Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

I was surprised that Brandon had agreed to her request, but his agreement made my heart ache even more.

He clearly didn't want to, yet he still respected Ellie's wishes.

Perhaps afraid that Brandon might change his mind, Ellie immediately took out her phone and registered online. Watching her carefully fill out the registration information, I realized that she carried incredible energy with her. This energy was positive, uplifting, and full of gratitude.

"Brandon, let's sign up together too." I couldn't help but make my decision as well.

Brandon looked at me, and even Ellie paused her registration. "Mae..."

"Alright," Brandon agreed without hesitation and pulled out his phone.

"Bran, Mae, you guys..." Ellie seemed both excited and uneasy.

That was just how people were. Ellie could be stubborn when making decisions for herself, but when it involves others, she couldn't easily accept it.

But in the end, Ellie didn't try to stop us. Instead, she turned her unease into a smile. "Bran, Mae, let's apply together then. Hopefully, we'll stay healthy for decades and won't need to use this."

She made both Brandon and me laugh. I teased her by asking, "So, your grand act of love is just a formality and not from the heart?"

Ellie played along and said, "Mae, let's just keep that between us."

What was once a tense and heavy atmosphere turned into something lighthearted after Brandon and I decided to join in.

"Bran, Mae, come on. Let's celebrate. Let's celebrate that we are all loving people, and let's wish for our safety and health." Ellie raised her milkshake.

Brandon and I each took a cup and clinked it with hers.

"This is so good. It tastes so sweet," Ellie sighed after drinking.

Seeing how easily she was satisfied, I silently prayed in my heart that her surgery would be successful and that she would stay healthy and safe.

Brandon cooked something delicious for Ellie. We were worried that she might feel lonely eating alone. Thus, we planned to stay and eat with her.

"Don't do that. If you eat here, you won't be able to eat much at dinner later, and that would be a waste." Ellie laid out her little plan so clearly that it didn't even come off as annoying.

"Bran, Mae, go have your dinner. Don't worry about me. I've been eating alone for years." Ellie made us stop insisting.

However, what she said made me realize how lonely she had been all these years, just like me after losing my parents. Even though I was surrounded by noise and laughter in the Gildon family, there was still an emptiness deep inside of me.

Brandon and I went to the restaurant that Xander had mentioned. He remained silent the entire way.

I knew the thought of Ellie's organ donation was weighing heavily on him. Even though he had agreed to her request, it still troubled him.

"If you didn't want to agree, why didn't you just refuse? If you said no, Ellie wouldn't have insisted," I said to Brandon.

He stared ahead at the road. "I had no reason to refuse. Why should she be able to receive someone else's donation, but if something happens to her one day, her organs can't be donated to others?" Those who gave love would receive love, while those who gave blessings would receive blessings.

I understood Brandon's thoughts, so I just held his hand. He looked at me, and we exchanged smiles.

When the car stopped, I saw the hotel logo and remarked, "Mr. Roulder inviting me to dine at Hilcord's finest hotel isn't a trap, is it?"

Brandon chuckled. "Mae, don't always expect the worst."

"On the bright side, I'm benefiting from some bigshot's generosity." I didn't look at Brandon but hinted at him with my words.

"Maybe," he surprisingly agreed.

I no longer expected him to admit his powerful status openly. If he wanted to play pretend, I'd play along.

Xander didn't give us a room number, but I knew that at a place like this, all we had to do was mention the reservation name, and a waiter would lead the way.

Sure enough, after Brandon mentioned Xander's name, a waiter brought us to a private room.

Before the waiter could even open the door, as if Xander had a radar tracking us, he came over to open it himself. He greeted us with great courtesy, saying, "Please, come in." There was no one else in the private room. It was just him.

When I saw the large round table, my first thought was that it was both extravagant and wasteful.