Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 624

They say men don't cry easily, especially not in front of women.

But I saw it with my own eyes-Ron's face crumpling, his reddened eyes filling with tears until they spilled down his cheeks..

I didn't try to comfort him. I just walked out, leaving him to grieve Hayden in his

own way.

Ron had said this company belonged to Hayden, though

on paper, Ron was the official owner. That said everything about their bond. Hayden had trusted him enough to put everything in his hands.

And now Hayden was gone. How was Ron, who'd clearly been waiting for him to come back, supposed to accept that?

The pain he felt couldn't be much different from my own.

I left his office and headed to Hayden's workspace. As a chief engineer, Hayden had always been hands-on for R&D, so his office was packed with experimental * tools and equipment. Yet, despite all the chaos of his work, the room was immaculate, every item in its place-so very him.

My gaze landed on the notebook on his desk, left open to a page of data. His handwriting, bold and precise, stood out like he'd just written it yesterday.

The ache in my chest came rushing back, sharp and relentless.

Hayden-his office, his tools, even the faint trace of his scent still lingering-was him. And yet, no matter how much I tried to reach

was something only those

drawer. Inside, I found the usual stuff-pens, USB drives, notebooks, Bluetooth headphones. Then my eyes caught on a transparent box with something inside. Curious, I opened it and pulled out

It was a bracelet.

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had broken off. I dug around the box, looking for the missing piece, and found a few other unfinished parts. There was also a folded

Hayden had been working

me. Now, this little bell proved it. Even after pushing me away, I had still been in his heart. Why else would he have made this bracelet

gave the bell a gentle shake. Its chime was soft and clear, almost like it was speaking for him. Following the blueprint, I started piecing together the

how carefully I worked, I

finished making it

his life.

I couldn't leave the bracelet sitting in a box. It was meant for me,

wasn't there, I'd make my

like Hayden, I'd

a braided red cord I'd crafted into

every little movement, its sound

Hayden's workspace?" Ron asked, his voice rough, his eyes still a little puffy.

it was Hayden's

2/3

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