Married to a secret billionaire

Never giving in

Chapter 9

Madison spent the next few hours with her kind caregiver and was about dropping the get-well- soon card she had purchased from on her way to hospital before she got a call from Felicia- her step sister.

What could Felicia calling her for? If not just to make silly trouble and act like the spoilt fool that she was.

Rolling her eyes, Madison swiped her phone screen, picking up the call.

"Mom said there will be family dinner tonight. And we should come with our partner." Felicia had stated.

"What's the unnecessary gathering for?" Madison said, hoping it was something of less importance so she would gave a flimsy excuse and have a good rest.

Now she was married, though not to someone she loved, peace of mind was something she never lacked in that small old house.

There was nobody to taunt her, reminding her of how helpless and forever grateful she should be for they had adopted her. She was tired of Felicia accusing her and collecting whatever accolades she deserved.

"Maybe you should ask that to mother when you see her tonight." Madison knew she had gotten on Felicia's nerve with the response she got.

"Besides," Felicia added, over the phone. "You should talk to Steve about Amos' offer to employ him as a guard rather than feeding that useless idler whose only pass mark is his attractive look."

Madison could hear the scorn in her voice. It was not just and advice, she was trying to rub marriage of convenience on her face.

But Madison swore in her heart never to give Felicia that satisfaction. "I'm yet to comprehend how that's your stress, seeing that you got yourself a man, job and foolish guts with parted legs like the w***e that you are."

"Do you realize that you're talking to me?! I could stop Amos from offering Steve a job in his company. And I even wanted to have him assigned the post of the head security guard!" Felicia yelled and Madison took the phone away from her ears for few seconds before fore bursting into laughter.

"I guess you're a lot dumber than I suspected. Who said Steve is going to work for Amos? Who said so? Who f*****g complained Felicia Or are you just deluded and pathetic? "

"Fine! Go rot in hell with an idler!!" Felicia screamed, hanging up.

Gritting her teeth, Madison breathed in and out with her hand gripping her phone as her heart pounded against her ribcage.

God! She was so furious. No, she was filled with ferocity. For if Felicia was right there with her, she would have dealt ruthlessly with her.

"Madison," A gentle voice called and her heart skipped a beat as she turned towards Ms Hannah.

She had been so angry that she forgot she was in the hospital room with her caregiver. And undoubtedly, the kind woman must have heard her cussing.

Madison got vexed again as she breathed in, out and in, again before ending the call. "I'm glad you're now responding to treatment." Her lips stretched into a thin, straight line that could barely pass off as a smile.

All through the hours she had spent today with Ms Hannah, she didn't talked to her directly, rather she would hum along the lyrics of Breathe again and smile. So, Madison was glad when she had not only talked to her, but called her by her name.

"L-Learn to always breathe again." The woman muttered, staring with those weak but soulful eyes at Madison.

Coming from her, those words sounded weird and ironic. But nevertheless, Madison had it engraved in her heart.

To. Learn. To. Always. Breathe. Again.

●●●●●●●●●

Parking her Land Rover discovery sport car in front of the small old house she had accepted as her home, Madison walked right inside.

She had shopped some fruits and vegetables on her way. And she hoped to make something nice for dinner. But then, she remembered once again that her adoptive mom might not take her rebellion lightly.

Not that Madison cared or gave two f***s about the woman's instructions but she was careful not to stir trouble which could not only lead to not paying of Ms Hannah's medical bills but then exposure of her real position in the family.

It could cause big problem between she and Steve. And also, God knows what would happen to her reputation. Undoubtedly, it would be soiled in the mud and she might lose her job.

Visiting Ms Hannah today at the hospital greatly affected Madison in a positive way as she couldn't get over the fact that the woman was responding to treatment. She wasn't as pale, swollen and helpless as she had been few weeks ago.

"Hey," She called as she entered the house. Steve was in the sitting room so she suspected that he was probably using her absence to give himself some good rest on the bed.

But perplexingly, he was sitting on the bed typing away on his phone. He had a serious look ok his face as she paused studying what he was doing, from where she stood.

"You keep amusing me," Steve tossed his phone aside and turned towards her. He had heard the clinking of her heels on the ground and knew she was home already. So, he found it really amusing when she had halted, probably thinking he wasn't aware of her return.

And just as predicted, she had a somewhat suspicious look on her face which she had quickly switched to an expressionless one as she walked towards the bathroom door.

"Good evening to you too." She said, bits of sardonicism evident in her words.

"You shouldn't have paused to stare in that manner. I guess you're a polite woman." Steve retorted.

"Well," He continued when Madison didn't say a word. "I was waiting for you to come back so as to make dinner together."

Together?, Madison thought it was weird hearing thay word as her stared Steve.

"That wouldn't be possible. We would be going to see my parents tonight." She stated, pulling off heels and throwing it carelessly on the ground.

"Hey, hey! Can you kindly pick up those heels and... and put them where it should?" Steve tried his possible best to sound polite. He didn't like things being in disorder neither did he want to come off as rude.

"You should start dressing by now. We would be off to see them anytime soon." Madison eyed him before grabbing some clothes for change as she walked into the bathroom.

Muttering curses, Steve picked up her heels which he thought cute and placed them where Madison had lined up her other footwears.

"You could have called earlier so as to look good for them!" Steve shouted but then suddenly realized that they didn't even have each others number.