Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 298

Conrad came in with a bouquet, his face etched with worry. "What happened to you?"

It seemed inappropriate to remain lying in bed, so I grabbed the bedside rail and heaved myself upright. Conrad hurried over to pin me against the pillows. "No, you don't have to get up."

"I'm fine," I insisted as I tried to sit up. I never felt self-conscious while lying down while Brandon was around, which set him apart from the other men in my life.

Conrad stared at me. "So what happened?"

What was I supposed to tell him? That I went into shock after learning the gravity of my parents' accident?

It wasn't that I didn't know how to explain it to him, but that I didn't want to.

I wondered when I had grown tired of explaining and resorted to giving vague, if not untrue, responses. "Low blood sugar, that's all, I lied. When I caught Conrad's skeptical look, I asked before he could press fu He parted his lips and humored me with a white lie in return. "It's not a big deal."

"Conrad," I bit out. "If there's something you need to tell me, go ahead. Beating around the bush only makes me anxious." once you get

it better," he

probably the reason why I couldn't see him as anything but an older brother. He certainly wouldn't be

I know you've got something on your mind, and the secrecy is killing me. It

continued, "Did you hear that Chris got into

When I saw Chris earlier today, he hadn't

so he got mad and argued with her. My dad gave him a beating to

would turn out this way when Bree first mentioned she would cast out Jewel, but she refused to take my

me all this?" I asked. Conrad must have a reason

whether to

hesitation. "You

I shouldn't drag you into this mess, Maddie, but my parents listen to you. Besides..." Conrad trailed

happened because of me, right?" I finished

meant, Maddie," he began

move in. It was one of the reasons why he going to give me that house as a present,

I told you an