Chapter96Bound for France
Matthew had been holding back, avoiding seeing Madison lately. When Hannah called him, he said he was too swamped with work and would visit them over the weekend.
He had meticulously selected and booked a restaurant for dinner, ensuring everything was arranged flawlessly. The only thing left undecided was how to creatively reveal the ring he had purchased for a surprise proposal to Madison. After pondering it for a while, he decided to keep it in his pocket and personally present it to her.
On the third night, Matthew messaged Madison on Facebook, but she didn't reply. Concerned, he called her, but her phone was off, causing him to panic. He hurried to her place at New River Gardens, finding it dark and empty. Just as he thought of calling Hannah, he heard his daughter's voice behind him.
"Dad, what are you doing here? Isn't work keeping you too busy to visit until the weekend?"
Hannah ran up to him, and he caught her in his arms.
Approaching them, Rachel greeted, "Hi, Matthew."
Matthew nodded, craning his neck to look past her, but it was just Rachel with the two kids, no sign of Madison.
"Where's Mom?"
"Mom's on a business trip. We just dropped her off at the airport," Hannah explained innocently, leaving Matthew completely flabbergasted.
"What? Where did she go?" A string of questions popped into his head.
Rachel noticed Matthew looking somewhat off, with a curiosity about what Madison and he had discussed the other night. So, Madison hadn't mentioned the trip to France for the fashion design competition to him.
In a rush to clarify, Rachel explained, "Madison entered a contest in France for fashion design. She passed the preliminaries, and now she's off to the next round. She caught a flight earlier today we just came back from dropping her off at the airport. She should be on the plane by now."
Matthew was genuinely taken aback. He sat down with Hannah and reassured them, "Hannah, Dad's got an emergency at work, and it sounds like I'll be gone for a few days. You'll be at home with your brother and your godmother. Be good, okay? If you need to head over to William's, give me a call, and I'll arrange for our driver to pick you guys up."
He then turned to Quentin and said, "Quentin, take care of your sister."
Rising to his feet, he addressed Rachel, "Rachel, I appreciate your help with the kids."
Before anyone could react, he was on his phone and heading out the door.
Rachel, still a bit puzzled by his sudden departure, gestured towards the fading tail lights of his car, then took the hands of the two little ones.
"Let's go home, kids. Forget about your parents for now."
Matthew dialed Brian's number.
"Look up Madison's flight to France and find out where she's staying. Book me on the earliest flight to the same destination today. I'm heading to the airport right now."
"Hey, Matthew, what about the restaurant here? Madam's in France?" Brian had been waiting at the restaurant when he suddenly received the call from his boss—Madam had left Horizon City for France! What was going on?
"Do I really need to tell you how to handle the restaurant?" Matthew retorted, his tone harsh due to the surprising news of Madison's French departure.
Hearing that, Brian hesitated to ask more, "Got it, Matthew. I'll send the details to your phone ASAP."
After hanging up, he immediately got to work, finding Madison's destination in Paris and swiftly booking Matthew's flight. He then sent the hotel and flight information over.
Matthew reached the airport just in time to catch his flight, and soon, he was on his way to France.
*
France truly was a city of romance. Wandering the streets of Paris, one could find a comfortable, casual vibe everywhere. Cafes, museums, art shows, and interesting cultural events were at every turn.
Paris was a beacon of romance, with the fragrant lavender of Provence and the falling leaves on the Champs-Élysées taunting every romantic soul, not to mention the Eiffel Tower and its unique allure lingering at every corner at all hours.
Madison booked a hotel close to the Eiffel Tower. Opening her window, she was greeted by its stunning silhouette. Excited, she couldn't wait to explore the city streets, taking in the romantic atmosphere of the Champs-Élysées.
After wandering for about thirty minutes, she found a cozy café and settled into a chair outside. Sipping her coffee slowly, she loved watching the bustling stream of people passing by.
This was Madison's first trip abroad, and her college French proved useful for basic communication. It wasn't until she set foot in Paris that she felt her dream was truly within reach.
Matthew, having just landed, made a beeline for the hotel location Brian had sent him.
He approached the receptionist in fluent French, inquiring whether Madison was staying there. The receptionist, prioritizing guest privacy, didn't divulge any information.
Matthew told the receptionist his wife had left home, expressing worry and asking if she was staying there. Despite the receptionist's sympathy, she could only confirm Madison had already left the hotel.
With no other options, Matthew settled on the lobby sofa, sure she'd return eventually. He decided to wait.
It was evening when Madison returned, carrying freshly-bought bread. She'd already had dinner earlier, swayed by a bustling queue to join in and grab a quick bite for a late-night snack.
Upon entering, the receptionist notified her, "Ma'am, there's been a very handsome gentleman waiting for you for quite some time."
Madison, dazed, followed the receptionist's gaze and spotted a man on a sofa not far away. She instantly recognized Matthew's silhouette.
How did he find her here?
She thought of fleeing, but her feet were as heavy as lead, rooted to the spot.
Eventually, she approached him from behind, only to find him resting against the sofa, fast asleep. Madison circled to his front, facing his familiar, now wearied expression.
She hesitated whether to wake him. Sleeping in the lobby was hardly proper, and she couldn't fathom why he didn't just check into a room to rest.
Matthew woke up, realizing he'd dozed off while just resting his eyes. The past few days had been busy with work, and he'd been thinking of ways to express his feelings to Madison. Running on little sleep and facing a long flight, he felt exhausted.
When Madison saw him stirring, she turned to leave with the food in hand, but Matthew reached out and caught her arm. His gaze was locked on her, wordlessly pleading, refusing to let her slip away.
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