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?

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

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

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

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

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

"Okay, I understand."

speaking when we heard the urgent sound of wheels squeaking against the ground

to move aside, I heard Chris utter in a low voice, "Watch out." He then pulled me aside.

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

and carried me to the infirmary. That was the first time

I had truly fallen

was still racing, and it

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

just tell Jewel," Chris said as he released

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

still awake, sitting on the couch watching

that after being married for so long and seeing each

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

was what love

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

and I greeted

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

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

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

why don't you two go upstairs and rest? The household staff will

been my imagination, but something about that smile didn't sit right with me. However, without dwelling on it, I went upstairs. But

downstairs, Bree had already come upstairs. "Maddie, I forgot to mention earlier. We need to clear

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

you're moving out doesn't mean that you won't stay here sometimes, like during the