Madeline’s POV

“Cal, you can’t do that, and I won’t allow Hunter to fire you without valid reasons. He was the reason I run away in the first place, and he has no right to make your family suffer because of me. You have mouths to feed Cal, and this is my battle. I need to face Hunter because I can’t let him do something unfair to the rest of you. Besides, I think I can’t run away from him no matter what I do.” I declared.

“I am sorry, Madeline, but it is true. His men found you, but he asked me to approach you because he doesn’t want you to hate him even more. I can’t explain to you, but he needs you, Madeline.” He said.

“If you want me to understand your boss, could you at least tell me what is going on with his life?” I asked.

“I am sorry, Maddie. It is not my story to tell.” He said, and I can’t stop myself from feeling disappointed that I don’t have any clue why Hunter still wants me to be his bride.

“Can I ask a favor to you, Cal?” I asked.

“It depends, Madeline.” He said honestly.

“Can I stay even for a while, I love the Morigans, and they accepted me without questions. I promise you I will go back to the Divenson Mansion, but please assure me that Tony will get away from this. He only helped me to find a place to stay, but he has nothing to do all about this. I begged him to take me to the city, besides he doesn’t know me. So, he doesn’t have any idea I was Hunter’s bride to be.” I declared.

“Well, knowing that he helped you find a job and a home, I guess Hunter will spare Tony’s career, and I am sure he won’t do something stupid. Tony is his father’s favorite, and I don’t think Hunter will fire him immediately.

“So, can I stay here for more days?” I asked.

“Well, I am not sure about that; Hunter specifically asked me to bring you back immediately because he doesn’t want to postpone the wedding.” Calixto replied, and I couldn’t help but be sad.

“Please! Cal, let me have time to say goodbye to my new family.” I said, and he nodded, and I am so happy that I hugged him.

“I will talk to your husband to be, and I am sure he will understand the situation.” He said, and he smiled at me.

“Thank you so much, Calixto. Staying in Magnolia for more days means a lot to me.” I said.

We get out of the villa, and I can’t stop thinking that Hunter bought this vacation house as a gift for me, and I became confused about how he could have a dual personality. He seems so cold, yet he was thinking about my long-time dream, maybe it was Gina who told him about it. I can’t stop myself from smiling, thinking that perhaps deep in his heart, he feels something for me too, but I don’t want to have hope and get frustrated in the end. Hunter Divenson is forever a mystery man for me, but I want to make him fall in love with me too, and I hope Gina told him also about my dream of having a husband who will love me too.

As I get inside Calixto’s car, I am now more at ease because I know I still have three days to enjoy my stay in this beautiful place. I thought I would leave Magnolia Village today. He sent me to the diner, and by the time I get out of his car, he opened the car window and waved his hand at me, and then he drove away, followed by Hunter’s escorts. I was standing at the diner’s entrance when I felt someone behind me, and when I looked around, I saw Lianne, and I can tell she is so worried about me.

“Is everything alright?” I nodded and shook my head, and I can tell she became confused about my gestures.

“Well, I am alright because I am still here, but I am not okay with the idea that I will be leaving Magnolia Village in three days.” I replied, and her eyes widened.

“No! Way!” She exclaimed.

“Yes, Lianne, Hunter wants me to go back to the Divension mansion.” I said, and his face lights up.

“Wow! At first, I want to stop you from leaving, but now that you mentioned Hunter’s name, I am excited for you, Madeline, so what we need to do with your remaining days is to enjoy Magnolia Village. And our fun should start tonight, and we are going to attend a beach party. Are you in?” Lianne asked me.

“Sure, I’d love to,” I replied, and I am so excited because I have never experienced this kind of thing.

“Lianne, I forgot that I don’t have a swimsuit with me and my best friend is here, and she is planning to stay over for the night,” I said, and I suddenly felt worried because I want to go swimming with them.

“Don’t worry, Maddie. I already asked Gina, and she was so excited about it. I will give you and Gina since I bought two new swimsuits on sale last month,” Lianne said while smiling at me.

“Thank you, Lianne,” I muttered.

“You are welcome, Madeline.” She replied.

We get inside the restaurant, and I can’t stop thinking about Calixto’s visit and Hunter’s plan to continue with the wedding. And I am also thinking about the beach party that Lianne was talking about, I hadn’t attended a beach party before, even though some of my classmates during the senior year were talking about parties on the beach, and I didn’t also have time to attend parties hosted by my wealthy classmates on their luxury houses.

