?Chapter 1235:


    The night before, Raegan had summoned Ss and given him a mission: stir up trouble for Maia during the g and ignite a scandal.


    To Ss, the order felt crude, even reckless. It was the kind of task that could tarnish the reputation he had spent years building.


    So instead of following Raegan’s instructions to the letter, he chose to reshape the n into something more refined.


    From his understanding of human nature, Maia would likely try to silence the rumors by projecting confidence—arriving early, smiling through the chaos, and letting the cameras do the rest. If that happened, he could easily arrange a perfectly timed “idental” encounter.


    At Elysium Apartments, Maia had just finished dinner with Chris and quickly retreated to her room.


    She had been preparing for this evening and soon pulled a gown from the wardrobe—a ck velvet dress, its skirt scattered with crystals that shimmered like a starlit sky.


    Choosing ck wasn’t merely a matter of style. Maia wanted to remain grounded and avoid drawing unnecessary attention.


    Yet the moment she stepped out in that gown, standing only a few feet from Chris, the effect was anything but subtle. Chris found himselfpletely captivated, his gaze fixed on her as if words had deserted him entirely.


    “So? What’s your verdict?” Maia asked, arching a brow with a faint smile. “I made this myself, and tonight’s its big debut.” Her tone carried a teasing lilt, brushing aside the storm of online chatter as though it barely existed.


    Then she added, half joking, “Mr. Cooper, consider yourself lucky. You’re the first human being to every eyes on this dress, so don’t hold back on thepliments.”


    Chris snapped out of his daze, and only two words came to mind as he looked at her—absolutely stunning.


    Even dressed in ck, Maia wouldmand every gaze in the room once the lights hit her. There was something about her presence that transformed understated elegance into something truly grand.


    She didn’t need to exin her intentions to him. The care behind her choice of attire spoke louder than any confession.


    Ga ln ovels . fuels your imagination


    Her aim was clear: draw Kiley’s attention first, then the crowd’s, creating the perfect opportunity for him to lead Laurence away.


    Atst, Chris spoke. “I’m convinced no one at that party will look more stunning than you.”


    To him, it wasn’t ttery. It was a simple truth he believed with every fiber of his being.


    The tension that had weighed on him over Laurence melted away. With a faint smile, he adjusted his cor and cuffs, his tone so light it almost sounded yful. “Then it seems only a man as handsome as I am could be worthy of the perfect you.”


    A hint of red crept up Maia’s ears as she reached for her clutch, trying to hide the sudden quickening of her heartbeat. Her question had been casual, but she hadn’t expected Chris to answer with such effortless charm.


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