Chapter 1604:


    Maia forced the surge of panic back down her throat. Drawing a steady breath, she slipped seamlessly into calm and cut in, her tone deliberately light. “No need, Grandpa.”


    She leaned closer to the phone, softening her voice with practiced ease. “We’ll manage on our own. There’s no need to trouble the soldiers.”


    The words served two purposes — interrupting the fake Dominic before he could go off-script, and smoothing the performance so it sounded entirely natural.


    Unfortunately, the man on the other end seemed to be enjoying himself a little too much.


    His voice suddenly rose, sharp and unmistakably domineering — an eerily perfect imitation of the real Dominic. “Absolutely not! That ce is miles from the city center, and the transport situation is awful. Return the phone to her. I want to speak to my granddaughter!” The force, the authority, and that uniquely overbearing concern Dominic reserved only for Maia were replicated wlessly.


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    Any lingering doubt the soldier had evaporated on the spot.


    He straightened instinctively and hurried to pass the phone back to Maia, respect written inly across his face — and even a flicker of envy in his eyes. “Ms. Watson, the General wishes to speak with you.”


    Afraid she might lodge aint, he leaned in and added in a cautious whisper, “For the record, we followed protocol to the letter. We didn’t mistreat the gentleman inside at all. We even made sure his water was warm.”


    Maia epted the phone. It felt unexpectedly heavy in her palm.


    She pressed it to her ear and nodded as though listening intently. “I understand… Yes. I’ll be careful… Don’t worry. I’lle see you as soon as I’m back.” A few secondster, she ended the call and slipped the phone into her pocket as if nothing were amiss.


    She looked up at the soldier, her expression already restored to coolposure. “It’s settled. We don’t need a vehicle — we have our own waiting outside. Please open the door.”


    The soldier didn’t hesitate.


    The iron lock released with a sharp metallic snap, and the heavy metal door swung inward, its hinges groaning through the quiet corridor.


    Maia lifted her eyes.


    Through the widening gap, her gaze found the man seated inside.


    Their eyes locked.


    For an instant, the world seemed to hold its breath.


    Maia’s heart clenched. For one terrifying moment, she feared Chris might speak — might say something that shattered everything.


    But he didn’t.


    He still wore the same ck shirt, his back perfectly straight, his eyes dark and unreadable. He remainedpletely silent. He didn’t ask why she hade, and his face betrayed no trace of surprise or excitement.


    He simply gazed at her.


    And in those dark, unreadable eyes, there was only one reflection — hers.


    Chris was calm, as though he had known all along that she woulde. Their act flowed so naturally. The way they understood each other without words was pure instinct.


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