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 him, "How have Bree and

a lot."

every day after work, and they saw me daily. But since I moved out, I hadn't visited

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

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

look surprised. It was clear he already

next moment, he said, "I've already told my Dad about this, and he's adamantly against

no response from me, Conrad continued, "I'm here today as a messenger

"If you fail your

remembered that in my third year living with the Gildon family, Zack had assigned Conrad a task, which he didn't

incident vividly. It was the first time I saw

at the time. He didn't cry or explain himself. But when he saw me, I noticed the embarrassed flush on

when I realized I should have hidden

you making fun of me?" Conrad smiled, perhaps recalling the

started to

interrupted, "But I'm not here to persuade you today, even if it means getting beaten when