Zoe's POV
The faint smile on Brandon's face disintegrated instantly. The color seemed to drain from his features, and he let out a long, shuddering sigh, as if a crushing weight had settled back onto his sternum. The vulnerable, tormented look returned to his eyes.
"It's Madison," he said, the name dropping like a heavy stone between us.
A flash of cold anxiety gripped my stomach. Madison. A chill ran down my spine as my mind raced down memory lane. I remembered sweet, quiet Madison, who had spent the last year away at an exclusive, strict boarding school out of state. She was one of the few who had made living at the Ross mansion bearable—which was why it terrified me to think of her getting pulled into this mess.
"Madison?" I repeated, my tone laced with defensive curiosity. "Brandon, what is it? What happened?"
"She's back," he answered softly, staring down at his hands clasped on the table.
