66A Night at the Bar
At the Nightshade Bar, a group had their own booth, ordering plenty of drinks. Victor was back from the Middle East. The girls included Willow and Daniel, and Ophelia was there too, having been introduced to the group a few times by Liam.
As Ophelia listened, she picked up on gossip about Matthew's recent family developments. Matthew's serious demeanor was contrasted with Liam's more carefree attitude. Ophelia couldn't help but wonder about the influence of childhood experiences on their personalities. Her gaze drifted to Liam, contemplating his playful nature.
Ophelia was just as curious as everyone else about Matthew's ex-wife. After all, her name came up whenever Matthew wasn't around.
Madison stepped out of the car at the entrance to Nightshade Bar and waited for Matthew to park. When he finished, he saw her standing there.
"Why didn't you go inside?" Matthew asked, noticing her short-sleeved dress that left her arms and lower legs exposed to the breeze, wondering if she was cold.
Madison didn't know how to respond, so she remained silent.
It would have been awkward for her to walk in alone.
But with their current relationship, going in together seemed even more awkward. If only she had known, she would have gone in alone, Madison thought with a silent tear.
Following Matthew, she entered the bar.
The bar wasn’t crowded that day. A resident singer strummed the guitar on stage, crooning love songs that filled the space with a serene ambiance.
Patrick and Willow Nelson immediately noticed Madison trailing behind Matthew as they approached the booth. They enthusiastically came over to greet her, dispelling any awkwardness she had felt on the way there.
Willow pulled her over to join Daniel and Ophelia at their table.
Victor, Mitchell, and Liam warmly greeted her, calling her "Sister." Madison felt uncomfortable as everyone addressed her the same as before, unsure how to react, with everyone still referring to her that way despite her and Matthew's divorce. She smiled weakly and nodded in response as Matthew sat silently with Victor's group.
Madison found herself seated next to a familiar face—an actress who had previously ordered a gown from their studio. Madison had admired her performance as a supporting lead in a TV series. In-person, the actress's elegant demeanor left a lasting impression on Madison.
When Willow Nelson asked what she wanted to drink, Madison felt out of her depth. She’d been to the bar several times with Matthew before their divorce, quietly sitting aside as the same group ordered her a fruit juice, waiting for the night to end so they could head home together.
Since the divorce, she hasn't returned. Consequently, she was clueless about the various cocktails scrambled on the menu and had no idea what to choose.
As Madison gazed at the cocktail menu before her, an artfully crafted mix caught her eye on the menu. She spotted the bar's signature drink, the "Midnight Mist," which, Madison assumed, probably wasn't very strong, and decided to try it.
Willow looked like she wanted to intervene, "Madison, that’s..."
But before she could finish her sentence, Patrick chimed in enthusiastically, "It's perfect—trust me," and gave Willow a conspiratorial wink. Catching her Matthew's eye, Willow decided against voicing her objections and kept silent.
Mitchell, the bar's owner, watched the scene unfold with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
The gentlemen around wisely chose to stay out of the conversation.
"What's going on?" Madison tilted her head and asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing, Madison. Let's get together for dinner when you're free. I can also meet Quentin and Hannah," Willow deflected smoothly.
"Sounds great," Madison replied.
However, Daniel was concerned as he saw Madison choosing the Midnight Mist. The cocktail was deceptively potent despite its pleasant look and taste.
Willow, frequently engaging in business socializing, had built a decent tolerance to alcohol, something Madison was not accustomed to.
He feared that Madison might not handle the drink well, suspecting that someone was intentionally making the match between Madison and Matthew, but refrained from saying anything. After all, they were in his brother's bar, where nothing could go wrong.
The server brought the drink, and Madison took a tentative sip, pleasantly surprised by her first encounter with a mixed drink.
She listened quietly as the others chatted, noticing how no one questioned where she had been these past few years. It was as if she had never left. Patiently, she waited for Matthew.
Willow was concerned that Madison might be bored, so she rallied Daniel and Ophelia, and the trio eagerly tried to drag Madison to the dance floor. But Madison refused. She couldn't dance to save her life.
The three effervescent girls were left frolicking amid the pulsing rhythm of the club while a few guys lounged in a booth nearby, chatting casually, with several casting glances elsewhere.
Mitchell looked on at Willow Nelson onstage with a fond, indulgent smile. "That girl's always bursting with energy."
Liam watched Ophelia join the playful dance. "Hopeless, she's just awful at it."
Matthew had been sneakily glancing at Madison ever since they sat down. He noticed she had ordered a 'Midnight Mist.'
Looking over again, he saw her cheeks flushed, leaning back against the couch.
Setting down his glass, Matthew walked over and seated himself next to Madison. It was then he realized she was drunk. "Silly woman," he thought, noting that the drink before her was nearly gone.
Madison had found the cocktail surprisingly decent. While the others danced, she'd quietly sipped away, unknowingly draining most of her glass. Feeling warm and light-headed, she leaned back into the sofa for support.
Hearing someone approach, she tried straightening up but failed and slumped against the backrest. Lifting her eyes, she saw what looked like Matthew coming toward her.
Matthew noticed Madison's tipsy appearance—the pink tint on her cheeks, the faint pout of her lips, the flush of her cheeks, and her glossy, unfocused eyes with a hint of alcohol. It seemed to add a certain charm to her delicate features. She looked at him with a puzzled expression as she tilted her head.
Regret suddenly washed over Matthew for not stopping her from ordering the drink. He didn't want anyone else to see Madison like this in her drunken vulnerability.
When Madison saw the familiar face before her, she relaxed and instinctively collapsed into Matthew's arms.
Matthew froze in his seat, taken aback by her sudden movement. He hadn't expected her to lunge at him, but instinctively, he reached out to steady her shoulders as she rested her head against his chest.
Her unique scent enveloped him, a comforting reminder of what he'd almost lost. It felt wonderfully right.
Dizzy and disoriented, Madison clutched at the sleeve of Matthew's white shirt.
Victor and the others watched the scene unfold, a sense of accomplishment washing over them, especially Steven, who was the most exhilarated.
Matthew grabbed his coat and, bending down, effortlessly scooped Madison up and walked away.
Willow and the others returned just in time to see Matthew whisk Madison away.
She lamented in her heart. Just like that... and Madison's down for the count so quickly!
Steven even whistled at their departing figures, "Looks like Madison has been swept off her feet by Matthew."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
