Madeline’s POV

“Gina, I am sorry,” I said to my best friend the moment she came into my room. When I woke up, I couldn’t find my husband, and I was on my way out to look after him when I found Gina standing outside my door. I asked her to get inside, and this was the first time we had the chance to talk alone.

“It is okay, Madeline; what is important is you are safe and your baby. But I want you to know what I felt when I thought you died. I don’t even want to remember that day. Everyone was crying, and Lily was hysterical the entire night that I needed to sleep beside her and tell her it wasn’t her fault.” Gina said, and I can feel the anguish they felt that day when they learned about the fire.

“If you died that day, I will never forgive you, Maddie. You promise me no secrets between us, and we will be there for each other, but when we went to Zambo, you didn’t include me with your damn plan.” Gina added, and I could feel her frustrations towards me.

“I know, Gina, and I am sorry if I was selfish that day; if you weren’t there that day, I am sure something will happen to Lily. You save her, Gina.” I responded.

“You were the one who saved her, and I will forever bear the guilt that I couldn’t even save my own best friend. I couldn’t imagine what had would happen to us all if you didn’t survive the fire. I know I was in pain that time, but I couldn’t describe the anguish of your husband, and I could tell he also died that day. I was hurt, but I could tell he was hurting more; he thought he lost you and your baby.” Gina declared, and I nodded my head.

“I know, Gina; I hope you have forgiven me,” I responded, and she took my hands and squeezed them.

“It wasn’t your fault, Madeline, and I couldn’t believe Kaye would do something like that, and now I think your grandpa was the reason all their bank accounts were being frozen as requested by the government.” She said, and my eyes widened in disbelief.

“Really?” I asked.

“Yeah, I heard your father-in-law and your mom were talking about it. I guess your grandpa hired someone to dig up their family businesses, and they found out illegal activities, or they have some unpaid taxes.” My best friend declared, and I don’t know how I feel now, but I am sure I felt relieved. And I realized Kaye could no longer hurt me.

“And I don’t know how Clark Divenson feels about it, and he almost hurt you physically because he wanted so badly to make Hunter marry Kaye. And it seems like the whole world has turned upside down.” She said as she was grinning at me.

“And the girl they looked down and mocked was the heir of Hector Grant, the wealthiest man on this country, and one of the most influential persons in the entire world.” She added, and now I can tell she looked so happy for me.

“And couldn’t believe she is my best friend, and I am looking at her right now.” She continued, and I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.

“Do you know what I felt when I learned that you are that wealthy?” Gina asked me, and I shook my head.

“I felt like I am no longer worthy of becoming your friend because I am nothing, and you live in a castle right now while I am just an ordinary girl who lives in an ordinary house. I don’t have possessions, only debts.” She said, and I felt hurt.

“Gina, you will always be my best friend, and if later I learn my mom came from Mars, and my Martian family will get me, I will still ask them to take you because I only have one best friend in this lifetime. And that is you.” I said, and she was laughing.

“Really? Can you find another race? I am not yet ready to accept that you are now among the most popular heiress in the entire world, and if you are an alien, it would be too much for me to take, Madeline.” She responded, and I couldn’t stop myself from laughing as well, and when I recovered from cracking up so hard, I looked at my best friend

in the eyes.

“Kidding aside, Gina, please don’t ever say something like that again. I don’t own anything, Gina. I am just lucky to be the granddaughter of my grandpa. I didn’t dream any of this, from marrying a big-time and now being the only daughter of Hector Grant. So, don’t ever say you are not worthy because you are the only best friend I have, and if given a chance to find another best friend, I will still choose you, Gina.” I declared, and I saw her tears fall on her lovely face.

“Thank you, Madeline, for staying the same. I thought you would turn into a different person, and now I realize you are still the Maddie I used to know, the selfless woman who is willing to offer her life for the sake of others. I am so proud and happy that I met you, and you became my best friend, Maddie.” She responded.

.

“Me too, Gina; without your undying support, I know I will not be here right now,” I said, and we were both smiling at each other, and I realized how much I miss my best friend.

