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."

and my brother is so

romance novels she loves to read, I said, "Once you're healthy, you can have a

that

doesn't dream of love? That was probably why

went to look for Brandon. He wasn't in his room, and I couldn't find him in the

Where did he go?

looked around under the moonlight. In the distance, by the river, I

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

He was so lost in thought that he didn't even notice me approaching, so I playfully hugged

tensed up but softly said,

am I? How did you know it was me? Why didn't you think it was

jealous questions even

would dare, and besides..." Brandon paused slightly. “Your scent is

a part of him, too. He can recognize me

released him and stepped in front of him, looking at his face. "Why are you out

getting some-fresh air," he said, gazing at the lake.

into his arms. "You're worried about

respond,