoon in the Bahamas.

It's time to say goodbye to everyone. Our bags are in the car, and we are about to head off to the airport.

"Oh, my baby girl," Mom says, hugging me, tears in her eyes. "Did you enjoy yourself?"

"I did, Mom! I really did," I lie sadly. "You outdid yourself, and I thought that wasn't possible."

Mom sobs, and we hug each other tightly.

"It's my turn! Let me hold my baby before she jets off for two whole weeks," daddy says as he playfully removes Mom off of me.

"Daddy." I smile as he hugs me tightly.

"I am so proud of you! Do you hear me? I love you, and have a great time." He gently squeezes my chin.

I kiss him on the cheek, trying to swallow the lump growing in my throat.

Daddy turns to Max. "And I expect to see you in my office, in two weeks! 9 am sharp!" He shakes Max's hand.

"Will do, sir!"

I'm confused. "Why?"

"My son-in-law is the new C.O.O. of Hallowell Enterprises!"

I am surprised and look over at Max. He's smiling, but I can tell he's nervous.

Max deserves it, even though he's never shown interest in my dad's company. I'll talk about that later with him.

I wonder why he never told me.

We arrive at the airport fifteen minutes later.

"Mr. and Mrs. Crawford, welcome aboard!" A flight attendant is standing at the bottom of the stairs of a private jet.

An older gentleman is standing next to her. "The other party is here, Mr. Crawford."

I walk up the stairs, Max right behind me.

"Other party?" I turn and ask him.

As I walk into the cabin, I notice two men and a woman—all fairly young.

One of the men is bald, with a white long beard that's in braids.

The other man and woman both have blonde hair. All dressed in dark suits.

"We need protection, sweetheart! With everything that has happened, I don't feel comfortable knowing we are not prepared."

Max is right. However, I don't like the vibe these three give me. I try and greet them, but they blatantly ignore me.

I sit across from Max, which is the table across from the bodyguards. He pulls his laptop out of his case. While he does that, the male guard, with the white beard, turns and looks at me.

He licks his lips.

I turn and look at my husband, appalled. "Max, I don't feel comfortable sitting here. Can we move to another table?" I wrap my arms around my chest.

"Huh? Why?" He asks, not looking up at me. He's deep into whatever is on the laptop screen.

"I don't like the way he's looking at me." I look at the disgusting guard. The guard looks down at my sweater and smiles.

I am wearing blue jeans and a white sweater. The sweater has a plunging neckline. The top of my breasts is exposed. Max ignores me.

Did he not hear me?

"Max? Honey? Did you hear me?" Obviously not.

I pull my cell phone out, trying not to pay attention, but I feel the guy burning holes right through me.

Why is Max not seeing this? They are sitting near each other!

I look out the window. Why haven't we taken off yet? I don't want to be anywhere near this pig. The moment we land, I will tell Max to relieve that guard. I don't like him one bit.

We have finally taken off! I am happy and try to relax a bit. I turn and see the same guard is still staring at me. The female guard looks up and notices him. She begins to grin and looks out of the window.

Seriously?!

I've had enough of this! I lean over the table. "Max! Please! Your guard is-!"

"Would you stop fucking complaining for two seconds?!" Max yells angrily as he hits the table. His eyes are shut. He then begins to type furiously on the laptop.

I jump back in my seat in shock!

All the years I've known him, I've never heard him yell. Max has never even talked back to me.

"Benjamin, stop staring at my wife! Show her some goddamn respect!" Max yells, not even bothering to look at the guy.

Benjamin?! Is this the same Benjamin he was hanging with the night of my bridal shower?

Benjamin laughs and looks down at my shirt again before looking away.

I am so scared to move! What is going on?! Max then whistles to the flight attendant and closes his laptop.

He smiles at me as the attendant comes near us.

"Please bring my lovely bride and I some champagne. We are celebrating!"

We arrive in the Bahamas six hours later. Max spent the entire time on his laptop.

He made a few calls, but he stood and went to the bathroom for those.

The female guard even took my cell phone away from me. She told me I didn't need to communicate with anyone that wasn't Max.

When we get off the plane, two black SUVs are waiting for us. I think maybe one is for luggage until I see four huge men climb out of the truck.

"Max, why do we need so much security detail? What's going on?" I ask suspiciously. Something's definitely wrong!

He roughly pulls me into him and begins kissing my neck. I really don't like this at all, so I push him off.

Max suddenly looks angry.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not comfortable," I say quietly as Benjamin's eyes me up and down.

I suddenly want to go home. Even my parents don't have this type of security with them.

"I'm doing all this for you! For us," he says menacingly. I look up at his face. This isn't the same man I know. I shake my head.

Max takes a step towards me; his hand cupping my face. "What's wrong, my bride? Upset that Ryder isn't here?"

He laughs as my blood turns cold.

"Who is Ryder?" I whisper as I look around, trying to look confused.

"Still pretending, are we?" Max asks, smiling. "You know I was very hurt when I heard that you two became quite the couple. It's okay, though! All is forgiven. Just like I'm sure you'll forgive me for getting the ball rolling. I am, after all, the one who hired Ryder to kidnap you." His face grows cold. "Take her!" He shouts.

Two ginormous, new guards grab me and drag me, kicking and screaming, into the SUV. They throw me in and sit me in between them. I try to fight them off, but they hold me down.

Max gets into the car in front of us. Tears pool in my eyes.

Ryder was telling the truth! All of this happened because of Max. What have I done? I just made a huge mistake.

