Chapter 13 Back to Horizon City
Brianna kept making conversation with Patrick, casually inquiring about Matthew. She finally learned that Matthew was on a business trip and probably too busy to respond to her calls and texts, a thought that comforted her.
But deep down, she was uncertain. Although Matthew had gotten her an apartment for her and helped with the move, since relocating, every attempt to get him alone had failed. He always managed to find an excuse not to be with her, and lately, he hadn’t been answering calls or responding to messages. Left with no choice, she resorted to inviting friends to the bar every day, waiting for a possible encounter.
Patrick wasn't too keen on continuing the conversation with Brianna. With Matthew's intentions unclear and as long as Matthew hadn't split with Madison, all of them would remain on Madison’s side. They had reluctantly assisted with Brianna’s apartment move at Matthew's order—an unavoidable task. Now, he didn't want to appear too close to Brianna.
"It's late. I'll take the two of them home now," Patrick said, rising from his seat and preparing to leave.
Willow and Quinn, seeing Brianna attempting to strike up a conversation unabashedly and not wanting to stay any longer, quickly got up to gather their clothes and bags when they heard Patrick's words.
Brianna stood up with a smile and said, "It is getting late. We should be heading back, too." She then turned to Willow and Quinn with a beaming smile. "Since it's our first meeting and I didn't bring a gift, I'll send something to Matthew's place for you next time."
Willow, always blunt, spoke in a rigid tone, "That’s not necessary. My brother will buy me whatever I need."
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Quinn tried to smooth things over, "No need to go to any trouble. We appreciate the thought."
"It's fine. It's just some little things young ladies like. There’s no need to be so formal. I'll be going now," Brianna said, then turned and left before they could refuse again.
*
Willow decided not to return to school and spend the night at Quinn's place. Patrick drove them to Quinn's apartment. On the way, they quizzed Patrick about Brianna and Matthew.
"Patrick, what's the deal with Matthew and Brianna? He hasn't really moved on, has he? Could it be old flames rekindling?" Willow didn't hesitate to ask.
"Who knows? Brianna is still living in the place Matthew asked me to get her. It's hard to say," Patrick responded.
"What about Madison?" Quinn inquired.
"I don't know what Matthew is thinking. First loves can be hard to forget, and William somewhat influenced his marriage to Madison. Besides, he's only ever been in love once, so it's possible that they've rekindled their old flame," Patrick explained, sounding knowledgeable as he analyzed the situation for the two young women.
"I feel sorry for Madison. My cousin is a jerk. He’s married. He shouldn't be doing this," Willow said indignantly.
"Liam says that Matthew is even worse than me when it comes to love. Both Liam and I are on Madison's side. It'll be better once Matthew comes to his senses," said Patrick, who was less upset than the girls.
"That woman is manipulative. I'm afraid that by the time Matthew comes to his senses, Madison might have already left," Quinn interjected, hitting the nail on the head.
Patrick was aware that their concerns were not unfounded, but when it came to Matthew's emotional matters, there was no place for them to intervene. So, nothing more was said.
…
It wasn't until the next evening that Madison received a brief message from Matthew.
"Everything’s been handled. I’m coming back in three days."
Though it was just a simple message, it delighted Madison for a long time. She was very excited all night and repeatedly checked her phone. It was only a few words, but she never tired of reading them. Before going to sleep, she thought about going back early, before Matthew's return, to get her prenatal checkup done.
Nicholas did not come over for dinner today. After talking with the village president, it seemed he had urgent business. Early this morning, he had said he needed to rush back to the capital, leaving his mobile number and adding her on WhatsApp before hurriedly departing.
Now that they had each other's phone numbers and WhatsApp, there would be future opportunities to meet. She'd plan to see him next time.
The next morning, Madison called Yoseph, the driver, and asked him to come pick her up after lunch. She began packing, organizing the fresh vegetables and stuff she'd received as gifts, and got her suitcase ready, planning to head up to the cemetery to bid farewell to Grandpa.
Soon, she arrived at Grandpa's grave.
"Grandpa, I'm heading back to Horizon City today. Matthew and I will come visit you again after a while."
By the time she returned to the villa, it was evening. Madison ate something light and remembered she hadn't scheduled her prenatal appointment yet, so she quickly used her phone to book it for the next day. Afterward, she took a shower, and when she came out, her phone on the bed rang. She hurried over and saw it was Matthew calling. She answered nervously, her voice betraying an excitement she hadn't noticed.
"Matthew."
"It's me. You're home, right?" Matthew said. The driver had probably told him that.
"I just got back today. I brought you a lot of fresh vegetables and eggs. I'll cook them for you when you're back," said Madison happily.
"Good, get some rest," Matthew replied, sensing her excitement through the phone. He had felt before leaving that she was preoccupied with something, but it seemed the trip had done her good.
"Mm, you too."
After hanging up, Madison held her cell phone and sat there, grinning for several minutes. Whenever Matthew called, he would only say a few short sentences, briefly explaining the situation, but every call always left her satisfied for quite some time. She got so excited that she immediately got up to tidy the things she had brought back to the kitchen, thinking about what to cook for Matthew when he returned the next day. She was busy until late into the night before she went to sleep.
…
The next morning, Madison didn't call her driver but took a taxi to the hospital because her appointment was set for later. She ended up waiting for more than an hour before it was her turn.
First, she had an ultrasound exam. The doctor looked it over for a long time, which made Madison very nervous. She thought there might be something wrong with the baby. Just as she was about to ask the doctor, he said she could get up.
"You have twins. Did you know that?"
The sonographer's words left Madison stunned. She couldn't believe there were two babies in her. The joy overwhelmed her mind, and she didn't know how to express it. She wanted to share the news with Matthew immediately, hoping he would look forward to the twins' arrival as much as she did.
After leaving the ultrasound room, she went back to the consulting doctor with the report, and even the consulting doctor was happy for her. "Twins, huh? I did say your belly looked bigger than others. It's not easy to tell since you're petite. You'll need to maintain your nutrition well. Being a mom is hard work, and having twins even more so. Where's your husband? He should come with you next time."
"Thank you, doctor. He's quite busy."
"Too busy to spare a little time, huh?" The doctor was not fond of men who were always 'busy,' neglecting the importance of their wives' hard work in pregnancy and childbirth.
"Next time, I'll make sure he comes with me," Madison said. It sounded like a promise to the doctor but more of a promise to herself.
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