Loving Madeline

Madeline's POV

I know the feeling when I almost lost my husband, and it was the terrifying stage of my life. The moment I learned he was buried alive underground, I was shocked, and the first thing that popped up in my mind was, how am I going to live without Hunter? Especially the moment I learned about my pregnancy, I felt so happy and sad at the same time because I knew raising a child alone would be hard. My mother was a single parent, and I saw how much she struggled to raise me.

And now, being with Hunter again, I can't contain the happiness that I felt. Watching his handsome face as he stared at me made me feel like I was a teenager all over again. Every time he touches me, I can feel the knots in my stomach, and I love the feeling of being in love with my husband every day. And I was praying and hoping that I would never experience the same agony ever again. 

It was a feeling of pure bliss as I watched him move around the kitchen when he took charge of cooking. He let me sit and watch him on the sideline, and I don't particularly appreciate that most of the time. I doze off because I can't stop feeling so sleepy now and then. 

We were happy having board games in the living room when we heard the knocking on our door, and I couldn't stop myself from feeling so worried and scared at the same time. I know Hunter's bodyguards are on standby, and even if I don't see them around, I know they are all around watching and protecting us. But I couldn't stop feeling worried as I remembered his father's threat. I am now carrying Hunter's baby, and I am so afraid if Clark will do something to us, and now as I realize he only has Charlotte on his side, he will try to eliminate Hunter, Parker, and my child so that Charlotte will remain the only heir. 

I set aside my worries and waited for my husband to come back, and I was surprised to see Rebecca and Parker striding towards me, and I don't know how to react even if I know they are now together. I slowly got up from the sofa while my husband came to my side immediately.

"Hello, Madeline!" Parker greeted me, and I heard Rebecca mumbled the same thing. And I looked at them, and I realized they looked good together, and Rebecca was looking at me in my eyes. And I couldn't stop looking back at her, and it took me a long moment to respond until I felt my husband's arm around my shoulders.

"Hi, Parker and Rebecca, it is a surprise, and I am happy to see you both. Please have a seat." I said to them, and Parker smiled at me, and I know he almost hurt me before I got married to his brother. Still, after what happened to him lately, I couldn't stop myself from worrying about him and his girlfriend, and even though it felt so awkward to see Rebecca after everything that happened, I felt glad she came with Parker. And I felt guilty that I ruined her relationship with Hunter. Even if I knew I had done nothing wrong about it, I couldn't stop myself from thinking if Hunter didn't have me in his life, maybe they could be together right now, but I couldn't give up my husband.

I love Hunter, and I know their past will always be part of who they are, and I am just glad we can have this moment. Maybe it is about time I can talk with Rebecca. I sat on the sofa, and my husband settled next to me, and he put his arms around my waist while we were facing his brother and ex. And I know it is awkward to both of us, but I can't just ask them to leave since I can tell it wasn't easy for them to come and see us.

"Yeah, sorry if we came unannounced, Lily said you would be here, and I came to see you so I can personally say thank you to you, Madeline," Parker said.

"You helped us to settle in Magnolia, and for that, I felt so grateful. I should have asked for help from mom, but I know mother is angry with me for almost hurting you and my brother and for listening to dad." He said.

"It was nothing, Parker, you are Hunter's brother, and we are family," I responded, and he smiled at me while he was holding Rebecca's hand.

"I think mom would love to see you, Parker. She is having a hard time now after what happened to our family. If you want, you can come back tomorrow since I will invite mom to come over." Hunter added, and even if I want to spend more time alone with him, it still makes me happy to have his family with us since I grew up only with my mom and then with my aunt.

I love having Lily and mom, and I will invite Cerila to come with them too. Of course, my best friend Lily, I want to ask Hunter to invite the Morigans as well, but I don't want him to think I want to see Jack since I know he will always be jealous of him, and I find it funny because I can't believe he will feel threatened with Jack Morigan's presence.

