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?

to fall

aback. How did a simple conversation

he handed Jewel a tissue. "Don't think too

as she took the tissue from Chris and wiped her

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

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

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

placed the fish on 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 removed the bones for me

was always like this-hitting me with one hand

Chris treats you so well."

replied, putting the fish in my mouth. After a moment, I added, "It would be a

them wouldn't have been so evident if

how far along are you in

eat your foie

I could tell he was trying to stop me from asking Jewel about her

assured me the child wasn't his. Why

a hidden secret about the child or

was

now, the texture is already off,"

that

when he sensed my change in tone. I returned his

had when we first entered the restaurant was gone. Indeed, three's

were served. The waiter politely asked,

declined, then looked at Chris. "Chris, could you help me cut it? You've

not trouble Chris, especially since

suddenly bit her lip. "Sorry, Madeline. I didn't

doesn't trust food handled by others, especially now that