Love's Redemption

Redmption 9

"Join us!" Chris said, without asking for my opinion.

Jewel promptly sat down and looked at the dishes in front of her with a longing expression. "Grilled fish! I've been craving this lately."

"Shall I order you some foie gras as well?" Chris asked without a hint of hesitation.

"And add a dessert, please. Frozen yogurt with strawberry jam. For the drink, I'll have orange juice," Jewel said. She turned to me. "Madeline, would you like some orange juice too?"

"It's alright. I'll just have water," I replied, putting the foie gras on my fork into my mouth.

The foie gras was smooth and creamy with a milky scent.

"Chris, is the foie gras you brought me before from this place?"

Jewel's words made me pause mid-chew.

I looked at him and saw a slight discomfort in his expression.

He slowly replied, "Yes."

No wonder he knew the foie gras here was good; he had bought it for someone else many times. Meanwhile, today was my first time having this.

He was doing this out of guilt as a form of compensation.

Suddenly, the foie gras in my mouth lost its flavor. I couldn't swallow it.

"So that's why the smell of the foie gras was so familiar when I passed by here." Jewel smiled at Chris, her eyes filled with a delicate tenderness that seemed to ensnare me, making it hard to

breathe.

She then turned to me. "Madeline, Chris must bring you here often. That's why he bought the foie gras for me; he knows how good it is."

As if stabbing a knife into my heart wasn't enough, she had to twist it. I felt the full impact of her words.

I looked at Chris. "No, this is the first time. I'm not as lucky as you are, Mrs. Goodwin."

Jewel's smile faltered, and she lowered her gaze.

I heard her whisper in a frail voice, "Lucky? Ian has left me and… our child."

Jewel's tears began to fall immediately after her words.

I was taken aback. How did a simple conversation lead to tears?

"Madeline!" Chris' voice was heavy as he called my name. Then, he handed Jewel a tissue. "Don't think too much. You shouldn't cry so much. It's not good for the baby."

"If Ian were here, I wouldn't have to eat alone like this," Jewel murmured as she took the tissue from Chris and wiped her eyes. "Sorry. My emotions are all over the place because of the pregnancy. I don't want to spoil the mood. I should leave…"

As she started to stand up, Chris reached out and held onto her. "You're worrying about something you don't have to. We already ordered the food. Try the grilled fish here. It's delicious."

Chris let go of her and was about to place a piece of fish on her plate with his fork when I interrupted, "Chris, you should use the serving utensils, not your own fork, to serve Mrs. Goodwin."

Chris froze mid-action, and the atmosphere grew tense.

Jewel glanced at Chris and then said considerately, "Chris, there's no need to serve me. I can help myself."

Chris placed the fish on his plate instead. Then, he took my plate, picked a piece of fish, and carefully removed the bones for me. I remembered the time I got a fishbone stuck in my throat. Ever since then, Chris always removed the bones for me whenever we ate fish together.

Chris was always like this—hitting me with one hand and offering me a sweet treat with the other.

"Madeline, Chris treats you so well." Jewel sighed.

"Who else should he be good to if not me?" I replied, putting the fish in my mouth. After a moment, I added, "It would be a problem if he treated others the same way, wouldn't it, Mrs. Goodwin?"

Jewel glanced at Chris again and softly replied, "Yes."

The subtle exchange between them wouldn't have been so evident if I were blind.

"Mrs. Goodwin, how far along are you in your pregnancy?" I changed the topic.

Before Jewel could respond, Chris interrupted, "Maddie, if you don't eat your foie gras soon, it will get cold, and the texture will be ruined."

I wasn't stupid; I could tell he was trying to stop me from asking Jewel about her pregnancy.

But he had assured me the child wasn't his. Why wasn't I allowed to ask?

Unless there was a hidden secret about the child or he was too concerned about this woman.

But I was his fiancée.

"Even now, the texture is already off," I replied.

I suddenly lost my appetite after learning that he had brought foie gras to Kewel before.

Chris looked at me sharply when he sensed my change in tone. I returned his gaze, and we silently confronted each other.

The warm and happy atmosphere we had when we first entered the restaurant was gone. Indeed, three's a crowd.

Just then, Jewel's foie gras dessert and juice were served. The waiter politely asked, "Would you like the foie gras sliced, ma'am?"

"No need." Jewel declined, then looked at Chris. "Chris, could you help me cut it? You've done it before; you know just the right size."

"Mrs. Goodwin," I spoke up again. "The restaurant offers slicing services. Let's not trouble Chris, especially since he is busy with helping me debone the fish."

Jewel suddenly bit her lip. "Sorry, Madeline. I didn't think it through. I'll do it myself."

"Madeline!" Chris asserted. "Jewel doesn't trust food handled by others, especially now that she's pregnant and has to be careful."

This was the third time he called my name in that tone of voice.

"Ha!" I couldn't help but laugh. "Which dish in front of her hasn't been handled by others?"

Chris fell silent instantly.

Jewel's expression turned immediately to one of distress and panic. "I'm sorry, Madeline. It was thoughtless of me. Chris, don't be mad at Madeline because of me. If this is how it's going to be, I should just go."

She started to stand up again, but Chris stopped her once more.

His voice was gentle yet firm when he reassured Jewel, "Don't mind her. Madeline is feeling a bit emotional because she's on her period. This is also how she usually talks."

Chris really had a way with words. As soon as he spoke, I felt a warmth spread through my lower half.

I looked at Chris. "You're right, I just started my period, but I didn't bring any sanitary pads. Can you go buy me a pack?"

Chris furrowed his brows slightly. "You know you're having your period this week. Why don't you have any with you just in case?"

"Don't I have you, my fiancé, who remembers even my menstrual cycle?" I chuckled, but the smile didn't reach my eyes.

Despite Chris' irritation, he still got up. "You two go ahead and eat. I'll be back in a moment."

Now, it was just Jewel and me at the table. However, neither of us touched our food. We only sat there in silence.

After a few seconds, Jewel asked, "Madeline, you hate me now, don't you?"

At least she had some self-awareness.

I didn't mince my words when I replied, "I don't hate you, but you make me uncomfortable." I looked at her pitiful expression and continued, "Chris is my fiancé, and we're about to get married soon. And yet, you keep reaching out to him.

"You've even asked him to go to you in the middle of the night. Don't you think that's crossing a line? Would you be okay if you were in my shoes?"All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.