Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

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Chapter 709

The promise of more gifts had the kids scattering like a flock of birds, rushing toward him with hands outstretched. Their boldness made it clear-Wade was no stranger here.

I sat up, smoothing my hair, still messy from the kids' ambush, and wiped with their kisses.

Wade approached, handing me a tissue. "These kids can be a handful."

my face, damp

"They are, but they're adorable," I said with a smile. "Being around them makes you feel young again."

My gaze

drifted to where Xander and Yuna stood a little ways off, deep in conversation.

"Sometimes they drive you crazy," Wade said lightly. "They've brought Yuna to tears more than once."

I turned to him, catching the shift in his tone. His eyes flickered with guilt before he quickly looked away.

trying to avoid, but I couldn't help but ask, "Have you figured out how you feel about Yuna yet?" "Yuna isn't

message. He wanted it clear-he didn't conflate Yuna with Narelle, even if

set the boundary, I didn't push. Instead, I

then quickly away. "What, are you her relative or

chuckled. "You guessed

After a moment, he sighed. "If Narelle were here, she'd be so happy. She always said she felt lonely, like she

have what you want without a

we finished talking about Narelle, I brought up sending Yuna to Kehlmark Royal Academy. Wade's

to

then paused. "Have you ever noticed how

between people can be?"

есть

something "Alright," I said

lot of her habits, even her interests, are just like Nerelle's. I asked her about it once, and she admitted that after the transplant, she started liking things she used to hate He wasn't wrong-Yuna had told me something similar before. Meeting his gaze, I asked,

think that

trailed off, but knew where

bother you?"

gave a small nod. "I want to

his struggle-he didn't want Yuna to be a replacement for Narelle, but her similarities