Chapter90Let's Remarry
After speaking his piece, Matthew continued to gaze at Madison, the red roses in his arms blooming wickedly.
Madison, caught between the deep affection in his eyes and a hint of stubbornness, panicked and didn't know how to react, tempted to evade the situation.
She turned her back to him and, fumbling to unlock her door with her fingerprint, said, "Whatever it is... we can talk tomorrow... It's late, and I... I need to rest."
Matthew grasped her hand firmly, "I have something important to tell you."
"Let's talk another time, really. It's too late," she insisted.
Madison tried pulling away, rushing to escape into her apartment.
"We can talk here or inside, your choice," Matthew pressed, unwilling to beat around the bush. He had been preparing all night long and was determined to deliver the roses.
Concerned about causing a disturbance in the hallway so late at night and possibly waking the neighbors, Madison begrudgingly opened the door, allowing Matthew to step inside.
Inside the house, two people stood facing each other.
Matthew still cradled a bouquet in his arms, which he awkwardly extended to Madison.
"Here, these are for you."
"Why would you... suddenly give me flowers?" Madison couldn't figure it out. In the three years they were married, he'd never given her flowers, and now, years after their divorce, it seemed inexplicable.
Madison didn't reach out to take them, and Matthew didn't seem to mind. He just set them on the table. They'd made it to her house, after all.
After placing the flowers down, Matthew stood in the living room with his head bowed, showing no sign of leaving. Madison was at a loss for his intentions and remained silent as well.
Suddenly, Matthew looked up and asked, "What do you think about our relationship now?"
Caught off guard, Madison honestly replied, "It's... it's good!"
They were co-parenting their children without any custody battles. The kids were with her, she'd bought a house, and she had a career she loved. Madison felt it couldn't get much better.
"Let's get remarried," Matthew blurted out.
Silence ensued. Matthew had never felt as nervous as he did now, not even during perilous situations or billion-dollar negotiations. He was completely out of sorts, anxiously awaiting an answer from the woman in front of him.
Madison, hearing Matthew's proposal, wondered if she had misheard or if she'd somehow misled him with a recent action.
Staying hadn't been about rekindling their relationship. She couldn't fathom why he'd suddenly propose remarriage—it could be due to pressure from Grandpa or maybe for Quentin and Hannah.
After three years of marriage, Madison had come to understand that unrequited love wasn't love at all. Reaching out to someone who couldn't reciprocate was futile. Some connections simply weren't meant to be, and even after encountering them, they would inevitably fade away.
She didn't want to trap him with the responsibilities of children.
Perhaps his offer was just an impulsive thought, but she couldn't risk experiencing loss a second time.
Call her timid, but she feared the heartbreak, preferring the current calm, steady interaction with him.
"I think... things are good as they are right now, I..."
"You don't have to give me an answer right now. Take your time. I can wait."
Matthew quickly interjected, scared of a rejection. Maybe silence meant he still had a chance.
After Matthew left, Madison gazed at the flowers on the table, feeling disoriented as she sat on the couch in a daze.
If he didn't love her, what was the point of remarrying?
*
Madison had a restless night, tossing and turning over Matthew's antics from the evening before. She headed to the studio early, with Rachel arriving shortly after her.
"Totally wiped. Last night's flight didn't get in until after midnight, and by the time I got home, it was past one," Rachel collapsed onto the sofa the moment she entered the office.
Madison warmed up some fresh milk for her and grabbed a slice of toast, setting it on the table—figuring Rachel had skipped breakfast.
"Have some breakfast first. Why didn't you sleep in this morning? There was no rush," Madison said with a kind smile, suggesting Rachel relax.
"Madison, I just couldn't wait to see you. I wasn't even here when you moved. I haven't even seen your new place yet," Rachel said with a pout, clinging to Madison's arm.
"We'll go over tonight. Quentin and Hannah are with their William, so we probably won't see them for a couple of days," Madison suggested.
Rachel mumbled through a mouthful of toast, "I haven't seen my honorary niece and nephew in ages. I miss them so much."
"They've missed you too. They keep asking why you'd been away on business for so long."
"Well, you know, gotta make a living. Speaking of which, Madison, I met this incredibly renowned fashion designer. She liked our designs and handed me this application for you, encouraging you to enter an international fashion contest. Here, I brought the application back for you. Just fill it out and send it over by email," Rachel said, fishing the application form from her bag.
Madison took the form and studied it carefully. "Do you think I can do it?"
Madison wondered if she was ready for the big international competition. Their boutique clothing line was doing well locally, but compared to international brands, it was still small. Winning this competition could mean a massive boost for the company and for her personally.
"Of course you can, Madison! You've got to believe in yourself. Your designs are exceptional. Don't worry, just go for it! We've got your back. And in the unlikely event that the judges can't see your talent, well, we're doing just fine with our little business as it is," Rachel reassured her with confidence.
Madison chuckled at Rachel's playful jab about the judge's discernment. She understood that in international competitions, the judges were seasoned professionals. Not winning simply meant there was room for improvement or that other contestants were more talented.
"I've finished drafting the designs for those orders you sent me recently. I worked overtime on them. I’ll send them to the client tomorrow to check if they need any revisions. Once they're approved, I'll source the fabric and get started on production."
"Sounds like a plan!" Rachel finished her breakfast feeling recharged.
Looking at Madison's dark circles under her eyes, Rachel couldn't help but say, "Maddy, I know making money's important, but your health’s even more so. Don’t pull another all-nighter, okay? Take it easy next time the orders aren't going anywhere."
"I know, I know. You're starting to sound more nagging than before," Madison replied, slightly embarrassed. She hadn't stayed up late. She had just been unable to sleep, restless because of someone's words from the night before, and barely got some shut-eye by dawn.
"Maddie, let's have beef hotpot for dinner tonight. We can hit the farmers market after breakfast and buy some fresh ingredients," Rachel suggested with a smile.
"Sounds good."
The two dove back into their work, determined to earn their keep.
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