Loving Madeline

Hunter's POV

"Hunter, it is already late; visiting hour is over. You can visit your father tomorrow morning." Cal said as we drove away from the Divenson mansion.

"I can't visit dad, tomorrow, Cal, because I already asked help from one of my friends from the coast guard. We will ride in their chopper tomorrow morning since I couldn't wait to see Madeline." I replied.

"Of course, I know, son, you are eager to meet your wife." He responded, and I looked at the rearview mirror, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling as I realized my sister was with us. Charlotte was sitting at the back of my car, and she remained silent, and I can't deny that I felt so happy that, at last, my sister finally came to her senses. I never expected Charlotte to apologize to me, and it was the first time I saw my sister cried, and look so vulnerable.

"Are you sure about that, Hunter? What I mean is, Gina already told you the persons who took your wife will hurt her the moment they will know you will be looking for your wife, especially if you will ask help from the authorities.." Calixto said, and I darted a side glance at him before I returned my focus on the road.

"What do you want me to do, Cal? We can't search the ship even if we use my private helicopter because it would be against the law. And how can we save my wife? We need the help of the coast guard if we want to save my wife. I am so much afraid of what will happen to her, Calixto, and I don't have a choice; saving her now is my only goal, and we needed help from the authority." I replied, and he looked at me and nodded his head.

"We will ride the chopper going to Zambo town tomorrow morning, Cal; from there, we will transfer to another helicopter," I added.

"Another adventure for us, the moment we arrived at your house, we need to have some sleep, because we can't rescue your wife if we don't have enough strength," Cal said, and I couldn't argue with him since we just got back from Zambo we became so tired. It is almost two o'clock in the morning, and we only have a little time to sleep and relax, but I know that I can't sleep knowing my wife is out there suffering. 

By the time we arrived at our house, I had helped my sister with her things, and I had taken her hand as we got inside through the main door. I was shocked to find my mom, Lily, Gina, and Cerila in the living room, waiting for us to come home, and I felt so guilty that I failed to save my wife. Charlotte stopped walking, and Lily stood up right away when she saw her eldest sister.

"What are you doing here, Charlotte?" Our little sister asked in a stern voice, and I could see the hatred on her face, and I was stunned when Charlotte didn't answer our little sister.

"Lily, I was the one who brought Charlotte. I asked her to come with me." I responded on Charlotte's behalf.

"Why?" She asked.

"And where is your wife, Hunter?" She added another question before I could answer the first one.

"I am sorry, Lily, we were already too late; the moment we arrived at the port in Zambo, the ship had already departed. But don't worry, we will continue our search tomorrow." I responded, and I didn't mention that I asked for help from the authority because I knew my best friend would get angry with me since she was afraid of what would happen to Madeline once we informed the authority, but it left me no choice. There is no other way to save Madeline.

"Are you and dad behind Madeline's disappearance, Charlotte?" 

"No, Lily, we don't have anything to do with Madeline's disappearance. I don't even know that she was missing if Hunter didn't tell me about it, and I am sad about what happened to Maddie, Lily." Charlotte responded as she looked at our younger sister.

"I don't believe you, and I know how much you hated Madeline, Charlotte," Lily said.

"I can't blame you if you are not going to believe me, Lily. I understand because I know I have never been a good sister to you, and I am sorry little sister. I want you to know that I miss you so much. And it hurts me to see you like this, looking at me full of hatred in your eyes." Charlotte said, and I can tell Lily was stunned when she heard her elder sister apologize to her because we both know Charlotte will never say sorry to any of us.

"Save your drama, Charlotte. How are we going to believe you that what you have said was true, for how many times I saw you hurt Madeline in purpose." Lily responded, but I could tell her voice softened a little bit, and this time mom was standing beside little sister.

"You have to believe me, Lily, because I am still your sister. Dad had a heart attacked, and he is in the ICU as of the moment at Archois Hospital. Do you think I will have time to kidnap Madeline?" Charlotte responded, and Lily's eyes widened.

"Oh, no, what happened to dad? Is he alright?" Lily asked, and I know even if she hated our father for what he did to my wife, she still loves him, and she was crying now while mom took Lily into her arms.

"Hey, Lily, your father will be alright. Tomorrow morning we will visit your dad together with your sister. Your dad is a strong man, Lily, and you have nothing to worry about." Our mother said, and I know she was only trying her best to soothe my sister. And when I looked around, I saw Gina looking daggers at Charlotte.

I know how much Gina hated my sister because of what Charlotte had done to her best friend. And I know that my wife confided everything to Gina, including the heartaches and pains, and I am aware during the stay of Madeline at the Divenson mansion, Charlotte did everything she could to make my wife's life miserable.

Mom released Lily from her hold, and I felt glad my little sister was no longer crying, and Charlotte moved closer to mom and Lily.

"Mom, I am sorry." Charlotte blurted out, and I saw her tears poured down on her cheeks, and mom gave her a reassuring smile before she took my sister into her arms, and then, I couldn't help myself from smiling when I saw Lily came closer to them, and she hugged them both.

"Oh, Charlotte. I am so happy to see you, honey, and I can't wait to talk with you more, but since it is very late, we need to retire to bed since we need to visit your father at the hospital tomorrow." Mom declared while I asked Cerila to bring Charlotte to her assigned room, and I brought Cal to his designated room as well.

"Hunter, I know you are restless, and you want to rescue your wife right away, but you have to remember you need to take care of yourself too. You can't save Maddie if you are weak, so please have some sleep." Cal said, and I smiled as I nodded my head at him.

"Don't worry, Cal, everything that happened today drained my energy, so I guess I can sleep well," I responded, and I left his room in a hurry.

I took a warm bath quickly, and I felt fresh, and when I lay on the bed, I realized I couldn't sleep no matter how I tried, and I couldn't stop feeling so lonely and empty when I looked at the empty space beside me. I suddenly felt the pang on my chest, and I couldn't stop my tears from streaming down my cheeks as I looked at the picture of my wife on the picture frame. I picked up the frame and touched my wife's face, and I brought the photo frame to my chest.

"Don't worry, my sweet wife. I will do everything I can to save you, and I am sorry if I came so late. You hurt my feelings, Madeline, and I couldn't believe you would fool me, my sweet wife. I love you, Madeline, and I will do everything I can to bring you back." I whispered to myself as I continued to stare at my wife's lovely face on the frame, and I was shocked when I heard continued pounding at my door. I wondered who it could be, and I slowly got up from the bed and stood up to open the door.

"Cal? What is going on? Are you alright?" I asked him.

"I know you can't sleep, Hunter. I want to accompany you; let me sleep on the couch." He said as he got inside my room before I could invite him, and I smiled because he was right. I need Cal's presence to lighten the burden that I felt.

"My wife is missing, and my dad is in the ICU. I don't think I can sleep, Cal; there are a lot of things happening in my life right now, and thank you for always being there for me, Calixto, every time I am facing dilemmas in my life ." I replied.

"I will always be here for you, Hunter. I am your best friend, remember?" He responded, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling even if deep inside I felt like dying.