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?

is gone. Before he died, he held my hand and asked me to take care of Jewel..." Chris' voice trembled,

death, he always seemed emotional. This wasn't

"I didn't mean anything else. I just noticed how much

she's pregnant that she feels insecure by herself," Chris explained on her behalf. His dark eyes settled on my face. "Maddie, I'll be more careful in the future." With him putting it this way, what more

didn't want to see what I witnessed just now

"Okay, I understand."

speaking when we heard the urgent sound

of people pushing a stretcher toward us in haste. Just as I was about to move aside, I heard Chris utter in a low voice, "Watch out." He then pulled

reminded me of the time shortly after I had arrived

held me. He had then reassured me and carried me to the infirmary. That was

I had truly fallen

still racing, and it was because

unwilling to think about anything else, and

I'll just tell Jewel," Chris said as

ward, I waited outside the door. I didn't hear what Chris said

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

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

his parents used to be passionately in love when they

was what love eventually looked

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

I greeted them

still food left for you," Bree

turning to me.

eaten dinner, but at this

two go upstairs and rest? The household staff will bring you

been my 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

upstairs. "Maddie, I forgot to mention earlier. We need to clear out Chris' room to make it your shared bedroom. Chris will stay

out after we get married.

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