?Chapter 899:


    A thoughtful silence settled between Hurst and Mnie before he spoke again, his tone dropping and the gravity of his words unmistakable. “Maia truly is remarkable, but she’s not unattached. You remember I told you before—she’s married.”


    Catching the subtle shift, Mnie sensed something new in her father’s voice—a gentleness that hinted at hesitation rather than firm refusal. Years of experience had taught him to weigh every angle, analyzing consequences and possibilities with measured care.


    Still, that wasn’t what Mnie hoped to hear.


    Without warning, she rose from her seat, her yful demeanor reced by resolve as she fixed her gaze on Hurst. “Dad, you’re the one who always said that if you care about someone, you should go after them. I know you feel something for Maia—this is more than simple admiration, isn’t it? Are you really going to let that slip away? Her marriage doesn’t change anything. After all, you’ve been married, too. Doesn’t that make you even better suited for each other? Most men might hesitate because of her past, but I know you wouldn’t let that get in the way.”


    Mnie listed every argument she could muster, determined to leave no room for him to argue.


    The effect was immediate—Hurst looked genuinely stunned.


    What sort of ces did Mnie pick up such unconventional logic? Odd as it was, her arguments somehow managed to hold water.


    Words hovered on the tip of Hurst’s tongue, but Mnie charged ahead, building her case with even more conviction. “Look at the facts—she left the country without her husband, just took a bodyguard. That alone tells me I was right before. Either Maia isn’t married, or that so-called husband is not someone she truly loves. Whatever the truth is, if you go after her, I honestly think you’ve got a real shot.”<fn260a> Chapters first released on findnovel</fn260a>


    A flicker of doubt crossed Hurst’s features as he absorbed her reasoning, lines settling deep on his brow.


    Silently, Mnie added another point, saying, “And now Ethan, Maia’s brother, is rooting for you. That makes your odds even better than anyone else’s.” As she was speaking, her eyes were searching her father’s face for any sign of encouragement.


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    Only then did it hit her—if her father married Maia, wouldn’t that make Ethan her step-uncle? Being ssmates with their uncle wasn’t something everyone could experience.


    And strangely, that idea didn’t unsettle her. In fact, she’de to appreciate Ethan’s quiet, dependable presence, even if he was a bit on the reserved side.


    After a long moment, Hurst finally looked up at his daughter, thest trace of stubbornness fading from his eyes. Privately, he admitted that he’d already been mulling over this very possibility for some time. He had noticed that Mnie’s admiration for Maia bordered on adoration—almost as if she were a lifelong fan.


    Who in Wront wouldn’t want a stepmother who had be a local legend, especially with Maia’s heroic reputation spreading so quickly?


    Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Hurst finally spoke up, his tone straightforward and sincere. “I’ll give this some real thought. But before anything else, I need to get to the bottom of Maia’s marital status. If there’s truly a husband, I have to know who he is. Pursuing her without knowing the facts would feel like meddling in someone else’s rtionship—and I owe Maia nothing less than honest intentions.”


    The moment those words left his mouth, Mnie’s whole face lit up. With a burst of energy, she flung her arms around him and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, her tone bubbling with delight. “Dad, you’re the most chivalrous man in Wront. And I’m sure your charm will touch her. If you set your heart on something, I know you’ll make it happen.”


    Inside, she muttered to herself, “As long as tonight’s n falls into ce, everything should sort itself out soon.”


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