Loving Madeline

Madeline's POV

"Are you alright, Mrs. Divenson?" I heard a familiar voice asked me, and when I looked up, I am surprised to see Cerila standing not so far away with the vacuum cleaner in her hand, and I can't stop the smile that formed in my mouth. I am pleased to see her here in our mansion.

"Cerila? How and when did you get here? I am so happy to see you here." I said, and she shyly smiled at me.

"Your husband called your mother-in-law yesterday and asked her to send me this morning. Tony drove me here, and Lily begged her mom to come with me, but Madam Leticia told her to come over this weekend since she still has a class. Your husband told me this morning even there are already maids in your estate, and he wants me to assist you personally." She shyly said.

"He told me all I need to do is to cater all the things that you need, but I don't want to stay here and do nothing since I know you, Mrs. Divenson, you always take care of your things, and you don't want any help from me, that is why I want to help cleaning the house." She added, and I felt so touched that my husband cared for me. I am sure he asked Cerila to served me because he knew I like her at the Divenson mansion. Maybe Hunter anticipated that there would be nights he won't be home since he needs to be with Rebecca, and I can't stop myself from feeling hurt just thinking he will be spending his time with Rebecca for the coming days.

I understand my husband, and I am glad that he changed his plan, and instead of bringing his ex here to our house, he will take Rebecca to the penthouse, and I will thank him later for sending Cerila for me.

"Thank you, I am so happy that you are here, and I want to ask you something, Cerila, please stop calling me Mrs. Divenson. We are no longer in the house of Clark Divenson, and you can call me Madeline or Maddie from now on. I want us to be friends. And don't worry about my husband. He is so different from his father, and I am sure he will not mind if you call me by my first name. And I want you to call me on a first-name basis." I said, and I smiled at her.

"Okay, Madeline, and thank you. When you asked me to call you by your first name when we were at the Divenson mansion, I'd love to, but I was afraid of Mr. Clark if he will hear me calling you by your first name, and you know him, I am sure he will reprimand me.

"Of course, I understand, Cerila. I know how strict he is. I will get Lily Friday night so we can spend time together." I said.

"That is great, and I am sure she will be so happy and excited to know that you will get her, and I think you should call or text her now so she will not be bugging her mother." She answered.

"Okay, I will, " I said, and I fished out my phone from my shoulder bag, and I texted Lily, and she responded right away with so many heart emojis, and I can't stop myself from feeling so happy, and I realized how I missed her, and I am so excited to see her.

"Do you want to eat now, Mrs. Divenson? I am sorry, Maddie?" She asked, and I smiled that she still calls me Mrs. Divenson. It sounds too formal to me. I shook my head because after what happened early this morning, I lost my appetite to eat.

"I will only drink milk and eat some fruits," I replied.

"All right then, I will prepare your fruits and milk." She quickly said.

"Never mind, I can do it myself, Cerila." I declared and sweetly smiled at her, and I got up from the sofa and stride towards the kitchen while Cerila goes back to her chores. And even though I feel so happy that Cerila is with me right now, I can't stop thinking about Clark.

I left the kitchen in a hurry since I only have little time to spare. I run to the parking lot and get inside my car. Still, I can't stop my hands from trembling as I gripped the steering wheel as I remember Clark Divenson words, and I am afraid if he will do something to me like what he did to Rebecca, and I am scared if he is already thinking a sinister plan to discard me. And I am aware that he can do something terrible to me, but his threats will not make me leave my husband.

I will face the wrath of Hunter's father, and even though I feel so afraid right now, I am sure I am going to meet him with courage because I don't want him to continue hurting his son. My husband's life became a mess because of him. And how I wish he will stop what he is doing right now. I am sure he will not stop unless I will leave his son. But Hunter is my life now, and I don't want to tell him what happened today because I already know there is so much in his head right now. Having Rebecca back was a shock to all of us, and maybe if he found her before I came into his life, I think he will be pleased, but his life became so complicated because he got married and fell in love with me.

I understand my husband's dilemma, and I can feel his pain, and the best thing to do right now is to be there for him whatever it takes; I drove away from our house with a heavy heart, and I wish that everything will be all right. And I hope Rebecca will get better soon. I was driving my car fast, and the moment I arrived at our meeting place, I tried my best to look calm, and I composed myself before I meet my classmates. 

There are five of us in our group, two males and there are three of us girls. They greeted me warmly, and even though we see each other at the university campus, I don't have enough time to mingle with them. I felt I am an outcast because they are talking comfortably with each other like they know each other closely, and I wish to know them too because I also wanted to have additional friends. After all, I only have Gina and the Morigans. I always love to be with my best friend, but of course, I understand that there are times she also needs to be with her family, and she has to spend time with her other circle of friends.

I opened my laptop as we started discussing our topic, but I couldn't stop thinking about Clark, even though for how many times I tried my best to stop thinking about him.

"Are you okay, Madeline?" Patrick asked me, and I smiled at him. He is tall and handsome, and I like him right away because he looks friendly and accommodating.

"Yeah, are you alright, Maddie?" Rose seconded, and I blushed when I realized all sets of eyes are on me.

"I am sorry, did you ask me about something? I was thinking some family matters, but don't worry, and I will try my best to focus." I responded.

"Hey, it is okay, Madeline. You don't need to feel embarrassed about it, every one of us has family issues, and we are facing family problems too, and don't worry, that is so normal." Mia said.

"Yeah, that is true. If you only know my latest problem, Maddie, you will realize your problem is nothing compared with what I Am going through right now. My dad left my mom and me last week, and he ran away with his secretary." She said, and I couldn't believe Carol will tell me her problem right now, and I felt so glad that they welcome me to their circle warmly.

"I am sorry, Carol, that must be hard on your part," I replied.

"It is okay, Maddie, we will survive even though my heart is aching for my mom. I need to be strong for her." She said, and I smiled at her, and then all of them shared their problems, and I am grateful that they trusted me enough to share their family problem with me.

"It is okay if you will not share your problems with us as of the moment we understand, it has been a long while now that we want to make friends with you, but after we saw Hunter Divenson kissed you in the hallway of our classroom, we realized to stay away from you, but now that we belong to one group we realized you are approachable. And we are happy to know you, Madeline." Carol added.

"Thank you, guys," I said, and they all said welcome.

"If you are ready to share with us your troubles, we are willing to listen, but we understand if you will keep it a secret from us, that is your choice whether you will share your problem with us or not, but we want to tell you, you can always count on us." Mia declared, and I noticed only Cody remained silent, and I realized maybe he is a quiet type of guy.

"Thank you so much. I appreciate your concern for me, and for that, I am glad that I belong to your group." I said, smiling at them, I felt so grateful that I know them, but I can't tell them that my problem is about Clark Divenson, my father-in-law, who wants to wreck my relationship with my husband. And I couldn't also tell them that my husband's ex is alive after being known as dead for ten years.. But I am so thankful for them that I feel better after my encounter with Hunter's father, and I will look forward to spending more time with my newfound friends as we do our project together.