“I hope everything will be okay between you and Hunter and your in-laws, and I heard you are having a tough decision since you already belong to Hunter Divenson since you married him, and now after knowing you are the heir of your grandpa, you learned your grandpa needed you here as well.” She said, and I released a sigh of relief.

“Yes, to tell you honestly, I don’t know how to convince my husband to settle here, my aunt told me, Hunter should give up the Divenson Mining Corporation since he has other siblings, and I am sure Parker and Charlotte would be willing to run the company,” I said.

“Don’t worry, Madeline. I am sure Hunter will listen to you because he can’t live without you.” Gina responded, and I giggled.

And together, we walked out of my room. My heart was racing when I found my husband on his way to fetch me. Since dinner was ready, Gina pulled her hand away from my arm immediately. I smiled at Hunter when he offered me his hand, and we walked holding hands while Gina was walking behind us, and knowing that they all came all the way here, I felt so happy.

I couldn’t contain my happiness when I looked at my family and Hunter’s family on the long table. I still wanted to talk with Calixto, Cerila, and Lily since I miss them all, especially Hunter’s mom. I felt glad my aunt and uncle came to have dinner with us, and I smiled when I saw my grandfather sitting at the head of the table, and I realized he reserved the two vacant dining seats on his sides for my husband and me.

The dinner was superb, and I could tell everyone was having fun, and I couldn’t believe this would happen. It feels surreal to have the Divenson entire family sitting with us on one table talking happily, and even Charlotte was now talking with my friends. I guess she realized that being friends with someone not rich is not bad. I smiled as I watched Charlotte talking with my best friend and Cerila.

After dinner, everyone got up, and my grandpa invited us to join him in the family room; as I walked beside my husband, he was looking at me, and I could tell he wanted to tell me something.

“What is it?” I asked in more than a whisper, and he was hesitating.

“Come on, my love, I know you wanted to tell me something,” I added.

“Charlotte asked me to tell you that she wanted to have a word with you if it would be alright with you? I am sorry, Maddie, if I didn’t inform you about her and dad, that they are coming. But I want you to know, like my dad, my sister also told me she wanted to apologize to you before she knew you are Hector’s granddaughter.” My husband declared, and I smiled at him.

“I would like to talk with your sister, Hunter, and you don’t need to worry about anything because I need to make peace with everyone even if I have done nothing wrong to anyone, especially with your sister,” I replied.

“Of course, my love, thank you so much for your understanding.” He responded.

After my grandpa properly introduced my aunt and uncle to Hunter’s family, Calixto introduced Hunter’s family members and my friends to my grandpa. And I know my grandpa knew all about Cal since I already told him I only had a few friends since I didn’t have time to socialize growing up because I was busy with my part-time jobs. Everybody said goodnight to one another, and they all left the family room except Charlotte and me. She stood up and moved closer to me without breaking eye contact.

“Madeline, I don’t know where to start since I know I have never been a good person to you. I admit I was horrible from the first time I saw you.” Charlotte said right away, and I didn’t respond because I wanted her to continue talking.

“I know it was already too late to ask for your forgiveness, but it is better late than never. Madeline, I am very sorry for hurting you in so many ways. And for being a wicked sister-in-law to you. I hope you will give me a chance to redeem myself and show you I can be a great sister to you.” She said, and I took her hands and looked at her in her eyes.

“It is okay, Charlotte, I have already forgiven you, it is enough to me that you say sorry, I am so happy right now that you talk to me, that is one of my wishes for so long now, and finally you look at my face without hatred in your eyes.” I declared as I squeezed her hands, and Charlotte smiled at me, and for the first time, I realized she had a beautiful smile.

“Thank you, Madeline.” She replied and beamed at me.

“Thank you, too, Charlotte, and I hope we can be good friends,” I responded. She nodded her head at me, and we left the family room with smiles on our faces, and together we walked and climbed the staircase. We both beamed at Hunter when we saw him standing on top of the stairs.. I couldn’t stop myself from giggling as I realized my husband was waiting for me with a beautiful smile plastered on his handsome face, and I could tell today was one of the best days of my life, and how I wish it would always be like this, no worries, only happiness.