Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 86

I was breathing rapidly, frozen in place.

Brandon didn't move or say anything, but his gaze was glued to me.

To be precise, he was looking right into my eyes.

We stood there, staring at each other, neither stepping forward nor backing away:

I could even feel both our heartbeats quickening.

Until my neighbor, an elderly lady's voice sounded from outside, "The new tenant's boyfriend is kind. Look how clean he made the stairs."

That snapped me back to reality. I gave Brandon a push and quickly escaped to the living room.

But for a moment I didn't know what to do, feeling dazed and confused.

Brandon walked out, breaking the awkward silence. "Is this the house where your parents used to live?"

wall with the photos. "You still look a lot like you did

red scarf, with my parents on either side of me, smiling warmly. But now, looking

did well in school." Brandon glanced at my certificates again. My

student.

now," I

at me. "You are." He paused for a moment,

it hard for me to meet his eyes. This man was too straightforward, both in his eyes and

wanting any further entanglement, said, "Thank you for your hard work today. Let me treat you to a meal, and then I'll help

from reluctant to proactive

to wash my face. Do you

I realize his face and clothes

were in a remote area, there was a nearby supermarket that had

declined. "Give me

I met his unyielding gaze. Reluctantly, I walked to the bathroom, grabbed my towel, and handed it to him. "Use this, I don't have any new ones. He nodded, then turned on the

and even ran his hands through his hair with water. Though it wasn't cold, the

he saw me standing behind him in the

embarrassed,