Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Jewel came through safely, and the baby was saved. She returned to her hospital room looking pale and miserable, her eyes red from crying. Combined with her delicate appearance, she looked truly fragile and pitiful.

"Don't worry too much. The baby is fine." Chris reassured her.

"Chris, I'm so scared," Jewel cried.

Chris handed her a tissue, and she took it. She held onto his hand, with her tear-streaked face resting on the back of his hand.

Sure, she looked pitiful, but that didn't mean she could just treat someone else's fiancé like her husband.

I walked over to them. "Mrs. Goodwin, the doctor said that intense emotions aren't good for the baby. You've managed to save your child. It would be a problem if something were to happen because you cried." I gently pulled her away from Chris without making a fuss.

But seeing the tears on Chris' hand back, I couldn't help feeling uncomfortable as if something of mine had been dirtied by someone else.

I was a bit of a clean freak, both in daily life and in relationships.

Jewel seemed surprised when I addressed her as Mrs. Goodwin. Her face visibly stiffened, but she quickly adjusted her emotions.

"Chris, I'm sorry. What am I doing?" She reached for a tissue to wipe Chris' hand, only for me to stop her.

"Mrs. Goodwin, you shouldn't move around right now."

Jewel's face froze, her tearful eyes looked at Chris with obvious admiration.

"Does Jewel like you?" I asked Chris directly as we came out of the ward.

"No," Chris denied it.

"What about you? Do you like her?"

If I was going to ask, I wanted a clear answer. I didn't want to be strung along.

Chris' expression visibly stiffened. After a few seconds, he uttered softly, "We're just friends."

Just friends?

to take care of Jewel..." Chris' voice trembled, and so did his hand that was hanging

emotional. This

him this way. "I didn't mean

eyes settled on my face. "Maddie, I'll be more careful in the future." With him putting it this way, what more could I say? But I still reminded

I witnessed just now happen again. I didn't want to feel disgusted with

"Okay, I understand."

speaking when we heard the urgent sound of wheels squeaking against

move aside, I heard Chris utter in a low

of his heart echoed loudly in my ears. This sound reminded me of the time shortly after I had

me to the infirmary. That was the

had truly

heartbeat was still

think about anything else, and

Jewel," Chris said as

going into the ward, I waited outside the door. I didn't hear what Chris said to Jewel, but when

I returned home, his parents were still awake, sitting on the couch watching TV without speaking to each other. They rarely spoke to each other

and she said that after being married for so long and seeing each other every day, they didn't have anything much to

me that his parents used to be passionately in love when they were young. Alas, their love settled into something

was what love eventually looked

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

and I

eaten? If not, there's still food left for you,"

Chris replied before turning to me.

dinner, but at this

go upstairs and rest? The household staff will bring you some milk later." Bree

me. However, without dwelling on it, I went upstairs. But as soon as I pushed open the door, I froze and turned to Chris. He was standing at the bedroom door,

go back downstairs, Bree had already come upstairs. "Maddie, I forgot to mention earlier. We need to clear out Chris' room to make it your

and I will be moving out after we get married. Why do we need to prepare

you won't stay here sometimes, like during the holidays or when it gets too late," Bree scolded him, then took him to my