Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

I never imagined that he lived such a hard life behind closed doors.

"But lan was only human. He got tired too. I'd catch him sneaking out in the middle of the night to smoke. And it broke my heart to see that every time. I knew it was my fault that he was so stressed," Jewel said, shaking her head slightly.

"I wanted to leave him-not just for my sake and not because I didn't love him anymore. It was because I loved him so much that I couldn't stand to see him so worn out." Jewel's words painted her in a new light.

"Well, he's not tired anymore. And he never will be again," I muttered under my breath.

Jewel caught the irony in my voice.

"Madeline, you've never lived a day in my shoes. You'll never understand what it's like," she said loudly, almost screaming.

She looked me in the eye. After a moment, her anger slowly faded.

"Madeline, as for lan's death, I swear I'd never meant to hurt lan. I just wanted him to see me betray him, so he'd finally leave me on his own. I wanted to set him free." "The car accident wasn't your doing?" I asked in a low voice.

"No, it wasn't. lan was too good to me. I'm not a monster. How could I ever hurt him?" Jewel shook her head vigorously.

"But in the end, he still died because of you."

I didn't let her off the hook, keeping her weighed down by the guilt of lan's death.

lowering her head.

you in the next life, he'll probably

more cutting than the last. If she wasn't pregnant, I might have

choose his wife over his life. Ian had treated Jewel like a goddess, and Chris had

was heartache for lan. He had been

love became

to have had lan and his love in this lifetime. However, her greed had cost her his

I'm not

I

you've found your

me a break? Can

to Chris

a place to dive and plenty

you?"

she was so desperate to see

her lips together. Then, she said, "Madeline, having a place to live and money

it now. She wanted

"Jewel, you're quite greedy."