Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Madison grimaced in pain when she woke up. Her head was pounding, and her eyes were swollen. The bitterness of the liquid she drank last night made sense when she learned from Dexter that she drank alcohol. She lifted her body to sit with her head resting on the headboard. Now that she was thinking clearly, she realized how grateful she was that Dexter came for her without hesitation. But remembering what happened last night made her shoulders tremble as tears escaped her eyes.

"Why is it so painful to love? I wish I didn't learn how to love," Madison mumbled. She wiped away the tears on her cheeks and sobbed when they fell unimpeded.

Suddenly, the door opened, revealing Dexter. Madison's blurry eyes looked at him, who dashed beside her.

"Hush now, Madison. Your eyes are already swollen," Dexter comforted, stroking Madison's back.

Madison shook her head as she whined, "But I don't know how to stop these tears. I'm exhausted from crying, Dexter. I want them to stop."

Wishing he could take Madison's pain away, Dexter embraced her tightly. Madison buried her face in his chest and let another outburst of tears pour on his shirt. A couple of minutes later, the heaviness she was carrying shrank. She withdrew from his embrace and looked at him with worry.

"How can I come home with swollen eyes?" Madison asked helplessly. "I don't want them to see me like this. I don't want them to worry about me."

"You can stay here, Madison, until you feel okay," Dexter offered.

Meling would no doubt welcome Madison to stay. But the older woman would probably worry about her niece. Although it was a shame to bother Dexter constantly, his offer was the best Madison could take.

"I couldn't thank you enough, Dexter," Madison replied, lowering her head and playing with her fingers as embarrassment took over her gratitude. "I'm so sorry for causing you a burden."

Shaking his head, Dexter smiled and assured, "Don't worry about it, Madison. You're not a burden, okay? I'm helping you because you need help." He raised Madison's face to convince her of the sincerity in his eyes.

But Madison was still worried when she looked at Dexter. "But I still have a problem, Dexter."

"Just let me know, Madison," Dexter replied willingly.

"I don't know how I'll get my belongings to the mansion without seeing Sir Dylan," Madison admitted.

Dexter stood up and walked to the glass door, contemplating. "Isn't Emily staying there, too?" he asked and faced Madison again.

Madison nodded. "Right. She's my companion at the mansion."

"Do you have her phone number?" Dexter asked, to which Madison nodded. "Send her a message. Tell her you'll get your things now at the mansion."

Hesitation registered on Madison's face. "What if Sir Dylan is there?" she worried.

"Then tell her to beep you when Dylan isn't home," Dexter suggested. A bright smile flashed on his face.

Madison smiled faintly. 'Why didn't I think of that?' she thought and realized, 'I must have been occupied with thoughts of Sir Dylan. But what can I do? He'll still marry someone else whether I think about it or not.'

"I've been crying since yesterday," Madison recalled. "Maybe that's enough. I'll try to forget him, Dexter. I'll see what I can do," she decided with a bitter smile. Although she wanted to be okay, she doubted whether she could bear the trajectory to acceptance.

"You can do that, Madison," Dexter cheered and reminded, "I'm here. I'll help you. You'll heal in no time so long as you help yourself."

Knowing that someone was by her side believing in her, Madison felt hopeful. "Thank you, Dexter. Thank you. Really." She dried the trace of tears on her cheeks as she stared at Dexter and agreed, 'He's right. No one else can help me but myself.'

"Get yourself together, Madison. Let's not talk about what happened from now until you get home," Dexter advised as he stood in front of Madison with his hands resting in his pockets.

"I'll try, Dexter. It's not easy, but I'll try to stop thinking about him from now on," Madison said, convincing herself. But her mind and heart were protesting. It felt impossible to forget about the man she loved, especially when her heart beat for him and ached because of him.

"It's getting late. Call Emily. We'll get your things now if Dylan is not at the mansion," Dexter said. "Let's eat first. Nobody cooks here, so we'll go to a restaurant nearby," he added, scratching his nape.

"It's expensive to eat outdoors," Madison commented and volunteered, "Let me cook while I stay in your apartment." She sighed upon remembering the cost of dining in restaurants.

Dexter's chuckle caught Madison's attention. Nothing was funny about what she said. 'What am I? A clown?' she thought. She stood up in bed so that she was taller than him now. With her hands on her waist, she cocked an eyebrow and snapped, "What? Is something funny, Mr. Moore?"

