Chapter 25: Chapter 25

It was almost one o'clock in the afternoon when Dylan's car parked outside Campbell University. Although he arrived half an hour late, he expected Madison to be waiting. But he could find no trace of her at the main gate. Dylan looked around the campus for her, but she was nowhere to be seen.

After a few minutes more of waiting, Dylan decided to call Madison. He frowned when he heard the other end of the line ringing unattended. Dylan called one more time until he had to dial Madison's phone number several times more.

When Madison did not return Dylan's calls or send a message, fear began creeping inside his chest. It was unlikely that Madison would leave without Dylan. While fidgeting in his car, he called the housemaids at the mansion and asked about Madison. The dread he felt instantly grew when Mila informed him about Madison's tutor waiting at the mansion.

Madison was not familiar with campus yet. That was why Dylan would drive Madison to the university in the morning and fetch her at noon.

"Damn it!" Dylan blurted out, blaming himself for arriving late. 'Where are you, Madison?' he worried. He redialed Madison's number, hoping that she would pick up the phone this time. Shortly after, his calls could no longer get through.

Dylan was about to go to the office of Madison's professor when he saw Emily exiting the campus. She must have seen Madison, so he called Emily right away.

Emily was surprised to see Dylan at this hour, so she dashed to him and asked, "Madison's classes ended before noon. Why are you still here, Sir Dylan?"

"I have just arrived," Dylan explained. With a worried look, he asked, "I haven't seen her. Have you?"

"I haven't seen her either, Sir Dylan," Emily replied as she shook her head. "Her blockmates must be home or somewhere else by now. Have you tried calling her, Sir?"

"I've tried so many times, but she's not picking up her phone," Dylan said. "She's not familiar with the campus and the way back to the mansion, so I'm afraid she might be lost," he added and leaned into his, his hands on his nape soothing him.

Seeing the frustration on Dylan's face, Emily said, "She only has three friends here, Sir Dylan. Unfortunately, I don't have their phone numbers. Perhaps they have already taken her home."

Dylan sighed in disagreement. "I called Mila. Madison isn't there either. Her tutor had arrived, but she still hasn't come back," he relayed. Having no hints about Madison's whereabouts was driving him insane. "If only I arrived on time,..." he whispered as his fingers stroked his unkempt hair.

"They probably went somewhere, Sir Dylan. I'm sure Madison will be back at the mansion soon. We know it's so unlikely for her to leave the campus. Maybe she got bored waiting and rode with her friends to the mansion. They probably passed by somewhere else or hung out for a while. No wonder she hasn't returned yet," Emily reckoned, trying to relieve Dylan's worries.

"I hope you're right, Emily," Dylan replied. But Emily's assumptions could not convince Dylan enough for his worries to dissipate. Madison could have at least informed him if what Emily said was true. But he received no indication from Madison. "I don't know what I'd do if something bad happened to her. I can't forgive myself if that happens," he whispered in low spirits. He heaved a sigh before opening the door to the passenger's seat to let Emily get in.

When they arrived back at the mansion, Dylan darted inside and asked if Madison was there now. To his dismay, Madison was still out there somewhere Dylan did not know. He wanted to do something now to find her quickly. But he knew it would be impulsive, so he tried to call her again. Madison's phone was still turned off, unfortunately.

"Tell me when she arrives," Dylan instructed Emily and climbed upstairs with dropping shoulders.

When he entered his room, his anxious body sunk into his bed. A pillow covered his face as a series of questions overwhelmed his head. 'Where has Madison been? Is she somewhere safe? What could she be doing at this time?' he wondered, repeating the same questions he asked himself when he drove back to the mansion earlier. But he remained in bed, waiting and keeping the worst thoughts at bay. 'Maybe Emily is right. Maybe Madison is with her friends. Maybe they passed by somewhere. Maybe they're hanging out right now.'

Dylan took the pillow off his face and prayed, "Oh, god, I hope she's fine and safe." He closed his eyes, forcing himself to sleep the worries away. He had gotten worked up thinking about Madison and had not been feeling rested lately, so he fell asleep not too long after.

