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?

died, he held my hand and asked me to take care of Jewel..." Chris' voice

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

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

her behalf. His dark eyes settled on my face. "Maddie, I'll be more careful in the future." With him putting it this way,

to see what I witnessed just now happen

"Okay, I understand."

speaking when we heard the urgent sound of

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

loudly in my ears. This sound reminded me of the time shortly after I had arrived at the Gildon estate, when

had then reassured me and carried me to the infirmary. That was the first time I had heard his heartbeat sounding

I had truly fallen for

was still racing, and it

unwilling to think about anything else, and

Chris said as he released me, kissing

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

awake, sitting on the couch watching

being married for so long and seeing each other every day, they didn't have anything much to talk to

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

what love

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

I greeted them

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

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

but at this moment,

rest? The household staff will bring

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

need to clear

we get married. Why do we need to

sometimes, like during the holidays or when it gets too late," Bree scolded him, then took him to