Chapter99Dazzling Lights

Matthew kept calling Madison as he made his way, growing more anxious with each unanswered call. When he left, they were just about to distribute the advancement cards. Madison should have been waiting at the Seine by now for the river cruise, but she was nowhere to be found.

Upon arriving at the hotel in a rush, the competition venue was nearly deserted, with just a few staff members wrapping up and preparing for the final in two days.

After searching to no avail for Madison, an increasingly frantic Matthew grabbed a staff member to inquire, "Excuse me, have all the finalists left?"

The young French girl, faced with the handsome and frantic man, confirmed that all the contestants had left. She watched him dash away, looking helpless and unable to help.

Matthew wondered if Madison might have returned to her hotel. He caught a ride back, but nobody answered his knocks. Where could she have gone?

He returned to the docks by the Seine River, realizing that the riverboat had long since departed, and it was nearly midnight.

Madison had dinner with Cindy, a teacher with a unique view on design and lots of ideas. Their talk was inspiring, and despite being over fifty, Cindy looked much younger. They exchanged phone numbers before parting ways.

After leaving Cindy, Madison saw missed calls and messages from Matthew on her phone. She had silenced it earlier, so she didn't hear it ring. It was past eleven, and she realized she missed the riverboat trip Matthew had invited her to. She had told him she wasn't sure when she'd be free. When she tried calling him back, his phone was off.

He must have gone back to the hotel, she thought.

Madison took a cab back to her hotel, a nagging concern pushing her to knock on the neighboring room's door. No response.

Hadn't he returned?

Caught in her thoughts, she wondered whether he was still waiting for her or had gotten tied up with something else.

Her phone rang, it was Patrick.

"Madison, is Matthew with you? It's his birthday today, and I wanted to wish him well, but his phone is off."

Madison was momentarily stunned, Patrick's words exploding in her mind. She replied dully, "No, I'm not with him. I had a competition today and then dined late with a teacher I met."

"You know what? Matthew chases you to Paris. He wants to see you," Patrick said.

"I gotta go. I'll try to find him," Madison quickly added. She had genuinely thought Matthew was in Paris for business, and their meeting was coincidental.

But was his trip really just to see her? He hadn't mentioned that, nor had he said anything about his birthday.

She recalled mentioning that she wasn't sure when she'd finish, but he had responded that he'd wait as long as necessary. Throughout their relationship, she had never witnessed him celebrate his birthday.

With a racing heart, Madison hung up in a rush, dashed for the elevator, and urgently hailed a cab toward the Seine.

Upon reaching the docks, she hurried, but the boat had already left. The area was still lively with couples, tourists, and the shining lights of the Eiffel Tower. Madison walked along the riverbank, searching for Matthew, but couldn't find him under the tower. She wondered if he had already gone back, feeling a sense of loss.

As midnight chimed, a new day dawned, and the towering metal structure commenced its nightly light display. The twinkling bulbs resembled stars, enchanting spectators with their brilliance.

Beneath the allure of the glittering tower, couples began to kiss. Madison lingered for a moment, sighed, and then decided to head back. "It's too late now," she thought, turning to leave.

As she turned, an evening breeze tousled her hair. She reached up to brush it back, feeling a searing gaze fixed upon her. Pushing the strands aside.

Twenty feet away stood Matthew, locking eyes with her. Madison was stunned, foolishly staring back at him.

Above them, the tower's lights continued to flicker amidst the bustling crowd. His gaze bore through the throng of people and years of fleeting moments, all seemingly leading up to this one encounter.

After an elaborate search, they had finally found each other.

Confused, Madison tried to decipher the fiery intensity in his eyes. She couldn't tell if he was angry or calm.

Madison's mouth opened, yet before any words escaped, Matthew swiftly closed the gap between them. Moving with rapid steps, he encircled her in a strong embrace. Deprived of an opportunity to say anything, his head leaned down, and he sealed her lips with a tender kiss.

The kiss held an intensity, a blend of urgency and fierceness.

With one hand around Madison's waist and the other cradling the back of her head, Matthew kissed her passionately. She stood in awe as his lips pressed against hers, his tongue exploring in a rhythm of gentle bites. Madison held onto Matthew's shoulders, trying to steady herself amidst the overwhelming sensation.

As Madison finally gasped for air, Matthew released her lips, his eyes ablaze with restrained emotion. Before she could speak, he captured her lips once more with fervor.

Their bodies were pressed tight together, and she could feel his arousal pressing boldly against her. His kisses became rougher, deeper. Madison's heart thundered, her body arching involuntarily, held up only by his firm embrace.

Finally, the kiss came to an end, and Matthew held Madison close as if seeking solace from the storm raging within him, as though he feared losing his most cherished possession.

His heartbeat was as rapid as Madison's. Lying against his chest, she listened to the solid and steady thump of his heart, a tremor spreading within her.

Although she had initially planned to push him away, she found herself staying put, yielding to his embrace. Wrapped in his coffee-colored coat, Matthew exuded a comforting warmth that enveloped her. Leaning into him, she was flooded with a profound sense of security.

As the tower's lights finished their sequence, the crowd began to disperse, couples hand-in-hand strolling toward the riverside.

Now more composed, the two stood entwined in each other's arms. Madison attempted to step back, but Matthew gradually loosened his hold, though he still kept her within reach, unwilling to let her stray too far from his side.
True Love After Divorce
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