Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 226

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Brandon looked puzzled. "Hmm?”

I stepped closer to him, so close that I could smell the soap from his recent shower. It had a pleasant

scent.

I remembered how, back when my parents were alive, our home always used bar soap for washing hands and bathing. Nowadays, people mostly used hand sanitizer or body wash, and it was rare to even smell the fragrance of bar soap.

"Are you wearing a disguise?" I asked, probing him.

Brandon furrowed his brow and glanced at himself. "How much have you had to drink? You seem off."

I had only had one drink, but he noticed it.

His response made me smirk as I reached out and tugged on his shirt. "Brandon, stop playing dumb. I'm not talking about your clothes. I'm asking if you're hiding something about your identity. Are you extremely wealthy? Maybe even a hidden big boss?"

Brandon's jaw tightened. "I don't understand what you're saying."

He started to step back, trying to distance himself from me.

is this all just an act?" I pressed, intentionally

close.

He just watched me as I stared

light in the stairwell, our gazes locked in

her illness and my first impression of Brandon. Eventually, I looked away and chuckled. "You're so poor, it couldn't

back to my room. However,

"No, I had a

added, "I value my life and

as

reminiscent of soothing a child. I blinked at

Brandon asked, "Why?"

must have been very cherished by

grew more intense as he took my wrist and guided me into his

that I

a cup of tea for me. I noticed it was in a cartoon cup featuring a cat's head. This was clearly

to use someone else's stuff," I said, both deliberately and as

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I bought it just for you." Brandon's words made my heart skip a beat,

sipped the tea, and its sweetness gave me a feeling of

the future, don't drink alcohol

that nothing would