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.

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

fall immediately after her

How did a simple conversation lead to

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

tissue from Chris and wiped her eyes. "Sorry. My emotions are

she started to stand up, Chris reached out and held onto her. "You're worrying about something you don't have

fish on her plate with his fork when I interrupted, "Chris, you should use the serving utensils, not your own fork, to

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

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

always like this-hitting me with one hand

treats you

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 again and softly replied,

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

Goodwin, how far along are you in your pregnancy?"

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

he was trying to

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

secret about the child

I was his

the texture is already off,"

that he had

me sharply when he sensed my change in tone. I returned his gaze, and we silently confronted each

warm and happy atmosphere we had when we first entered

Jewel's foie gras dessert and juice were served. The waiter

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

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

bit her lip. "Sorry, Madeline. I didn't think it through. I'll

trust food handled by others, especially now