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

emotional. This wasn't the first time he

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

it's because she's pregnant that she feels insecure by herself," Chris explained on her behalf. His dark eyes settled 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

witnessed just now happen again.

"Okay, I understand."

we heard the urgent sound of

as I was about to move aside, I heard Chris utter in a low

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

to

was when I had truly fallen for

moment, his heartbeat was still racing, and it was because

and nuzzled my face against

said as he released me,

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

still awake, sitting on the couch watching TV without speaking to each other. They rarely spoke to each

had asked Bree 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 to talk

passionately in love when they were

what

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

and I greeted

there's still food left

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

at this moment, I didn't feel

that case, why don't you two go upstairs and rest? The household staff will bring you

but something about that smile didn't sit right with me. However, without dwelling on it, I went upstairs. But as soon as I pushed open the door, I froze and turned to Chris. He was

I forgot to mention earlier. We need to clear out Chris' room to

married. Why do we need

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