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-

gazed out at the green lawn. "What do you think he'd say

known he would throw the

idea what 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 was my

scenery outside. I followed his gaze and drank in

couldn't help remembering the open meadow my father had brought me to. While our family hadn't

skyscrapers and city smog. They preferred to bask in nature's goodness. As such, my childhood memories were filled with vivid images of pristine sand, open

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

father as

and waited for

around the bush and gave me the answer I had been looking for. "I don't know if the car crash that took your parent's lives was maliciously orchestrated, but I can confirm

with it."

with the urge to ask him how he could be