We are on our way to the beach, riding the pickup truck, and Jack is the one driving, but I can tell he was so excited to attend this party. I am wearing a dress, and underneath is my swimsuit, while Lianne let Gina borrowed some shorts and a crop top, and like me, she was also wearing her swimsuit underneath her clothes.

“You better take off your clothes now; I mean, if you want to enjoy the beach, you should do it with proper attire.” Lianne said as she discarded her dress after Jack parked the pickup. Gina did the same while I was having a second thought. I had swimming lessons before, but I did it because it was compulsory, but I never got the chance to swim for fun, wearing a swimsuit in front of a crowd is a no to me.

“I will wait for you outside of the truck so you can decide if you will walk with your swimsuit or cover it with your clothes.” Jack declared as he took off his shirt, and I can tell my best friend salivate just watching Jack removed his shirt, and I want to stop her from drooling over Jack.

“Wow! Your brother is hot, Lianne.” Gina said without feeling shy about it.

“Thanks, there are many of my friends who were fascinated by my brother’s look, and they want to date him, but it seems my brother is so picky, and only recently I noticed that he likes a girl.” Lianne said, and she looked at me, and I suddenly felt shy.

“Yeah, I can tell Jack likes Madeline.” Gina responded.

“Exactly, but I pity my brother because the woman he is interested in is about to marry to the most eligible bachelor of the country, and not only that, Hunter Divenson is the epitome of perfection, and how I wish I can be like Madeline.” Lianne replied.

“Be careful of what you ask for, Lianne. Marrying Hunter is the most complicated thing that will ever happen to me.” I responded.

“It doesn’t matter, Maddie, stop worrying about those things. What is important you will become his wife, and I wonder how it feels to make love with Hunter Divenson.” Gina said, and they both giggled while I suddenly felt so hot, and I can’t stop thinking about his handsome face.

“If it happens to me, I think I will faint before he can kiss me,” Lianne added, and they are still both giggling.

We all climbed out of the truck, but I am the only one still wearing a dress. I can tell it is a big barbeque party because of the large crowd, and I can see women in bathing suits and men in board shorts were dancing barefoot on the sand as the loud music blasting in the background. Many of them waved and nodded at Jack and Lianne, and they introduced us to some of their friends. I felt so alive, and I like the feeling of being on the beach.

Gina and Lianne went to the dance floor immediately and joined the teenagers dancing on the sand while I am just standing on the sideline, fascinated with their dance moves. I decided to walk on the shore. I signaled Gina, and she attempted to come with me, but I assure her I can manage. As I walk away from the party, I took off my slippers, and I carried them in my hand. I enjoyed watching the big waves hitting on the shores.

When I realized I was far from where the party was, I sat on the sand as I looked at the great waves. I stretch my limbs, and I looked at the moon shining above the sky, and I am so engrossed watching the moon that I haven’t noticed someone sat beside me, and I am startled to find Jack sitting beside me.

“I am sorry, Madeline, if I stun you. I was looking for you on the dance floor, and I suddenly felt nervous when I haven’t seen you there.” Jack declared.

“It is okay, Jack. Thank you for your concern.” I replied.

“I know Magnolia is a safe place, but we better be careful at all times.” He answered as he watched the waves hitting the shore.

“Are you leaving?” He asked, and I slowly nodded my head while he looked at my face, and I wouldn’t say I like the sadness that I found on his handsome face.

“Yes, I need to.” I replied.

“Can I tell you something?” He asked.

“Sure!” I answered and smiled at him, but Jack’s face suddenly turned serious.

“I know you are leaving, but I don’t want you to go without knowing how I feel for you, Maddie. I like you a lot, and I know I can’t have you because you just run away from him, and I am doing all this now to let you know that someone is waiting for you if ever your relationship with him will fail.” He said, and I am shocked by his confessions, but I admired his courage, and I am so touched with his words.

“Thank you, Jack, for your honesty, and you should not wait for me. You deserve someone better than me.” I replied.

“I only feel this way towards you, Maddie. I have never felt this way to anyone, and this is the first time I experienced this kind of intense attraction towards the opposite sex. I hope our friendship will continue even if you will come home to the Divenson Mansion.” Jack stated.

“Of course, Jack, and I will never forget your kindness towards me, and I will be forever grateful to your family.” I said.

“It is our pleasure to know you, Maddie.” He said, smiling at me, and I can’t help myself from grinning at him.. And I felt so happy that I gain additional friends in Magnolia Village, and I realized it would become harder for me to leave this place.