Chapter 49 - Mysterious Wedding Gift

Madeline's POV

I hate myself because of how many times Hunter caught me staring at him, and I am just glad every time our eyes meet, he was looking at me with the same intensity. I want Gina to come with us, but I can tell she missed her parents. That is why she agreed when Hunter advised her to go home if she wants.

"Madeline, this is your chance to get closer with your fiance, and I know you are excited to go out with him together with Lily," Gina replied to my text before I slept last night. Hunter looks so hot driving the mansion's golf car, and I realized they have a mini-golf course at the back of their estate. I appreciate the beautiful green landscape that surrounds the entire mansion, and as we drive away, I am fascinated by how big is their estate is. I realized the Divensons are so lucky to live their life in luxury. 

They live in a big house while I grow up with no permanent address because of my mom's nature of work; until such time, she was diagnosed with cancer, and we could no longer afford to rent an apartment. And it was the time she begged my aunt to move into her house, and my aunt sank into debt because of us. Every day was a battle for me, especially when my mom's body started to deteriorate, and how I wish I already meet Hunter Divenson at that time. Maybe I could have saved my mom.

By the time we reach our destination Hunter prepared the fishing rods, together with the bucket and the baits, and I couldn't stop myself from feeling so excited because this is my first-time experience fishing. I can tell Lily has been doing this with her brother because she gets her flexible fishing rod, and she put the bait quickly on the hook, and she easily flicked the fishing rod from behind her towards the water. Hunter instructs me on how to use and put the lure on the tip of the hook, and when he stands behind me and guides my hands, I think my entire body ignites with fire. His proximity makes me feel so hot all over my frame.

He didn't leave me, and I think I can't catch a single fish because the fishes will know I am feeling so nervous the entire time he was standing near me, and I can feel the hair on my neck stands as he whispered into my ear.

"Try to steady your hand, Maddie. Are you okay?" He asked, and when I turned to look at him, my mouth brushed his cheek because I didn't expect that he moves his face closer to me, and before I can move away, Hunter captured my mouth, and it was only a quick kiss. Still, I can feel fireworks release from my body, and as he holds my waist and scooted closer to me, I think I am going to fall on the water because my knees felt so weak.

"You need to relax, Maddie." He whispered, and I can't stop myself from having goosebumps all over my skin, and I smiled, even though I felt my whole frame is trembling. And it feels so lovely to be this close with Hunter Divenson; I can't get enough of his closeness, and his masculine scent is making me crazy, and I know I am still blushing, and when he moved away from me, I can't stop myself from feeling so disappointed. He got his fishing rod and threw the tip on the water. Then, I am startled when Lily screamed as she tried to pull her rod out of the water, and her brother comes to Lily's rescue, and she squealed when she realized she caught a large fish.

"Madeline! Can you see how big the fish that I caught? You are my lucky star, I have been fishing with Hunter, but this is the first time I get a large fish that I couldn't even lift my fishing rod." She said with excitement on her face, and I am smiling at her. She looks so beautiful right now.

"Wow, I felt honored, Lily. I wish I can also get some fish. I don't care if it is not big as long as I will experience it too, " I didn't finish my sentence because I feel my rod moves, and I think I already got one, and when I haul my rod, I got a medium-sized fish, and I felt so happy.

"Lily, look! I got my first fish!" I yelled with excitement, and Hunter moved to my side quickly and helped me removed the fish from the hook and put it on the bucket. And I can't stop myself from grinning from ear to ear.

"Have you never experienced fishing, Madeline?" Lily asked me, and I shook my head.

"This is my first time; you know I don't have time to enjoy this kind of activity, Lily, and thank you for inviting me to go fishing with you and Hunter," I replied, and she smiled at me.

"Well, you will become Hunter's wife soon, and this will become our pastime, and you know we don't need Hunter to come with us next time. We can ask one of the drivers to bring us here anytime." He declared, and I looked at her and smiled.

"That would be lovely, Lily, and I can't wait to spend more time with you," I replied, and we both looked at Hunter when he cleared his throat and looked at us like he was hurt.

