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?

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

he always seemed emotional. This

sank a bit when I saw him this way. "I didn't mean anything

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 him, "Even

witnessed just now happen again.

"Okay, I understand."

speaking when we heard the urgent

was about to move aside, I heard Chris

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

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

was when I had truly fallen for

still racing, and it

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

Jewel," Chris said as he released me, kissing

of going into the ward, I waited outside the door. I didn't hear what Chris said to Jewel, but

the couch

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

used to be passionately in love when they were young. Alas, their love settled into something ordinary and

what love eventually looked

"Mom, Dad."

"Bree, Zack."

and I greeted

there's still food left for you," Bree informed

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

this moment, I didn't feel hungry. "I'm

two go upstairs and rest? The

on it, I went upstairs. But as soon as I pushed open the door, I froze and turned to Chris. He was standing at

Bree had already come upstairs. "Maddie, I forgot to mention earlier. We need to clear out Chris' room to make it your shared bedroom. Chris will stay in your

and I will be moving out after we get married. Why do we need to prepare a shared bedroom here?"

doesn't mean that you won't stay here sometimes, like during the holidays