Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

My heart skipped a beat.

Earlier, Bree had said that Chris sounded like he was leaving his final message, and now Jewel is talking about him getting his affairs in order as if he was preparing for the end. This was a sign that Chris was a Suddenly, I recalled a dream I had, along with Chris' haunting question-what if he died?

It was true that I no longer harbored love or hatred for him. However, when it came to matters of life and death, I couldn't just ignore it, even if it was a stranger

Jewel was weeping, devastated, but she was crying to the wrong person. I wouldn't pity her, and comforting her was out of the question.

Still, based on what I knew of Chris, I answered honestly, "Chris isn't that kind of person."

If someone considered ending it all over a setback, they must lack responsibility. A person like that couldn't be trusted to care for anyone, not even themselves.

"I also think Chris isn't someone who would just give up like that." Jewel echoed my words, changing her tone. "But now I can't reach him, and after what he did, I'm really worried."

"If he's already taken care of everything for you, what's there to be worried about?" I retorted sarcastically.

I might be forgiving, but that didn't mean my kind words were without their edge.

fiancé from me, and now she was trying to get close

something happened to him. He doesn't realize that my real sense of security comes from him, not from the things he arranged." Jewel's words stabbed

looking elsewhere for

asked, "Madeline, if he contacts you or if

tell him to reach out to you," I said, then ended the

making me feel chilly. Not far away, Brandon was still chatting with Ellie. Bree and Jewel's words

away, which wasn't the first time this happened. However, it used to be that whenever I called, he'd pick up

just as the call was about to

interrupt something?" I asked, staring

just making dinner in

or not,

Bree call you?" I got straight to the

for a while."

he finished, I added, "Bree called me too, and so did Jewel. They're both saying that Chris has been taking care of a lot of