Love's Redemption

Redmption 30

“Kid.” The voice on the other end was rich and resonant. It sounded familiar yet

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A familiar face flashed before my eyes, and I called out, “Conrad…”

I had thought that changing my number would allow me to avoid the Gildons. But I hadn’t expected Conrad to know this brother, let alone contact me.

“I see you’ve saved my number and haven’t forgotten me,” Conrad said with a hint of teasing.

He was only two years older than Chris and looked after me before he went abroad. He always liked to call me “kid“.

I was at a loss for words. To me, his words carried a tinge of resentment.

In the first two years after he left, I occasionally contacted him to ask about his situation. Later, we gradually lost touch.

9

Conrad was not the proactive type. He seldom contacted his family, let alone me. Now, his sudden call must be related to the canceled marriage between Chris and me.

Conrad rarely communicated with his family. Butthey still informed each other of important matters.

“How did you get this number?” I didn’t like beating around the bush and asked directly.

“You borrowed money from me once to pay for the phone bill.”

Conrad’s words made me marvel at his intellect. He had remembered this number for ten years simply because he paid for the phone bill once.

After my parents‘ accident, my dad’s phone became a relic. One day, I discovered it was out of service and wanted to top up the balance. But I had no money and was too embarrassed to ask Chris‘ parents. So, I borrowed money from Conrad.

He was worried I’d use the money for something bad. When he asked me what it was for, I told him but he didn’t believe me. So, he went with me.

In the end, Conrad helped to pay for the phone bill and even remembered the number.

I had forgotten to repay him for the bill. So now, facing his call, I jokingly asked, “Are you calling me to collect a debt, Conrad?”

“Yes.” He admitted.

I knew he wasn’t, but I went along with it. “I’ll transfer the money to you now…”

“Maddie…” Conrad interrupted.

I gripped my phone tightly but didn’t speak. Neither did Conrad for a moment.

Then, his voice sounded again. “My parents are worried about you. They’re very anxious because they can’t find you. My mom… fainted from the stress.”

My heart stopped for a second. I had anticipated his parents to worry but didn’t think it’d be this severe. Guilt and concern constricted my breath. “Is Bree alright?”

“She’s fine. She just has high blood pressure from the anxiety.”

Conrad paused and continued, “Maddie, did Chris do something wrong?”

I couldn’t avoid it. I had to answer this question again. I guessed that everyone who knew about our situation would ask me this.

The thought of it gave me a headache. I rubbed my temples, which were starting to ache. “Didn’t you ask him? Shouldn’t you ask him first about something like this?”

“I did. He said he didn’t know.” Conrad’s reply made me want to laugh.

“Did he also say that I was being unreasonable and throwing a tantrum?” I asked with a smile.

Conrad didn’t answer but said, “You liked him so much and was determined to marry him. But now, you’ve suddenly changed your mind. He did something to betray you, didn’t he?”

His words caused a sharp pain in my heart. Even though Conrad had been abroad for years, he understood my feelings for Chris better than Lisa did.

After all, we had once shared meals and lived under the same roof. Conrad had

witnessed firsthand my love for Chris.

The candies I had left for Chris, the chicken wings I had saved for him, the watermelons I had hidden, and the diary entries that I had secretly written… Conrad had seen them all.