We arrive at Atlantis Paradise Island soon after. We're already checked in and head straight to our penthouse suite.

Max orders me not to make a scene, or a limb will be cut off and sent to my parents. He walks away from us, taking a call.

We walk into our suite. The female guard takes my cell phone from her pocket, throws it on the floor, stepping on it. I look in disbelief when I see the screen shatter.

She then pushes me onto the nearest chair and tells me not to move. One guard stays with me while the others walk out.

I sit there shaking.

What is going to happen to me?! Is Max really going to kill me?!

I swallow hard as I look for a way out. Double doors are leading onto what looks like a balcony. I can run onto it and scream for help!

That will prove impossible. The guard that sits in front of me is playing with his gun. He keeps staring at me, and I haven't seen him blink.

I turn away from him, terrified.

Moments later, Max walks into the suite with a huge grin on his face. He heads straight to the double doors that led to the balcony.

"I still can't believe I'm here! This has always been my dream. Come here, Sam! Come look at this view with me," he says, walking back into the living room. He looks like a kid in a candy store.

"No!" I yell, trying to run to the door, but the guard grabs me. I kick and scream.

"Why are you doing this?! Let me go!" I try to fight the guard, but he easily puts his hands over my mouth. I take the opportunity and bite his hand! He yells and lets me go!

I back away slowly as he lungs for me.

"You bitch!" The guard yells.

He then slaps me so hard I fall to the floor! I look up, holding my face in disbelief. Max is just standing there with a smirk.

I turn and crawl away, but the guard grabs me by the hair, forcing me to stand. I yell in pain!

"Why are you doing this, Max?!"

"You can let her go, Don. Come here, Sam. I want you to experience this with me." Max holds his hand out for me.

The guard pushes me towards him. I hesitantly walk to him, my arms wrapping around my chest.

A thought occurs to me. Is he going to push me off the balcony?!

"This view is to die for, Sammy! You're going to love it. Look!" Max grabs me, forcing me onto the balcony. He pins me against the railing with his body.

"Nothing but blue water, the sky to match. Is this what heaven feels like?"

I struggle to get free. Max holds me in place, grabbing my face so that I can look out towards the ocean.

"Please, Max!" I cry. "Why are you doing this?!"

He turns my head, still pinning me against the railing.

"Because I can, Sam! I've hated people with money so for so long that one day I realized I didn't hate money. I just loathed the fact that I didn't have any," Max says maliciously.

"Why us?! My family has always been good to you! You know this!"

Max smirks as he grabs me by my arm, taking me back inside. He leads me to a piano and sits down.

I turn to run, but a guard grabs me from behind my neck and pushes me back towards the piano. Holding me in place.

I mouth drops when Max begins to play. I didn't know he could play the piano!

He plays a song that gives me a sense of Deja vú. Cutting crews "Died in your arms."

"Your mother is the worst of the bunch! Flaunting her wealth and talking down to everyone. Your father, although smart, can be naive. Like you."

Max is the last person I thought would ever hurt or betray me this way! I start to sob. I try to fight against the guard, but his grip gets tighter around my neck as Max's music begins to changes. It's one I don't know.

"This song right here is my anthem. I'm sure you've heard of it. It's called 'I Will Not Bow.' It really speaks to me," he says as he closes his eyes, swaying to the rhythm of the music.

I stand there in shock. Why did all of this seem familiar? Then it hits me!

My nightmare!

"I will not bow, I will not break, I will shut the world away, I will not fall, I will not fade, I will take your breath away," he sings, smiling at me.

"Please, Max," I say wistfully, trying to control the lump growing in my throat. "You don't have to do this."

The guard tightens his grip around my neck, and my breath hitches. I grab onto the guard's hand in a panic, scared he'll tighten it further. He loosens it again as Max stands from the piano.

"I love you, Sam, " Max says as he walks to me, putting his hands in his pocket. "But honestly, I love money more!" He looks at me triumphantly—a smug look on his face. I want to kick his face in so bad! I am then disgusted at the fact that's he's still wearing the tux from our wedding.

Max continues. "Once you signed everything over to me, I had arranged for your death. Ryder instead kept you!" Max suddenly looks angry.

"Hidden! Really started to bug me when he didn't send proof that you were, in fact, dead." Max's anger suddenly disappears, and then he smiles.

"What was proof of death?" I ask him curiously.

"What?"

"Proof of death! Which part was to be sent to you as proof that I was dead?" I start to shake at his audacity. Smiling as he tells me how he hired someone to kill me!

"That's easy, " he whispers, running a finger between my brows. "It's the one thing I've always loved about you, Sam. Your eyes."

I immediately close them, looking away, as I pale.

Max suddenly grabs me, and we begin swaying.

"Why on earth would a stranger hide you?! Which put a dent in my plans. I couldn't touch your money, knowing you might still be alive. Then your father came to me, telling me that he had faith that you were still alive. He and your mom didn't have other living relatives but you and I. That they wanted tons of grandkids, and if anything happened to them, they had re-written their will. They wanted Hallowell Enterprises to be ours."

I see the greed in his eyes. Max abruptly stops. He then pulls me hard against his body. I try to push him away, but he's too strong! He suddenly kisses me, forcing his tongue into my mouth. Then he grabs my neck, moving my face away from his.

"Four billion dollars is a lot of money! But I also want power," he whispers. "Lots of it! Now that we are married, your death and your parents will give me just that!"