A few hours later, Dylan jerked away when he realized he had fallen asleep. He looked at his watch and found that it was three o'clock now. Expecting to see Madison at this time, Dylan instantly got out of bed and went downstairs to confirm. But the update he was expecting did not come out of Emily's mouth, inviting the worst thoughts to intrude his head. He weakly sank onto the couch in the living room and stared blankly at the ceiling as though he was looking at a map that could show directions to Madison's location.

The tension in Dylan's veins made him close his eyes tightly. Suddenly, he took his car key and strode to the garage. 'I'll look for her anywhere, and I won't stop until I find her,' he swore, feeling determined.

Dylan was about to leave when the gate suddenly opened, revealing the person who had been driving him insane for hours.

"Darling!" Dylan called and welcomed Madison with several questions. "Where have you been? Who sent you home? Are you all right?" Dylan asked in one breath as he escorted her to sit in the living room.

"Nowhere dangerous," Madison replied with indifference and continued walking.

It seemed that Madison had no intention of explaining further, so Dylan repeated, "Are you all right?"

"Uh-huh," Madison replied briefly and flipped the pages of the book she was holding.

"With whom? How did you get home?" Dylan asked again. He was about to hold Madison's hand when she dodged it.

"Dexter drove me here," Madison explained without any emotion on her face. She stood up from the couch and said, "I'll change my clothes now, Sir Dylan, so I can start working."

Madison walked past Dylan, which made him feel ignored. He had a lot of unanswered questions in mind, but all he could do was stare in Madison's direction as she entered her room. 'Something feels wrong,' he speculated. Madison had always spoken to him with respect until today. Her acting made Dylan feel that she had not returned at all.

Dylan could not let the awkwardness slide, so he patiently waited for Madison in the dining area. He sat in the chair facing the door to her room. When she came out, he immediately approached her and pulled her to the garden. 'Something is indeed wrong,' Dylan thought. The Madison he knew used to say things every time he pulled her arm. He could never bear seeing Madison estranged from him.

"What's the matter?" Dylan confronted as soon as Madison was seated on the bench.

"Nothing, Sir Dylan. Why do you care?" Madison asked back. The tone in her voice sounded strange.

Dylan scoffed, "Nothing? Are you kidding me? I didn't see you on campus. You even missed your homeschooling session." He was so annoyed that he called her by her name. "Madison doesn't do that. Don't fool me around, Madison. Tell me, what happened?"

"I told you already, Sir Dylan. I'm fine. Everything is fine. Please stop nagging me!" Madison exclaimed. Her face was now contorted with annoyance.

Dylan could not help but feel enraged. "Now you hate me for asking you?! You didn't answer my questions, so I asked again!" He could not look at Madison now, so he paused and sat next to her. "I was damn worried about you because I didn't know where to find you. I called you many times, but I couldn't get through. Now you're back and acting as though you informed me you'd hang out with your friend for a few hours."

"I didn't tell you to call me, Sir Dylan," Madison bluntly replied with her empty eyes glancing at Dylan.

"What the hell, Madison?" Dylan cursed in anger, stupefied by Madison's reaction. It was the first time Madison used that particular tone, and he felt she even blamed him. But Dylan was dying to know what happened, so he tried to calm himself. Hoping to hear decent answers, he calmly continued, "Fine. I won't ask you anymore if you answer my two questions. Where did you go, and why are you suddenly acting like that?"

Madison quietly stared at the plant before her, responding, "I don't know. I just asked Dexter to take me somewhere." Dylan waited for Madison to continue, but no more words came out of her mouth. She only stared at him as a dreadful silence enveloped them. There seemed to be a glimpse of sadness and pain in her eyes that Dylan wanted to confirm.

But Madison spoke again. "I answered your two questions, Sir Dylan. I should help Ma'am Mila now."

Dylan could tell that Madison did not want to talk about it, so he kept the rest of his questions to himself. He could feel that she was not okay, and he wanted to help. But he needed her to trust him first.

Madison got up from the bench and went straight to the kitchen without turning her head back to look at Dylan. He was alone in the garden, gazing at the door that swallowed the Madison he met for the first time.

'Darling, what's wrong? You don't seem to be yourself,' Dylan wanted to ask. But he could only gasp, seeking answers in the air. With worries dwelling in him, he left the garden and returned to his room.