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?

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

lan's death, he always seemed emotional. This wasn't the first time he reacted this

"I didn't

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

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

"Okay, I understand."

just finished speaking when we heard the urgent sound

in haste. Just as I was about to move aside, I heard Chris utter in

his embrace, the pounding of his heart echoed loudly in my ears. This sound reminded me of the time

and carried me to the

I had truly

this moment, his heartbeat was still racing, and it was because of

think about anything else, and nuzzled my face against Chris' chest. "Let's go home. I'm

said as

the ward, I waited outside the door. I didn't hear what Chris said to Jewel, but when he came out,

home, his parents were still awake, sitting on the couch watching TV without speaking

that after being married for so long and seeing each other every day,

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

this was what love eventually looked

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

and I greeted

not, there's still food

before turning to me. "Are

eaten dinner, but at this moment, I didn't feel

and rest? The household staff will

imagination, but something about that smile didn't sit right with me. However, without dwelling on it, I went upstairs. But as soon as I pushed open the door, I froze and turned

come upstairs. "Maddie, I forgot to mention earlier. We need to

married. Why do we need to prepare a shared

that you won't stay here sometimes, like during the holidays or when it gets too late," Bree