Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

"Join us!" Chris said, without asking for my opinion.

Jewel promptly sat down and looked at the dishes in front of her with a longing expression. "Grilled fish! I've been craving this lately."

"Shall I order you some foie gras as well?" Chris asked without a hint of hesitation.

"And add a dessert, please. Frozen yogurt with strawberry jam. For the drink, I'll have orange juice," Jewel said. She turned to me. "Madeline, would you like some orange juice too?" "It's alright. I'll just have water," I replied, putting the foie gras on my fork into my mouth.

The foie gras was smooth and creamy with a milky scent.

"Chris, is the foie gras you brought me before from this place?"

Jewel's words made me pause mid-chew.

I looked at him and saw a slight discomfort in his expression.

He slowly replied, "Yes."

No wonder he knew the foie gras here was good; he had bought it for someone else many times. Meanwhile, today was my first time having this.

He was doing this out of guilt as a form of compensation.

Suddenly, the foie gras in my mouth lost its flavor. I couldn't swallow it.

"So that's why the smell of the foie gras was so familiar when I passed by here." Jewel smiled at Chris, her eyes filled with a delicate tenderness that seemed to ensnare me, making it hard to breathe. She then turned to me. "Madeline, Chris must bring you here often. That's why he bought the foie gras for me; he knows how good it is."

As if stabbing a knife into my heart wasn't enough, she had to twist it. I felt the full impact of her words.

I looked at Chris. "No, this is the first time. I'm not as lucky as you are, Mrs. Goodwin."

Jewel's smile faltered, and she lowered her gaze.

a frail voice,

to fall immediately after her

did a simple conversation

a tissue. "Don't think too much. You

wiped her eyes. "Sorry. My emotions are all over the place because of the pregnancy. I don't want to spoil

something you don't have to. We already ordered the food. Try the grilled

of fish on her plate with his fork when I interrupted, "Chris, you should use the serving utensils, not your own fork, to serve Mrs. Goodwin." Chris froze mid-action, and the atmosphere

then said considerately, "Chris, there's no need to serve me. I can

and carefully removed the bones for me. I remembered the time I got a fishbone stuck in my throat. Ever since then,

with one hand and offering me a sweet treat

treats you so well." Jewel

he be good to if not me?" I replied, putting the fish in my mouth. After a moment, I added, "It would be a problem if he treated others the same way, wouldn't it, Mrs. Goodwin?" Jewel glanced at Chris

subtle exchange between them wouldn't have been so evident if I

along are you in your pregnancy?" I changed the

Chris interrupted, "Maddie, if you don't eat your foie gras soon, it will get cold,

he was trying to stop me from asking

wasn't his.

there was a hidden secret about the child or he

I was

texture is

suddenly lost my appetite after learning that he had brought foie gras to

in tone. I returned his gaze,

happy atmosphere we had when we first entered the restaurant was gone. Indeed,

and juice were served. The waiter

you help me cut

spoke up again. "The restaurant offers slicing services. Let's not trouble Chris,

Madeline. I didn't

doesn't trust food handled by others, especially now that she's pregnant and