"That is not cool, Lily. I should come with you every time you come here, even though this lake is on our property, we do not know if there are bad people around here. So, it would help if you informed me every time you plan to go fishing, my dear sister." Hunter declared.

"Okay, besides, I want you to come with us anyway." She said happily.

I couldn't believe we caught so many fish, and we go to the nearby tree. And Hunter gets the picnic blanket, and Lily placed it on the ground while I get the basket with food. And he returned to the car to get the cooler. Then he started making fire, and I am impressed that he knew how to do things like this even though he grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth. I can tell Lily is so happy as she arranged the food at the center of the blanket, and this is my first time having a picnic. 

Hunter started grilling the fish, and it smells so good that I heard my stomach growled when I saw him served the newly cooked fish. We started eating our lunch, and I realized the freshly caught fish is tastier than the fish you can buy in the market.

"Wow, this is so tasty, Hunter!" The little girl said.

"Yes, this is so yummy," I added as I eat my share. We also have mixed vegetables and fresh fruits, salad, sandwiches and bread, and junk food for our snacks. After eating lunch, we put away the food into the basket, and Lily presented her board games, and we started playing until she gets bored. And she lay on the blanket while she put her head on my lap, and Hunter leaned his body on the tree trunk while my back is on his muscular body, and it feels so peaceful, and I can't stop myself from feeling so sleepy because of the gentle breeze that touches my skin.

Lily fell asleep soundly, and I can't stop myself from caressing her head while she sleeps. And I felt Hunter's arms around my waist, and I don't want to go back to the mansion yet because I want to enjoy my picnic experience for the first time. I only believe this scenario happens only on television, but right now that this is happening to me, it feels surreal.

I fell asleep, and when I open my eyes, I saw Hunter staring at me, and my head was on his lap; and I wonder how I changed my position, but I felt so conscious because of Hunter's intense gaze. The sun was setting on the horizon when we made our way back to the mansion, and I felt so happy as I said goodbye to Lily the moment we arrived at the house, and she told me she would go to her room to have some rest. Hunter sends me to my room, and he kissed my forehead before he left going to his room.

When I get inside my room, I saw a large gift beautifully wrapped in a silver wrapper, and I wonder who left this gift for me. And when I get closer, there is a note on top of the present, and it says"

"Congratulations, and please wear this on the night of your wedding day, and don't say thank you because it is our tradition." I find the note so odd, but I ignore it because I felt so overjoyed with happiness. 

I can't stop my curiosity, so I open the package, and I am shocked to see a beautiful light blue Cinderella inspired gown and glass shoes, and I smiled as I think of Hunter's thoughtfulness. Then I noticed a jewelry box, and when I open it, it was a beautiful necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. 

The days passed in a blur, and my wedding gown is ready. And I couldn't believe tomorrow I will be marrying Hunter, and I realized his brother is now back in the house, but I didn't let Parker's presence ruin the happiness that I feel. I am excited for tonight because it is a tradition of the Divenson family to have a ball before the wedding day of the eldest son. Hunter asked me to choose any dress from my closet, but I remember the dress I received from him, and I realized tonight I would thank him for his gift even though it says I should never say thank you.

The guests started to arrive, and Gina helped me with my hair and make-up. I haven't seen Hunter the entire day. Still, he texted me sweet nothings, and I felt so excited to see him tonight because the ball is for us, it is a social event even though the number of guests on our wedding day is limited, but the visitors of the pre-wedding ball are so numerous.

The ball started, and when I hear the emcee called Hunter's name, I can't stop my heart from beating so fast. When she calls my name, and I descended the grand staircase with a beautiful smile on my face, and I am stunned to see the horrified looked of Hunter's family, especially his mom, while I saw Charlotte's sinister smiles on her face, and I realized something is off.. When I looked at Hunter at the bottom of the staircase, he was staring at me with so much anger on his face, and before I can reach him, he walked out of the party in a hurry, and I am left so hurt and confused.