Chapter 17: Chapter 17

During their trip back to Manila, the two were enveloped in awkward silence. Dylan tried to engage Madison in any topics that came to mind, but the latter only responded with a nod or concise words.

Ever since they got home from the river, Dylan had noticed that Madison was acting distant toward him. He didn't know the reason and just thought that she was just tired.

When the gate automatically opened, Dylan immediately parked his car in the garage. Then, he glanced at the beautiful woman sleeping in the passenger seat. He didn't wake her up but just silently gazed at her with his intense eyes. She looked peaceful and innocent, like a slumbering angel that the world had not tainted.

Dylan muttered, "I want you to learn everything, Madison so that when the time comes, you can stand on your own feet." Dylan caressed her face as he watched her intently and vowed, "I know what I feel for you is not a simple liking. Being with you makes me feel happy and content. I will never let anyone hurt you. I promise you that."

After a moment, Madison's eyelashes slowly trembled as she slowly woke up. Then, she looked around frantically, so Dylan softly said, "We're here."

Madison was embarrassed and apologized, "It seems I fell asleep. I'm so sorry, Mr. Carter." She straightened her clothes and was going to exit the car when Dylan grabbed her hand.

Surprised, Madison looked at him and asked, "What's wrong, Mr. Carter?"

"Dylan, Madison, just Dylan. No need for formalities between us," Dylan stated.

"That's inappropriate, Mr. Carter," Madison rejected while shaking her head. "You're my boss, and I'm your maid, so it's not right if I call you that."

Dylan insisted, "I allowed you to call me that, so I see no reason why that's inappropriate."

Madison just shook her head. She then seriously explained, "It's inappropriate, Mr. Carter. We're not close or in any relationship for me to call you by your name." Upon hearing that, Dylan grinned widely and brought his face close to hers, making her eyes widen in shock.

Dylan chuckled and whispered, "You can be my girlfriend if you want, Madison. I want you, and I know you feel that way." Madison blushed and started to fidget in her seat even more. Madison took it as a chance to say goodbye to him quickly when he backed away.

Madison hurriedly opened the door and stutteringly said, "M-Mr. Carter, I-I'll g-go i-in first." Perhaps due to her nervousness, she struggled to open the door, so Dylan had to help her open it. Once it was opened, Madison immediately ran inside without looking back. She even forgot to pick up her luggage and handbag.

Dylan helplessly shook his head and amusedly smiled at Madison's bashfulness. He could feel his effect on her, and he would use it to make her fall in love with him.

As he got out of the car while holding the bag Madison had left, Dylan vowed in his heart, 'Soon, Madison, you will be mine.'

Just as Dylan stepped outside, Emily also came out of the door. He immediately took out Madison's belongings and ordered her to bring them inside. However, he didn't give Madison's handbag to Emily and just carried it into his room.

"Madison will be here soon, so I'll just wait for her," Dylan chuckled. Then, he lay down on the bed while clutching her bag.

Unfortunately for him, he couldn't wait for Madison as he fell asleep without realizing it. When he woke, Dylan noticed that Madison's bag next to him was missing.

Dylan glanced at the clock on his bedside table and was surprised when he realized it was already morning. He couldn't believe how long he had slept and how much he had overslept today.

He dizzily got out of bed and was occupied with how he would chase Madison. For him, Madison was a truly remarkable woman, making everyone so captivated by her.

Dylan made his way to the bathroom and took a shower before going downstairs to eat his breakfast.

As he came to the dining room and found Laurene sitting at the table, reading the newspaper, Dylan approached her immediately and hugged her from behind. He was extremely thankful for his mother's assistance the other day.

"Thanks, Mom, for providing me Madison's address. I owe you a lot! You have no idea how it made me happy. I love you so much, Mom," Dylan said, kissing her on the cheek. Laurene patted him on the shoulder and beckoned for him to sit next to her.

"You need to eat, Sweetie," Laurene continued. "Madison said you were asleep last night, so she didn't wake you up." No wonder Madison's bag was missing. She had already gone inside his room and had seen him sleeping.

"Mom, I was waiting for Madison last night," Dylan stated, "but it appears that I fell asleep due to the exhaustion from the trip." As he was about to eat, Dylan noticed his mother lowering the newspaper in her hands and seriously looking at him.

