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?

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

he always seemed emotional.

"I didn't mean anything else. I just

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 him, "Even if you're taking care of her for lan's sake, you should know that

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

"Okay, I understand."

just finished speaking when we heard the urgent sound of wheels squeaking against

head, I saw a group of people pushing a stretcher toward us in haste. Just as I was about to move aside, I

my ears. This sound reminded me of the time shortly after I had arrived at the Gildon

to the infirmary. That was the first time I had

was when I had truly

his heartbeat was still racing,

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

I'll just tell Jewel," Chris said as he released me,

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

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

for so long and seeing each other every day, they didn't have anything much

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

this was what love

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

and I greeted

still food

me. "Are you hungry? Would you like something

eaten dinner, but at this moment, I didn't feel hungry. "I'm

two go upstairs and rest? The

upstairs. But as soon as I pushed open the door, I froze and turned to Chris. He was standing at the bedroom door, looking back at

We need to clear out Chris' room to make it your shared bedroom. Chris will stay in your room for

out after we get married. Why do we

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