Hunter’s POV

“Hunter!” Lily’s voice reverberated inside our mansion the moment I got inside the house, and she saw me walking towards the staircase, and she was on top of the stairs. And  I stopped in my tracks as I watched my sister run from the stairs taking two steps at a time, and I couldn’t stop myself from laughing when she threw herself at me the moment she reached the bottom of the stairs. Lily was hugging me tightly that we almost stumbled on the floor.

“Hey, easy there, kiddo, it seems to me you miss your big brother so much.” I declared as I caressed her hair, and I realized she had gotten taller even if I hadn’t only seen her for one month. And even if she is now a teenager, I still remember the little girl who helped Madeline run away from the Divenson mansion when she was only twelve years old.

And every time I looked back, I realized my wife found an incredible friendship with my sister, and that is why I can’t blame Maddie for saving my little sister right away when Lily was kidnapped. I know she could have hurt herself, but she chose to save Lily, and I will not be hugging my sister now if not for my wife’s heroic act.

“Of course, I do. And I miss Madeline too. Why she isn’t with you, Hunter?” She asked, and I smiled weakly at her.

“You said you are going to break her back.” She added as she pouted her lips while she was still hugging my waist.

“Unfortunately, Hector Grant begged me to let Maddie stay at the Grant estate,” I responded, and I saw her face fell.

“But you don’t need to worry about anything because you are coming with me this weekend to Neospoli!” I added, and her face lit up, and I could see the beautiful smile on her face.

“You are not kidding, right?” She asked in disbelief.

“Yes, I am not joking at all. Madeline’s grandfather asked me to bring my entire family and Madeline’s close friends to attend the upcoming ball to be held at his castle in honor of Madeline.” I said, and she smiled at me.

“Wow! I can’t wait to be there and be with Madeline. And I know she is busy and we seldom talk with each other. I am so glad that the worst thing that happened to your wife was over, and now we found out she was an heiress.” She said as she let go of my frame.

“Me too, Lily. I am glad it is over, and Maddie is now safe and sound living like a princess at his grandpa’s place.” I replied as I beamed at her. She walked with me through my room, and then she came with me to see my father and I felt so glad he was now fine and back to his old self, yet his domineering demeanor was gone, and he looked like an ordinary person to me.

“Hello, dad,” I said, and he looked at me in the eyes.

“Why are you like this, Hunter?” He asked, and I got confused.

“You are too good to be my son. I tried to do everything to ruin you and Madeline, and I am aware you knew everything that I have done to you. Yet, you never treated me as a sinner, and you keep reminding me of what a horrible person I am to you by not doing anything. You visited me in the hospital and came closer to my hospital bed telling me things I don’t deserve to hear.” He said, and I was shocked that my once proud father accepted the sins he had committed towards Madeline and me.

“When I was in the hospital bed fighting for my life, I never expected that I would hear your voice, and it was the most wonderful thing that I have ever heard when you call me Dad. And you remind me that you are my son, and I realized I turned into a monster father because of my greediness. I watched you grow into a young man, and then you turned into a responsible adult. I used to be so proud of you, but I hated you for disobeying my orders. It was a simple request, yet you didn’t follow me.” He said, and I felt Lily hold my hand.

“I felt so ashamed of myself because I thought you would only benefit everything, and I failed to realize you are not like me. You are kind to your siblings and a good son to your mom and me. And I hope I will live long enough to show you how sorry I am, and I want to make up everything that I have done.” Dad added.

“And do you know what I regretted the most, Hunter, because of my greediness? Losing your mom, and that is the time I realize what I have done, but instead of coming to her and apologizing, I continue to be a wicked person, and I realized now you’ve got your mother’s heart. She is too kind to forgive me after all the things I have done. I never thought she would come and be with me in the hospital.” My father declared.

“I would like to take this opportunity to ask for your forgiveness, Hunter. It may be too late, but I hope you are not closing your door for me. I am willing to wait until you learn to forgive me.” He said.

“Dad, you are the only father I know. I am sorry if I disobeyed your order, but my love for my wife is something I can’t ignore and forget. She is my salvation, and she helped me to be a better person. I can’t imagine my life without her. I admit at first, I was only using Madeline to provoke you for insisting that I should marry Kaye, but I can’t deny I fell in love with Maddie on the  night I first saw her. And I know there is no turning back, and she will be a part of my life forever.” I replied.

“I have already forgiven you, and I was hoping you could hear me when you were on your comatose stage. I will be a father soon, and I know I couldn’t be a good father to my son if I will not let go of the past, and I hope you will accept that Madeline is my wife and the mother of my child.” I said, and he smiled.

“Thank you, Hunter, for giving me a chance to redeem myself. And I hope your wife will also give me a chance to be a better father-in-law to her and grandfather to your son.” My dad said.

“Of course, you don’t need to worry anything dad, Madeline is forgiving, and she is a good person,” I said, and he smiled while Lily came to his side and hugged our dad.

“I am sorry, too, Lily, I was not a good father to you.” He said, and my sister looked up to him as she tried to dry her tears.

“It is okay, dad. I understand, and you will always be my daddy.” She said.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” Dad said as she looked at my sister with tenderness; and it has been a long time I wished to see him like this, and I never realized being hospitalized and his near-death experience made him a different person.

“And now that you are back Hunter, can you bring me to Madeline? I want to ask forgiveness from her. But no one is telling me where she is, and I was too ashamed to ask any of them about Maddie’s whereabouts.”  My dad said, and I shared a look with my sister, and I realized my father doesn’t know about Madeline yet.

“You never ask about Maddie, Dad, and we are afraid to tell you because we know you don’t like her,” Lily said.

“I know, Lily, and I am not proud of hating Madeline without reason. I hope she will have the heart forgive me.” Dad replied as he looked at Lily and then at me.

“I am happy that she became your wife, Hunter, because I know she brings out the best in you, and you become a better man.” Dad declared.

“Yes, dad, and I want to bring you to her and our entire family to Neospoli because she is there with Frank’s father,” I said.

“Oh, Frank told me he was an orphan, and I wonder why he lied.” My dad said.

“Yeah, and I am excited to bring you to her since her grandfather asked Maddie to stay with him to make up the years they haven’t seen each other,” I responded.

“Okay, don’t worry, I will ask your wife to come home with us; maybe she doesn’t want to come here in Astikoz knowing I am staying here in your house.” My father replied.

“No, dad, Maddie wanted to spend more time with her aunt and grandfather,” I replied.

“Did you give Madeline’s family a house? Frank is one of my favorite employees, and I would be glad to help his family as a sign of our gratitude for Frank’s services.” My father declared, and I don’t want to tell him about Maddie’s family yet because I love to know if my father is willing to accept Madeline even if she only came from a low-income family.

“No need to give them a house, dad,” I responded.

“I insist! The moment we reach Neospoli, I will look for a nice place for them.” He said, and I couldn’t stop feeling so happy, and I heard my sister giggle. How I wish he were like this when I first brought Madeline to the Divenson mansion, and Maddie would not experience pain, but it was now all in the past.. And I can’t wait to go back to Neospoli together with my family and Maddie’s family, and it would be the most beautiful event that will happen to Madeline and me after we get married.