"Go to my office later, Sweetie. I have to tell you something important," Laurene muttered as she sipped her coffee.

"About what, Mom?" Dylan curiously asked as he started to eat.

"Later, Sweetie. I don't want anybody to hear it, especially her," Laurene said, casting a meaningful gaze at Madison, who approached them with a coffee Dylan knew was made for him.

Dylan frowned and was perplexed when Laurene stated that nobody, especially Madison, should hear the topic.

"But why? Was it that serious?" Dylan said, wiping his lips with the table napkin.

"Believe me, Sweetie, you wouldn't want her to hear it. See you in my office after you finish your breakfast." With that, Laurene stood up and bid farewell to Madison. Despite his curiosity about what his mother intended to say to him, Dylan couldn't help but smile when he saw Madison.

He murmured, "Good morning, darling," but Madison merely turned around to see who Dylan was talking to.

"Give my coffee to me, darling," Dylan said softly, motioning for Madison to come to him.

"Who are you calling 'darling,' Mr. Carter? I'm the only one with a cup of coffee here; who are you calling then?" Madison innocently asked, her eyes darting around the room.

"Who else but you, Madison? From now on, I'll call you 'darling,'" Dylan responded as he took the coffee from Madison.

She pretended not to hear what he was saying. When she turned to leave, Dylan called her again.

"Darling."

Hearing this, Madison stopped, but she did not turn back. Instead, she just stood there waiting for him to speak. When Dylan observed her fiddling with her fingers, he grinned.

"Darling," he repeated, causing her to turn around.

"Why are you calling me that, Mr. Carter? My name is Madison," she questioned, her brows furrowed.

"I know your name is Madison," Dylan stated calmly, "but didn't I tell you that from now on, I'll call you that?"

"But my name is Madison. Why do you have to call me another one?" She continued, "Madison is much better than 'darling.' Madam might get upset if she finds out you're calling me that." Dylan only grinned, remembering how innocent his darling was.

"I'm sure Mom will be happy when she finds out that I've been calling you 'darling,'" Dylan stated as he sipped his coffee at the table and looked at Madison.

Madison questioned, her eyebrows raised, "And how can you be sure, Mr. Carter?" Dylan gave her a gentle smile, pondering how she never failed to make him smile whenever he talked to her.

Dylan meaningfully replied, "I just feel it." Then, he started chuckling again.

"There you go again, laughing for no reason, Mr. Carter," Madison observed, alarmed, "I fear your craziness is already serious that it's starting to influence others."

"Huh? Darling, who did I influence? "Dylan inquired, his eyes slightly squinted.

Madison pouted for a moment before answering, "Aunt Mila, Emily, my Mom, and my siblings. Since you've arrived in the suburbs, Mom and my siblings have begun acting more like you."

Dylan's eyes darkened slightly as he hoarsely said, "Stop pouting, darling. I might lose control and kiss you." Afraid, Madison pressed her lips together and covered them with her hand.

"Do you need anything else, Mr. Carter?" she inquired, her lips still covered. 'So cute,' Dylan thought silently, his heart swelling with love.

"Have breakfast with me," Dylan said, looking at her and motioning to sit.

"I can't, Mr. Carter," Madison refused, "I'll just eat with Aunt Mila and Emily later."

"If you don't sit and eat with me, I'll kiss you right here. So," Dylan teased, pausing and laughing inwardly at Madison's reaction.

"Will you join me, or I'll kiss you. Your choice, darling," Dylan playfully said. Good thing Madison didn't object anymore when he called her that.

"I'll eat, of course. I'll sit down and eat with you, Mr. Carter," Madison said nervously. "You haven't eaten yet? It's not good when you don't eat on time." She immediately placed the food on her plate and began eating with relish.

Dylan was always amazed by Madison. She had no idea how gorgeous she was when she did things naturally. Even he was completely enamored by her, just like the others.

'I would do everything for you to fall in love with me,' Dylan promised in his heart, 'and I swear that no matter what happens, I will never allow anybody to hurt you. They'll have to cross my corpse first before that happens.'

He murmured, "Ti Amo, Tesoro." but Madison only smiled at him. Dylan dared to say such things as she didn't understand his words. But he hoped that one day, Madison would say it back to him without reservation.