Madeline’s POV

I felt good when I wake up, and I can’t stop myself from smiling since I dreamt about Hunter. He took away my fingers’ soreness, and I can’t stop touching my delicate fingers. And I realized it felt so soft, and it seems my dream is absolute. I opened my eyes, and I heard my stomach growled. I don’t want to get up, but I can’t take the hunger that I felt. I stand up, still wearing the best smile of my life, and I jumped up on the floor when I heard his masculine voice.

“Why are you smiling, Madeline?” He asked in a faint tone, and my eyes searched for the source of his voice since my entire room is dim. I could see his muscular body sitting up on the couch, and the dim light just gives me enough gleam to see his handsome face. I suddenly felt warm thinking about how I nuzzled my face on his chest this morning, and I wish he didn’t know I was awake that time. I saw him stand up and slowly approach me, but he didn’t stop in front of me, but he goes directly to the wall and flicks the switch of my led light. I am still mesmerized by his handsome face that I couldn’t even open my mouth. It is so hard to read Hunter’s facial expression because he looks so severe, and I couldn’t even see even a slight smirk from his mouth.

He looked so sexy wearing casual jeans and a button-up shirt that hugged his body perfectly. I hate myself that I felt like a High School girl feeling so thrilled to see him watching me even though I can tell he looks unhappy with me. Just the idea that Hunter Divenson is staring at my face is enough for me to have butterflies on my stomach. Never in my wildest dream could I marry a man like him. A complete package of every girl’s dream, handsome, has overloaded sex appeal, and filthy rich.

I never dream of having a super attractive and filthy rich boyfriend or a husband. I know I wasn’t thinking of getting married yet; even though I don’t have time to date, I still have my moments when I daydream about falling in love. And I realized Hunter makes me feel this way for the first time, I can’t tell if this is love, but I am sure I want to fall in love with him. I love the feeling of being in his arms and kissing those perfect enticing lips. Days ago, I didn’t know how it felt to kiss and to be kissed by someone, but after meeting him, even though I was so busy washing the laundry, I can’t stop reliving the kiss that we shared the entire day.

“Madeline stops checking me out. Why did you skip your dinner?” He asked, and I can tell he is disappointed with me. And I can feel the warm sensation on my face, and I can tell I blushed because he noticed I was ogling him. Well, it wasn’t my fault that I can’t stop myself from gawking at his handsome face. I tried my best to look away from him and pretended I didn’t hear his comment about why I was checking him out.

“I am sorry if I fell asleep. Don’t worry; this will not happen again. I didn’t slack off today.” I said.

“I don’t care if you stay here in your room the entire day, Maddie. All I want from you is to take care of yourself. I don’t want you to miss a meal, Madeline, and I don’t want you to work here like you are one of the mansion’s staff. Please remember you will be my wife in less than a month, and I want you to act like a lady of this house as I expect you to be. I want the staff to acknowledge you as the future madam of this estate.” He said, and I want to tell him that it will never happen because his entire family considers me as an outcast; only Lily accepted me truly. But I couldn’t tell him that. I just nodded my head, and I didn’t try to look at him again.

I am shocked when he took my hand and pulled me going to my door, and we walk through the hallways to the grand staircase of the mansion. I can tell it is a bit late since the entire estate is now so quiet. I know I still need to acquaint this house because without, Cerila, I still can’t navigate myself in finding the dining hall and the kitchen. Why do rich people live in this kind of dwelling place? The Divenson mansion looks like a castle because of its grandeur and size. I can feel the electricity travels down from my fingers to every part of my entire body.

He leads me to the dining hall. He pulls a chair and lets me sit while he walks to the kitchen, and when he gets back, he brings a tray with a bowl of chicken soup with grilled cheese and an apple sandwich. I couldn’t believe that the CEO of Divenson Mining Corporation is serving me dinner.

“You eat now, Madeline.” He said and sat across from me. I smiled at him and ate my dinner cheerfully. All the tiredness I felt was gone as I watch Hunter staring at me without flickering his eyes and my stomach somersault. He leaned his back, and I felt conscious yet so excited. He was watching me the whole time, yet he never talks again. How I wish I know what is running on his head right now and how I want Hunter Divenson to like me the way I like him. I can’t believe I felt this way towards him when I just meet him last night.

“Thank you for preparing dinner for me, Hunter.” I said, and I smile sweetly at him.

“You are welcome, Maddie. Next time I don’t want you to sleep without eating anything.” He said, looking at me seriously.

