?Chapter 1165:


    On the day Maia was imprisoned four years ago, she had lost hope, believing that her future was devoid of brightness. Everything would lose its original vibrancy.


    Yet fate had intervened, bringing Zoey and Chris into her life.


    What began as a mission from her mentor had deepened into something profound, its truth undeniable when Chris faced danger in the emergency room.


    In that moment, Maia could no longer deny her heart. She wanted to be his wife, to hold him close forever.


    Her voice soft, she murmured, “Can you slow down a bit, Chris?”


    Maia finally let go of Chris’ hand, her resistance slipping away.


    Heat surged through Chris’ chest as he studied her face, where a faint blush gave her a softer glow. The sensation was overwhelming, as though mes coursed through his veins.


    Lifting Maia gently from the sofa, he looked down at her features, each one impossibly perfect.


    His breaths came uneven and hurried. Yet even with his desire wing at him, he steadied himself and held her gaze. For an instant, everything around them felt suspended.


    Then memories stormed back, flooding his thoughts with images of the very first time he had seen Maia. It was during his childhood, while he was fleeing with his mother.


    That day carried heavy air, stifling with humidity, though the storm clouds never broke into rain.


    His mother, Nic, had wept, and faint streaks of tears still clung to the corners of her eyes.


    “Chris, stay hidden here. Don’te out. I’ll distract them,” she said, before disappearing from view.


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    Even as a child, Chris could grasp that her sorrow was tied to his father.


    Before long, a group of men dressed in ck suits and dark sses appeared, hunting for his mother and him.


    Closer and closer they came, while Chris stayed still inside a cardboard box, his breath caught tight in his chest. Just then, a young girl darted into view and stopped right outside his hiding ce, her gaze locking with his.


    A faint smile touched her lips before she spun toward the adults.


    “Hey, are you searching for someone?” she called out.


    Fear pounded in Chris’ veins. He had never seen her before, and he couldn’t understand why she would risk drawing their attention.


    Still, the girl raised her voice again.


    “Were you chasing an adult and a kid? I spotted them rushing that way just now.”


    One of the men said, “Damn it! We got yed. They’re headed the other direction, toward the subway. Move! Don’t let them get away!”


    When the heavy footsteps finally disappeared into the distance, the girl’s voice broke the silence.


    “They won’t be back for a while. You cane out now. But don’t”


    “Stay too long, because once they figure out I lied, they’ll return.”


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