Chapter98Serendipity
Matthew didn't think he'd see Madison at the gallery. After she sent him away that morning, he went back to the hotel to rest, feeling poorly after a restless night. Later, he ordered room service and had a meal, unaware of Madison's return.
He knew she was busy with the competition, and he didn't want to intrude further, so he left the hotel alone, wandering without direction. He mulled over where Madison might go—Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower, perhaps. But given her passion for design and drawing, she might choose an art museum.
But which one? Paris was dotted with so many.
Following a hunch, he chose a location and hailed a cab. He wandered around for a while, but Madison was nowhere in sight. Chuckling to himself, he mocked the notion that such serendipitous encounters only occurred in TV shows, dismissing them as the creation of a scriptwriter's imagination.
Disappointed, he almost left, but then he returned to the main gallery hall. As he looked at a Monet masterpiece, he was surprised to see the petite woman sitting in front of the painting.
At that moment, a wave of surprise flooded over Matthew. He even worried he might be hallucinating. Blinking hard, he confirmed it was indeed Madison. For the first time, he wanted to believe in 'fate' – in vast Paris, their paths crossed again. This time, he wouldn't let go.
He approached her gently, not wanting to disturb her as she admired the artwork. She sat absorbed in the painting while he stood, captivated by her gaze. Together, they blended into the canvas while passersby respectfully avoided intruding.
Their eyes met, and Madison felt uneasy under the intensity of his gaze, yet they continued. Head bowed, she walked toward him and stopped just before him.
"What a coincidence to see you here," she said softly.
"A happy coincidence," Matthew replied. Indeed, such a stroke of luck had brought them together in a Parisian art gallery.
Together, they walked out and found themselves strolling down the Parisian streets lined with blooming irises—a gentle breeze brushed by, and the city exuded romance.
Madison mused over the surprising turn of events. Never had she imagined walking with Matthew through the charming streets of Paris.
They strolled back to their hotel, with Madison feeling perfectly at ease in her flats. Matthew suggested dinner at the hotel's restaurant, remembering the satisfying Chinese food he had ordered for lunch.
The unexpected encounter in the afternoon may have sparked a connection for Madison, or it could have been the hopeful longing in Matthew's eyes that left her unable to refuse. Consequently, Madison agreed to join him for dinner.
Seeing her nod, Matthew's heart, which had risen to his throat, finally settled.
He secured a table by the window, the ideal spot to marvel at the city's breathtaking nightscape.
Surprisingly, what he couldn't arrange in Horizon City, a dinner with Madison, was happening in Paris.
They ordered their meal. Matthew also chose a bottle of red wine.
Madison initially declined the drink, with competition looming the next day. Still, the enchanting evening mood made it hard to resist, and she ultimately didn't stop Matthew from pouring the wine.
Madison had barely sipped the wine, mainly watching as Matthew took his drinks.
Matthew repeatedly reached into his pocket for courage, his left hand clutching the small box containing the pink diamond ring he couldn't bring himself to present.
Concerned that it might distract Madison from her competition the next day, he ended up feeling dizzy from the alcohol, with the ring still concealed in his pocket.
After dinner, they returned to their rooms, stopping at the door. Matthew called out to Madison.
"The competition is tomorrow, right?"
Madison nodded in response.
"How about we take a boat ride down the Seine after it's all over?" Matthew's voice trembled with uncertainty.
"Is there something going on? I don't know when it'll be over."
"It's okay, no matter how late, I'll wait for you."
"All right then."
They went their separate ways, each entering their own room.
Once in her room, Madison got ready for bed early, having a brief video chat with the little ones, who were as well-behaved as ever. Rachel said they'd bathed, brushed their teeth, and put themselves to bed.
Madison heard Hannah's question and wondered if Matthew had told the kids about Paris. She shrugged it off and quickly fell asleep after the call, feeling the wine's effects.
The following day, Madison ate breakfast at the hotel before heading to the competition, not seeing Matthew at all before she left.
The semi-final involved on-the-spot design submissions, with judges scoring live, eliminating the highest and lowest scores for an average. The top five would advance to the finals.
With a considerable number of competitors, it was an intense affair. Backstage, Madison rubbed her sweaty palms, feeling the nerves kick in.
Checking her phone, she saw messages from Rachel and the kids on Facebook, with a long voice message full of cheers and encouragement. Listening to her precious little ones settled her nerves.
Matthew had also sent a Facebook message, just two simple words. "Good luck."
Her name was called, and Madison set her phone down, ready for battle.
The event, bustling with competitors, carried on until evening, when the final scores were revealed. Tension filled the air as they announced the list of finalists. When Madison heard her name, her heart soared. She had made it to the finals.
Containing her excitement, she strode onto the stage, ranked third overall—an excellent score. Grasping the finalist card in her hand, she was so overwhelmed that it took a while to sink in.
Descending the stage, she was approached by a lady with a stylish flair and a sense of sophistication about her. Madison nodded politely with a smile, not expecting to be addressed so soon. "Are you Madison?" the woman asked.
Madison blinked in surprise, replying with a hint of curiosity, "Yes, I am. And you are?"
The woman extended her hand. "Hello, I'm Cindy. I've seen your designs. I'm the one who handed you the application."
Surprised, Madison paused to understand that the pleasant woman facing her, whose smile was as warm as her name, was indeed the individual Rachel had referred to—the one who appreciated her designs and supplied her with the application form.
A bit nervously, Madison reached out to shake her hand. "Hi, thank you so much."
"Congratulations on making it to the finals. How about dinner together?" Cindy invited. Madison, too polite to decline, was whisked away to the hotel restaurant by the enthusiastic Cindy.
Meanwhile, Matthew had attended the competition as well. He stayed until Madison was announced as a finalist, then went to the Seine to wait for her. However, when she didn't appear, he attempted to reach her through Facebook and phone calls, but without success.
Worried that something might have happened, he hurried back to the competition's hotel, anxious.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
