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?

take care of Jewel..." Chris' voice trembled, and so did his hand that was hanging

mentioned lan's death, he always seemed emotional.

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

on my face. "Maddie, I'll be more careful in the future." With him putting it this way,

just 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

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

me of the time shortly after I had arrived at the Gildon estate, when I had attended a school

and carried me to the infirmary. That was the

I had truly fallen

his heartbeat was still racing, and it

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

just tell Jewel," Chris said as he

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

Chris and I returned home, his parents were still awake, sitting on the couch watching TV without speaking to

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

love when they were young.

was what love eventually

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

I greeted them

not, there's still food left for you,"

before turning to me. "Are you hungry? Would you

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

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

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

need to clear out Chris' room to

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

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, then took him to my