Redmption 162
Zack halted abruptly. I even felt his body sway.
I reached out to steady him. “Zack…”
He turned to look at me. “Maddie, what prompted this question?”
I recalled what Brandon said, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell Zack. I could only make up an
excuse. Just curious, that’s all.”
The smile vanishedpletely from Zack’s face, leaving behind an expression that sent shivers
down my spine.
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“Maddie, the car ident that your parents were in all those years ago truly was an ident. I was
at the scene. There are police reports and assessments to back it up,” he said heavily.
I hadn’t been there and didn’t know the whole situation. I knew Zack stopped me from going
because he wanted to protect me. He didn’t want me to see how gruesome it had been, but it also
became one of my biggest regrets in life.
“Maddie, if you still have any doubts or don’t believe me, you can check the records from back
then.” Zack’s face was ashen. The joy on his face from when we were chatting earlier had
disappearedpletely.
I knew that Zack had a strong bond with my father, not unlike that of real brothers. The mention of
my parents‘ passing probably made him recall how tragic it had all been. It had upset him.
I held his arm. “No need. I believe you. I was just curious, that’s all.”
Zack gazed at me. I thought he was going to say something, but in the end, he didn’t.
After a pause, he sighed. “Maddie, go downstairs first. I need some time alone.”
My heart sank. He had wanted to go downstairs with me but changed his mind. “Zack…”
“I’m fine. Run along now.” Zack waved his hand.
After I left the study, I didn’t immediately go downstairs. Instead, I leaned against the wall and
contemted.
Zack’s reaction was abnormal, but his sincerity left me unsure if he was truly hiding something.
After a while, I made my way downstairs. I heard Bree and Brandon talking.
I had been worried they wouldn’t get along or Bree would make things difficult for Brandon. But
when I heard the asionalughter from Bree, I felt relieved.
What could he possibly have said to make Bree, who had reservations toward him,ugh?
I walked down curiously and heard Bree say, “Such a mischievous child. She was only this tall, and
whenever she saw me, she wouldn’t hesitate to call me ‘Mom.‘ I used to say, ‘If only you were my
real daughter.”
“Her mother suggested we arrange a marriage between her and one of my sons, either Chris or
Conrad. But Conrad was much older than her, so we settled on Chris.”
This was the first time I had learned why they chose Chris and not Conrad as my husband in the
arranged marriage.
“After her mother said that, Maddie immediately dered she wanted to marry Chris. She wasn’t
shy at
all!” Bree chuckled.
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So, it wasn’t Brandon who had made herugh, but rather her own nostalgic musings. She was
probably telling Brandon all this to agitate him.
“Mae’s like that. She also loves calling others ‘brother‘ and asking them to carry her,” Brandon said.
I was shocked. He spoke as though he knew my childhood, but then I realized that he was simply
responding to Bree.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, both Bree and Brandon looked up at me. I stared at them as
and for a moment, nobody spoke.
Bree broke the silence after a pause. “Where’s Zack? Why didn’t hee down with you?”
Recalling his reaction, I replied, “He said he needed some time alone.”
well.
Studying my face, Bree seemed to have guessed something. “Maddie, Zack loves you like his own
child.”
“I know that.” I was also feeling upset.
By then, Brandon had already stood up and walked to my side. The moment he held my hand, I
saw his gaze turn dark. It was because my hands were cold.
“Is there anything else you wanted to talk about with Mrs. Gildon? If there isn’t, let’s go back. They
need to rest. Let’s not disturb them.” Brandon made up an excuse to leave.