Chapter 109 - I Will Never Give Up

Madeline's POV

"Where do you want to eat, Madeline?" Gina asked me when we entered the city center, I quickly turned my head to her, and I shrugged my shoulders.

"I don't have the appetite to eat. All I want to do is lay in my bed. But I don't want to go home because I don't want to see Hunter. I don't know what to do right now, Gina. And I think it is a good idea if I will not come home, and I better stay away from them so they can have peace." I said, and I released a heavy sigh.

"And what will happen to you? You will be living your life in misery and spend the rest of your life asking what could have happened if you stay? You are my best friend, Maddie, but this time I will contradict your decision. You have to go home to your husband, and I know it will never be easy on your part. But, you have to remember you decided to inform Hunter about his ex-girlfriend being alive. You also know that Hunter is having a hard time right now, so the best thing you can do is be there for him, don't leave him, Madeline; he needs you this time." My best friend declared as she looked at me sideways before she returned her focus on the road.

"I know, and I don't think the decision that I made was the right decision at all, but deep inside me, I know it is the most sensible thing to do. You know me, Gina, even though I live my life lacking parental love because I became an orphan at an early age when mom left me, and I didn't get the chance to know my father. I know I am poor financially and poor in terms of a family because I only have my aunt, and you, and the Morigans. But I want to live a dignified and carefree life, and I don't want to hurt anyone." I declared.

"I know, and I understand what you mean, Madeline, but you are not hurting Rebecca intentionally because you are Hunter's legal wife. If you are going to think about it, you have all the right to be with Hunter because you are now married to each other, and right now, leaving Hunter is not an option." She replied.

"And I know the coming days will be hard for both of you, but you need to be strong, Maddie, for the sake of your love for your husband. Please don't throw it away, Madeline. What do you have is wonderful. He loves you, and that is what matters the most. You might have seen him kiss her, but I don't think it means he loves you less. You don't know. Maybe it was just because he thought she died, and you can't deny that he missed her." Gina added, and I can't disagree with her opinion on this matter.

"Can we eat at Jack's restaurant?" She asked.

"No, please don't bring me to Jack's place because I am sure Hunter will go there. He knows how much I love spending time at the restaurant of Jack. Please bring me somewhere else." I answered quickly, and she pouted her lips, and I know I disappoint her because she wants to see the handsome chef.

"Gina, don't worry, one of these days I will bring you to his restaurant, not now. I don't want Jack's family to know that something is wrong with my relationship with my husband." I said, and she smiled.

"Why are you smiling? I thought you hate me that I don't want to go to Jack's place." I declared.

"I am happy that you still care about your relationship with Hunter, and it means you still want to fight because you don't want others to know that your relationship is shaky right now. But don't worry, Maddie, everything will be all right. I know when this is all over, you will find the happiness that you have been looking for, and I am sure absolute joy awaits you because you deserve to be happy after what you have been through all your life. You have a good heart and soul, so I don't think you are going to spend the rest of your life in pain and agony." Gina said, and I looked at her face, and I can't stop myself from smiling at her even though I felt like crying again.

"You are strong, and I don't think there is no test that you cannot surpass. I am asking sorry that after we eat, I am going to drive you home whether you like it or not. I care about you, Maddie, and right now that your mind is in chaos, I need to intervene, and I know even though you feel like you are dying inside, once you see Hunter, you will feel better even though deep inside you are worried about what will happen with you two now that Rebecca came into the picture." She added, and I lean my body at the backrest of the car seat as I watch the busy metropolis around us.

"Yeah, you are right, Gina; I need to come home, but I am more afraid to face Hunter now because I hate seeing him in pain, and I know my presence in his life will make him more confused. Can we go somewhere else after we eat? I want to clear my head maybe we can listen to a band, or we can do something to clear my head, you know me I don't have a chance to chill at night, or to have a nightlife since I have been busy working all my life. Then I married Hunter Divenson, and I don't have any regrets marrying him, but right now, I wish he never finds me when I run away from him before we get married." I said as I look back on the day I left the Divenson mansion, and I suddenly miss Lily, and I realized I have to see her because I know she can make me feel better.

"Sure, I have been waiting for this day to come that you will be the one asking me that we will have nightlife. I have been bugging you all these years to enjoy your life once in a while, but I don't remember you listening to me. And I understand because you wanted to help your aunt pay off your debts, and I am sure if Hunter didn't come into your life, you are still living your life like you are a machine. You keep on working during holidays and school breaks, and it pained me. I am so thankful that you meet him." Gina said, and I can't stop myself from feeling so sad as I remember Hunter's handsome face.

"And I feel your pain Madeline, and I also hate the world right now that you are experiencing this kind of suffering, but I guess you need to undergo this kind of dilemma to test your strength and faith and to make you stronger. And don't worry, everything will pass." She added, and I can see her favorite Mexican restaurant near us.

"Yeah, you could be right, Gina, but I hate that this is too much trial for me," I responded, and we fell silent as Gina parked the car. We get out and get inside the restaurant, and she ordered Pork Chile Verde, Easy Stuffed Poblanos, Chicken Soft Tacos. And for our dessert, she ordered Creamy Caramel Flan. Even though I don't have the appetite to eat, the moment I see the food in front of me, I suddenly feel hungry, and I realized I am starving. We eat in silence, and after having dinner, she brings me to the nearest karaoke bar.

"Seriously?" I asked her after we get inside our room, and she cocked her head at me, and then she chose her music on the screen.

"You want to listen to some music, then I will sing just for you, Madeline. We don't need to go somewhere else to have some fun. You can listen to me sing my favorite songs, and your favorites tell me your songs, and I will key in the numbers, or you can sit there and fall asleep because I don't care." She said, and I shook my head and sat down on the leather sofa. And I can't stop myself from smiling the moment she started singing. 

I admit Gina has a lovely voice, and I always want to listen to her every time she will sing a song for me. The moment she gave me the microphone, I hesitated at first, but after her three songs, I stood up, and I sing my heart out. It feels so good to pour out all my emotions through the songs that I sing, and I felt so glad she brought me here. And after one hour, I asked her to extend one more hour until our one hour turned to three hours. And we had fun singing together, and we clapped and cheered for each other, and I know I don't have a good voice like my best friend, but I can tell I know how to sing.

"Thank you, Gina. I don't know what to do without you in my life." I said the moment we get inside her car, and she looked at me with a broad smile on her face before she starts her car.

"Madeline, I want to see you happy, and it is my pleasure to be with you today. Seeing you smile warms my heart, and makes me feel happy as well, knowing that you feel better. And most of all, we are best friends, and that what best friends do for each other." She replied and drove away from the karaoke bar going to our home. 

"Good luck, Maddie. Please don't give up." She said after I climbed out of her car, and I looked at my best friend over the opened window, and I give her my sweetest smile.

"Don't worry, I will hold on, and even though this adversity that I am facing right now will shatter my heart into million pieces, I will never give up," I said, feeling so confident that everything will be alright. I can see the happiness on my best friend's face as she drives away from me. And I take my steps to go inside our house, and I stopped in my tracks when I found Hunter striding towards me.. I can feel the racing of my heart, and I can't stop myself looking at his handsome face, and his intense gaze made my knees felt so weak, and I wish he will kiss me tonight to erase all the uncertainties that I felt.