Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Since today was Madison and Dylan's last stay in the suburbs, Madison felt slightly down. The two would have to return to Manila tomorrow at noon. Madison was not sure when she would have the chance to come back again.

So, they decided to make the most out of it by going to the lake and having lunch there. Madison wanted to spend some time with her family today before she had to leave again. Now, as she gazed at Ruth preparing the food on the table and her siblings' joy as they heartily played with Dylan, she felt highly contented and blissful.

Since her heart started beating abnormally for Dylan, Ruth didn't let Madison get too close to him lest her daughter would be hurt in the end.

"Join them too, Honey," Ruth suggested.

Madison only smiled at her and replied as she sliced the watermelon, "Maybe later, Mom. I'll just help you here first."

"Don't worry about me, Honey. I can handle it here. You won't know when you will be back again, so why not make the most out of it with your sisters while you're here," Mother gently said and didn't wait for Madison's reply before she took the knife from Madison's hand and continued what Madison was doing.

Since her mother shooed her, Madison didn't have a choice but go to where Dylan and her sisters were. Then, she sat comfortably on the rock and dipped her foot in the water. Madison heaved a sigh. The tiredness she felt was washed away as the coolness of the lake water enveloped her feet. Unexpectedly, Madison was caught off guard when someone behind her decided to splash water on her, making her shriek from shock and coldness.

"Waaah! It's cold!" Madison shouted and was about to get up when she suddenly slipped.

"Madds!" her sisters exclaimed.

"Ouch, it hurts," Madison pitifully said as she rubbed her butt.

"Are you okay, Madds?" Penelope asked worriedly.

Madison glared at her and sarcastically asked, "What do you think? It wouldn't hurt if I fell that high?"

Lily remorsefully looked at her and murmured, "I'm sorry, Madds. I didn't know you would be startled and accidentally slip." Just by looking at her, Madison could tell how guilty she was, so she just ruffled Lily's hair.

Madison smiled and said, "It's okay, Lily. It's also my fault because I'm not careful." Hearing this, Lily smiled, relieved that her sister didn't blame her. Madison was about to speak when Dylan suddenly appeared, looking so worried.

He asked, "Madison, are you okay? Where did you get hurt? "Then, he carefully checked my body, trying to find if she had any wounds or bruises on her body. Seeing him acting like this, Madison couldn't help but smile.

"Relax, Mr. Carter. It's not serious, and I'm not that fragile!" Madison jokingly said. Even though it hurts, Madison didn't want them to waste their time worrying about her. However, Dylan didn't believe her as he intensely looked at her for a while.

"Are you sure?" Dylan asked. He stood in front of Madison with his body half-submerged in the water, trapping her with both hands on the large rock she was sitting on.

Madison smiled and nodded before suggesting, "Let's swim, Mr. Carter." For now, she would endure the pain in her buttocks and hips. All that mattered now was enjoying and having fun with them.

When Dylan held out his hand for her, Madison immediately accepted it. But because she didn't control her jump, she accidentally landed on Dylan's body, feeling his pectoral muscles' firmness. Then, Madison wondered, 'It was even harder than the rock which I landed earlier.' However, when she realized her current position, she immediately blushed and pulled her hand.

She inwardly exclaimed, 'You're embarrassing, Madison!' Then, she swallowed and awkwardly stuttered, "M-Mr. Carter, could you please let me go?" Witnessing her embarrassment, Dylan amusedly laughed before he let her go. Madison angrily thought, 'How could this man laugh at me. Is he crazy?!'

"You look lovely when you blush, Madison," Dylan whispered, smiling and even pinching her cheeks which made her blush even more. Flustered, Madison shyly averted her eyes and saw how her sisters were giggling and looking at her meaningfully. The three were staring at Madison with their bright eyes while suggestively raising their eyebrows and showing her a finger heart, which made her heart skip a beat.

After recovering her senses, Madison shamelessly said to hide her uneasiness, "Mr. Carter, you don't have to mention it. I've known that for a long time." Hearing that, Dylan laughed and playfully splashed water on her face.

