?Chapter 499:


    The night settled peacefully around them.


    Neither spoke another word.


    Streetlights cast golden halos through the car windows as they drove. Ethan gazed out at the passing world, then caught his own reflection, thoughts turning inward with newfound perspective.


    The car drove on for a while longer until the illuminated entrance of Marvelous Garden appeared before them.


    As Maia brought the vehicle to rest, a question surfaced unexpectedly. “By the way… what was behind Mnie’s sudden apology today?” The memory of being apologized to by Mnie in public still confused her.


    Ethan studied Maia’s softened expression, relieved to see her irritation had ebbed, and offered, “Mnie lost a bet with Marisa, forcing her hand to…”


    He recounted the whole story.


    Maia listened, eyebrows arched in a blend of amusement and exasperation.


    “That exins it,” she sighed.


    The pieces clicked — no wonder Mnie had worn that look of mortified desperation.


    Ethan’s thoughts drifted to Hurst, his lips pressing together in contemtion.


    Silence stretched between them before he mustered his courage from some hidden reserve. “Maia!”


    She pivoted toward him, her response a gentle, “What is it?”


    “Whoever ims your heart — if he cherishes you genuinely and honors who you are… I’ll always have your back.”


    Though softly spoken, Ethan’s deration reached Maia with perfect rity.


    Her fingers tensed against the steering wheel as she turned toward Ethan, surprise flickering across her features.


    Maia’s heartbeat faltered, Chris’ image materializing unbidden in her thoughts. Could it be… Ethan had sensed something?


    After a thoughtful pause, she curved her lips into a smile. “What prompted this deration?”


    Ethan blinked at the directness of her question, his hand rising self-consciously to his head while crimson bloomed across his ears. Gaze sliding sideways, he stammered, “Nothing significant… just thinking aloud.”


    epting his exnation, Maia navigated toward the concrete descent of the underground garage.


    Meanwhile, after dropping Marisa at her home, Maxwell used the pretense of taking Chris to his boss as cover for bringing him to the ck market’s hidden base.


    A concealed door slid open, allowing Chris and Maxwell to step inside together.


    Maxwell sealed the entrance behind them before turning with a hushed question. “So… did everything proceed ording to n this time?”


    Chris’ voice carried a deceptive stillness. “It went rtively smoothly.” As he spoke, he sank into the sofa, his eyes narrowing to calcting slits while fragments of the day’s operation flickered through his mind. The n had been architected with precision, crafted to ensure a wless escape, but at the final moment, a formidable team had materialized from nowhere.


    They moved with military discipline — well-equipped, expertly trained, and wielding devastating power.


    The truth was undeniable: Kolton had reached out to that person, and these reinforcements were nothing short of elite.


    Though Chris had salvaged most of the goods, their casualties were significant. Even Chris himself hadn’t escaped unscathed. An enemy sniper’s bullet had found him, though ast-second twist of his body had spared him from fatal damage.


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