Chapter87An Encounter
The neighborhood around New River Gardens was bustling at night, with a vibrancy starkly contrasting the tranquil atmosphere near the villa areas, where a simple quest for food required a drive.
Madison noticed a beef hotpot restaurant along their stroll, its warm glow drawing them in. Knowing the kids loved hotpot, the decision was simple. Even Matthew, unfamiliar with hotpot, was curious to try. With confidence, Madison led the group inside.
After a busy day with only spaghetti for lunch, their stomachs craved something heartier. Madison scanned the menu, pleasantly surprised by the fair prices. Without hesitation, she ordered a lavish spread, and soon, they found themselves delighted by the delicious meal.
Matthew never expected such a gem hidden in a modest establishment.
All four of them savored the meal with joy.
Heading back, Madison stopped at the fruit stand below their apartment to grab some more fresh goodies. That's when they realized that Matthew was still tagging along. Finally, Madison spoke up, "It's getting late. You should go back now."
Matthew stood silent, his eyes conveying an innocence that made Madison feel as if he had wronged him in some way.
Hannah took her chance to play the ally, tugging at Madison's sleeve and whining, "Mom, let Dad come up and rest a bit, maybe have some fruit or something."
Madison, picking an orange from the freshly bought batch, handed it to him.
Matthew, with a gentle smile, accepted the orange.
Lowering his gaze to Hannah, Matthew softly said, "Honey, you go up with Mom and your brother. Dad will come to see you tomorrow."
"Okay."
After watching the trio head upstairs and seeing the light turn on in their seventh-floor window, Matthew walked to his car and drove away.
Back at the villa, Matthew sat in his car, peeling the orange Madison had given him, and took a bite.
“Mmm—it’s sweet.”
*
Madison and Matthew grew closer after moving. They often visited Grandpa at The Old Residence on weekends. Matthew would sometimes take the kids alone, and Madison joined them when she could. On other days, they went out for fun activities.
During the week, if Matthew got off work early, he'd swing by River Gardens, often bringing little treats for the children.
He'd almost always end up staying for dinner. Madison figured an extra plate or two wasn't much trouble, especially considering Matthew would otherwise be eating alone.
Lately, Madison has been busy finishing up drafts. Rachel had mentioned that after attending a fashion show, she'd met quite a few people, leading to a burst in orders. Most days, she was either sketching new designs or bustling in and out of the studio.
Busy as she was, Madison felt fulfilled.
On Friday, after dropping the youngsters off at the daycare, Madison took the subway to the studio.
Stepping into the office, she received a call from Nicholas.
"Nicholas—"
"Madison, I heard you guys moved. I just got back from Jing City today. How about I and Rachel come over for dinner tonight?"
"Sure, we've just settled in. Rachel's been on a business trip and gets back this afternoon. I'll text you the address, and you can head over later."
"Sounds good."
After hanging up with Nicholas, Madison texted Rachel to find out what time she'd arrive.
Unexpectedly, Rachel replied that she was swamped and had to reschedule her return.
Madison thought about calling Nicholas to cancel since they had agreed to meet, but he was busy, and there was no guarantee they'd find another opportunity soon with Rachel's travels.
So, she buckled down to finish the day's drawings, as the recent influx of orders had the whole team working non-stop.
Around five o'clock, Madison left the studio to hit the grocery store. The kitchen was running low on supplies, and she wanted to be ready for Nicholas's visit.
That morning, Matthew had picked up Quentin and Hannah for a sleepover at Grandpa's place so Madison would be home alone after grocery shopping.
She put down her bag and got started in the kitchen, bringing out the last dish right when the doorbell rang.
Madison dried her hands and went to answer the door.
Nicholas stood at the front door clad in a sharp suit, as if he'd just rushed over from some important event, holding a gift box in his hand.
Spotting Madison opening the door, he stepped inside and handed over the box. "Bought you some aromatherapy candles from a store in Bay City. A colleague recommended them and said they smell great."
"Thanks, Nicholas," Madison said, placing the bag on a cabinet in the living room.
Nicholas, not seeing the kids around, asked with a hint of surprise, "Are Quentin and Hannah not home?"
"Oh, their dad picked them up to stay over at William's place tonight. They won't be back. Rachel couldn't make it either. She had a last-minute thing and had to reschedule her flight. We can get ready for dinner, Nicholas," Madison said while heading to the kitchen to serve the soup.
Nicholas shrugged off his jacket and followed Madison into the kitchen, insisting when he saw her in motion, "Let me help."
"Sure," said Madison, stepping aside to grab plates and utensils.
The two sat down face to face at the dinner table, Madison having cooked four dishes and a soup. They chatted casually as they ate.
"Nicholas, you mentioned last time that business moved to Horizon City, but you were on the road again for quite a while," Madison asked curiously.
"Yeah, working in tourism development means a lot of travel," Nicholas explained. Though the company's focus had shifted, many projects still required his personal attention, hence the constant trips.
"That's not so bad, like mixing business with some sightseeing," Madison commented with a smile, liking the idea of working while traveling.
In the middle of their conversation, a knock came from the door.
Madison wondered who it could be at this hour.
"I'll check," Madison said, rising to answer the door.
Madison was surprised to see Matthew at the door with a thermos of homemade chicken soup. He had brought it over after dinner at Valerie's insistence since the kids were at The Old Family Residence. However, Madison seemed taken aback by his unexpected visit.
"What's wrong? Is this a bad time?" Matthew asked.
Madison, coming back to his senses, heard Nicholas's voice from inside. "Madison, everything okay?"
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