?Chapter 738:


    Jarrod couldn’t stay silent either.


    “Maia, can you hear me? It’s Jarrod. Please, can we just talk? I’m really begging here.”


    Not missing a beat, Richard tried again.


    “Maia, please, just meet with us one time. Everything that happened was our fault. We all need a chance to say what’s on our minds. Will you let us?”


    For a moment, Maia’s finger paused mid-air, uncertain.


    Their words stirred something — a flicker of emotion that showed on her face. Maybe if all of this had happened four years ago, she might have stopped to listen.


    The present was different, though. She felt no obligation.


    Their pleas fell on deaf ears.


    Resolutely, Maia pressed end and blocked the new number without a hint of hesitation.


    That would be thest time she let an unknown call through.


    On the other end, the sharp click of the call ending echoed in Richard’s ear, tightening his jaw.


    Sandra’s eyes zed as she rounded on him.


    “Richard! What’s wrong with you? Maia’s already furious, and you still talk down to her? Did you ever stop to think why she blocked us? Look at this disaster — you made it worse!”


    The words came out in a huff, frustration seeping into every syble.


    Even though all three finally agreed toe clean and offer Maia a genuine apology, breaking lifelong patterns didn’te so easily. Richard’s habit of using a sharp, critical tone pushed Sandra nearly to her breaking point. They had managed to get Maia to pick up the call, only to watch the opportunity slip through their fingers because of him.


    Tension filled Jarrod’s clenched fists. He swallowed his ownints about his father, but disappointment gnawed at him — any hope of making amends now seemed lost.


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    With a heavy sigh, Richard tried to exin himself.


    “That wasn’t my intention…”


    Impatience colored Sandra’s response.


    “What’s the n now? Are we supposed to keep standing out here? If Maia never shows, do we just waste the whole day?”


    Muttering under her breath, Sandra’s irritation grew. In her mind, Richard’s stubbornness topped the list of reasons Maia wanted nothing to do with the Morgan family, second only to Rosanna’s constant meddling. Her re spoke volumes.


    A sudden spark crossed Jarrod’s face. Rubbing the sweat from his brow, he fumbled for his phone and started typing furiously. Brightening, he looked up.


    “Mom, Dad, look — if someone blocks your number, you can still text them! The messages will still get through!”


    He hesitated, then suggested,


    “Why don’t we put everything we want to say into a message and send it to Maia?”


    Sandra and Richard traded surprised looks, taken aback by the idea.


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