Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 290

Zack and Bree had been nothing but kind to me. They treated me like I was their own. I knew this, yet since I discovered the contract, I could not help the lump in my throat whenever I saw them.

I wanted to stop feeling that way and love them as they so openly loved me. I wanted to reciprocate their acceptance of me.

A small chuckle escaped Arthur. "Like father, like daughter."

I froze at his words. He had told me he did not remember my father. My breath hitched when I realized he had been lying, and my nails dug into my palms.

Arthur let out a breathy laugh and elaborated, "Zack mentions him so often that it's hard for me to forget the name. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered remembering someone l'only met twice a decade ago." My throat tightened, and I dared to ask, "What did Zack say about my father?"

Arthur rose to his feet. One of the bodyguards made to come over and help him, but Arthur stopped him with a hand. He sauntered to the floor-to-

and gazed out at the green lawn. "What do you think

man. I should have known he would

Zack would say about my father, nor did I dare to venture a guess. In the end, I stood up and joined Arthur by the window. "Zack

reply, keeping his eyes on the scenery outside. I followed his gaze and drank in the view of the expansive green lawn. It was therapeutic to be

open meadow my father had brought me to. While our

didn't believe in vacationing among skyscrapers and city smog. They preferred to bask in nature's goodness. As such, my childhood memories

me reminded me of the Havenbell Meadow, where my parents took me camping among the local farm people. True to local culture, my parents had us spend our days eating roasted lamb and "Dad told me he would bring me to see the world," I said, recalling my father's promise. However, he was gone, and I had lost my wanderlust. Since moving in with the Gildons, I had always declined Zack and B Going on trips required me to revisit my deepest wounds, something

misses your father as much as you do," Arthur suddenly

and

"I don't know if the car crash that took your parent's lives was maliciously orchestrated, but I can confirm Zack had nothing

with it."

with the urge to ask him how he could be so sure. However, I knew things between me and Zack would