Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

I checked my calendar and realized that Zack's birthday was in three days.

It wouldn't be appropriate to bring up this matter on his birthday. I didn't want to dampen his celebration. So, I decided to deliver the gift early to ensure I wouldn't have to go on his actual birthday. However, before I could take action, Conrad came to find me.

I hadn't seen him since we left the amusement park, and I almost didn't recognize him at first glance.

"Have I changed so much that you can't recognize me?" Conrad joked.

Seeing him like this reminded me of Brandon, and I smiled faintly. "If your mom saw you like this, she would definitely be worried."

"No, she said I look more manly now," Conrad said, trying to make me laugh again.

I pressed my lips together. "Indeed, you do look more masculine."

Conrad touched his face. "I think so too."

Despite his efforts to lighten the mood, I still didn't know how to respond after he spoke.

asked him,

miss you a lot." Conrad's

Gildon estate every day after work, and they

them today," I said and paused for a moment. "I need to

in confusion. I understood what he wanted to know, and I saw no reason to hide it from him. "Chris has been aggressively undermining the company

look surprised. It was

enough, in the next moment, he said, "I've already told my Dad

a messenger for my Dad. Maddie... please come back to

smile. "If you fail your mission

assigned Conrad a

the first time I saw Zack hit someone, and

or explain himself. But when he saw me, I noticed the embarrassed flush

should have hidden away to spare him

me?" Conrad smiled,

started to

I could finish, Conrad interrupted, "But I'm not here to persuade you today,