Madeline’s POV

“I think we should head back to the main party now,” Jack said, and I nodded my head. He stands up and offers his hand to me, and I take it happily, then he pulled me up, but Jack didn’t let go of my hand after I stand up. I want to take it away from him, but I don’t want to embarrass him, and by the time we meet Lianne and Lisa, my best friend’s eyes widened, and I just shrugged my shoulders.

Jack gets some pork barbeque and soda, and the four of us squat on the sand. I can’t stop myself from feeling so happy that I experienced something like this, and when their friends got tired from dancing, we all form a big circle in front of a bonfire, and since this is my first time, I couldn’t stop myself from feeling so thrilled, and I am watching them with awe. We played some games, and I had fun. Then we went swimming, and it amazed me when I dip into the water. It feels so warm. I swim like a child, and I enjoy myself together with my friends.

When it was time to go, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad because I don’t know when I can swim on the beach again, but if Cal was telling the truth, would it be possible if I can stay at the Villa and will have the place as my official residence? I hope I can ask Hunter to let me stay at the Villa to visit the Morigans, and they can also show up anytime, but I know it would be wishful thinking. We arrived in the house past midnight, and we found Lydia in the living room watching a show on the television; she turned it off when she noticed we arrived.

“Did you have fun, Madeline?” She asked with a broad smile on her face.

“Yes, very much, and to be honest, I don’t want to come home yet.” I replied as I grinned at her and nodded my head, and I heard my friends laugh when they listened to my reply.

“You are always welcome here, Maddie, so if you have time, don’t hesitate to visit us. We will be so happy to have you in our home, and you can stay with us anytime you want.” Lydia declared, and I am overwhelmed with happiness.

“I wish to stay here forever, ” I replied, and I can see Jack looks so sad, and I hate that I have to hurt his feelings, and I hope he will develop some feelings for my best friend because Gina is still planning to stay at the Magnolia Village even without me. And how I wish I can be like Gina. She always has the freedom to do what she wants, and her parents always support her.

“You should go to your rooms now so you can have a rest.” Lydia said to us, and we all say our good night to her before we get inside our room, and I let Gina borrow my pajamas while I am wearing my nightdress.

“So, can you explain to me why you were holding hands with Jack on the beach?” Gina asked me as we lay in bed.

“Jack confessed that he likes me, and he said he will wait for me if ever my marriage with Hunter will fail, but I told him not to wait for me. We are just friends, Gina, but he held my hand and never let it go, and I don’t want to offend him, so I just let him hold my hand.

“Okay, I wish you will stay here in this village and give Jack a chance.” She replied.

“You know I could never do that.” I answered her, and she looked at me in the eyes.

“Of course, your heart only belongs to Hunter, and I know you will become more in love with him once you find out he went to the restaurant where I was working a part-time job.” Gina said, and my eyes widened in disbelief.

“He did?” I asked in more than a whisper, and she nodded her head.

“Yes, he ordered food, and he patiently waited for me and begged me to tell him where were you, I didn’t tell him anything, and he understands that my loyalty will always be with you even if he offered me a brand new car.” my best friend declared, and I couldn’t believe what I hear.

“Did he offer you something like that?” I asked again.

“Yes, it seems your fiance was so desperate to find you, but I told him no material thing could equal your value, Madeline.” She said, and I cried when I realized how lucky I am to have a best friend like her.

“Thank you, Gina, for always being there and for being my best friend through the good times and bad times, but I think I need to apologize more because it seemed I always had more bad times than the good ones.” I declared.

“Don’t worry, Maddie, I think Hunter will be the answer to all your prayers.” She said.

“I don’t know, Gina, but I think my life at the Divenson mansion is worse compared to living in my aunt’s house.” I said.

“You only said that because Hunter hurt you, I know you can endure the hardships your future in-laws were throwing at you because you are stronger than you can imagine, Maddie.” She responded and realized Gina has a point, and I don’t want to disagree with her. We talk, and I can’t stop myself from feeling so happy that Hunter came to Gina, and he asked my whereabouts. I am still talking when I notice my best friend is asleep already.

