Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Although I wasn't so aroused that I couldn't control myself, I would be humiliated if he answered the phone or left at this moment.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he immediately hung up, resuming his kisses on my neck and collarbone.

But the phone rang again the next second. I knew that if he didn't take this call, neither of us would find peace. I turned my face away. "You should answer it," I whispered. With an uneasy look on his face, he pulled the blanket over me and took the phone to the balcony. Even though he had closed the sliding door, I could still hear his deep voice.

"I can't come right now. Ask the nurse to help you. I didn't say that I wouldn't take care of you. I know it's because of me that... Okay, stop crying. I'll come over now..."

After that, I didn't hear any more talking, just the click of a lighter. Chris was smoking. This was the first time he was smoking at home.

It took about ten minutes for Chris to come back. The air was tinged with the smell of tobacco.

His gaze seemed uneasy as he looked at me. "Um, I have to go out for a while. Jewel is alone at the hospital. There's no one there to take care of her..." Remarkably, he didn't lie or hide it from me.

My body felt cold under the covers. "Do you think it's right for a man to take care of her?"

"I-I'm going to find her a nurse," Chris explained while straightening his clothes I had disheveled.

I knew I couldn't keep him here. Embarrassment and sadness welled up from my heart to the tip of my nose. "Chris."

"Hmm?" He looked up at me worriedly. He was probably worried I'd cling to him and not let him go. Chris, the business magnate of Judgeton, had never been afraid of anything, but now he was nervous and unsure of what to do in front of me.

At this moment, the words stuck in my throat wouldn't come out. I managed a bitter smile. "Be careful on the road."

After saying that, I pulled the covers over myself and closed my eyes.

a moment, I heard Chris' footsteps approaching, followed by the warmth of his breath near my forehead. When his lips

would hurt me, yet he still did it. Perhaps my constant tolerance made him think that hurting me a

ignited in me hadn't been extinguished.

had completely subsided as I lay in the tub, lost

Who is this

wasn't surprised Lisa found out. And so, I

exploded in an instant. "A man taking care of a widow? What is he thinking? Doesn't he know there's always gossip around widows? Why does he have to get involved in this mess?" Even Lisa

if I told

paused for a few seconds. "You two

undressed." I felt like a joke

hell!" Lisa, who was usually a refined and elegant medical professional, swore. "If Chris could stop halfway through, it's either because

I understood what she meant. She meant that Chris didn't love me

loved me, he wouldn't have left me in

me, he wouldn't go to another woman in the middle

and it was right for him

had crossed a

you were thinking of giving up on him, right? Just

Chris was easy, but what

home now, and Zack and Bree treated me like their own daughter. They had raised me all these years. Bree, especially, was like my mother. She was the one who taught me what to do when I got my first period and even

understood something from

we're just overthinking. Think about how good Chris has been to you all these years. He always tells people that you are his wife. Maybe he's just taking care of the widow because of his friendship with his best friend. I don't think he'd get involved