Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 16

"Madeline, please don't misunderstand."

Jewel's words made me want to laugh.

Thinking about what she said while choosing bed linens earlier, it seemed she implicitly considered Chris her boyfriend,

"Is this for Chris?" I asked, looking at the bed linens that she had chosen. It was the blue-gray color that Chris used to like. But things had changed since then. Under my influence, he now preferred brighter colors.

Jewel bit her lip, hesitated for a few seconds, and then shook her head. "No, please don't misunderstand. I'm buying this for my brother."

As I couldn't be bothered with her games, I asked directly, "Is Chris going to live with you now?"

He had said that he couldn't let anything happen to Jewel's child, so it made sense for him to keep an eye on her at all hours of the day.

"Madeline, how can you say that?" Jewel looked visibly agitated.

"You're buying him bedding, Jewel. How am I supposed to interpret that?" I mocked,

"Madeline, you're too jealous. Chris won't like this about you," Jewel retorted, which only made me laugh.

funny?" She looked at me with innocent yet

"Even if Chris likes me, he can't withstand other people's

with your words?" Jewel snapped, her

to the company to explain things to me. You actually wanted to see Chris, didn't you?" I

at the company yesterday, deliberately causing a scene by getting hit by

all part of her calculated

shook her head. "How can you

of me like that?"

Chris showed up at the cafe yesterday,"

moment, a flicker of

at being caught out.

want to be with Chris, do it on your own merits. Don't step on me to boost

added, "All thanks to

you owe me a third. Or

expression turned sour. "I don't

that hard to believe

been giving me money. That's why

excuse was true or not, pressing her for