Loving Madeline

Hunter's POV

"Hunter! Hunter! You need to wake up!" I heard my sister Lily calling my name, but my head was aching badly, it had been days since the fire, and my world collapsed on my shoulders, I stayed in the guest room most of the time, and I didn't go back to the bar after the night I found Gina drinking her heart out. I asked Cerila to bring the bottles of vodka, rum, whisky, and all the type of alcohol she could find on the bar.

I was drinking alcohol the moment I woke up in the morning, and I skipped my meals. I am aware that my mom was the one who will take care of our business since I could say that I am losing my mind because I still can't accept that my wife is gone, and there is no way I am going to acknowledge her death unless someone shows me my wife's dead body.

At first, I thought I was fine, but on the next day that I woke up, and I couldn't find my wife, I couldn't stop myself from crying again until my tears dried up, and every time I think about her, my heart is aching like I am being stabbed with a knife.

"Go away, Lily," I shouted at my sister, and I didn't even open my eyes.

"I gave you enough time, Hunter, and I allow you to cry your heart out, but I will never let you die. I already lost Madeline, and now if you are not going to eat anything, and you will continue drinking alcohol, I am sure you will die ahead of your wife." My little sister declared, and I could tell she was holding her anger at bay, and she was also hoping that my wife was still alive.

"If you still believe that your wife is alive, then I think you should fight, Hunter. You should find a way to locate her wherever she may be because I am also considering the same thing, and I could never accept that she is gone." She said, and I felt my tears trickle down on my face.

"Lily, Please leave; I am not ready to talk about my wife, I want to be alone, and it hurts so bad," I said, and I sobbed like a child, and I know I reeked because I didn't take a bath, and I was drinking on my bed, and I am aware that I spilled a lot of alcohol on my bed covers.

"Get a grip, Hunter, please, don't do this; you are hurting me, and not only me, but you are also hurting yourself and mom," Lily responded, and I grunted, and I know my sister can be hardheaded sometimes. Whatever I do, she will never listen to me unless I follow her order.

"I am begging you, Lily, please, for now, leave me alone. I want to remember my wife and our child." I said.

"Hunter, are you going to give up on finding Madeline? I didn't expect that you would be this weak. You should be strong and find the courage to face this predicament because we need you, mom is not getting any younger, and I am too young to run our mining company, and I don't have any idea about mining, and you know what I want with my life, Hunter." My sister declared as she sat down on the bed beside me, and I felt Lily caress my back, and my shoulders shook because I couldn't stop myself from weeping again.

"I only wanted to become a fashion designer, and I want to be famous all over the world. Do you think I can manage the firm when my passion is different from yours? You are good with what you do, big brother. I will let you drink again, but please, Hunter, you need to eat." She begged as she continued to massage my back.

"I don't have the appetite to eat, Lily, I don't know how I am going to face the world again without Madeline by my side, and I want to be alone even for a while," I said in more than a whisper, but my sister didn't even move.

"Hunter, I am aware that no words can alleviate the pain that you feel right now, and I want you to know that I am feeling the same way. I am hurting, and I wanted to cry and shout, and I wished to ask why it had to happen to Madeline. She is very young and kind-hearted, and she doesn't need to experience that kind of tragedy in her life because she had a tough life growing up." My sister said, and I couldn't disagree with her.

"One more thing, Hunter, do you think Madeline will be so happy the moment she learns that you are acting this way? Madeline knew you were strong, and your love for her will last forever. And I think the best thing you can do is remember all the sweet memories you spent with her. Bring her memories alive, Hunter, and always remember she will always be in your heart, and I am sure Maddie will not be happy wherever she is right now because you are a total mess, Hunter." My sister added, and I suddenly felt guilty, and I turned around, and I opened my eyes to look at my sister.

"I am so sorry, Lily if I became like this. I know what you said was true. Madeline will not be happy if she sees me this way. I know you are younger than me, yet you act and talk like an adult, and thank you so much for comforting me at this moment in my life." I declared, and this time my sister caressed my face.

"Of course, I will always be here for you, Hunter, and I hope you will get up now and take a shower because, honestly, you stink." My sister declared, and I couldn't stop myself from chuckling as I slowly got up from my bed and I could feel the excruciating pain on my head, and I realized I needed to take a bath.

When I finished taking a bath, I towel dried myself, and I wrapped the bath towel around my waist; when I walked back into the room, I was shocked that my sister had gotten rid of the bed cover, comforter, including the blanket and pillows. I didn't realize I was at the bathroom longer than necessary because she had already changed my beddings with new clean ones. 

"Wow! You are amazing, Lily. Thank you so much for making my room clean again." I said after I put on my sweat pants and a plain white t-shirt.

"I got some help; you know I couldn't do it so fast without any help. By the way, I charge your iPhone because the battery was dead, Hunter." She responded, and I smiled at her.

"Thank you, Lily," I said.

"Your welcome, big brother. Can we go to the dining room, now?" She asked, and I nodded my head, and we got out of my room and walked towards the dining hall, and I realized it was almost 2:00 p.m. when I looked at the clock on the wall, and it was time for a late lunch, and I know I was starving. I ate in silence while my sister was looking at me the entire time.

"Are you not going to eat anything?" I asked, and she shook her head while she was smiling at me.

"It is a bit late now for lunch, Hunter." She said, and I beamed at her.

And after I ate my remaining food, she handed me a pain reliever and water.

"Thank you, Lily," I said.

We sat on the sofa for a while, and I realized I needed to call mom to apologize and talk with her about some of the documents on top of my office table. 

"Lily, I need to make some calls. I need to get my phone." I said.

"Of course, my mission is done, all I want is for you to eat something, but I didn't expect I could convince you to take a bath as well." She said, and I laughed.

"The moment I get inside the guest room, I heard my phone was ringing, and when I looked at my screen, I could tell right away, it was an international call, and I wondered who could that be, and I was trying to analyze the country code, so I will know from what country the caller comes from, but my mind is blank, maybe it was because of too much alcohol I consumed for the past few days.

And when I was about to answer, the call ended, and I sighed as I realized I got so many missed calls. And my phone rang again, and I saw the same number appear on my screen as I realized the same person was calling me again, and it could be some of my business partners abroad. I cleared my throat before I answered the call.

"Hello," I answered.

"Hello, is this Mr. Hunter Divenson?" He asked, and I wondered why he asked me because Cal will only give my calling cards to clients and business partners abroad.

"Yes, and may I know who is this, please?" I asked in return.

"I am Leonardo Steve, the butler of the house of Mr. Hector Grant in Neospoli." He said, and my mouth hung open, and I suddenly felt nervous why the butler of the richest man in Neospoli was calling me. I realized maybe he wanted to buy out the Divenson Mining Corporation because Mr. Grant owns the diamond mine in Neospoli, and it was rumored most of his properties are with gold deposits.

"Mr. Steve, what can I do for you?" I asked.

"This is with regards to your wife, Madeline Brownwood.." He said, and the moment he mentioned my wife's name, I suddenly felt so weak. I could feel my heart pounding so hard against my chest since I couldn't believe he would speak about my wife at this very crucial time of our lives, and why suddenly the richest man in Neospoli wanted to know about my wife?