Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 831

As I spoke, my hand automatically rested on my stomach. The thought of going through this pregnancy alone, without Hayden by my side, felt unbearable. I didn't want him to miss the birth of our baby and show up when it was all over. This was our baby. I wanted him here for every moment.

***

Jace arrived way faster than expected. Considering Cole's villa was in the suburbs, it should've taken at least 40 minutes to get here. Yet, here he was in under 30, holding a box of my favorite chewy candies from that specialty shop across town. The candies were fresh, soft, and only sold in small batches. How'd he even manage that?

"Jace, did you grow wings or something?" Yara teased.

His speed reinforced Yara's belief that Jace was still in love with me.

Jace ignored her, focused as ever. "Where's Rea? Is she still crying?"

Yara couldn't resist embellishing. "Oh, she hasn't stopped. Full-on sobbing, gasping for air -you better get up there before she passes out." Jace didn't even question it. He practically flew up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and burst into my room without so much as a knock. "Rea-" His voice was laced with concern, but he froze the second he saw me.

I was perfectly fine. Not a single tear in sight.

It didn't take long for realization to hit. "Yara gave me bad intel," he muttered, visibly * relaxing as his earlier worry melted away.

how different he seemed. His movements, his tone-it was all slower,

wasn't lingering.

me. "I brought you these," he said,

cheer me up whenever he made me cry. Now, with Yara's exaggerated sob story, he'd come armed with the same

Chapter 831

+25 BONUS

box, unwrapped a candy, and popped it into my mouth. It was just as I remembered-soft, chewy, and perfectly sweet. Jace's gaze stayed

up another piece and pressing it

Hidden inside my palm was the ring-the one with

to the ring,

eat it," I

gave me a slight nod. "This one's a bit tough for me to chew right now. I'll save

both the candy and the

handoff was smooth. I let

subject, I asked about

anymore," Jace said. "He tracked the helicopter to a small island, but Wayne and his men switched to another form of transport. He's still following their trail." So Lena still hadn't been found. My stomach twisted