Loving Madeline

Hunter's POV

"Hunter! How is she?" I could hear Gina's voice inside Madeline's body, and I realized the woman I was seeing was my wife's best friend and not my wife.

"What is going on, Gina?" I asked, confused while I was looking at her, and it dawned on me she was the woman Calixto had a word with; at the church during my brother's funeral.

No wonder Cal said she was fake and insisted she wasn't Maddie since she was shorter than my wife. She had Maddie's face, but the way she moved and her mannerism was very different.

I knew my wife so well, but I could tell that those who were not close with Madeline would really think Gina was my wife. I could see the tears trickling down her face, and she didn't even bother to wipe them as she looked at me and waited for my reply.

"It was a long story, but I promise to tell your everything after you will tell me about her condition," Gina responded.

Jack was looking at us since his entire family joined my family in the waiting room as we waited for the operation to be over, Lily was crying nonstop, and it took me a long time to soothe her.

I was angry and confused that it happened, but I felt responsible and useless at the moment. And I know there is a feeling I was trying to fight back, and that is losing my wife.

"We don't have any update yet, but we are all hoping and praying for the best. Do you know what I am so afraid of, Gina?" I asked, and she was looking at me with the same fear I was feeling.

"I don't know how to say it, but right now, I am so scared just thinking about losing your best friend because, you know, Maddie means the whole world to me," I added.

"I am sorry, Hunter, I know I should have told her not to go on with this stupid plan, but you know your wife; she can be hard-headed sometimes, especially if it involves her loved ones," Gina replied.

"Because of her selflessness, she is willing to offer even her own life without knowing the after-effects of what she had done to her loved ones, especially to you, her husband." She added.

"You know how much your life loves you, Hunter, but I could say that she loves you more, and that is why she did it because she wanted to stop your father from hurting you, and she was so scared that something would happen to your son." Maddie's best friend continued.

I was looking at Gina with my mouth hung open as she told me everything, and I was clenching my fists on my sides when I learned Hector Grant was the one who permitted Madeline to come home to Archois.

"How could Hector be so reckless, and right now, I didn't even know how to tell him what had happened," I said while I tried not to show my anger.

"You can blame me too; not only her grandfather, because I am her best friend, and I should be the one to stop her, and what I did was unforgivable, and I will never forgive myself if something happens to Madeline," Gina replied as I could see tears fall on her face. My face softened as I looked at her.

"You don't need to blame yourself, Gina; I know Maddie doesn't want you to feel guilty because it was her idea, and I am sure if you are opposed to her plans; she will find another way to come home and attend Parker and Rebecca's funeral," I responded.

"I guess the same thing will happen, and I am angry with my father that he didn't stop, even for a while, to give my brother the respect he deserved," I added.

"I hated myself that even if I knew he was the mastermind of Parker's death, I still wanted to give him a chance to change his heart," I added.

"My wife was in the operating room fighting for her life because of him, yet I still wanted him to live; I don't want my father to die after what he had done to wreck our family." I continued, and Gina smiled at me while her tears fell on her cheeks.

"You are so like, Maddie, and I am sure after all this, she will still tell me that we should all forgive your dad. You both have good hearts and souls, you deserve to be happy, and I don't know why things like this keep happening in your life." Gina declared.

"I don't care what kind of trials and tests we are going to face as long as we are together, Gina. All I ask from you right now is to pray for her that she will recover and she will survive." I responded.

"I don't know what I will become if something happens to your best friend; I love her so much. I couldn't imagine my life living without her." I added, and I could no longer stop my tears from trickling down my face.

"Hunter, you don't need to tell me how much you love her because I know and she feels the same way, but Maddie loves you more than anything in this world, and you don't need to ask me to pray for my best friend because you know I am willing to give up my own life just for her," Gina responded.

"I am willing to do anything just to save Madeline, and if I could only do something right now that could save her from dying; I would do it in a heartbeat, and I hate that I was one of the reasons she was in there, and I am sure I will forever have this burden in my heart." She added.

"Hey, Gina, please, stop blaming yourself. My wife will not be happy if she learns you blame yourself, knowing she initiated that plan." I said as I took her in my arms, and Gina cried harder, and I let her share my agony as we hugged each other.

"You better remove whatever they put on your face so you will look like Gina again; I am sure your boyfriend is now so worried about you," I said after I released her from my embrace.

"Okay, talking to you made me feel better," Gina said.

"Yeah, I feel the same, Gina, thank you for loving my wife," I said.

"I should be the one who should be saying that; thank you for loving my best friend." She said in more than a whisper.

"I will change my face and clothes; I felt guilty for borrowing your wife's beautiful face; please, keep me posted if ever you hear any news." She replied, and I felt glad she stopped crying, but I could see the evidence of her outburst just by watching her swollen eyes.

"Of course, I will let you know if we have an update with regards to the operation, don't worry, she will make it, Gina, my wife, is a fighter and a strong woman, and I don't think she will give up on us." I declared, and she gave me one of her sweetest smiles.

"I know," she whispered before she turned her heels and walked out of the waiting area.

"Are you okay, son?" My mom asked after I sat beside her, and I shook my head.

"I am sorry, Hunter; I should have done something before things like this could happen." My mom said as she took my hand.

"Mom, it wasn't your fault," I replied.

"It was; if I didn't give him enough power, maybe he didn't have become so obsessed with my wealth, but I don't know why he hated your wife so much." My mom said.

"I was shocked at what happened, but when I saw your father fall into the ground and realized he saved Maddie from another bullet, I hate to admit, all my anger towards your father vanished, and I felt so happy that after all, there is still some goodness left of him even if he was the reason why Madeline got shot." My mother added.

"It made me realize it wasn't your father's plan to kill Maddie, and he was too hurt and broken to harm Madeline." My mom continued, and I looked at her with confusion on my face.

"What do you mean, mom?" I asked.

"Did you hear what he said before he lost consciousness?" My mom asked, and I shook my head.

"I didn't, I was focused on my wife that I didn't hear anything except he was saying sorry, but I felt too horrified watching my wife with blood on her hands to care about dad," I confessed.

"Well, he said he was sorry, and Clark kept asking Charlotte why?" My mom said.

"Charlotte?" I asked, and she nodded her head.

"Does it mean.." I didn't dare to say it aloud, knowing it would break our hearts more.

"Yeah, your sister ordered your father's men to kill your wife, and it wasn't your dad." My mom said, and I leaned on my seat, feeling so lost for words on what to say.

"I know how you feel towards Charlotte, Hunter, but I just want to remind you she will always be your sister," my mother added. Before I could answer, my mom, the doctor who led the operation, came inside the waiting room, and my mom and I got up quickly and met him halfway.

He was my mom's friend, and I could tell by the looked on his face that he was bringing bad news.

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