?Chapter 998:


    They caught sight of Pattie right away, and the recognition dawned instantly on both faces. Without a word, Hurst gave Pattie a brief nod before turning and crossing the room to where Maiay.


    “You’ve done more than enough for my daughter, Ms. Watson,” he said, setting a bouquet down on the table beside her. “I’m grateful. I hope you get well soon.”


    Pattie studied Hurst for a moment. He didn’t seem as cold or sharp as people described. If anything, he looked uneasy. His eyes refused to settle on Maia for long.


    Why would he be nervous now of all times?


    Maia picked up on it too. Something about Hurst looked more polished, like he had gone out of his way to impress. Still, she let it go. Maybe he was on his way to a formal dinner or business meeting.


    “I appreciate that,” Maia said. Then she turned to Mnie and added, “I’m just relieved you’re safe.”


    Although she had hoped for this meeting, Mnie found herself hesitating, unsure how to act around the woman she longed to call family. Being only inches away from Maia was a brand new experience, and it left her breathless.


    From this distance, she could finally see what others always talked about — Maia’s beauty wasn’t just on the outside. There was a quiet grace in her posture, a calm strength in her eyes, and a symmetry to her face that felt almost unreal. Maia carried herself with an elegance unexpected from someone who had been behind bars for four years.


    “I only got a couple of cuts… nothing serious,” Mnie said, her voice shaking slightly as she caught Maia looking back at her.


    Something about Maia’s eyes — almond-shaped and luminous — stirred a memory that had been buried for years. Mnie remembered a golden afternoon, sunlight dancing on the water, as she yed by Lake Yelorne with her mother watching from the shore.


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    Mnie turned, and what she saw nearly took her breath away — those eyes. They mirrored theke and held a softness that reminded her of her mother. Without meaning to, Mnie whispered, “Mom…” Then panic set in, and she pped both hands over her mouth, face flushing with heat. For a second, even Hurst looked frozen, as if he hadn’t expected that. His thoughts turned sharp. Mnie was letting her emotions run wild again. She had just called Maia “Mom.”


    Across the room, Pattie stiffened. Her eyes flicked rapidly between Mnie, Hurst, and Maia, searching for an exnation. Something felt off. Why did it seem like those three belonged together while she stood on the outside looking in?<fn19c9> The source of th?s content is ?ovelFind</fn19c9>


    A strange unease settled over Pattie. Had Mnie been more affected by the incident than they realized? If she were mentally sound, then why would she call Maia “Mom” of all things? After all, Maia wasn’t even that far in age from Ethan.


    Maia drifted into a quiet fog of memory, thinking back to the college students who once ced bets during Ethan’sst gaming tournament. That memory tugged a faint smile from her as she looked at Mnie, choosing to spare the girl any embarrassment. “Is that your way of telling me I remind you of your mom?”


    Without hesitation, Mnie gave a quick nod. “Yeah… especially your eyes. They’re almost the same.”


    “Is that so?” Maia’s voice dropped into a gentle tone. “She must’ve been both graceful and kind. I’ll take that as a highpliment.”


    “She really was,” Mnie said, her eyes lighting up with a quiet joy. Somehow, she found herself liking Maia even more.


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