Chapter 77 - The Secret Room

Madeline's POV

As expected, my husband's room is spotless, and I can see the massive closet full of his clothes; and as I watch his king-size bed, I suddenly feel the pain in my heart as I remember how I miss him beside me. And I can't stop the smile that formed on my mouth when I found a picture frame on top of his night table beside his bed, it has a picture of us, and Lily took it on our wedding day. It was a candid picture during the reception when we were dancing together on the dance floor, we were both looked so happy, and the smile on my face was genuine. 

I didn't know Hunter has a copy of it, and Lily was so excited to show me the pictures she took on her DSLR when she came to visit us in the Villa during our honeymoon. How I wish I have magic so we can stay in the beach house forever.

"Wow! Your husband's room is impressive, and I know you have maids in the house, but his things are all in perfect arrangement. And this room is flawless." Gina declared as her eyes scanned the entire space of my husband.

"So, what are we going to do now?" I asked, and I can't stop the rapid beating of my heart.

"You need to relax, Madeline," Gina stated, and I know she always loves solving mysteries, and if given a chance, she wants to become a detective someday.

"We are here to look for the key to his secret room." She declared as she started to open drawer after drawer, and I remind her to be careful because I don't want my husband to realize that I came to his room. As possible, we need to keep his room tidy as it is. Gina rummaged to the cupboards, and I can't stop myself from being nervous.

"Don't worry, Madeline, Hunter will never know that we came to his room, and don't go near his bed as possible because we don't know if a strand of your hair will fall on the sheet, and you are the only one who had long curly hair, and if he finds a single hair in the bed, you will get caught," Gina added.

"But in reality, he should not be angry because you can stay here anytime you want, and you have all the right to explore the entire house because you are his wife." She said, and I know my best friend has a point, but I am not the typical wife. I was married to my husband because of my father's dying wish and my aunt's debts, and on his part, he only wants an heir from me. We were not married out of love as the usual couples do, and I should not think about it because it will only make me sad. Gina continued to search the entire room, and I can see the happiness on her entire face when she found a set of keys in the lower cabinet drawer.

"Are you ready, Madeline?" Gina asked, and I nodded because I am afraid to speak. We get out of Hunter's room after Gina arranged everything according to its original setup. I can hear the pounding of my heart as we walk to the farthest side of the house where the secret room was located.

My best friend started inserting the key into the doorknob, but no key fit to the secret room, Gina was frustrated after trying all the keys, and I can see the defeated look on Gina's face when the last key she inserted did not work as well.

"He must keep the key of this room separate from the common keys, away from anyone. Let's go back to his bedroom and find the perfect key for this room." Gina declared, and we go back to his bedroom immediately, and I am impressed with Gina's ability, she found another set of keys, and I couldn't stop myself from getting anxious. One by one, she tried again, and when the doorknob click indicating it has been opened, I felt so excited and scared at the same time.

I can see the triumphant smile on my best friend's face as she looked at me, and then she pushed the door and opened it widely.

"Holy shit!" She exclaimed, and I became more curious about what she had seen as I stayed behind her, and when I move beside Gina, I became speechless when I saw the entire room is full of woman's stuff. And it made me realized this is the place where Hunter kept the things of Rebecca. On the wall, there was a big life-size frame of Rebecca, and she wore the gown I wore during the ball. The photographer took Rebecca's picture before the pre-wedding ball event started because Rebecca looked so happy in the picture, and it made me realized no wonder Hunter couldn't forget about her. She was beautiful beyond compare.

Then, on the other side of the wall, I can see a life-size portrait of my husband and his ex. They looked perfect together, and I realized he transferred all her things here before we moved out from the Divenson mansion. 

"I think we should throw all her things, Madeline, because these are the reason why your husband can't get over with his ex." My best friend said, and I was shocked by her words.

"That is absurd, Gina, I can't do that, and I will get into trouble, and I am sure I will be the primary suspect," I replied as I sighed heavily, and my eyes surveyed all the things before my eyes.

There are so many picture frames with Hunter and Rebecca's photographs, and as I watch Rebecca's memorabilia around us, I notice my tears fall on my cheeks. I was crying because I realized I could never take her place. I was happy when I saw the picture frame on Hunter's night table having our picture into it, but as I looked at their pictures now, our picture together was nothing compared to the beautiful memories they have.

"I think it is about time to stop my illusion, Gina," I stated, and she turned around to face me.

"Why do you say that, Madeline?" She asked.

"Can you see all these things? These are the things that will remind him about Rebecca every day; no wonder he will always stay at this place compared to our room. Can you see the dresses in the closet? Most of them are still brand new, Hunter still bought her gowns, Gina, and it feels like he was still waiting for her to come home, even if she was dead already." I said as I get down on my knees since I felt so weak. I can see her books, bags, comb, hairpins, ribbons, and even her journals. I want to read her entry in her diary, but I know I don't have any right to touch her things.

"It was so painful for me to see all this, Gina, but thank you for helping. At least now, my mind was enlightened why Hunter was still calling her name during his sleep. He was still in love with his ex-fiancee.

"Maybe, Clark Divenson has something to do about all this, Madeline. He doesn't like you to become his daughter-in-law; maybe he wants to find a way to break your excellent relationship with your husband, and I can tell your father-in-law will do everything he can to ruin you. And I think you need be careful, Madeline." Gina declared.

"I don't know what to do anymore, Gina, but I am sure of one thing, it would never be easy to make Hunter forget about Rebecca, especially now that his treatment towards me changed," I said to my best friend. I can see the look of sympathy on her face as she moves closer to the dresser, and I can tell this place was well maintained, and I wonder who clean this entire room when he kept this a secret from anyone. And I realized my husband is the one who kept this place tidy. 

I know it hurts me to think that my rival is already dead, but how I wish Hunter will be fair to me. It is okay if he won't love me as long as he will find time to talk to me, and it would be enough on my part if Hunter will treat me as one of his friends, and right now, he was avoiding me all the time like I have a contagious disease that can harm his health.

My instinct was telling me to lose hope, but my heart is dictating me never to stop loving him because I am the only one who understands him. Loving Hunter hurts, and if I am going to stay away from him because of a dead woman, what kind of wife am I? If his nightmares kept him wide awake for the rest of the night, all he needs to do is tell me, and I will be there to help him every step of the way. I want to offer him help, and I also want to encourage him to tell me everything because I will listen, and most of all, I will understand without questions and doubts because that is how much I love him. 

"Maddie, it is alright to love Hunter, but I guess you need to protect your own heart too. It is about time you have to understand that it takes two to tango." Gina declared.

"Don't worry, Gina, I will find time and courage to talk with Hunter regarding our situation. I will not allow him to continue to treat me this way because I am afraid if my heart will get tired of loving him." I said, and my best friend smiles widely at me.

"That is the spirit, Maddie.." She said, and she holds my wrist and dragged me to get outside from the secret room.