Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter

627

I let out a weak laugh. Ron wasn't the type to call just to shoot the breeze-he'd probably wanted to make sure I was still breathing.

Lifting my wrist, I kissed the tiny bell dangling there. "Hayden, your buddy's still got my back for you."

By evening, Wayne showed up at the office to pick me up.

Standing in the golden light of sunset, he practically glowed, his whole figure framed like some kind of cinematic shot.

People walking by couldn't help but stare. A few bold girls even called out," Mister, you're so handsome!"

Wayne didn't even blink, his eyes locked on me like the rest of the world had faded to static.

"Looks like you're quite the heartbreaker now," I teased, stepping closer.

His smile was faint. "And you're still as cheeky as ever."

"Any news on Demi?" I asked, the weight of my worry still pressing on me.

Wayne said, his tone steady. But then he hesitated. "I've had

drowning in debt-online loans, high-interest ones. And

need more than that to connect the dots. Demi's suicide was starting to make a

he now?"

"In jail."

sharp breath.

it," he said,

Chapter 627

of arrangement that felt thoughtful, almost calming. Wayne smiled softly, his eyes warm. "I can't give you the stars you want, but I can

words were

the bouquet and the way he spoke, it was

meeting his gaze head-on." Are you trying to

clearly caught off guard by my directness. Our eyes locked in the rearview mirror, and

layered, their meaning

surfaced in my mind, sharp and bitter-how he'd told me being with Wayne would humiliate him. That lingering thought pushed me to ask, "Doesn't my past bother you? Aren't you afraid of

beat too long, so I pressed on. "And Jace? Aren't you afraid

then, I was afraid of all that-what people would say, how Jace would react.

my words carefully. "You should know... my heart belongs to Hayden. Even if..." I hesitated, locking eyes with him. "Even