?Chapter 105:


    In many ways, the meals she crafted worked better than any medicine.


    Back when she first started, her early dishes had tasted downright awful — strong, bitter, and hard to swallow. But Maia hadn’t given up. She experimented, adjusted, and refined her techniques until now — now her food not only healed but tasted delicious.


    During her time locked away, Maia had spent her days preparing meals for Zoey. She watched as Zoey’s strength returned little by little, realizing just how powerful food could be in changing someone’s health.


    Zoey never missed a chance to tease her, saying that Maia had even managed to outshine her.


    Still, a heavy regret clung to Maia’s heart. If only she had known then what she knew now, if only she had understood how to fight illness with food, maybe Vicki’s condition would not have spiraled out of control. Maybe Vicki would still be here.


    It was that deep regret that first pushed Maia toward the world of medicine. It was the reason she had thrown herself into studying nutrition and healing through food.


    Determination burned within her even then. She vowed she would never again stand by helplessly while someone she loved suffered.


    Kathie wasn’t dealing with something urgent. It was a long-term condition that needed steady care. Maia believed that if Kathie stuck to these therapeutic meals, she’d be back on her feet soon enough.


    After packing the freshly prepared meal into a thermal container, Maia slipped on her coat and made her way to the hospital.


    Normally, Ethan was always by Kathie’s side. Today, strangely, the boy was nowhere to be found.


    Not wanting to disturb Kathie, who slept soundly in the room, Maia set the lunchbox down quietly on the nightstand.


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    Still, even that small sound roused Kathie from her rest. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she smiled faintly. “You’re back.”


    “Yeah.” A soft smile crossed Maia’s face as she pulled up a chair. “I brought you something. You must be hungry. Let’s eat while it’s still warm.”


    After giving a small nod, Kathie let Maia help her settle against the pillows. Maia opened the lunchbox andid out the food.


    For a long moment, Kathie watched her. Then, in a quiet voice, she asked, “This hospital’s really fancy. It must be costing a lot to keep me here, right?”


    Without missing a beat, Maia arranged the food neatly and said in an easy tone, “Don’t worry about that. Just get better.”


    Although she appeared calmer, Kathie’s troubled expression lingered. After a few false starts, she finally spoke in a small voice. “Is it true what Sandra said? Are you really making money by…”


    Thest part caught in her throat, the words too heavy to say aloud.


    Maia hesitated for a heartbeat before lifting the bowl of soup she’d just prepared. Settling into the seat across from Kathie, she gently blew across a steaming spoonful.


    “Don’t believe a word Sandra said. It’s all just noise.”


    Kathie exhaled a shaky breath, her relief quickly folding into worry as her brows furrowed. “Then where did all your moneye from? Maia, don’t just sugarcoat it to make me feel better.”


    A soft smile curved Maia’s lips as she met Kathie’s eyes without flinching. “Rx, Kathie. Every cent I spent, I earned fair and square.”


    “But you only just got out of prison,” Kathie said, her confusion written inly across her face. “You already found a job?”


    “Yeah. An old ssmate from high school runs apany now. I work for her,” Maia said simply.


    She didn’t want Kathie getting anxious, so she offered a carefully chosen half-truth. Still, it wasn’t a lie — Pattie was now the CEO of MCN, and Maia led their design team. Everything she said held up.


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