Chapter 1259:


    A flicker of unease crossed his face as he fidgeted with his fingers against his knees. “I have a secret I want to tell you.”


    Curiosity sparked in her eyes as Maia turned toward him. “What secret?”


    Ethan leaned closer, his eyes darting around as though the walls themselves might be listening. His voice dropped to a hurried whisper. “It’s about Justiceze.”


    The name struck Maia like a pebble breaking the still surface of water, sending quiet ripples through her chest.


    That alias was impossible to forget. On countless nights when the world had turned its back on her, that mysterious figure had stood up in her defense online. His words had carried courage and warmth—a faceless guardian shielding her from cruelty.


    Maia studied Ethan’s expression, her gaze gentle yet cautious.


    “There’s something you know about him?” she asked gently.


    Ethan gave a sharp nod, excitement flickering in his eyes. “Yeah. I’ve actually been talking to him a lot on Twitter.” A hint of pride crept into his tone. “He’s incredible, really. Every time someone targets you, he steps in without hesitation.”


    Then Ethan’s expression changed, his curiosity surfacing once more. “Tell me, Maia—what’s your impression of Justiceze?”


    Maia tilted her head, a faint arch forming in her brow. Wasn’t this conversation supposed to revolve around Justiceze’s secret? Why had Ethan suddenly turned it into a question about her personal opinion?


    Leaning back, Maia crossed one leg over the other and rested her chin lightly against her hand. After a thoughtful pause, she said, “I believe he must be a good man.” There was a soft glow in her tone, a quiet admiration that lingered in the air.


    Her hand came up to rest gently on Ethan’s shoulder. “He seems like someone who doesn’t bend to the crowd, someone who thinks for himself—and that’s a quality I hope you’ll develop too. As for Justiceze, I’d say he truly lives up to his name. He embodies justice in its truest form.” Her words carried a sincerity that left no room for doubt.


    It was more than just praise—it was the kind of acknowledgment that made Justiceze sound like a man worthy of respect, even someone Ethan could look up to.


    Your next chapter is here gα?ησν???s


    Without their knowledge, Chris—who sat right beside Ethan—caught every word. Although he kept his expression neutral, the storm beneath his calm exterior was impossible to contain.


    Never in his wildest thoughts had he imagined Maia would think so well of him. And to hear her admiration spoken aloud, directly within his earshot, shook him more than he cared to admit.


    Maia, of course, remained unaware that the man she was describing so fondly was sitting only inches away. To her, her words were nothing more than an honest reflection of the truth.


    Before long, Chris sensed that something wasn’t right. Ethan’s earlier words about wanting to share a secret with Maia now echoed in his mind.


    A thought crossed him like a sh of lightning. Was Ethan actually nning to tell Maia that he was Justiceze?


    For as long as Chris could remember, he had believed Ethan already knew the truth. However, that assumption had been wrong all along.


    Out of nowhere, Ethan’s cheerful tone filled the air once more. “Exactly, Maia! I couldn’t agree more.” His eyes gleamed with excitement as he turned toward Hurst, standing just behind Maia. “Justiceze is the kind of man any woman could trust for a lifetime, a person worthy of a lifetimemitment,” he said with conviction.


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