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.

plan to visit Zack, I asked

miss you a lot." Conrad's

day after work, and they saw me daily. But since I moved out,

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

I saw no reason to hide it from him. "Chris has been aggressively undermining the company I joined,

It was

next moment, he said, "I've already told my Dad about

from me, Conrad continued, "I'm here today as a messenger for my Dad. Maddie... please come back to

serious expression, I couldn't help but smile. "If you fail

year living with the Gildon family, Zack had assigned Conrad a task, which he didn't complete well. When he returned,

was the first time I saw Zack

cry or explain himself. But when he

I realized I should have hidden

of me?" Conrad smiled, perhaps recalling the same

I started to deny and

here to persuade