Chapter 22 - Searching For Madeline

Hunter's POV

I admit that I was affected by Maddie's disappearance, and I wonder where she is right now. I didn't return to the dining hall, but I asked Cerila to help me search the entire mansion. I have check all parts of our house, but she is nowhere to find, and I hate that I couldn't find her at all. I return to the second floor of our home, and I immediately go to Lily's room, for I am sure she finished eating breakfast by now.

"Where is Madeline, Lily?" I asked my sister the moment she opens her door.

"I should be the one to ask you that question, Hunter." She replied, and I felt disappointed that she is not helping me at all.

"Madeline is your fiancee, Hunter, but you hurt her feelings last night, and I guess that is the reason why she ran away. You didn't even bother to say hi to her because you were so busy talking with Kaye. How could you ignore your fiancee in front of your entire family? I understand how it made her feel. She was hurt and embarrassed." My sister replied, and her words took me off guard.

"I know what I have done, Lily, but please tell me where she is." I begged her.

"I am sorry, Hunter, I don't have any idea where to find her, I was close to her, but she also knew I am close to you, so I am sure it was the main reason why she left without saying goodbye because she was afraid if I will tell you where she will go." Lily replied, and she is looking at me seriously.

"Well, it means I need to search the entire Archois City to see her again." I declared.

"Please find her, Hunter, and I miss her already." She replied.

"Don't worry, Lily; I will do anything I can to find her. Madeline is my fiancee, and she is going to marry me whatever happens, and I will bring her back here to our estate and make her my wife." I said.

"You better leave now, Hunter, if you will look for her. Please don't waste your time, but I am sure you will only ask Calixto to search for Maddie because you will never do it on your own." Lily declared.

"You know how busy I am every day, Lily, and you know Calixto is very reliable, and you don't need to worry because I am confident Cal will bring her back." I said, and I stroke her hair, and she looked at me and smiled. And I am glad my sister is no longer upset with me.

I left the mansion with a heavy heart because I couldn't believe that Madeline left the estate. I called Calixto, but he didn't pick up his phone. I drive going to the city because I need to see Calixto. He looked so surprised when he saw me at his front door.

"Hunter? I mean, Mr. Divenson, what are you doing here in my house?" He asked in disbelief.

"Madeline is gone." I said, and his eyes widened.

"What? What have you done?" He asked me with confusion on his face.

"Don't you know that your question is implying I have done something to her? And why do you think that way?" I asked, and I can't hold my irritation.

"Well, I know your parents and siblings don't like her except your sister, Lily. I can tell she loves and adores Madeline." Cal said.

"I think she left because of Kaye, and I need you to find her, Cal." I pleaded with him.

"I am sure Madeline is not at her aunt's house because we both know she is clever, and I wonder what happen why she suddenly left you. I know you are not telling me the entire truth." Calixto said, and I give him a hard stare.

"Okay, I ignore her last night during dinner because I was so busy talking with Kaye, and I didn't expect Maddie will run away. It was because you told me she likes me. That is why I try to avoid her because I don't want her to fall for me, Cal."

"Hunter, your fiancee, is falling for you, and now you are afraid? Why is that? Are you planning to discard her after she gives you an heir?" He asked.

"That is the plan, Cal, and you can't do anything about it because I have to do it. That is why I don't want her to get attached to me." I replied.

"Do you know that you are asking her to do an impossible thing, Hunter? It is difficult for her to stop herself from falling for you because you know your allure, women will find it hard to resist your charm, so if you don't want her to be in love with you, maybe you can just let her go. Perhaps you can consider the debts of her aunt as one of your charitable works." Calixto declared, and I suddenly flared up.

"I can't do that, Cal, I only want Madeline Brownwood to be the mother of my child, so I want you to look for her, and that is an order, Calixto." I said in, and he nodded his head.

"Okay, you don't need to get angry with me, Hunter. Don't worry, and I will look for her." He said.

"Thank you, Cal. I am sorry, I know it is your day off, but I am shocked that she suddenly disappeared, and I want you to find Maddie at the soonest possible time because I need to make her my wife." I said, and I can tell Cal is doubtful about my intentions of marrying Madeline.

I became frustrated because Calixto failed to find Madeline for two days, and I don't have a choice but to intervene with his search. I waited for Gina to finish her shift part-time server at the restaurant. I made a reservation so I can have an excuse to talk with her. I specifically requested her to serve my meal, and I can look at the surprised look on her face when she found me sitting on the dining chair. But she quickly recovered from her shock, and she served my food with confidence and a smile on her face.

"Good evening, Mr. Divenson. Please enjoy your meal." Gina said.

"Gina, I know your shift will end in two hours. I hope you can give me a little of your time since I need to have a word with you." I said, smiling at her, and I can tell that I made her blush, and Calixto was right. I have the same effect on women. Sometimes I like it, but most of the time, I wish women will stop ogling me from time to time.

"Sure, but I think you don't need to wait for me for two hours, and I know the reason why you are here. If you are looking for Madeline, I am sorry because I don't know where she is right now. I have to be honest with you. She came to me on the day she ran away from the Divenson mansion, but we only met briefly, and she has no definite destination. That is why I am so worried about her." Gina said, and I can tell she is telling me the truth.

"I don't want my best friend to leave because we both know she has nowhere to go. Her only remaining relatives are her aunt and the children of her aunt. She is desperate to leave Archois City, and I asked her to stay with me, but she was so afraid if you will find her. She is so determined to flee because she doesn't want to see you anymore. I know I don't exactly know what is going on with you and with my best friend, but it seems Madeline is hurt. That is why she left." Gina said, and I hate myself for making Madeline run away.

"I was happy when she told me she is getting married to you, Mr. Divenson because it made me realized you would change her life. She had a hard life growing up, and when her mother was diagnosed with cancer, her life became more challenging. I want to help her in any way I can, but my income will never be enough to help her pay her bills and her mother's.medication, and by the time her mother died, her aunt is too deep in debt." Gina added.

"I know that you are the only person who could help her, but when I saw her after she ran away from your home, I realized she was in deep pain. I don't know what happens with her, but I am sure about Madeline wants to leave her life behind, and she is excited to face her new life alone. She doesn't have direction, but she is excited to take a new path and willing to embrace what the future may bring." Gina declared.

"Thank you, Gina," I said, and I feel more worried about Madeline. Gina was right, she has no phone number, and I don't know where to begin my search for Madeline. Cal has a point I could have Madeline Brownwood go, but I can never do that because she is the only woman who made me feel this way after Rebecca. I never meet a woman who keeps me wide awake at night, but after meeting and kissing her for the first time, I realized it had been a long time that I feel that way, excited and happy, that I want to spend more time with her.

But because of my past, I tried my very best to stop my attraction towards her. And when I found out that Madeline disappeared, I felt so empty, and I am desperate to see her lovely face again. And now I couldn't believe even her best friend doesn't know her whereabouts.. I know I need to use my influence and money to discover the exact location of Madeline.