Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Hello 472

Chapter

472

I kept my eyes on Wayne, and his reaction told me everything.

"Rea," he said softly, "don't overthink this."

T

Overthink? I wasn't, not until now.

The way he said it just made me think harder. "Matthew and Lindey knew too, didn't they?" I asked, though deep down, I already knew the answer. They'd raised me for years-no way they wouldn't know my blood type.

"They took you in, cared for you like their own. Of course they knew," Wayne said, sounding like he was trying a little too hard to make it all seem fine.

Right. It wasn't weird they knew. What was weird? The fact they never told me.

treated you like

know that saying-the more you explain, the

Yeah, that.

thought much about it before you opened your mouth. But now?" I raised my brows. "All

those last

like he wasn't sure what to

I didn't want to doubt Wayne or assume the worst, but his whole defensive act had me spiraling down a rabbit hole I didn't even know existed. Sometimes, once the thought's there, you can't

stuff, my mind

they'd asked me if I'd be

them. I even hugged them, joking I'd never marry, that I'd

never brought it up again-until after they were gone. Then, Matthew and Lindey told me Jace was supposed to be my future husband. Apparently, it had been decided when my parents were still

Jace and I shared the same rare blood type? Were they trying to make sure we'd end up together in case one of us needed help, like some

with this after the fact? Maybe they saw our matching blood types and decided to play

but the idea that Jace and I, with this

25 BONUS

Chapter 472

like more than just

fact that no one in the Johnston family had ever mentioned it? Even though Wayne