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?

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

he always seemed emotional. This wasn't the

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

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 men and women

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

"Okay, I understand."

had just finished speaking when we heard the urgent sound of wheels

my head, I saw a group 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 me aside. The group rushed

of the time shortly after I had arrived at the Gildon estate, when I had attended a school event and accidentally fallen from a

me to the infirmary. That was the first time I had heard his

was when I had truly fallen for

his heartbeat was still racing, and it

and nuzzled my face against Chris' chest. "Let's

just tell Jewel," Chris said as he released

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

the couch watching TV without speaking to each other. They rarely

Chris' mother, about it, and she said that after being married for so long and seeing each other every day, they

his parents used to be passionately in love when

was what love eventually

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

I greeted them

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

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

had hardly eaten dinner, but at this moment,

two go upstairs and rest? The household staff will bring you some milk later." Bree

that smile didn't sit right with me. However, without dwelling on it, I went upstairs. But as soon

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

moving out after we get married. Why do

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