Chapter 153

After dinner, Ethan and Madelyn went for a walk. They watched lovey-dovey couples stroll by, but between Madelyn and Ethan, there was an unusual silence, a strange atmosphere.

Finally, she couldn’t hold back and blurted out, “What happened to your legs?”

Ethan lowered his gaze as his expression slightly changed. “It was a car accident,” he replied, brief and to the point.

Madelyn nodded and said, “Well, be careful when driving in the future.” Her words filled with genuine concern.

“Alright.”

Madelyn’s maternal instincts kicked in again. “You’ve walked with me for so long. Aren’t your legs tired?

How about we find a place to sit? If you’re uncomfortable, you must tell me.”

Ethan smiled. “Alright.”

Madelyn bit her lip as she thought to herself, ‘You basically say “alright” to everything!”

She dared not meet his gaze anymore, so she turned and pointed to a spot, her expression stiff, “I want to have that.”

With Christmas approaching, the glace fruit seller dressed up as Santa Claus. Madelyn hadn’t indulged in these treats much before.

“Let’s go,” Ethan said, gently enveloping Madelyn’s hand in his. His touch radiated warmth, creating a cozy feeling that embraced Madelyn.

He didn’t notice the daze in Madelyn behind him. Her gaze were fixed at their connected hands, her heart fluttering and her cheeks flushed.

Madelyn had lived two lifetimes. Aware of Ethan’s feelings for her, she did not acknowledge it or turn him down. Instead, she maintained the bond they shared, a companionship that she understood to be somewhat selfish.

There were many obstacles between them – Zach, Hayson, and Madelyn’s own pain. The hurt from her past life had left her unable to open up to loving Ethan in this new life.

She hoped, ‘Maybe Ethan’s feelings for me will fade over time. We’ll spend more time together, and those emotions might disappear… kind of like what happened to my feelings for Zach in last life.’

Madelyn thought of Ethan as someone beyond her reach. ‘Someday, he’ll meet girls prettier than me.

There will be plenty of girls seeking his attention in the future.’ This made her unwilling to risk her heart and face the possibility of heartbreak.

Even if Zach hadn’t warned her to stay away from Ethan, Madelyn’s feelings of insecurity and fear would still have kept her apart from him, especially considering her inability to conceive.

Madelyn had made the decision to undergo a hysterectomy to ensure her own well-being. The idea of pursuing another romantic relationship didn’t interest her at all. She saw her future with just herself, no room for anyone else, not even Ethan.

She thought to herself, ‘I’ll let him hold my hand today. This moment will be a lasting memory for me, especially if we may not cross paths again.’

As the clock went past half-past nine, the night grew darker.

She stopped next to the square’s fountain and told Ethan, “It’s getting late. I should go back. I have classes tomorrow.”

The drive from Amberley Street to Jent Residence at Southern Haven Villas would take at least forty minutes, and with traffic, it might be over an hour.

Ethan said, “Please stay just a bit longer.”