Despite the inexplicable emotions inside her, Madison also splashed water on Dylan and tried to escape as hard as possible. But since she was still in the water, Madison didn't run that far when her three sisters decided to gang up against her, causing her to be cornered.

Madison giggled and tried so hard to escape the water splashes. Then, she yelled, "Mom! Please help me. They are bullying me."

Ruth helplessly shook her head as she looked at their antics. She answered, "You can do it, Honey. I'm sorry, but I'm unable to help you." Madison glanced at her mother and saw the happiness in the latter eyes, making her happy too.

After that, Madison laughingly asked, "Mr. Carter, why don't you help me defeat them instead?" Dylan looked at her mischievous smile and chuckled.

He said, "Then, quickly splash them some water so you can get your revenge." With that, Madison and Dylan started to attack the three.

Being splashed on her face, Penelope laughed before shouting, "Madds, you are cheating. You have a powerful ally!"

Lily was preparing to attack as she said, "Yes indeed! But don't be afraid, Penelope. It is three against two. Ready?"

The three started running as Cassie shouted, "Attack!" and came closer to where Dylan and Madison were.

When Madison saw them, she panicked and said, "Sir Carter, run! They're already here."

Seeing how they struggled to escape, Penelope naughtily chuckled, "Madds, where are you going?!"

Cornered, Dylan and Madison had to stop for a moment and endure the splashes of water coming their way. As Madison tried her best to evade her sisters' attacks, she hid her face in Dylan's bare chest while laughing. When the latter embraced her with his arm, Madison looked up and saw his handsome face near hers as he splashed back the water on her sisters.

Madison froze when she suddenly felt her heart beating fast, just like before. She wondered, 'If I like him. What should I do?'

Dylan noticed how Madison was lost in her thoughts after he turned towards her and caught her staring at him.

"Don't look at me so intensely, Madison. You're making me weak," He huskily said, making Madison innocently frown.

Madison couldn't help but ask, "How am I making you weak, Mr. Carter? I didn't do anything." Dylan just laughed. Despite how hard it was moving in the water, Dylan still retaliated against her sisters.

He couldn't help but pinch her cheeks and commented, "You're adorable." The two were in that position when Ruth shouted at them from the cottage.

Ruth said, "That's enough. Let's eat!" Because her sisters were near the shore, they quickly reached the cottage while Madison and Dylan silently walked back.

Unbeknownst to Dylan, Madison was silently struggling to calm her heart, which had been racing erratically due to their previous closeness.

When they arrived at the cottage, Ruth immediately handed them a plate and utensils. Madison took it and gave one to Dylan. As they sat down, Madison was surprised when Dylan served her by placing rice and a dish on her plate. The thumping heart that Madison had just calmed down started beating fast again. Madison frowned. Because of that simple gesture, all her efforts had gone down the drain. It wasn't very pleasant!

Madison caught Ruth and her sisters looking at them when she looked up. Then, her sisters teasingly grinned at her. Madison immediately scolded them, but they just laughed at her.

Penelope knowingly said, "How amazing! Madds, you're now a big shot, huh? You even had a personal waiter here!"

Ruth interrupted, "That's enough. You might accidentally spill the food. Eat so you can have the time to play in the lake before we go home."

So, Madison and her sisters stopped messing around and ate their food. They cleaned up their belongings and sat by the lake when they finished.

While Dylan and her sisters were conversing, Madison was silent and absorbed in her thoughts. She didn't know how to calm her messy heart or explain the unfamiliar feelings inside her. Now that she was next to Dylan, Madison couldn't help but stare at him.

She silently thought, 'What should I do if I fell in love with you?' This was a new feeling, so she didn't know what to do. But one thing was sure. Madison was happy whenever she saw him and was with him. So happy because even in just a few days, Dylan made her and her family happy. For her, it was impossible for Dylan to like her back. He was only doing these things because of guilt.