Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 837

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Chapter 837

The rest of my words caught in my throat as Hayden pulledinto his arms.

His cheek brushed mine, his voice low and steady. "Lena's fine. | didn't hurt her. She's safe, | swear."

His scent, his warmth, his words-they worked slowly easing the panic clawing at my

chest.

"You're not lying?" | asked, my voice trembling

"I'm not lying. Aaron's with her. He'll bring her back," he murmured, his lips brushing my

hair.

"Then why are you here?" | wasn't ready to let this go so easily.

His breath tickled against my skin. "Because | missed you. | missed you too much."

Missed me? Really?

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One minute he was cold and unreadable, and the next, he was this warm, familiar version of himself again. It

was whiplash, and it messed with my head.

He must've seen the doubt in my eyes because he loosened his hold, his hand grazing my cheek. "Hit me, yell at

me-do whatever you need. Just... askwhat you want."

"Are you really Hayden?" | asked quietly, skipping the yelling and hitting.

A faint smile played on his lips. "Don't believe me? Test me."

He grabbed my hand and pressed it against his chest. But | pulled my hand back, needing space. | walked into

the apartment and sat on the couch, eyeing the fruit platter on the coffee table and the smell of fresh food in the

air. Looking over at the dining table, | froze. It was set with all my favorite dishes.

Hayden followed and sat beside me, lightly holding my hand. "Kiki, | know you're upset. I'll explain everything, |

promise. Just... givestime."

He still knewtoo well-too well for my liking. | pulled my hand back. "Then save the sweet talk until you've

actually explained."

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It wasn't about being cold. | cared-God, | cared too much. But the version of Hayden who'd taken Lena? He was a

stranger. Unfamiliar. Terrifying.

Until Lena cback, | couldn't let my guard down. Not with the memory of what he'd done still fresh in my

head.

Hayden studied me, then nodded softly. "Let's eat first," he said.

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475 BONUS

| glanced at the table again. My appetite was nonexistent, but the baby growing insidehad other plans. | sat

down, and Hayden filled my plate, just like he used to.

"It's been a while since you've had a proper meal. Taste it and see if it's still the same," Hayden said.

The food tasted exactly how | remembered. His cooking hadn't changed.

But | had.

Still, 1 ate more than | expected. When | looked up, | realized he hadn't touched his plate. "Why aren't you

eating? Did you poison the food?" | asked, raising an eyebrow. He laughed. "A little late to worry about that, don't

you think?"

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Fair point I'd already cleared my plate.

"I'm not hungry," he said. "Watching you eat is enough."

Hayden wasn't just being honest-he was laying on the rizz.

After dinner, we moved to the couch. The silence between us wasn't exactly comfortable; it was heavy, awkward,

like we were tiptoeing around something neither of us wanted to touch. "Want sfruit?" he asked after a

while.

""No, I'm stuffed."

"Then askwhatever you want to know," he said. He could sense the weight of the questions hovering

between us.

| stared at him, my mind racing but coming up blank. Where did | even start? He seemed to catch on and gave

"Alright," he said softly. "I'll go first. You can jump in if | miss anything."

That worked for me. | pulled my knees up to my chest, curling into the couch, and Hayden began to speak.

7.57,

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Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

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