Love's Redemption

Redmption 79

Lisa wasn’t going to reply anytime soon. I closed the chat and opened my social media feed.

To my surprise, I saw a set of carefree photos posted by Derick. It wasn’t only him, but others too. There was an image of several glasses clinking together.

I recognized one of the hands–it was Chris’s. Because on his finger was a cheap ring I had given him.

The sight of that ring now made me cringe at my immaturity.

It was a matching set; I had the other one. I bought them on my 18th birthday for 999 dollars. I wore the women’s style and gave him the men’s. He teased me then about trying to tie him down.

But he never wore it again. When I hinted at it, he said he was afraid people would laugh at him. Laugh at how cheap it was.

I understood what he meant. How could someone of his status wear a ring that cost just a few hundred dollars? But it was bought with the first money I earned from tutoring.

After that, I never mentioned the ring again, and he never wore it. Yet here, he was, wearing it in the photo.

What did this mean?

What was he trying to say?

I didn’t know, and I didn’t want to guess.

But the ring did hurt me. It evoked memories of my cautious, relentless pursuit of Chris, always looking up to him.

Lisa’s message interrupted my thoughts. “Who did you sleep with?” Lisa wast very direct.

I looked at this message without replying. My mind was still tangled from seeing the photo of Chris wearing that ring.

“Chris?” Lisa messaged again, then followed with, “It can’t be him.” Content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Cheop

“Is it Brandon?” Lisa finally guessed Brandon.

She knew my life and feelings too well, so it wasn’t hard to figure out.

“A lack of intimacy between a single man and woman when alone suggests a potential problem with the man,” Lisa added.

Did Brandon have issues?

The image of Brandon’s narrow waist and tight buttocks suddenly flashed before my eyes. I instantly rejected Lisa’s claim. Brandon couldn’t be impotent, so it must be me lacking charm.

Thinking about how I couldn’t even compete with a widow for Chris, I shook my head and ignored Lisa’s message.

“Maddie, you weren’t in bed last night. Where did you go? I messaged you but you didn’t reply,” Kara asked as soon as she woke up to her alarm.

I was surprised she woke up in the middle of the night. She usually slept through anything, even an earthquake.

Feeling diffident, I avoided her eyes. “I went for a run.”

Kara’s eyes widened. “Running in the middle of the night? Are you torturing yourself? Or are you horny thinking about men?”

Her train of thought was ridiculous.

“Shut up!” I rolled my eyes at her.

“Why would you go for a run in the middle of the night?” Kara still found it unbelievable.

I didn’t answer her again. Instead, I changed clothes and reminded her to hurry downstairs as we had a new issue to address.

She was such a curious cat. “Maddie, you put in extra hours and it only led to issues. Maybe you should stop working overtime.”

I was speechless.

Kara followed me down to the cafeteria for breakfast. As soon as we arrived,

we saw Brandon sitting there eating.

“Good morning, Mr. Howell!” Kara greeted him energetically.

Brandon nodded slightly, “Morning.”

I avoided looking at him and tugged Kara to pick out breakfast, but she

grabbed my bag instead. “Maddie, I’ll have the same as you. You pick. I’ll save. us seats here.”

I was struck dumb.

Kara winked at me, wanting to spend more time with her crush, leaving me unable to argue.

But I didn’t want to sit with Brandon.

Reluctantly, I was about to get my breakfast when Brandon spoke up. “Ms. Spraggins, I can hold your place, but it’s best to take care of your own tasks.”