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?

me to take care

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

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

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

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

"Okay, I understand."

we heard the urgent

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

into 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 Gildon estate, when I had attended a school event and accidentally

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

I had

his heartbeat was still racing,

my eyes, unwilling to think about anything else, and nuzzled my face against

said

I waited outside 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 to each other. They rarely spoke to

about it, and she said that after being married for so long and seeing each other

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

this was what love

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

I

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

replied before turning to me. "Are you

this moment, I didn't feel hungry.

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

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 standing at the bedroom

come upstairs. "Maddie, I forgot to mention earlier. We need to

will be moving out after we get married.

sometimes, like during the