Love's Redemption

Redmption 221

I had to play it cool.

“Madeline,” Jewel said as she stood in front of me. Her eyes were filled with tears.

I squinted and said nothing, waiting for her to continue

She needed to gather her emotions. I couldn’t interfere

“Could you stay away from Chris?” she finally said.

I frowned. “What?”

“You’ve already broken up with him. He’s with me now, so you’re part of the past. I don’t want you showing up around him and affecting his mood.” Jewel’s eyes were reddened, with tears shimmering.

I couldn’t help but laugh. So, she was blaming me for the punishment Chris gave her just now.

“Are you saying that you can’t afford the compensation and need me to share the burden, Ms. Massey?” I mocked.

Jewel’s face turned pale instantly. She had previously shown her financial struggles in front of me, assuming my mockery was about her poverty

But it wasn’t her lack of money I found laughable. It was her ridiculousness.

“I couldn’t afford it before, but things are different now.” Jewel wasn’t backing down either. She retorted sharply and effectively.

Her confidence came from the fact that she was now officially with Chris.

act that she was now officially with Chris.

She was trying to hurt me with her words, but I refused to just take it. I put on a look of sudden realization and said, “Oh, I almost forgot. You’re no longer the widow of lan, whom even your in– laws didn’t acknowledge.”

Hearing lan’s name made Jewel freeze, and then tears rolled down her cheeks. “Madeline, don’t use lan to attack me. I don’t want you showing up around Chris, not just for me, but for you too.”

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I smiled faintly. “Is that so? I’d hear how this is for my benefit.”

Jewel wiped away the tears from the corner of her eye. “Chris is very resentful toward you now. He’s upset that you moved on so quickly, even feeling that you never truly loved him over the past ten years.”

I furrowed my brow. “Did Chris tell you that?”

“No.” Jewel bit her lip. “He’s too proud to say it, but I can feel it.”

“Oh, so he’s quite the jerk. Now that I don’t want him, he’s the one feeling uncomfortable,” I said without any hint of politeness.

“Madeline, how can you say that about him?” Jewel defended him.

“How else should I put it? Should I say he’s been so good to me, that he remembered my good qualities when he chose you?” My words made Jewel bite her lip as if I had just slapped her in the face.

She fell silent.

1 warned her, “Jewel, don’t try to manipulate me. I’m not falling for your tricks. You don’t need to test me. Chris is someone I’ve let go of. Now that you’re with him, I’m glad for the peace. I should thank you.”

Jewel’s lips trembled, and she was left speechless.

11

I glanced at her slightly rounded belly but decided to hold my tongue and turned away.

But Jewel called after me, “Since you don’t want him, could you say something to his parents so they won’t blame him anymore?”

I didn’t even turn around. “Why should I speak up for him?”

Jewel didn’t respond, and I left the amusement park and headed to the Star Empire building.

As soon as I entered the lobby, I saw a familiar face. He spotted me and waved enthusiastically. ” Madeline, what a coincidence.”

“Mr. Roulder,” I greeted him coolly.

Xander walked over. “Have you finished your little break? You’d better be back at work tomorrow. If not, I might have to recruit some new talents.”

“Mr. Roulder, if you’re going to scare me, I’ll definitely be at work tomorrow,” I replied, noticing Derick approaching.

He saw me too. “Maddie.”

I waved at him and turned back to Xander. “Mr. Roulder, I have a friend here. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“What kind of friend? A boyfriend? Why don’t you introduce him?” Xander said. He was clearly overstepping given our brief acquaintance as colleagues.

Before I could respond, Derrick stepped in. “Yes, I’m her boyfriend, so I suggest you don’t get any ideas, sir Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.