Loving Madeline

Chapter 361: My Sister’s Advice

Jack’s POV

Coming home to Magnolia without Charlotte felt different, and I missed her terribly, but as I thought about our upcoming wedding, all my worries and uncertainties vanished.

"You didn’t need to come and pick us up, son. Whatever happens, we are going to attend your wedding, " my mom said with a smile. I knew she missed me and felt happy that I had come.

"This is my home too, and I guess I am still welcome here," I responded, trying to look hurt.

"Come on, you are always welcome, son, and you know that," my mom replied, welcoming me with a hug and kisses on my cheeks.

"I wished to settle here after we established our businesses," I said, and she raised her eyebrows as if I was talking nonsense.

"Oh, I love that idea, but I don’t think your bride would like that, Jack," Mom responded with concern.

My mother added, "Did you talk with Charlotte about your plan to build a house here in Magnolia after your wedding day?"

"Mmm, not yet, but I think she would love to spend her days here; we can visit the manor and the hotel since we can delegate the operation to Cecily. I wanted her to venture into a hotel resort here in Magnolia," I responded. I am excited to share my ideas with Charlotte after our wedding.

"Well, that is a good idea for me since I love you guys to be near us. And Magnolia is a beautiful place—don’t get me wrong—Barcelonia is a wonderful place too, but it is best always to be surrounded by your family, " my mom replied.

"Yes, I know, mom. That is why I planned to stay here and be with you and Lianne on weekends." I declared.

After my sister arrived from the restaurant, we shared a sumptuous meal in our house.

I wondered why Charlotte didn’t answer my text messages and calls. It is almost twenty-four hours, and we are on our way to the airport.

"Cel, is everything okay down there? Is Charlotte okay?" I asked Cecily before she could say anything since I felt anxious that my fiancee had been ignoring my calls and text messages. When I tried to dial her number this morning, it was out of the coverage area.

"Cecily, are you still there?" I asked when she didn’t respond.

"Yes, Jack, she is fine, but she left," Cecily’s words made my entire body cold.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"She left the manor, and I don’t know where she is right now, " my friend replied, and I could feel her anxiousness on the other line.

"Why?" I asked, and I felt more anxious about what she was about to say.

"I didn’t know what happened, Jack," she responded.

"Hey, I’m worried about what’s going on. I’m begging you to tell me what happened to my fiancee. Tell me why Charlotte couldn’t answer my call, " I said, trying to control my voice.

"She found out about the secret you had been hiding, Jack. She saw the contract you signed with Hunter. I thought you got rid of those documents, Jack?" Cecily asked back, and her words made my entire body turn cold.

I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. I was about to shred it when I received a call from Hunter, and I had forgotten to take care of it. I felt so stupid for keeping it in my drawer.

"You know I love her, right?" I asked in more than a whisper.

"Of course, I tried my best to explain how much you love her, but she wouldn’t listen to me," Cecily explained.

"I understand; it is all my fault, but I needed to see her, Cecily. I couldn’t imagine my life without her," I muttered.

"I hope you can win her back, Jack. I didn’t want both of you to suffer. You belong together. She is in pain, and Charlotte hated you." Cecily’s words pierced my heart.

"I can’t blame her; she has all the right to hate me, but I will do everything I can to win her back," I answered, hopeful that everything would be okay.

"How about your upcoming wedding? Do I need to cancel everything?" she asked since Cecily was Charlotte’s right hand.

"No, just leave everything as it is; Charlotte and I will be there on our wedding day together with my family and hers; I will find her," I replied, but my words felt hollow in my mouth.

I left Magnolia without my mother and sister. I told them I needed to take care of something. I didn’t tell them Charlotte found out the truth. I didn’t want them to worry about us.

I drove to Archois and went straight to the Divenson Mansion, hoping to find her there.

"I am sorry, Sir, but we haven’t seen Miss Charlotte for a long time; the last time we saw her was during her father’s funeral. We took care of the house, but none of the Divensons came home recently, " the butler said, and I didn’t believe him.