"Oh, nothing. I find you adorable when you're frowning," Dexter explained and smiled. "You look prettier when you're smiling and laughing, Madison," he said meaningfully.

Madison understood what Dexter was implying. It was easy to smile and laugh if she wanted to pretend. But smiling and laughing did not necessarily manifest healing, so Madison let her lips curve into a weak smile. "I'll try, Dexter," she repeated.

"Alright. I'll get ready. Call Emily now so we know if we can get your stuff tonight," Dexter asked, handing Madison's phone from his pocket. Although she wondered how he got it, Madison decided not to ask.

When Dexter left the room, Madison immediately dialed Emily's number. According to Emily, Dylan had gone with his parents and his fiancée, so Madison immediately stood up. She looked at herself in the mirror and fixed whatever she could to make herself look less sorrowful. Dexter was putting on his shoes when Madison went to the living room to relay what Emily said. He stood up and took something from a cabinet. When he returned, he handed Madison her flats.

"Let's eat first, Madison. You haven't eaten anything. It's not good to starve yourself," Dexter reminded.

Madison put her flats on and followed after Dexter as he walked out of his apartment to his car. Every restaurant they went to was offering an expensive menu for a few spoonfuls of dishes. Madison always thought it was ridiculous to pay for that, so she asked Dexter to look somewhere else. It took them almost an hour to find a cheap restaurant of Madison's choice. Dexter was surprised and hesitant at first glance until she led him inside. They spent less than thirty bucks for the vegetable salad and other dishes that smelled like home. They headed to the Carters' residence as soon as they finished eating.

Emily stood at the gate, holding luggage as she waited for Madison. The former hugged the latter tightly as soon as they approached each other.

"I was so worried about you, Madi. I couldn't sleep thinking about you. Where have you been? Are you okay?" Emily loosened her embrace and checked on Madison's body. "Where did you sleep? Was there someone helping you?" Emily asked frantically.

"Don't worry about me, Emily. I'm fine. Thanks to Dexter, he helped me last night. I didn't know whom to ask for help in this city other than him and Zia," Madison explained.

Emily heaved a deep sigh, staring at Madison with pity. The latter smiled to conceal the sadness on her face and withdrew from the former's embrace.

"I'm fine, Emily," Madison repeated. "We need to leave now, Emily. I don't want to see Sir Dylan." Emily understood, so she nodded and helped Madison carry the luggage to the car. Madison smiled at Emily. They hugged each other once more before Madison bade goodbye.

But before Madison could get into the car, a car sped and approached them. Recognizing who owned the vehicle, she abruptly hopped in Dexter's car and locked the door. Through the window, Madison saw Dylan hurrying out of his car. Dexter turned to look at Madison, asking her if she wanted them to leave now. But her eyes stared straight at the road before them. Suddenly, a knock on the window beside her brought her back to her senses.

"Madison, let's talk," Dylan implored as he knocked on the window.

Ignoring Dylan, Madison turned to Dexter and signaled, "Let's go, Dexter."

Dexter nodded and started the engine. But before his car could pass the gate, Dylan stood in front of the car, shouting, "Let's talk, Madison! Please!" He was so mad that he was now hitting the vehicle. Madison silently stared at Dylan through the windshield.

"I'm not leaving here until you get out of that car! Run over me if you want! Madison! Come on, Darling, let's talk!" Dylan continued to shout.

Tears went out of Madison's eyes again before she could stop them. She could feel her heart being pierced as Dylan's begging face became blurry. A part of her earnestly wanted to go out and hug him. But she felt frozen in her seat as she remembered Dylan was about to marry someone else. Tears kept streaming down her face. She felt Dexter's fingers caressing her cheek to wipe her tears away.

Seeing Dylan blocking the car persistently, Madison looked at Dexter and desperately asked, "Let's go, Dexter, please. I wouldn't say I like watching him like that. I'm afraid I'd get out of here to talk to him. I don't want that to happen, Dexter. Please, take me away from here."

"I'll talk to him. Stay here. Don't come out. No matter what happens, don't show him how much you're hurting. It's not your loss, Madison," Dexter said, looking earnestly at Madison and stroking her cheek again.

Dexter looked at Madison before turning to his side. He was about to get out of the car when she appealed, "Don't hurt him, Dexter. I can't bear seeing him hurting. Just tell him to go away so we can leave."