Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 552

"Miss, could you help me?"

A slightly frail, middle-aged voice startled me, and I looked up to see an elderly woman with graying hair and pleading eyes.

"How can I help you?" I asked politely..

"Oh, I was hoping you could buy me a cup of coffee," she said, catching me off guard and stirring a bit of pity in me. "I haven't had one in so long because I don't have any money." Without thinking, I nodded. "Of course,"

"Thank you," she replied, gesturing to the chair across from me. "Could I sit here to drink it?"

Since I was already getting her the coffee, letting her sit didn't seem like a big deal. But just as i was about to agree, Jace's voice cut in.

"Excuse me, ma'am, would you mind taking a seat elsewhere?"

I looked up, startled to see him still there. I thought he'd left.

Before I could fully process it, Jace had guided the woman to another table, slipped some cash into her hand, and sent her on her way.

off without even looking at the coffee counter. Frowning, I looked back at

Jace said, his voice low. "Her real goal wasn't

shook my head, still not quite following. "So... she was just after

bought her a coffee, in less than ten minutes she would've started foaming at the mouth and fainted. Then someone would call the police, and as the person who bought her the coffee, you'd be taken in for questioning," he explained, reminding me a little too much of the

chill ran through me, though I hated to believe it. "You don't have to assume the worst of people." Jace's brow furrowed, and he pulled

have been on the rise," he said. "They target young women, hoping they'll be kind enough to

was hard to argue with. I stayed silent, processing it, and Jace didn't push

"Did you get

down to his hand, where a thick scar

to his car accident, a pang of guilt tugged at me. I couldn't say it was my fault, but I knew my words that day

scarred-but what about the rest

Chapter 552

+25 BONUS

and all I could go by was his face. He looked noticeably thinner, his

Wade had left

that

realized I sounded exactly like Hayden