Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie) novel Chapter 385

I held Brandon's hand, silently offering him strength.

Keith had mentioned that the surgery would take at least six hours. Brandon and I had already waited for three hours when Brandon suddenly started having a nosebleed.

It was caused by excessive stress, which made me realize how much he cared about Ellie.

"I'll get you some water." We hadn't had a drop to drink in the past three hours.

The night before, Ellie couldn't eat anything because of the surgery. Thus, Brandon hadn't eaten anything either in order to keep her company.

"I'm fine. You should go back and rest for a bit, then come back later." Brandon was still being thoughtful at a time like this.

I nodded and went to the hospital's convenience store to buy some water.

Unexpectedly, I saw Charles near the surgery wing while on my way back. He was leaning against the wall and staring at the floor, lost in thought.

Remembering what I had seen in the ward two days ago, I knew that Emma had to have already passed away and that he shouldn't be here anymore.

But, there he was.

I looked around. The floor was full of operating rooms. Could it be that another relative of his was ill? Or had some miracle happened with Emma?

The thought of the latter made my heart skip a beat. I walked over and called out, "Charles."

He looked up with a fleeting hint of panic in his eyes. "Madeline."

Charles looked even thinner than he had been two days ago. He was so thin that it made me feel pity for him.

I took a deep breath. "Why are you here? Is someone in surgery?"

Charles straightened up from the wall. The dark circles under his eyes were deep, and his eyes were red, as if he had been crying.

He didn't answer me, so I tried again and asked, "Is it Emma? Has her situation not been resolved?"

Even though I desperately wished for a miracle for Emma, I knew that was just a far-fetched hope.

"It's over," Charles said in a hoarse voice.

"Then, why are you still here?" I gestured toward the surrounding operating rooms.

Something flickered in Charles' eyes. "Madeline, I'm here to see you."

However, the thought of how much I resembled Emma made me decide against it. "Charles, you need to say goodbye to the past. You have to cut ties with her completely to really move on."

His eyes dimmed for a moment, and then he suddenly turned to look at Brandon.

I followed his gaze toward Brandon before saying, "That's my boyfriend. Before him, I had an ex whom I loved for ten years."

I shared this personal detail to show him that as long as he kept moving forward, there was no past that he couldn't leave behind.

"Charles, let go of the past. And now that you've seen me, you can leave." I shook the water bottle in my hand. "My boyfriend is waiting for his water."

Charles nodded. We exchanged a glance before I turned and walked back to Brandon.

I didn't say goodbye because it would be best if we never saw each other again.

That way, he wouldn't be reminded of Emma every time he saw my face, trapping him in guilt.

When I handed Brandon the water, I noticed that Charles was still standing there.

I turned my back to him and didn't look at him again.