?Chapter 1563:


    Before he could decide how to answer, a light breeze carried her scent past him, and she was suddenly standing at his side. She leaned over, her lips hovering near his ear, her warmth grazing his skin with each quiet breath. “You should go back to the ces we used to visit. It helps bring memories back—everyone knows that.” Her voice remained gentle, yfulnesscing every word. After a brief pause, she continued with deliberate mischief. “Mr. Cooper, you weren’t reading too much into it, were you?”


    As she spoke, her breath brushed unevenly against his earlobe. The sensation spread fast enough to draw a flush across his face.


    Chris turned away and cleared his throat. “Not at the moment. Still, I want to be clear—when you say a change of scenery, where exactly are you nning to take me?”


    Maia offered no direct reply. Instead, she lifted a brow and countered calmly, “Not at the moment? Then how long are you nning to stay here?”


    Their eyes met across the weathered wooden table. The lighting stayed low, the atmosphere drawn tight like a wire pulled taut. After a moment stretched thin, Chris released a slow breath.


    “My grandfather is not doing well.” His tone sank, his gaze sharpening as a faint edge settled between his brows. “Your first assessment was right—Kolton poisoned him. The toxin is still eating away at his brain. For now, I only want to stay with him. I am not going anywhere. I hope you can understand.”


    Every word was true. At the same time, it served as the most convenient justification. Cooper Group still demanded his attention, and even in decline, its shadow had not loosened its grip. As long as Kolton remained atrge, the criminal operations unfinished, and the hidden forces behind him not fully erased, nothing could be considered safe—especially not Maia, seated right across from him. Confronting covert operatives meant constant danger, and Chris was determined never to pull her into that darkness.


    “Is that so?” Maia’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly. She returned to her seat, her expression carefully nk. When she settled back down, the warmth in her voice was gone, reced by a clear chill. Her slender fingers began tapping softly against the aged wooden surface in a slow, deliberate rhythm. The sound lingered in the quiet.


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    She fixed her gaze on Chris, her clear eyes sharp enough to feel intrusive. After a short moment, she spoke again. “Mr. Cooper, when you were talking just now, you avoided looking at me. And your eyes kept drifting to the left without you noticing.”


    Chris stiffened slightly. “Hmm?” The sound slipped out on instinct.


    Maia shut her eyes for a brief second. When she opened them again, all expression had drained away, her features settling back into their familiar coolposure—and her voice followed suit, giving away nothing.


    “Let me answer the question you asked earlier.” She spoke evenly. “I am not suggesting we go somewhere far. I mean returning to Elysium Apartments. That ce was once your home, and there is nothing unreasonable about that. There are still many traces of the life we shared there. If you do not want to go back with me, then you should at least find time to visit on your own.”


    Chris blinked, caught off guard. He stayed quiet for a few seconds before giving a small nod. “Alright. I understand.”


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