"That would be nice. I want to see mom and apologize to her as well." Parker said, and I know my husband feels so happy about it. I see every time Rebecca looks at Hunter, she can't deny she still long to be with him, and I pity her in a way, but there is nothing I can do about it because the moment I found her, I was already married to Hunter. My husband and Parker excused themselves, and Hunter said they would buy food for lunch, and I was left alone with Rebecca, and we were both silent for a long while until I got the courage and asked her to walk with me on the shore.

"Madeline, I know this is so awkward for you to have us here in your vacation home. When Parker said he wanted to come here and see you, I didn't want to come, but I realized I want to have this opportunity to talk with you." Rebecca said as we walked barefoot on the sand.

"Yeah, I know, Rebecca, it was uncomfortable, but we can't stay away from each other because Parker is Hunter's brother and I have to deal with it, and I think we both need to deal with it, and I guess we need to talk," I responded.

"I am sorry if I took Hunter away from you," I added, and she shook her head while she looked at me sideways and sweetly smiled at me.

"Madeline, you don't need to apologize to me because Hunter is lucky to have you. Your husband is crazy in love with you, and I haven't seen him look at me the way he gazed at you, Maddie. Even if I come back, I can't take him away from you because you are both in love with each other; besides, I fooled him once, and my guilt was killing me." She said.

"On the night before we got married, I met with the gardener, and it was true, he was my boyfriend, and it was his plan that we should use Hunter so we could get some money from Hunter's family. But on the night Hunter found us, I realized I became more in love with him, and I felt so guilty that I tricked him." Rebecca said, and I could see the tears that welled up in her eyes.

"Hunter is kind and loving, and he made me feel I am special, and Clark Divenson was right. I was a gold digger bitch who ruined his son's life but believed me, Madeline, and I paid the price of what I had done to your husband. For ten years, I suffered under the cruelty of his father, and all I want right now is for Hunter to forgive me." She added, and I couldn't believe she would tell me all this now.

"And I am aware you are the only one who can help me, Hunter loves you so much, and I am sure he will listen to you. I can't deny I still feel the same way towards him, Maddie, and I am sorry if I still feel this way. There is nothing I can do with my heart. But I am now beginning to fall for Parker because he saved me from losing myself again, and I realized they have many similarities. I am glad Parker loves me unconditionally." She said.

"Wow, I don't know what to say, but thank you that you told me all about it, Rebecca," I replied, and she moved closer to me, and she held my hands.

"On the day I first saw you, I felt different towards you, maybe because you are a good person inside out. I want you to be my friend right away. I wasn't in my right mind at that time since I always skipped taking my medicines, but my instinct was right." Rebecca declared as she continued to hold my hands.

"I think you were an angel, Madeline." She said, and her words warmed my heart.

"I am not an angel, Rebecca," I said softly.

"For me and for those around you, you are an angel. And thank you for allowing me to spend time with Hunter, for giving me another chance to live my life and regain my sanity. You let me borrow Hunter two days per week without questions, and even if Hunter said he was busy with his work, I could tell he has someone in his life that he cherished the most, and I felt glad it was you, Madeline." Rebecca responded.

"Hunter helped me to be well again, and it was all because of you. Thank you for being so selfless, Madeline. I can tell no one on her right mind to allow her husband to spend time with his ex-fiancee, but you took the pain for me, and I am so grateful for what you had done to me. I was in pain, but I know you suffered the most, and when I heard about what happened to Hunter, I prayed hard that he would come back to you unscratched because I know you are one of those people who deserves fo have the best in life." She added.

"Thank you, Rebecca. I know how much you suffered as well. That is why I can't stop myself from feeling so guilty." I responded.

"You don't need to be guilty about anything Madeline because you made life easier for us. Besides, we are going to be sisters-in-law soon," She said as she showed me her engagement ring that I hadn't noticed at all, and we smiled at each other. I can't deny talking with Rebecca made me feel better and happy, and I am so glad they came here to the villa. Maybe we could start to build more healthy relationships since we can't ignore each other, especially now that she is engaged to marry Hunter's brother, and I felt so happy for them.