Chapter 205 A Close-knit Family
After Madison had prepared the bed and all the necessary toiletries, she stepped out of Dorian's room. "Brother, get some rest, okay?"
"Will do, Madison. You too. Have a good night, and see you tomorrow," Dorian responded with a radiant smile that clung to his face all night, his lips perpetually curved into a contented grin.
Madison left Dorian lying comfortably on the bed, feeling much cozier than any hotel bed he'd experienced in Horizon City. The warm and inviting room made him feel like he was finally at home for the night.
Madison returned to her room to find her husband, Matthew, sitting in bed with his phone. He looked like a man who needed some cheering up. With a gentle smile, Madison approached him and asked, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Matthew kept looking at his phone, paying no attention to her. Madison didn't mind and just smiled, then got her pajamas and went for a shower. When she finished, she was surprised to see that Matthew, who she thought was acting immature, had apparently gone to sleep. He had turned off all the lights except the bedside lamp she had left on.
Madison chuckled and made her way to the bed, lifting the covers to slip in beside him.
Matthew turned his back to her; though he wasn't actually asleep, he had listened to every sound she made—the footsteps, the rustling of bedding, the flick of the light switch, everything meticulously noted in the dark.
Their breaths were pronounced and clear in the silence. Madison whispered, "Matthew, are you asleep?" No answer came. She persistently continued, "Are you upset because I found my family?" She sounded deliberately pitiful, and it didn't take long for the man with his back to her to respond in a muffled voice from under the covers, "No."
Madison turned, embracing Matthew from behind. Her chest pressed against his back, and she spoke with a teasing smile, "I just knew my husband would be as happy as me."
A nearly inaudible sigh escaped Matthew; he truly felt bested by his charming wife. He caught her hands, which were playfully wandering behind him, and abruptly turned to face her. In the darkness, they could only see each other's faces by the faint moonlight from outside, and Matthew's expression was one of restrained emotion. They hadn't been intimate for some time, and since returning from Lunaria, though they shared the same bed, Madison's mind wasn't on such matters due to Matthew's amnesia. Matthew, respecting Madison's boundaries, had stayed within the bounds. As a result, their nights were spent chatting under the covers.
Madison wore a smile in contrast to Matthew's stoic face, looking adorably mischievous. She drew closer, her warm breath on his face stirring an uncontrollable restlessness in him, a heat that spread to his lower belly and made his breathing quicken.
Oblivious to the dangers of her actions, Madison suddenly leaned in to plant a quick kiss on Matthew's lips before pulling away. A flash of surprise lit up his eyes, and his voice grew husky as desire filled his gaze, mingling with a barely perceptible restraint. His body tensed like stone. "You're playing with fire."
Still smiling slyly, Madison's hands worked free and continued to trace his chest, even tapping it teasingly, "So firm, just like a rock." Matthew flipped them over, pinning her down, "You're not getting away." His Adam's apple rolled with sensual allure.
What followed was an urgent and fierce kiss, as if he wanted to devour her whole. Madison bit her lip, fearful of making any revealing sounds...
Listening to the creaking of the bed, Matthew had one thought – the need for a replacement.
*
Dorian lay on his bed, eagerly pulling out his phone and opening Facebook. He clicked on the group chat, "One Big Happy Family," and posted a selfie he'd just taken with Quentin and Hannah, proudly captioning, "My niece and nephew are truly adorable."
The group erupted into activity as Grandma Sterling and Grandpa Sterling sent a barrage of voice messages.
Grandma Sterling said in the voice message, "Book me a flight right away; I'm coming to Horizon City tomorrow."
Grandpa Sterling had a knack for spotting potential in his family members, and he saw plenty of it in the youngsters. "This boy has got our Sterling spirit; he's destined for greatness," he proclaimed. "And the girl, she's a real beauty, surely taking after her mom. Even though she's a bit more reserved than Grandma Sterling, she knows how to dish out compliments."
Mrs. Sterling's face was like someone about to burst into tears. Dorian could easily visualize his mother, eyes brimming with emotion, collapsing into his father's embrace, undoubtedly overwhelmed with joy.
"Listen, Dorian, I won't take no for an answer," Mrs. Sterling declared with urgency. "I'm heading to Horizon City tomorrow."
Momentarily speechless, Dorian could only offer a calm reassurance to the family group chat: [Don't rush; let's communicate, and we'll buy tickets to come over right away.] He quickly tagged Dorian again, eager for confirmation that everything was in order.
Up until that moment, Dorian had been lounging leisurely in bed but suddenly sat upright as if jolted to attention by an electric shock. He knew his dad was utterly devoted to indulging his mom, and if her wishes weren't met, his dad would likely chase Dorian down like a man on a mission.
Scrambling to calm things down, Dorian reassured them, "Take it easy, everyone. Madison is a great person. I will talk to her tomorrow and announce everyone's arrival. I don't want to startle her if a whole group of us show up unexpectedly."
Mrs. Sterling sent a sad-faced emoji: [Do you have my baby girl's Facebook? Can you add her to the group first?]
Grandma Sterling: [Absolutely, let her in. I want to talk to her.]
Mrs. Sterling questioned: [Why were you in a photo with both of the little darlings?]
Dorian hadn't anticipated his usually scatterbrained mother being so sharp this time. If everyone found out that he enjoyed Madison's cooking and slept in the bed she made for him, they might not even wait until the next day—they'd hop on the first flight over. Should he pretend to sleep or play dead?
It may be time to pretend his phone had run out of battery...
After a long wait with no reply from Dorian, Mr. Sterling issued an ultimatum—clear communication was needed by the next day, and he demanded that a video call be set up so they could meet.
Dorian felt bad for bragging. He knew his family cared more about finding his sister than he did. They believed in putting women first, a tradition started by his grandpa and continued by his dad. So, Dorian felt he had to follow suit. He understood that once they found Madison, his importance in the family would diminish.
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