Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

22

Chapter 587

Lena sent another message: [Seriously, if you hadn't responded in another hour. I was going to call the cops. Do you even know what was going through my head? I was lowkey convinced Jace had done you in after you know, having his way with you I had to laugh Lena's imagination was next level. I just hit her with a thumbs-up emoji

Lena: [it's not that crazy. Stuff like that makes the news all the time, you know? Anyway, when are you coming back? Are you flying home today? Did Steve win the competition??

I glanced at her barrage of questions, then at my situation, and hit her back with the safest reply I could think of [Not sure yet]

Lena: [777]

Me: [Might stay here a bit longer. Not sure I'll be back to this place anytime soon]

I didn't want Lena to freak out, so I threw in a little white lie.

Lena: [Alright, live your best life then. Let me know when you're back-III throw a mega welcome-back_party. *]

Reading her message, I suddenly felt this weird, heavy feeling in my chest. Like, this irrational fear that I might not make it back. It hit me out of nowhere.

I didn't know where it came from, but I couldn't shake it So I sent her a voice note:

you're in charge of... well, everything. Keep half as, like, my gift for you or whatever, and donate the rest. To people who need it. Or

my phone started ringing with a video call from

was probably freaking out, so I quickly

mean, leaving stuff behind? What is going on? Where are you right

villa. "See? I'm in a giant mansion, totally

sound."

are you talking like that? You nearly gave me a heart attack," she said, looking way more relieved now, though she was still in her surgical scrubs. I couldn't tell if she was heading into surgery or just coming

one who mentioned how crazy things have been lately, and

what?" Lena interrupted. "Turn the camera around so I can see your

she wasn't going to relax until she

flipped the camera to show myself, throwing in a goofy peace sign

serious stare, Lena finally chilled. "If

murder you"

for it." I teased, moving my face closer to the

it out. So whose mansion are you staying at? Is it Jace's? Her curiosity was off the charts now. "Nope. It's

guard. Then she asked. "Why are you staying at

spill the beans, so I lied. "It's

Just don't let Jace get any weird ideas," she said, all smug which