I ran inside the house even if he tried to block my way and yelled at me to stop. I searched every room and felt frustrated that she wasn’t there.

I only stopped searching when the police officers arrived and had to drag me out of the enormous house. I called Hunter and was thankful he came and bailed me out. He explained to the police that he authorized me to search their home.

"You knew?" I asked after he settled on the driver’s seat of his car.

"Yes, my sister arrived in my office today ready to attack me, and I was shocked that she found out the truth. How could you be so careless, Jack?" He responded, but it took me a long time to answer him.

"I planned to throw the contract away, but I overlooked everything, and now, I don’t know what to do, Hunter. I messed up." I responded as I inclined on my seat and watched the road.

"Do you know where I can find her?" I asked.

"I asked one of my men to follow her, and your instinct was right, Jack. She is staying in our mansion." Hunter answered, and I felt so angry with myself for being such a fool.

"So, she was there this whole time?" I asked.

"Yes, and if I were you, you better not show yourself to her at the moment. Give her time and wait until her anger towards us subsides." Hunter declared.

"No, Hunter, I can’t. Our wedding is in two days. I need to see her," I answered, looking at him sideways.

"I don’t think it is going to happen, Jack. I apologized to my sister and told her it was all my fault, not yours. I took full responsibility for what happened, but she won’t listen to me, and you know my sister." Hunter’s answer made me grunt.

"You need to help me, Hunter. I love your sister, and you know that." I replied.

"We all knew that Jack, but Charlotte is now blinded by her anger," Hunter responded as he looked at me sideways with concern in the tone of his voice.

"And she hated me too," he added with regret on his face before he looked back on the road.

"For now, you better lay low, don’t show yourself to her, and wait until her anger subsides." He continued, and I heaved as I inclined on my seat.

I didn’t listen to Hunter’s advice. I came to the Divension mansion every day at the entrance near the archway since the guard wouldn’t open the gate for me.

It had been three months since I had seen her, and I waited and waited from dawn to midnight, but she didn’t come out of the mansion. I became more frustrated, and the pain of losing Charlotte is making me crazy.

It felt like I was carrying an invisible weight in my chest—a constant ache that pulsed with every thought of her. It feels as though an essential part of my life has been locked away, leaving me standing outside, helpless and yearning.

The silence is deafening, and the absence is sharper than any blade. It’s not just missing her presence but grappling with the knowledge that she chooses not to see or forgive me. I admit it was all my fault, but I hoped her love for me was more potent than her anger.

There were deliveries almost every day, from dry goods to food supplies, but no one came out of the mansion the whole time I stayed there.

"Jack, if she wanted to speak with you, she must have given you a chance already, but she was hiding in that big house and won’t speak to anyone," Lianne said the moment I arrived at my place.

"You better get your bearings and do something productive. Don’t waste your time waiting for her to come out." My sister continued while I shook my head.

"Li, I tried my best but can’t," I replied.

"What do you mean you can’t?" My sister asked, irritated.

"I can’t do anything. I felt so useless, and I didn’t know what to do. All I knew was I needed to speak with her," I replied as I lowered my head to avoid my sister’s scrutinizing gaze.

"Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? You looked terrible, Jack. If you want to take her back, at least take a bath and change your clothes into something presentable. You looked like a beggar and are no longer the little brother I used to know." My sister responded with disappointment in her voice.

"You can’t win her back if you look like that; I will never allow you to ruin yourself like this because of her. You made a mistake, but you didn’t mean to fool her. We witnessed how much you care for her and how much you love her." Lianne added as she walked closer to me, took my hands, and squeezed them.

"If Charlotte loves you, she will give you another chance, and you should not waste your time doing nothing productive; you need to get a grip, Jack, or you will lose yourself. Fight for your love, but never forget to love yourself first." She declared in more than a whisper as she slowly let go of my hands.

She left me standing in the living room, and I realized my sister was right; I needed to get my bearings and face the reality that I had to deal with the consequences of what I had done to the woman I loved.