Madeline's POV
"Hey, are you alright? Why do you look so pale? Do you visit your doctor regularly, Madeline?" Gina asked as I watched the ocean before us, and it feels like I did not see the view in front of me as I felt the trembling of my knees, and I could feel the rapid beating of my heart.
"Of course, Hunter accompanied me because he is very excited, and I feel the same way too," I said as I looked at her, and I know Gina can tell right away if I am in trouble.
"Are you having a marital problem?" She asked as she moved closer to me.
"We have been best friends for so many years, Madeline, that is why you can never hide your true emotions from me, I will know right away if something is bothering you, and base on your expression that you were trying to hid by your fake smile, you are having a massive problem right now." She declared, and I can never hide anything from her.
I slowly opened my phone, and I opened the message, and I handed my phone to Gina, and her eyes widened after she read the news. And my best friend put her hand on her mouth to cover her reaction, and I looked around us because I was so afraid my husband would join us at any moment.
"Madeline, you can't be a hero this time, you are pregnant, and I think it is best if you will tell your husband about it, " She said.
"No, you are not even allowed to see the message, Gina. No one should know about it. I love Lily, she is more than a sister to me, and you know that." I said as I tried to calm my nerves.
"Of course, I know, Madeline, because I feel the same way too." She replied.
"And what on earth are you planning to do now that Hunter's bodyguard surrounds you." She declared, and I was thinking the same thing.
"You are the only one I can trust, Gina, and I know you will help me find a way to save Lily," I said, and her face fell.
"Madeline, I am not a policewoman; besides, we don't know who we are dealing with, and I am sure Hunter will know that something is off because he was waiting for her sister to come," Gina said and I can tell she has a point.
"But the time is running, Gina." I replied.
"We still have a lot of time, Madeline, that person must be playing tricks with you; besides, he said, I assume he was a man; you need to come and see him within today," Gina replied, and even before I can answer her, my phone vibrated again, and this time I let Gina read the message for me.
"It seems he was reading your mind right now, and he said you only have until midnight. It means we still have time to think about it, don't worry too much, Lily will be fine. You are pregnant, Madeline; you can't risk your pregnancy, and we can figure this out." She said, and I couldn't believe how calm she was right now, and I knew I should do the same, or else my husband would know what was going on.
"I think we should get back to the house now, Maddie," Gina said as she pulled me up with her, and I didn't have a choice but to walk with her. The moment we get inside the house, Parker and Rebecca are already talking with Hunter in the living room, and I can see the frown on Gina's face as she looks at Rebecca with contempt. I said hi to them while I dragged my best friend to the guest room she currently occupied.
"What is she doing here, Madeline?" She asked me, and I could see the anger on her face.
"Relax, Gina, they came here yesterday to make peace with us, and Parker is Hunter's brother, and Rebecca is now his fiancee, and whether we like it or not, she will be part of the family soon." I said.
"Just like that? After what have they done to you? Please wake up, Madeline; they already tricked you. How can you trust them? That is why they will take advantage of you because you are too good and kind to them." She said.
"I understand your concern, Gina, and thank you for always taking good care of me, but I still believe everyone deserves a second chance in life; besides, we can't move on with our lives if we continue to hold grudges and animosity towards the person who caused us sufferings and forgiveness is the key to having a happy life," I said to her, and her face softened.
"I am sorry, I know, Madeline, but I just can't believe you forgive them that easily when I know how much you suffer because of them." She responded.
"I know, but I understood them; they were also victims of cruelty and greediness, Gina. Parker almost hurt me because of his father while Rebecca did it because of Charlotte, and we are not in the position to judge them, right?" I asked, and she nodded her head.
"We need to go back in there and join them. We have a big problem that we need to solve, and I don't think hating Rebecca and Parker would help, and I think maybe Parker could help us." I declared.
"You said no one should know about it. Are you sure about that?" My best friend declared, and I realized the warning of the text message.
"Yeah, you are right; I can't tell him either," I said, and we walked back to the living room, and we heard my husband's laughter reverberated the entire room, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling as I realized Hunter was having a good conversation with his brother.
"Wow! So, the cold CEO knows how to laugh after all, " Gina said, and I nudged her.
"Hey, that is my husband, he may look cold, but he always makes me feel warm, Gina," I said, and my best friend giggled.
"Well, I don't care if my future husband will look colder than Hunter as long as he is handsome and loaded like him." He declared, and it was my turn to laugh, and I shook my head.
The moment my husband saw us coming, he gazed at me, and he gave me his signature smile that will always make me feel so weak. And then he motioned me to sit beside him while Gina took the loveseat, and she is looking at us with a smile on her face as my husband draped his arm around my shoulder.
"Lily called, " He said, and I suddenly felt alarmed, and I tried my best to look calm since I didn't want him to know about the text messages that I received.
"And where is she?" I asked, pretending to be excited.
"Lily said she couldn't come because she had forgotten to make a report due on Monday, and you know our little sister, she wants everything to be perfect. Well, I can't blame her. She is an honor student, and I am a proud brother." He said, and my suspicion worsens, and I could tell Lily was really in trouble; there is no way she will not come here to the Villa because she can make her report while she is here.
"Hey, are you okay, my sweet?" Hunter whispered in my ear when I stared into space. I couldn't believe that this was happening to Lily. I wanted Hunter to know about it, but I worried they would do something to Lily.
"Nothing, I am fine. I couldn't believe I would feel sleepy at this hour." I lied, and he smiled and caressed my face.
"You must take a rest, and I will wake you up when Lunch is ready, " He said, and I beamed at my husband, and then I looked at Parker and Rebecca, and I smiled at them as well.
"You are staying for the night, right?" I asked them, and they both nodded.
"Okay, that is lovely. I am sorry if I suddenly feel like this. I know the baby is making me so dizzy, and I want to take a nap. I will leave you with Hunter." I said, and they both smiled at me.
"I will take you to our room, " My husband offered, and I smiled sweetly at him.
"No need, my dear husband, my best friend is here, and she will take good care of me," I said as I smiled at Gina. I am feining my dizziness because I want to be alone with my best friend.
"Sure!" She responded, and she got up from her seat immediately.
"Okay then, have a nice sleep, Maddie, " He said, and he kissed me on the lips before he put his hands on my waist, and he hauled me from my seat, and Gina walked with me to our room, and after I close the door, I slowly walked to our bed, and I lay my body.
"You are not faking? Are you not feeling well, Madeline?" She asked, and I laughed.
"I am fine, and I don't want my husband to suspect that something is going on. At least if ever he will get inside, I will be lying here in our bed, and I can pretend I am sleeping while you go there on the sofa and read some magazines." I said to Gina, and she walked to the sofa and picked up a magazine, and I smiled when she started flipping the pages.
"I know you are brave, and you are not also afraid to do anything, Gina, but I don't want something to happen to you. But I need your help on this one." I said, and she stopped reading the magazine, and she looked at me.
"I know, and do you think I will let you go alone?" She asked, and I smiled. I know I can trust Gina, but I will not put her life in danger because of me. I will make sure we can take Lily safely, and I know they only want me. I don't know how I will help Lily, but I am the only one who can help her because they only wish for me. I can't say if Clark is behind all this because I know even if he is wicked, he still cares about her little girl, and Charlotte can't hurt Lily because she is her sister, the only person who can do this is Kaye.. And I felt so cold as I remembered her words when we met at the grocery store.