?Chapter 313:


    “With the mystery? You’re making my skin crawl,” Pattie said, a shiver of unease slipping into her tone.


    “You’ll find out soon enough,” Maia answered cryptically, then ended the call without another word. She rose, brushed off thest traces of sleep, and headed toward the living room.


    Her gaze lingered briefly on Chris’ closed door. Since returningst night, neither of them had exchanged a word.


    Shaking off the lingering tension, Maia steadied her breath, turned the doorknob, and stepped out.


    The fusion restaurant at Harmony za buzzed with life, but in a private room tucked away from the crowd, the atmosphere was more intimate. Soft lights cast a golden hue across the table where Maia sat, casually scrolling through the menu. She ordered a mix of familiar dishes she had shared with Pattie thest time they came, plus a few new ones she knew would hit all of Pattie’s favorites.


    Just as the waitstaff began to set the tes down, the door swung open. “Ha! You really get me, Maia. I’ve been craving this ce all day,” Pattie said, wasting no time snatching up her fork. She speared a piece of crispy shrimp and popped it into her mouth, savoring it with a blissful hum. “But seriously, what is with all the mystery? You made it sound like some formal announcement. I am freaking out here! Spill it already!”


    Maia leaned back, her lips curling into a teasing grin. “If you are the timid one, then there is not a soul on this earth with courage.” She leaned in, lowering her voice with mischievous intent. “So, tell me — how did things go with Rndst night? Any progress?”


    Pattie’s hand jerked mid-air, the fork ttering against her te. A juicy piece of meat slipped off and plopped onto the tablecloth. Rolling her eyes, Pattie flicked her hand dismissively.


    “Ugh, do not even start. I was fine until you reminded me.” She stabbed another morsel with exasperation. “How does a grown man get drunk after two lousy drinks? I had to drag him home. I was so wiped out I almost copsed on his doorstep.” She shoveled a few more bites into her mouth, clearly on a mission to replenish her depleted energy reserves.


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    Maia chuckled, reaching over to ce another tender cut of beef onto Pattie’s te. “So… nothing happened between you two? You did not sleep with him?”


    Pattie nearly choked. Coughing into her napkin, she shot Maia a horrified look. “Maia! What are you even imagining?”


    Laughing, Maia leaned her elbow on the table, looking far too entertained. “Come on, I’ve seen this kind of thing a hundred times in TV dramas.”


    Pattie scoffed, waving her fork in the air. “Dramas are lies! Even if I wanted to, which I did not, Rnd was so drunk he could not even stand, let alone — well, you know.”


    She stabbed at her pasta dramatically. “He passed out like a dead pig.” A sigh escaped her lips, tinged with something suspiciously close to regret.


    Just as Pattie was sinking deeper into her pasta, she snapped her head up, narrowing her eyes at Maia. “Hold on a second. You dragged me here under the pretense of serious news, and somehow I am the one getting grilled?”


    Maia offered an innocent smile, twirling her fork between her fingers. “Just warming up the conversation.”


    “Do not even try that with me!” Pattie retorted, pointing usingly. “Spill. Now. What happened with that manst night? You have some news, by the way. Not worried your husband will divorce you if he learns what happened?”


    “Not in the slightest,” Maia replied smoothly.


    Pattie mmed her fork down, half-amused, half-exasperated. “Wow. Seriously, you are something else.”


    But Maia’s next words stopped her cold. “Because he is my husband.” The room seemed to freeze.


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