?Chapter 1242:


    From her tone, he could tell she only wanted to spare him any burden, never realizing he was a man who carried the weight of the world with ease.


    Still, there was not a woman alive who didn’t secretly wish for a wedding that would live on in memory forever.


    Maia, however, seemed more concerned about his pride, as if she feared burdening him with expectations he might not be able to meet.


    She looked radiant—like a golden angel whose wings were folded out of sight, yet whose light was still strong enough to illuminate the entire room. A surge of emotion rose within Chris so fiercely that his reason nearly slipped away.


    In that moment, he longed to tell Maia everything—the truth about who he was, the power he possessed, and the fact that every promise he made carried absolute certainty.


    The urge to confess burned in his chest. He wanted Maia to know that his words were never spoken lightly, that every vow he made was sincere. He would give her a wedding so magnificent that the world itself would pause to witness it.


    “What’s going on in that head of yours?” Maia asked, waving her hand in front of his face when she noticed his silence. “Don’t overthink it. You’ve already done more than enough.” She gave his sleeve a yful tug and smiled. “Come on. Pattie’s waiting, and we need to save her a seat.”


    Pulled back to the present, Chris offered his hand and lightly guided her by the elbow. With a gentle smile, he said, “Careful. The floor’s slippery.”


    Lowering her gaze, Maia watched the hem of her ck-and-gold gown ripple like liquid silk across the polished floor.


    At her side, Chris guided their pace, and together they moved with quiet elegance beneath the admiring gazes that followed them.


    The gown itself was a masterpiece—sleek, daring, and refined. With every step she took, the light seemed to bend toward her, as if the world itself wished to frame her in brilliance. Cameras clicked in rapid session as photographers rushed forward, lenses narrowing to capture every wless angle.


    From the press area, a Wront TV reporter whispered in awe, “Like a prince and princess from a fairy tale…”


    Your adventure awaits at gα?ησν????s?c〇m


    Across the room, Kiley’s smile faltered, her expression hardening into shadow.


    Beside her, Raegan tightened her grip on her phone, typed amand, and murmured a single word into the receiver, “Proceed.”


    Not long after, social media erupted with chatter.


    The hashtag #MaiaShowoff surged through the rankings, climbing swiftly to third ce among the trending topics.


    “What’s she even trying to prove? Does Maia really have to turn a charity event into her personal runway? She’s strutting around like the whole ce belongs to her. What’s next, singing on stage in that gown?”


    “Tell me about it. The whole thing feels over the top. She ignored the Cooper Group’s invitation before, and now she’s the first to show up, making sure every camera catches her face. Is this her way of forcing herself back into the spotlight?”


    “No surprise there. Someone who’s already been to prison would pull a stunt like this. I bet she paid off the press to keep their lenses fixed on her.”


    “This was supposed to be Radiant Jewels’ productunch, not an MCN fashion show. Maia can’t resist attention, and honestly, it’s exhausting to watch.”


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