?Chapter 1162:


    Still, Chris’ greatest fear was that Maia would resent him for hiding the truth.


    “What’s running through your mind?” Maia asked, blinking at Chris with concern. His faintly furrowed brows gave her reason to worry.


    Without hesitation, she stepped closer and ced her hand gently on Chris’ forehead.


    “Is the pain back again?”


    Instead of answering, Chris drew her into his arms and shook his head.


    “Like this, it doesn’t hurt,” he said with augh, the tension easing from his face. “Maia, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”


    Maia’s eyes widened slightly.


    “I’m listening.”


    A hard swallow slid down Chris’ throat as he locked eyes with her.


    “The truth is… there are things I’ve kept from you.”


    Quiet washed over the room until even the rhythm of their hearts seemed to echo between them.


    “I’m not really a driver,” he said gently, though the weight in his tone made it clear that he meant every word.


    “I already guessed.”


    Maia cut him off before Chris could say more. “It never made sense that someone in your position would get shot twice. You must have been serving as your boss’s bodyguard, wasn’t that right?”


    Maia’s conclusion stunned Chris, though it was far from the truth. Just as he was about to correct her, her voice broke through again.


    “Actually, I’ve been keeping something from you as well.”


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    The words caught Chris off guard.


    “I haven’t been spending time with Pattietely,” Maia said atst, pressing her lips together.


    The thought of Chris worrying about whaty ahead weighed on her, and she realized that secrecy between them would only invite more distance and doubt.


    “I’ve been studying surgery for some time now.”


    Maia lifted her eyes to Chris and spoke with quiet resolve. “Chris, will you trust me with your health, with your future? Let me be the one to perform your operation.”


    Her hands clenched together as she added, “I can’t bear to watch you live with the pain, or see your memory fade piece by piece because of those fragments. Most of all, I don’t want you to forget who I am.”


    Everything Maia had tried to hold back came pouring out in that instant.


    Whatever Chris had intended to confess vanished. He abandoned all thought and pulled her firmly into his arms.


    “I will, Maia,” he answered, holding her tighter, as though he could freeze this moment in time.


    Chris’ arms held her with steady strength, and Maia clung to him as his familiar scent wrapped her infort.


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