“Don’t worry, and I won’t do it again.” I replied.

“Get inside to your room now, Madeline.” He said, and I nodded my head. I opened my bedroom door, and when I turned around, I could no longer see Hunter. I could not even hear a trace of his footsteps, and I felt disappointed since he walks away without kissing me. I hate myself why I was expecting him to be sweet to me.

I go to bed with a heavy heart since I can’t stop thinking about him. I know I can’t force him to love me, but I wish he will develop some feelings for me after our marriage, and I can’t wait to be his wife. I hope I can change his cold heart and make him smile sometimes.

I didn’t know I fall asleep after thinking about Hunter the entire night, and I was startled when I heard knocking on my door. And I am shocked to find Charlotte standing outside my door, looking so disgruntled.

“I have been knocking on your door for a while now since I need your help, Maddie. My friends are coming, and I want you to go with me.” She said, and l felt uneasy because I know she doesn’t like me to be Hunter’s wife.

“Just tell me where I am going to meet you, Charlotte, and I will just change a presentable dress.” I said.

“Okay, but you need to hurry. After you change, just go directly near the swimming pool.” She said and turned away from me, saying nothing.

I get dress quickly, and I want to eat breakfast, but she asked me to proceed immediately to the swimming pool, and as I go near them, I saw Charlotte and her friends lying on the outdoor lounger chairs. I can tell they all came from wealthy families. I hate myself for waking up so late since I also sleep so late because I was thinking about Hunter all night long, and I am just glad at the end I fell asleep. I could have eaten breakfast; I just hope Hunter will not know that I skip breakfast this morning.

“Really? Is Hunter getting married? I can’t believe all this, Charlotte; why did your brother choose someone like her?”Said the girl wearing a black one-piece swimsuit with blonde hair; my steps faltered when I realized they were all talking about me.

“Yeah, my parents were disappointed; they don’t like her, no one like her in our entire family. Lily is fond of her, but she doesn’t count because she is just a child. I don’t even understand my brother’s choice. There are a lot of desirable women in our society why he has to pick Madeline. I can tell she has some beauty, but not that beautiful, though. I don’t understand what Hunter had seen in her.” Charlotte replied.

“Maybe, Hunter pities her since she was an orphan, and she was the daughter of his driver.” Her other friend, who is wearing a yellow bikini, spoke.

“Maybe, but I think Madeline brainwashed my brother, and I can tell she is a gold digger. My brother got angry when I asked him why her.” Charlotte replied as she adjusted her body on the chair, and I can feel the pain in my heart. How can she call me a gold digger? I don’t like to be here, to begin with, it was not my choice to be around in this mansion. But I couldn’t tell her about my relationship with Hunter because her entire family thought I was his girlfriend. Hunter paid my aunt’s debts, and he allows me to pursue my college education.

I keep my tears at bay, and I have to endure all the pain until I become his wife. I can withstand Charlotte’s insult as long as she will not hurt me physically, but it still hurts. She doesn’t know the real me, yet she talks like she knows me. No one has the right to call me a gold digger, but what can I do? I became Hunter’s property the moment he paid off my aunt’s debt. And I think I can’t run away from him, knowing how wealthy he is and he has so many connections.

“I think you still have a chance to seduce my brother, Kaye, and I know you like Hunter since we were younger. You are more beautiful than his wife to be. Besides, you are close with my brother, and you used to be close friends. I think Hunter just needs a little reminder that you both look good together, and I am sure my parents will be so happy to have you as their future daughter-in-law.” She spoke, and I see Kaye smiled widely at her.

“Of course, I will always be in love with your brother, and I hate him for not telling me about her. If you could help me to have a chance with Hunter, why not. My father adores him. He is not only handsome and hot, but he is excellent with his business, and my father admires his achievements at a young age.” Kaye responded, and she now looks at Charlotte with a wide grin on her face.

“Of course, I will help you; besides, I need your help to make Madeline leave this house. I don’t like her to be around in our estate, and she doesn’t belong here. How I wish she knows her place, and she should feel ashamed to live in this mansion.” Charlotte declared.

I became more hurt, knowing she wants to use her friend to seduce her brother just to get rid of me. I couldn’t believe Hunter’s sister hated me this much. Even though I only have a pretend relationship with her brother, she could have accepted me, but because I have nothing, she wants me to stay away from Hunter’s life.. And just thinking of being away from him breaks my heart.