Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie) novel Chapter 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."