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?

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

he always seemed emotional. This wasn't

this way. "I didn't mean anything else. I just noticed how much Jewel relies on

the future." With him putting it this way, what more could I say? But I still reminded him, "Even

what I witnessed just now happen

"Okay, I understand."

speaking when we heard the urgent sound

stretcher toward us in haste. Just as I was about to move aside, I heard Chris

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

had then reassured me and carried me to the infirmary. That was the first time I had heard his

had

moment, his heartbeat was still racing,

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

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

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

mother, about it, and she said that after being married for so long and seeing each other every day, they didn't

be passionately in love when they were young. Alas, their love settled into something

was what love

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

I

there's still food

Chris replied before turning to me. "Are you hungry? Would you like something to

at this

case, why don't you two go upstairs and rest?

without dwelling on it, I went upstairs. But as soon as I pushed open the door, I froze

mention earlier. We need to clear out Chris' room to make it your shared bedroom.

will be moving out after we get married. Why do we need to prepare a shared bedroom

the holidays or when it gets too