Loving Madeline

Madeline's POV

"How could you keep this a secret from me, Gina?" I asked my best friend when I finally got the chance to be alone with her.

"Maddie, I didn't want you to intervene, and for once, I wanted to get hired without your help," I responded.

"But Hunter knew you, and it is still the same," I said as I looked at her, still unable to believe that she was finally here with me.

"He doesn't know a thing either, and that is why I grabbed the chance, and he was shocked when he saw my name on his table, and he called me right away, but the Human Resource Manager already hired me, and here I am." She responded, and I am still apprehensive about it, and I think my husband has something to do about her appearance.

"Are you sure my husband doesn't have anything to do about this?" I asked, and she was smiling while she shook her head.

"I came here in Neospoli to work, Madeline, and at the same time to spend my spare time with you, and the good thing is, Hunter already told me I can be assigned here since my function would be mostly online, so I don't report at the office all the time." She said, and my eyes widened.

"Really? Wow! That would be great!" I said, and I couldn't stop feeling so excited about having Gina here with me.

My husband left early, and I was in the nursery room painting, and I couldn't believe I would go crazy with one of Lily's hobbies. She was the one who gave me my painting materials, and so far, I have created several masterpieces, and I am proud of what I have done. Still, no one knew about it yet, not even my husband, and I paused for a while. And I moved to the balcony and sat on one of the chairs while I was looking at the garden below, and I didn't notice someone getting inside the room, and when I turned my head, I smiled when I saw my grandfather.

"There you are! I have been looking for you all over the house, and I think Leo searched the entire place, and I am happy to find you here, and I didn't realize you could paint." He said as he looked at the canvass on the easel, and I smiled at him.

"Wow, I haven't known you've got talent in painting, Madeline!" He said as he looked at my face.

"Thank you, grandpa, I want to surprise my husband, and I find it so hard to finish his portrait because I don't think I could give justice to his face on the canvass," I responded.

"Are you kidding me, Maddie? The painting of your husband looked exactly like him, and I don't think the one who painted that masterpiece is an amateur painter; you are good, Maddie; I am sure if I am going to show your painting to Hunter without telling him you were the artists he will buy it right away." He declared.

"Are you sure, grandpa?" I asked, and he nodded his head, and then he took my hand, and he kissed my knuckles, and I could see the tears on his eyes, and I couldn't believe he would be crying over a painting.

"You are really Frank's daughter, Maddie, no doubt about it, your father is a good painter, please come with me." He said, and I was shocked to know this information about my father, and I realized there are more things I needed to know about him.

I slowly got up from my chair, and my grandpa held my hand as we walked out from the nursery, and I suddenly felt sad as I remembered the nursery my husband had prepared for our child back in our house in Archois, and I suddenly missed our home. But I set aside my loneliness as I realized I am at home here, Hunter is here with me in Neospoli, and my grandpa is doing his best to make our stay here in his castle a happy one, and I am enjoying every day.

We walked through corridors until my grandpa stopped in front of a massive door, and when he opened it, I was so shocked to see many canvasses on different frames. And they arranged all paintings by size, and I could tell grandpa kept them well maintained since I couldn't see dust anywhere.

"These are your father's works since he was in grade school until his college days; I framed every piece of canvass I found on his room after he had gone; I know your dad's passion, but I haven't supported him even once, and now I look like a fool, coming here every day, watching each masterpiece, and I realized what a terrible father I was." My grandpa said, and I couldn't believe my dad's talent. He was fantastic, and I am mesmerized by his works.

"And now that I saw you out there with the portrait of your husband on a canvass, I wanted to encourage you to continue painting, Madeline; I can see your dad's talent in you." He said, and I couldn't believe my father, whom I have known as the driver of the Divenson family for years, is one hell of a guy. My dad is very talented.

"Grandpa, I don't think I can be as good as him. His works are excellent! They looked like real photos taken by a well-known photographer." I responded, and he smiled as he looked at me.

"Madeline, you've got Frank's talent, and it would be a waste if you will not nurture your talent, young lady. I will support you with the kind of help I should have given to your dad." He said, and I could feel my grandpa's regrets in his voice, and I wanted to take away the guilt that he felt.

"Don't worry, Grandpa, and I will try to paint more after I give birth to my child," I responded as I was touching my belly.

"I wanted to give that painting on his birthday, but I hesitated since I don't think it is good enough." I declared.

"Are you kidding me? That was perfect, Madeline." He said, and I smiled.

"Okay, I will give it to him, grandpa," I said.

Grandpa helped me have my painting framed, and when I saw the result, I couldn't stop myself from smiling; even Gina was shocked to see my masterpiece.

"Oh my goodness! You are my best friend, and this is the first time I realized there is still something I didn't know about you, Maddie." She exclaimed when I asked her to help me wrap the frame, I wanted it to be delivered to my husband's office on his birthday, and she volunteered to bring it to Hunter's office, and I couldn't be happier.

"I am sorry, I only started painting after Lily asked me if I wanted to try, and since my husband begged me to stay here at the castle waiting to give birth to our son, I am spending my time at the nursery talking with our son while I was painting." I declared, and I could see the happiness on my best friend's face.

"Why are you saying sorry, Madeline, you are discovering something you can be proud of about yourself, and you have your grandfather's support, and what are you apologizing for? For being talented? You are one kind of a woman, Maddie. And that is why I am so happy to be called your best friend." She said, and I was grinning at her.

"I was saying sorry because I didn't inform you about my passion for painting, Gina," I responded, and she beamed at me.

"It was okay, Madeline, I am happy for you, and I couldn't believe you are this beautiful and super talented and not to mention filthy rich, and if Hunter isn't your husband, I am going to tell you, your husband is such a lucky man to have you as his wife." My best friend added.

"Please don't tell Hunter about the painting, Gina," I begged my best friend before I said goodbye to her to have my afternoon walk in the garden as my way of exercise, so I will find it easy to deliver our son.

"Hey, beautiful, may I join you?" I could hear the familiar voice of my husband, and I was smiling before I could even turn my head to look at him.

"I am sorry, but I am a happily married woman," I replied as I tried to walk away from him, and he chuckled.

"He must be a lucky man." He said, and I couldn't stop the butterflies on my chest when I felt his presence near me.

"Of course he is; I am so in love with him," I responded, and the next thing I know I was in Hunter's arms, and he was hugging me from behind, and it felt so lovely to have my husband's strong arms around my bump, and I could feel our son feels so happy to hear his dad's voice since he kicked me on my side.

"It seemed our son is so happy to hear your voice, my love," I said as I put his hand on my tummy.

"Yeah, he is!" He responded when he felt our son's foot, and then I felt him kiss my forehead.

"You are home early?" I asked as I looked at him.

"Yes, I promised to have an afternoon walk with you." He responded, and I could feel my heart is swelling with happiness.

"Thank you, Hunter, for making me a happy wife." I declared.

"Of course, Madeline, that is one of my priorities in life the moment I marry you, and that is to make you happy.." He said as we continued to walk in the garden, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling from ear to ear.