Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 288

I had expected Arthur to turn me away and slam the door in my face, but it seemed name-dropping Zack had been a good idea. His charms must have worked on Arthur.

I took a deep breath and entered the room, only to see an elderly gentleman with salt-and-pepper hair doing what appeared to be a series of stretches in the living room. Was he Arthur?

i questioned silently in disbelief.

I had looked into him before coming here. Arthur was below 60 years old, probably around Zack's age. He looked young in pictures, but now that I had a closer look, he seemed much older than Zack.

Even if I had looked into him, I still couldn't picture Arthur as the stretching-and-light-exercises type. I couldn't help feeling like I had come to the wrong room and sought out the wrong person.

"What is it, missy?" Arthur asked, breaking the silence even as he continued his stretching. He had as good as confirmed his identity.

As for how he had ended up looking like this, I dared not make conjectures. Drawing a deep breath, I greeted, "Hello, Mr. Griffins. I'm Madeline Crown."

know who you are," Arthur said,

and my heart

also know why I had sought him out? Had

my thoughts, Arthur added, "Zack fusses over you a lot like he would a daughter. He's told me so much

comprehension flooded me, but I was

again, "Go on, missy. Tell me why

out of breath, and his voice was

entering the room, I had not seen his face, only his side profile. I willed my breathing to slow before saying. "Mr. Griffins, I was wondering if you remember someone named Dominic Crown. I believe you

did not answer me. I watched him go through another series of exercises, his movements fluid and seamless. He repeated the movements before slowing down and finally turning to face me. He stood straight, his eyes closed as he put his hands in front of his chest and breathed out. He continued the

face, I realized he did not look that much different from the pictures I had

do him justice if his face was any

tell he was adjusting his breathing after the exercise. While anxious to hear his answer, I knew better than

my throat felt dry. Whatever words I had wante The bodyguard standing on one side of the room came along

asking me about my age instead