?Chapter 1248:


    Even among the ranks of The Mask, Ss was not known for brute strength.


    Yet his training, years of rock climbing, and relentless conditioning had made his grip formidable. It was his hidden edge, a weapon he wielded with ease.


    And tonight, he had been overpowered—twice.


    His expression darkened as camera shes red at the edges of the hall. Reporters moved like shadows, lifting their lenses with practiced speed, eager to seize even the faintest hint of scandal.


    The tension coiled in the air, taut and vtile, threatening to snap at any moment.


    “Finally, we made it.”


    A bright, confident voice cut through the tension from behind.


    Pattie approached with quick, graceful strides, lifting the hem of her dress just enough to move freely. Her long hair shimmered with each step, and a cheerful smile lit her face. Her gaze swept over the small scene ahead, sharp and assessing. Without hesitation, she gave Ss a light push to the side and imed the seat as if it had always belonged to her.


    “Almost missed my spot.” Her tone was calm, though a trace of irritationy beneath theposure.


    Turning toward Maia, Pattie’s expression softened instantly. “Maia, I appreciate you saving seats for Rnd and me.”


    With practiced elegance, she lowered herself into the chair, then nced over her shoulder. “Rnd, stop dawdling. Come sit.”


    Every movement flowed effortlessly, her presence dissolving the awkward tension that had lingered in the air.


    Ss, meanwhile, felt heat rise to his face. Thest thing he wanted was a spectacle in front of the shing cameras, especially not one involving Maia. One misstep, and his carefully cultivated image—and the devotion of his admirers—could crumble.


    Nearly every lens in the room swung toward him, the crowd’s attention bearing down like an inescapable spotlight. Forcing himself to remainposed, he adjusted his cuffs and summoned his practiced charm, his voice smooth and polite.


    “So this seat belongs to the youngdy,” he said evenly, casting a brief nce at Rnd. “It seems there’s been a bit of a mix-up.”


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    Rnd did not respond. His grip on Ss’s wrist did not loosen in the slightest.


    A faint crease appeared on Ss’s brow as he studied the man restraining him. Another overly zealous bodyguard, he assumed. Suppressing the difort, he turned to Pattie with a strained smile. “Miss, could you please ask your bodyguard to release—”


    The word “bodyguard” sparked a sharp glint in Pattie’s eyes.


    Her lips curved into a smile devoid of warmth. “How amusing,” she replied coolly. “If you can’t say something decent, it’s better to stay silent. He’s not a bodyguard. He’s my boyfriend.”


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