Chapter 117 Clearing Up Misunderstandings
Chapter 117 Clearing Up Misunderstandings
Madison wasn't really sleepy as she lay in bed; she didn't know how to face Matthew and had used the excuse to duck into her room.
Now Matthew had followed her in, thinking she was asleep with her eyes closed.
Matthew took a seat on the other side of the bed, quietly watching Madison. He sensed her distance and couldn't figure out why. Their interactions had been fine just the night before, and her current demeanor puzzled him.
Madison, pretending to sleep, didn't hear any movement and thought Matthew had left. When she opened her eyes, caught off guard, she found herself locked in his gaze.
Matthew saw the redness around her eyes and panicked, kneeling on the bed and grabbing her hand. "Honey, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Madison had never intended to show her vulnerability to Matthew, which is why she hid in her room, wrapped in her blankets. But when he found her and showered her with worried affection, her sadness intensified, tears streaming relentlessly down her face.
"Honey, what's wrong? Who hurt you?" Matthew gently wiped her tears while a surge of protectiveness swelled within him, anger heating his words as he pondered who dared upset his darling.
Madison couldn't hold back her tears, sobbing uncontrollably, while Matthew sat beside her, watching anxiously, unable to provide comfort as she remained silent.
After shedding tears for a while and releasing her emotions, Madison finally calmed down. It was then that she became aware of their awkward embrace; Matthew held her gently, patting her back and soothing her in hushed tones, reminiscent of comforting a child.
Struggling, Madison attempted to get up, but Matthew held her close, refusing to let her go.
"Babe, can you tell me now why you're crying?"
Her heart twisted within her, lips pressed tightly shut. The words Brianna said during the day prodded at her heart sporadically. Matthew just held her with a patient embrace, waiting for her to speak.
At last, she whispered, "Brianna came to see me today."
Brianna?
"What did she tell you?" Matthew's voice dropped to a chilly tone at the mention of that name.
Madison attempted to pull away, showing reluctance to speak, but Matthew held her firmly, refusing to let her withdraw.
"What exactly did she say to you? Even if you sentence me to the gallows, I deserve a chance to appeal. This isn't fair to me, sweetheart."
Matthew dropped his pride, his voice a soft plea, seeking her understanding.
Madison looked down, avoiding his gaze. "She said thank you."
Thank you.
Dizzy and confused by Brianna's sudden expression of gratitude the night before, Matthew had received a thank-you message from her. Dismissing the message, he went to sleep.
She had made a point to meet Madison to deliver his thanks—was she out of her mind?
Assuming Matthew's silence was due to guilt, Madison gave a bitter smile. She didn't want to believe it, but the evidence was right in front of her. What else could she do?
"Please leave. I need some time alone."
Snapping back to reality, Matthew hurried to explain.
"Honey, what exactly did she say?"
He forced Madison to meet his eyes, his gaze filled with hurt and reluctance to part.
After a prolonged silence, Madison finally spoke up, "She said to thank you for taking drinks for her."
"When did I ever take drinks for her?" Matthew blurted out.
His response took Madison by surprise. Her face was still wet with tears, and her eyes were red as she stared blankly at the man in front of her. He didn't seem to be lying.
"Brianna said you took drinks for her last night, and that's why she drank too much," Madison explained. "Yesterday, I accidentally saw a thank-you message she sent you on Facebook, and today, she asked me out again, making a point of mentioning it."
Madison finally got it all out in one breath.
Matthew listened to this bewildering turn of events and felt utterly wronged.
A flicker of coldness crossed his eyes at the thought of Brianna; he hadn't anticipated her pulling a stunt like this after all these years.
"Honey, I had no idea she was there last night. If I had known, I wouldn't have gone," he assured her.
Madison looked at him, skepticism etched on her face.
Matthew raised his hand. "I swear, really, how could I ever take drinks for her? Otherwise, I'll call Ethan to confront her. If I'm lying, then I'll..."
Before Matthew could finish, Madison lunged forward and covered his mouth with her hand. "Stop, I believe you."
Matthew took the opportunity to wrap his hands around hers, dropping kisses into her palm.
"Honey, is this what has been troubling you today?"
A bit sheepishly, Madison nodded. "Yeah, I was afraid it would be like four years ago that we might end up getting a divorce again."
Matthew let out a soft sigh, pulling her close, his chin resting atop her head. "Honey, I love you, only you. There won't be anyone else. If anything is bothering you, ask me directly, okay? Don't keep it all bottled up inside."
"Okay," Madison responded earnestly this time.
In a bid to avoid future misunderstandings, Matthew sat Madison down for a face-to-face conversation. He initiated a sincere pact between them, even proposing the idea of establishing some ground rules.
They opted to trust each other and not let outside factors impact their relationship. Recognizing their past shortcomings, they committed to learning and growing together, facing challenges honestly and resolving issues collaboratively for mutual improvement.
They promised to speak up about any discomfort instead of resorting to cold wars and silent treatment. Communication was key to a more harmonious and intimate relationship.
If something happened, they would provide each other with the chance to explain.
...
Listening to Matthew reel off these principles, Madison couldn't help but laugh. In this marriage, they had both learned to grow.
Matthew finished his speech but didn't forget to add one last rule, insisting that the word "divorce" was off-limits at any time.
"So bossy," she teased.
"I'm unyielding, and you better get used to it because you're not going anywhere."
The couple was sweet-talking when the phone rang - the takeout had arrived.
Matthew went to the door to collect the food while Madison headed to the kids' room to tell the little tykes to wash up for dinner.
The dinner was delicious. Matthew ordered a variety of dishes, including braised pork, vermicelli with shrimp, Tacos al Pastor, stir-fried water chestnuts, and the renowned roast duck.
The takeout packaging was impeccable; even the stew was intact, with not a single drop spilled.
The family sat down together in the dining room, enjoying their dinner in a happy and harmonious atmosphere.
Quentin and Hannah Garcia particularly enjoyed the roast duck, eagerly devouring piece after piece.
"You can't eat so much at night. It won't digest well," Madison couldn't help but interject.
"But it's so yummy, Mom," Hannah cooed, sneakily slipping another piece of braised pork into her mouth while nobody was looking.
Matthew chuckled. "Stay up a bit later tonight, then give it time to settle."
Madison playfully glared at him. He was always playing the good cop.
"Nothing beats the food your Mom cooks," someone quickly caught his wife's cues and added flatteringly.
After dinner, Madison took the little ones to bathe.
Matthew, wearing a somber expression, stepped out onto the balcony, retrieved his phone, and dialed the number.
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