Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

"What is it?" I asked with a smile.

Ellie bit her lip. "Mae, is my surgery going to cost a lot of money?"

My heart skipped a beat at her question, worried she might change her mind because of the

cost. "No, it's not that much. And don't worry about the money. Your brother just got a new job as a technical engineer. His salary is quite substantial."

Ellie remained silent. I moved closer to her. There was a concept in psychology called the "proximity effect". It suggested that sometimes trust wasn't built through words but simply by stepping closer to

someone.

I gently stroked Ellie's long, silky hair. "The doctor performing your surgery is a senior of one of my friends. He's incredibly skilled. All you need to do is focus

on getting better. Once the surgery is over, you'll be healthy again."

"Mae." Ellie's eyes began to shimmer with tears. "You're so kind."

I smiled. "Of course. If I weren't, your brother wouldn't have liked me for so long."

at that. "Mae, the love between you and my brother is so sweet, just like in the

read, I said, "Once you're healthy, you can

showing that the idea

young girl doesn't dream of love? That was probably why she read the same novel over and

to look for Brandon. He wasn't

Where did he go?

of the yard and looked around under the moonlight. In the distance, by

afar. Now, I can identify Brandon from a distance. When someone is in your heart,

lost in thought that he didn't even notice me approaching, so

but softly said,

it was me? Why didn't you think it was one of the ladies around here who had a crush on

jealous questions even made me laugh at

besides..." Brandon paused slightly.

of him, too. He can recognize me by my

at his face. "Why are you out

at the lake. However,

his arms. "You're

didn't respond, confirming