Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 758

In the distance, a figure was retreating into the shadows.

Under the moonlight, that silhouette stood out

familiar, clear, yet so far away.

"Jace, thank you," I murmured softly, my words carried only by the wind. Without his help, getting close to Mrs. Drago wouldn't have been so easy. Maybe part of the reason she had agreed so readily was because of him.

Even when he wasn't visible, even when I had no idea what he was doing, he was always helping me in silence. Maybe this was his way of loving me.

I tilted my head up to the glowing moon, and in that moment, I felt something I hadn't expected: release.

Release from the ten years of my life tied to Jace.

People always say breaking up with an ex feels like losing your youth. But for me, it wasn't Back in my room, I didn't go to sleep right away. Instead, I snapped a picture of the moon outside my window and posted it to social media with a single word: [Released.] Lena liked it almost instantly and messaged me: [Released what?]

I replied just as fast: [The past.]

added another message: [Why are you still awake?

responded: [Night shift.] She attached a picture of a

four-digit a quiet testament to

-

warmth I wasn't expecting rose in me. The thought of

could overthink it, I closed my chat with Lena and opened Hayden's profile on the app. My fingers moved on

message vanished into

I wished he'd surprise me-just once-with a simple:

spammed me with a few more messages, and when I didn't reply,

[No, just thinking

Lena: [Thinking about Hayden?]

+25 BONUS

with the ashes and its secret tech stash. Just in case I went full missing-person vibes, Lena was ready to bring the bad guys down. Hayden had once told me the data-sync thingy hidden in the box was always collecting info, even while he was MIA. I didn't bother asking how it worked-magic, probably? But if it used his phone, it's not like he'd have that on him. Even if he did, it would've been hacked six ways

texted Lena: [Do you think Hayden could have a chip in him or something? How else is this info getting

guy. If he's hiding something, maybe ask him instead

right into that