Loving Madeline

Hunter's POV

I couldn't believe what I had heard from Hector Grant's mouth, and I stood up from my seat immediately and faced him as I tried to keep my anger at bay. 

"I didn't make your granddaughter, my slave, Mr. Grant. I think there is a misunderstanding. God knows how much I love Madeline, I treated her as my wife, and I love her with all my heart." I said as I kept my fists on my side. How could he accuse me of something like that?

"Mr. Divenson, I know how much you make my granddaughter suffer. You stayed with your mistress while your wife was waiting for you in your home. And your family treated her like trash." He said.

"How could you say that when you didn't even intervene or help your granddaughter when you knew she had a hard life growing up? Your son, Frank, trusted me to take good care of her daughter." I said as I looked at him in the eyes.

"I have my reasons, Hunter, while you don't have any right to hurt Madeline." He said in a stern voice, and I wondered why he was angry with me, and I couldn't believe he would say something like that.

"Why do you think when Frank was dying, I was the one he summoned and not you? Don't you realize why? It is because of what kind of father you are to him. I took good care of Madeline the best way I could. If ever I hurt my wife, it was purely unintentional, Madeline knows how much I love her, and I don't need to explain the details to you because you will never understand. After all, you don't know what the real meaning of love is." I said, and I didn't want to hurt Maddie's grandfather, but I couldn't control my emotions. How could he talk like that when he has too many shortcomings to his son and granddaughter.

"How dare you talk to me like that? You don't know me, Hunter!" He said, and I could see the fury on his face.

"If you don't want me to tell you what you are, then stop talking like you know me as well because you don't have any idea how much I love my wife. I am willing to give my life for Maddie in an instance even I lost all my inheritance to be with her. She is my life, Mr. Grant, and I don't want to hurt her by disrespecting you, but I hope you will filter your words as well because you don't know anything about me. I understand you hired a private detective to know all about me, but nobody knows the real me except your granddaughter." I said, and he fell silent while looking at me, and I could see the hurt on his face.

"I am sorry if I speak ill towards you, but you can't blame me since you accused me of something I didn't do, now if you will excuse me, I need to go to my wife, and for the record, I came here to get my wife, and even if Madeline asked me to be good to you, I don't think it is a good idea for my wife to know you if you will only hurt Madeline," I said as I can see his face turned bright red, I don't know if it is because of his anger or embarrassment.

"Maddie had been through a lot since childhood, and I don't want you to add her suffering; what she needs are love and protection, and if you think you can't do that to my wife, then you better forget that you have a granddaughter. She deserves all the happiness in this world, and it hurts me to know that the grandfather she was so excited to know could be so cruel." I added.

"Please, if you will excuse me, I want to go to my wife and take her back with me to Archois City, there are many people who are waiting for her in our home, and I am sure they will shower Madeline the love that she deserves," I said. I get out of his study without taking a second glance, and I am too pissed to care about how he feels. He is old, and he already lost a son, and if he continues to be like this, he will lose his chance to be with his granddaughter because I will never leave my wife here in this house, and I don't care if he is the wealthiest man in Neospoli, I will take my wife with me.

I didn't expect my wife will be waiting for me in the living room together with a beautiful woman who looked so friendly and welcoming, and even if I felt so angry with Hector Grant, I couldn't stop

myself from smiling at her. They both stood up the moment I approached them, and Madeline walked closer to me, and she took my hand, and she laced her fingers with mine.

"Aunt Francine, I want you to meet my husband, Hunter Divenson, and my love, I want to introduce to you my lovely aunt, Francine," Madeline said as she introduced me to her aunt. I took her extended hand, and she took a grip of my still shaking hand, and I tried my best to look calm even if I was still boiling with anger inside. I didn't expect Maddie's grandfather will ruin my beautiful morning, and I am just glad that my wife is holding my hand right now because she always has this calming effect on me. Madeline will always make me feel everything will be alright. No matter how gloomy my day is, one smile from her can light up my entire day.

"It is my pleasure to meet you, Ma'am," I said to Maddie's aunt, and she laughed.

"Oh, my dear, please drop the formality. I want you to call me mom too, you are my niece's husband, and you should call me the same way your wife addressed me." She responded, and I grinned at her.

"It would be my pleasure to call you, Mom, and thank you so much for taking good care of my wife," I said to her, and she shook her head.

"No need to thank me, Hunter. Your wife is like a daughter to me, and you are like a son, too. I am so happy that you are here with us, and I could say my niece is very lucky to have you as her husband. You came all the way here to Choraz to be with Maddie even if you are very busy running your business." Her aunt said, and I smiled at her.

"Of course, there is no place I wanted to be right now but to be beside my wife. And I regret to inform you that we are going back to Archois today. I will call my men, and they will be here within an hour." I said, and I saw Maddie's eyes widen while aunt Francine's face saddened.

"Oh, my dear, why it is so sudden? I thought you would be staying with us here for at least one month." Her aunt said, and I suddenly felt guilty, but I couldn't deny I wanted my wife to stay longer, so she could have a lot of time to spend with her aunt and grandpa, but Hector Grant pissed me off.

"I know, but something is going on in Archois that we needed to head back right away." I lied.

"Is everything alright, Hunter?" My wife asked, and I could see the worries in her eyes.

"Don't worry, Maddie, everything is alright," I replied.

"It makes me feel sad that you are leaving, but I will surely visit you there, my dear Maddie." Aunt Francine said, and the way she looked at my wife with tenderness, I could tell she cares about Madeline and how I wish her father would treat us in the same manner.

"And since you are leaving, I want to have breakfast with you, if you don't mind, Hunter." She said, and I couldn't stop myself from beaming at her.

"That would be lovely, and it would be an honor for me to have a meal with you, mom," I replied, and I could see the happiness written all over her face, and we all proceeded to the dining hall. And I could say Maddie's aunt has the same personality as Frank, and how I wished my wife got the chance to know her father, and his granddad should be the one to give fatherly love to my wife, but it seems he owns the world, and he is selfish.

"What happened, Hunter?" Madeline asked me the moment we were alone in her room, and I know during breakfast, she can't wait to talk with me, and I am sure she doesn't want to leave this house yet.

"I am sorry, Madeline, but I couldn't take your grandpa's attitude, and there is no way I will leave you here," I replied, and she moved closer to me and put her arms around my waist.

"Hey, I know grandpa must hurt you, but believe me, he doesn't mean it, Hunter. I could tell he was afraid if you would take me home immediately. And I am sure he was jealous because he knew how much I love you." My wife said.

"My love, no matter how much grandpa insulted you, please ignore him. He is a lonely old man who is seeking attention and care, my dad left him, and he couldn't accept until now that his only son will choose the simple he had in Archois than to be here. My grandpa already paid the prize of his shortcomings towards my dad." She added, and I could see the concern in her eyes as I let out a sigh.

"What are you trying to say, Madeline?" I asked as I tried to speak calmly.

"I wanted to stay here for a while with my grandpa because I wished to know him more, Hunter, and I hope you will allow me to have this chance to be with my father's family, and you have to trust me; my grandfather is not that bad.." My wife said, and she looked so adorable as she begged me, and even if Hector Grant drives me crazy, I couldn't say no to my lovely wife.