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?

gone. Before he died, he held my hand and asked me to take care

he always seemed emotional. This

"I didn't mean anything else. I just noticed

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,

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

"Okay, I understand."

had just finished speaking when we heard the urgent sound of wheels

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

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

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

had truly fallen

heartbeat was still racing, and

eyes, unwilling to think about anything else, and

Jewel," Chris said

of going into the ward, I waited outside the door. I didn't hear what

and I returned home, his parents were still awake, sitting on the couch watching TV without speaking to each other. They rarely spoke to each other

after being married for so long and seeing each other every day,

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

what love eventually

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

and I greeted them

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

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

this moment,

go upstairs and rest? The household staff will bring you some

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 standing at the bedroom door, looking back

already come upstairs. "Maddie, I forgot to mention earlier. We need to clear out Chris' room to make it your shared

married. Why do we need to prepare a shared bedroom here?" Chris

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