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.

in a frail voice, "Lucky? Ian has left me and...

to fall immediately after her

aback. How did a simple conversation lead to

he called my name. Then, he handed Jewel a tissue. "Don't think too much. You shouldn't cry so much. It's not good for

she took the tissue from Chris and wiped her eyes. "Sorry. My emotions are all over the place because of the

about something you don't have

let go of her and was about to place a piece of fish on her plate with his fork when I interrupted, "Chris, you should use the serving utensils, not your own

there's no need to serve me.

his plate instead. Then, he took my plate, picked a piece of fish, and carefully removed the bones for me. I remembered the time I got a fishbone stuck in my throat. Ever since then, Chris

always like this-hitting me with one hand and offering me a sweet treat with

you so well." Jewel

fish in my mouth. After a moment, I added, "It would be a problem if he treated others the same way, wouldn't it,

between them wouldn't have been

you in

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

he was trying to stop me from asking Jewel about her

had assured me the child wasn't his. Why wasn't

hidden secret about the child

I was his

is

after learning that he had brought foie

at me sharply when he sensed my change in tone.

first entered the restaurant was gone. Indeed,

served. The waiter politely asked, "Would you like the

"Chris, could you help me cut it? You've done it before; you know just the right

restaurant offers slicing services. Let's not trouble

"Sorry, Madeline. I didn't think

handled by others,