We both wake up early because I am taking an early shift. After all, in the afternoon, Lianne has another plan. Together with Lianne, we send Gina to her car, and she promised she would come back tomorrow, and it seems she will take my place because Calixto will come back tomorrow to take me back to the Divenson mansion.

I couldn’t believe we will become so busy the entire morning, and we became busier during lunchtime that we don’t have time to talk with each other. After our shift, Lianne asked me to come with her, and I wonder where she will take me. And I couldn’t believe she brings me to the parlor.

“You are going to meet your future husband tomorrow, so I think you should prepare yourself. We will have some manicure, pedicure with foot spa, and you need to have a hair spa.” Lianne said,

“I will only agree to your request if you allow me to pay for our bill,” I said, and it took her a long time to respond.

“It should be on me because I was the one who brought you here.” She responded.

“Please, Lianne, let me do this because you don’t have to worry about it because I will deduct it from the allowance Hunter deposited into my account,” I said, and her face lit up.

“Are you sure?” She asked, and I can tell she still feels doubtful.

“Yes, I am sure,” I replied, smiling at her.

“Well, bring it on.” She said, and we enjoy the rest of the afternoon pampering ourselves with beauty products and treatments. Lianne told me that we would have dinner at the mall, and I am shocked to meet Jack and Lydia in the restaurant inside the mall. Our dinner was superb, and I insisted on paying our bills. Still, the three of them disagree with me, and I felt so happy that I pay our bill by pretending to go to the restroom, but I managed to ask a server to bring the payment to the cashier, and I gave her a generous tip.

By the time they ask our bill, the server said someone paid for our meal, and they all looked at me, and I just shrugged my shoulders. And I didn’t tell them I was the one who paid for our dinner. Then, after our supper, we watch a comedy movie, and we were all laughing from the beginning until the end of the show. And I can tell I had a good night with them. I am still smiling as we get out of the theater.

I fall asleep immediately by the time my body hits my bed. When I wake up the following morning, I can’t stop the rapid beating of my heart because I know anytime today, Calixto will come to take me back to the Divenson mansion.

As usual, I take the early shift together with Lianne, and my morning passed in a blur because the diner has many customers during breakfast. I am shocked when suddenly a man in a blue suit got inside the restaurant and asked Lydia to close the entire restaurant during lunch because his boss wants to eat together with his fiancee. And he wants to have his lunch alone without any patrons; Lydia was shocked.

“I am sorry, Mr., but I can’t do that to my customers.” Lydia said.

“Name your price, Lydia, and my boss is willing to pay you the total amount you earn in one day during peak season; he only needs less than two hours.” He said, and then he whispers something to Lydia. Suddenly her facial expression changes. She instructed two of my fellow waitress to stand by at the restaurant entrance and inform the incoming customers that we are temporarily close and we will open after two hours. Everyone in the restaurant got so curious who could be this mysterious customer that will pay a large amount of money to have a lunch date with his fiancee.

The man gets out of the restaurant, and a moment later, his boss came inside, and my fellow servers were in awe. At the same time, my entire body trembled with excitement mixed with fears as Hunter strides towards the restaurant’s main dining, looking like a Greek god. If his assistant was wearing a business suit, he was only wearing faded jeans and a shirt, and I can’t stop my heart from racing. I have butterflies on my stomach, and his intense gaze is making me felt like jelly. By the time he stood in front of me, he gets closer to me and put his arms around my waist, and without warning, Hunter Divenson claimed my mouth hungrily that made me feel so weak that if he was not only holding my frame, I think I fainted on the ground. He kissed me passionately, and I realized how I miss kissing him. I kissed him back as I feel electricity travel in my entire frame.. He continued kissing me with his tongue swirling inside my mouth, and I released a soft moan when he bit my lower lip sensually, and I realized I don’t want him to stop kissing me.