?Chapter 328:


    She raised an eyebrow and looked at Rnd, her expression challenging, as if daring him to drop the subject.


    But to her surprise, Rnd didn’t flinch. His expression darkened, and he answered with an unwavering seriousness that surprised even Maia. “I’ll be responsible for you.”


    The air thickened, freezing in an instant. Maia was momentarily speechless, as though the ground beneath her had shifted.


    “I can marry you,” Rnd continued, his voice calm yet resolute, leaving no room for doubt. Maia was stunned into silence.


    Before she could gather her thoughts, the roar of an engine interrupted the charged atmosphere. A sleek silver Maserati appeared around the corner and stopped near them.


    A tall figure emerged from the driver’s seat, his presencemanding attention.


    Chris!?


    Maia’s instinct was to pull her wrist free, but Rnd’s grip tightened, holding her in ce.


    Chris’s eyes flicked to Maia’s wrist, still encircled by Rnd’s hand. A cold expression spread across his face, his gaze narrowing into icy hostility as he locked eyes with Rnd.


    The tension between the three of them was palpable, each person silently sizing up the others, the air thick with unspoken challenges. Rnd’s mind raced. What was this man doing here? Wasn’t this Maia’s home? And that car—where had he gotten the money for that? It hit him like a lightning bolt. Since this man had been kept by Maia, that car was probably hers—or maybe she bought it for him.


    Frustration surged within Rnd. He tugged at his tie, his irritation mounting. “Maia, you brought him home? Where’s your husband?” His voice dripped with annoyance.


    In that brief moment of distraction, Maia wrenched her wrist free, her heart racing with the sudden surge of anxiety. She felt as if she had been caught red-handed, a deer in headlights.


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    Before she could speak, Chris let out a humorlessugh, the sound sharp and biting. “So you do know she has a husband? Yet here you are, hanging around. What is it, Rnd? You want to be the other man knowingly?”


    Chris’s words were brief but packed a punch, dripping with sarcasm.


    Rnd lost his cool, his face falling into a scowl. He locked eyes with Chris, his anger ring as he shot back, “You, of all people, a man living off someone else, dare to criticize me?!”


    Chris let out a quietugh, his voice yful and a bit mischievous. “I’m Maia’s—”


    Before Chris could finish, Maia gave his arm a quick pinch. Chris, always quick on the uptake, immediately mped his mouth shut. Even so, he wasn’t exactly pleased about it.


    Rnd, remembering how Chris had carried himself the night before, tightened his grip on Maia’s wrist.


    He jabbed a finger at Chris, then faced Maia, his voice full of disbelief. “Maia, what could you possibly see in him?”


    Maia kept her face neutral as she answered, “He’s handsome.” Chris immediately rxed, a proud smile spreading across his face.


    Rnd, on the other hand, froze, his expression stiffening. His eyebrow twitched slightly. “Aren’t you concerned he’s been intimate with many women?”


    Maia shrugged casually. “As long as he can please me.” Rnd was left utterly speechless.


    Chris almost burst outughing, the irritation he’d felt moments agopletely gone. He took Maia’s hand, led her to the car, and helped her into the passenger seat.


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