Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Even though he was right and I knew that I was at fault, why did I feel like I was the one who had been wronged? Why did I end up crying?

Brandon turned back and, seeing me crying uncontrollably, reached out to hold me again. "It's my fault for being too harsh. I won't say such things again." The more he said this, the more upset I felt.

I raised my hand and hit him. "You're not at fault. Why are you saying it's your fault? It's clearly my mistake."

"No, Mae, you're not wrong. It's my fault for having ill thoughts and speaking carelessly." Brandon insisted on taking the blame.

This made me even more distressed. I hit him again and again.

Finally, overwhelmed by my tears, I bit him.

"That hurts," Brandon said.

It was the first time he had ever said that.

I sighed in relief. Tears were still streaming down my face as I looked at him. Brandon wiped my tears away. "Once you're done biting, no more crying. Otherwise, your eyes will be swollen tomorrow, and that won't look good."

"It's all your fault," I blamed him again.

"Yes, it's my fault. I won't do it again," Brandon said as he wiped my tears away.

But he wasn't at fault.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my teary face against his chest. "I've become this way because of you."

"Yes, so it's my problem. I shouldn't have said anything. I should be punished. Do you want to bite me again?" Brandon teased.

I hit him, but he just held me close.

Our heated argument left me in tears, but it ended swiftly, within five minutes.

Despite the tears and the argument, the awkwardness lingered.

Thus, I looked for a way to ease the tension. "I'd like some milk."

"Okay. I'll warm it up for you. You go take a shower," Brandon said before pushing me back into the bathroom and shutting the door behind me. "Brandon, I was wrong. I'll change," I admitted through the door.

"Mae, you're always right," Brandon said before he left.

I looked at my teary reflection in the mirror when he said that.

In the past had always been careful around Chris. I never acted out of line. I monitored his every mood, and if he frowned, I would worry that I had upset him in some way.

But now, despite Brandon's indulgence and affection, I found myself acting out.

"Madeline, you need to stop this," I said to myself.

When I came out of the shower, Brandon had already warmed up the milk. He was now in his loungewear, sitting on the sofa and working on his computer.

I walked over, and he set aside his computer to take the towel from my hand and dry my hair.

As I drank the warm milk, I thought about the dinner we had and said, "Brandon, do you know I've been upset these past few days?"

"What are you upset about?" His hand moved through my hair and massaged my scalp. It felt good.

"I'm upset because you deceived me and didn't tell me the truth."

"Hmm?" He seemed confused.

I nibbled on the edge of my cup. "I thought the boss behind Xander was you. I assumed you were deliberately hiding your identity from me." "Why did you think it was me?" Brandon asked again.

I remembered overhearing his phone conversation with Xanderin the stairwell, along with other calls he made that day. I was worried that if I brought it up, he might realize I knew more than I was letting on.

"Because your last name is Howell too, and Xander's fawning behavior made me think it was you," I explained.

"Now that you know it's not me, you're not angry anymore, right? It's okay if you're not upset," Brandon said casually as if it didn't matter to him.

"Brandon,"called softly. Then, like

before, in the restaurant's private room, draped my arms around his neck and kissed him with the scent of milk lingering on my lips.

But this time, instead of being passive like before, Brandon deepened the kiss.

Just as things were getting heated between us, my phone rang.

It was Lisa.

Ellie was still in the hospital. I couldn't ignore her call. "Dr. Carline... What? Can you repeat that?"