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 was hanging by his

he mentioned lan's death, he always seemed emotional.

him this way. "I didn't mean anything else. I just

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 men and women are

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

"Okay, I understand."

when we heard the urgent sound of wheels squeaking against the ground not far

of people pushing a stretcher toward us in haste. Just as I was about to move aside, I heard Chris utter

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

me to the infirmary. That was the first

was when I had truly fallen

moment, his heartbeat was still racing,

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

tell Jewel," Chris said as

waited outside the door. I didn't hear what

the couch watching

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

used to be passionately in love when they were young. Alas, their love

what

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

I greeted them

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

before turning to me. "Are you hungry?

dinner, but at this

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

went upstairs. But as soon as I pushed open the door, I froze and turned to

to mention earlier. We need to clear out Chris'

after we get married. Why do we need

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