Redmption 7


    Although I wasn''t so aroused that I couldn''t control myself, I would be humiliated if he answered the


    phone or left at this moment.


    His Adam''s apple bobbed as he immediately hung up, resuming his kisses on my neck and


    corbone.


    But the phone rang again the next second. I knew that if he didn''t take this call, neither of us would


    find peace. I turned my face away. "You should answer it," I whispered.


    With an uneasy look on his face, he pulled the nket over me and took the phone to the balcony.


    Even though he had closed the sliding door, I could still hear his deep voice.


    "I can''te right now. Ask the nurse to help you. I didn''t say that I wouldn''t take care of you. I


    know it''s because of me that... Okay, stop crying. I''lle over now..."


    After that, I didn''t hear any more talking, just the click of a lighter. Chris was smoking. This was the


    first time he was smoking at home.


    It took about ten minutes for Chris toe back. The air was tinged with the smell of tobo.


    His gaze seemed uneasy as he looked at me. "Um, I have to go out for a while. Jewel is alone at


    the hospital. There''s no one there to take care of her…"


    Remarkably, he didn''t lie or hide it from me.


    My body felt cold under the covers. "Do you think it''s right for a man to take care of her?"


    "I-I''m going to find her a nurse," Chris exined while straightening his clothes I had disheveled.


    I knew I couldn''t keep him here. Embarrassment and sadness welled up from my heart to the tip of


    my nose. "Chris."


    "Hmm?" He looked up at me worriedly. He was probably worried I''d cling to him and not let him go.


    Chris, the business magnate of Judgeton, had never been afraid of anything, but now he was


    nervous and unsure of what to do in front of me.


    At this moment, the words stuck in my throat wouldn''te out. I managed a bitter smile. "Be


    careful on the road."


    After saying that, I pulled the covers over myself and closed my eyes.


    After a moment, I heard Chris'' footsteps approaching, followed by the warmth of his breath near my


    forehead. When his lips left my skin, he whispered, "I''m sorry..."


    So he knew his actions would hurt me, yet he still did it. Perhaps my constant tolerance made him


    think that hurting me a little every now and then was no big deal.


    Chris left, but the fire he ignited in me hadn''t been extinguished. I threw myself into the bathtub.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    When Lisa called, the passion hadpletely subsided as Iy in the tub, lost in thought.


    "Why is Chris at the ob-gyn? Who is this woman named Jewel to him?" Lisa asked.


    I wasn''t surprised Lisa found out. And so, I told her everything.


    Lisa exploded in an instant. "A man taking care of a widow? What is he thinking? Doesn''t he know


    there''s always gossip around widows? Why does he have to get involved in this mess?"


    Even Lisa thought it wasn''t appropriate for him to do so. Since she was my close friend, I didn''t


    mind revealing that embarrassing incident that happened just a while ago.


    "What would you think if I told you he left me halfway through?"


    Lisa paused for a few seconds. "You two did the deed?"


    "No, we only got halfway undressed." I felt like a joke when I uttered those words.


    "Fucking hell!" Lisa, who was usually a refined and elegant medical professional, swore. "If Chris


    could stop halfway through, it''s either because he can''t perform or—"


    She stopped mid-sentence, but I understood what she meant. She meant that Chris didn''t love me


    enough.


    If he loved me, he wouldn''t have left me in that situation.


    And if he loved me, he wouldn''t go to another woman in the middle of the night.


    Histe brother''s widow deserved sympathy, and it was right for him to take care of her.


    However, he had crossed a line.


    "You said you were thinking of giving up on him, right? Just go and find someone better," Lisa


    advised.


    I didn''t say anything. Letting go of Chris was easy, but what about Gildon Estate?


    Gildon Estate was my home now, and Zack and Bree treated me like their own daughter. They had


    raised me all these years. Bree, especially, was like my mother. She was the one who taught me


    what to do when I got my first period and even did my dirtyundry.


    Lisa understood something from my silence.


    "Maddie, babe, maybe we''re just overthinking. Think about how good Chris has been to you all


    these years. He always tells people that you are his wife. Maybe he''s just taking care of the widow


    because of his friendship with his best friend. I don''t think he''d get involved with her, especially


    since she''s pregnant. He wouldn''t want to be a dad out of nowhere, right?"


    I thought about the way Jewel looked at Chris. "What if it''s a case of unrequited love?"


    "What?" Lisa was surprised for a few seconds before she let out a sigh. "That''s possible too. Your


    man is the ideal husband for many women, especially for a widow.


    "Which is why Chris needs to keep his distance from her. When women are vulnerable, a bit of


    kindness can be a lifeline they cling to." Lisa paused before adding. "I''ll keep an eye on things


    tonight. Nothing will happen."


    I only remembered then that Lisa was just there for a temporary shift.


    "It''s fine. Just go home when you''re done with work. You can''t watch them forever. If something''s


    going on between them…" I thought about how strangely Chris had been acting these days. "It had


    probably started a long time ago."


    Lisa snorted. "True, but don''t stress too much. If Chris betrays you, you can just break things off


    cleanly. You''re single and ready to mingle. You can still get yourself a hot guy."


    I chuckled. If that happened, should I be grateful that Chris and I had never gone beyond the point


    of no return?


    I deliberately yawned and ended the call with Lisa. There was no way I could sleep tonight.


    Chris didn''te back until almost dawn.


    Since I had fieldwork today, I got up early and left before Zack and Bree woke up. I was afraid


    they''d ask me questions. The renovation of Chris'' room was really happening, but Bree''s true


    intention was to get Chris and me to sleep together sooner. Their hopes were dashed, which was


    embarrassing for me.


    It sometimes felt like a failure to be a woman who couldn''t get a man to undress her.


    I received a call from Chris just as I arrived at my work partner''s office around 8:00 am. Looking at


    the number on the screen, I fell quiet. I didn''t answer the call.