Susie frowned. "Ms. Maia, Mr. Cedric forbade me from giving you any devices.""Well, he didn't say I couldn't make a call, right? It's just one call, please, Susie," Maia pleaded. Susie glanced around and said, "Ms. Maia, it’s not that I don't want to help you, but this place is under surveillance. Mr. Cedric can watch your every move."Taken aback, Maia looked around her and saw surveillance cameras everywhere. She chuckled bitterly and murmured, "I guess the place is bugged, too, huh?"Susie sighed but didn't deny it. "Eat while the dinner's still warm, okay?"Maia was left alone in the dining hall but had lost her appetite. She squeezed the utensils in her hands tightly.She had no choice but to hope that Rita would be found soon. Still, something about all of this made her uneasy. There was more than meets the eye about Rita's kidnapping. She could only hope to leave the townhouse soon.Letting out a bitter chuckle, she finished her meal and headed upstairs. Maia curled
Cedric marched toward the door without answering. Soon, his luxury car sped out from the manor.Susie was the only person Maia had seen in several days. After dinner, when Susie cleared the table, the glass container fell to the floor and shattered with a crash. Looking flustered, Susie quickly said, "Oh my, I'm so clumsy! I'll clean it up right away, Ms. Maia."Maia saw the glass shards on the floor and said, "Be careful, okay?"Susie hastily answered, "I will. Thank you, Ms. Maia."Maia yawned multiple times while nodding. Feeling tired for no apparent reason, she looked at the clock and saw that it was only around seven. ‘Is it because I didn't sleep well last night?’ She went upstairs to her bed and soon drifted off to sleep. After some time, a flurry of footsteps was heard, and she was yanked off the bed. "Maia, why did you lie to me?" With a fierce expression, Cedric threw Zera’s phone onto the bed. Still groggy, Maia heard a recording from the phone. "It's Maia
She finally said those words after loving him for so many years.He stopped without looking at her, and said, “So be it.”Her vision blurred as she fought back her tears. When he left, Maia finally broke down in sobs. She wanted to end their marriage on a good note, but she had been wrong. Since it was dark outside, she could only see her reflection in the panoramic window. She smiled bitterly. Her unwavering love for Cedric had just died and could never be revived.A while later, a thick plume of smoke crept in from outside the door. This alarmed her. Struggling to get up, she stumbled toward the door. When she exited her bedroom, she was shocked to find a fire raging downstairs. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do.‘The place is on fire! But how?’She started screaming, "Help!"With a hand covering her mouth and nose, she wanted to rush downstairs. However, the fire was fierce. Her legs went limp, and she fell on the second-floor corridor. ‘What can I do now? I have t
It was the first time she saw him like this. "Cedric…" she called out his name, tears welling up. He was always like this, giving her hope when she was about to give up. This time, however, she would not fall for it. Seeing her in such distress, Cedric cursed and quickly pulled her into his chest. He covered her mouth and nose with a damp towel."Are you alright?"Clutching his jacket, she shook her head and wept despite herself. He looked conflicted when he saw how helpless she was. Cedric asked in a calm voice, "Are you hurt?" She shook her head. "Can you walk?" They had to leave before the fire reached the west end. Even though her legs were weak, Maia managed to get to her feet with his help."I can," she said softly. Perhaps she had become much braver and calmer due to his presence. "Follow me." Grabbing her hand, he covered his nose and mouth and led her toward the stairs on the west side.The fire destroyed the townhouse's east side and quickly spread to the
'This time, I'm going to make you regret it for the rest of your life!' she thought. "Stay close!" Cedric said as he rushed out with her.The window was their only chance. If they could make it through the living room, they would be able to escape to safety.Holding his hand, she kept pace with him and hurried into the living room. The fire was raging, but she felt no fear at this moment.The heat caused the chandelier to shatter and fall as they crossed the living room, making several loud sounds.At that very moment, Maia let go of his hand and shoved him away with all her strength. The chandelier crashed between them, sending flames everywhere and trapping her completely.In an instant, the fire surged. Shoved out of the window, Cedric turned and saw what was happening. "Maia!" He screamed like a madman. Cedric tried to charge back inside, but Baz and others held him back. "Don't do it, sir!""You can't save her! It's too late."The flames soared higher, forcing Maia
Baz quickly darted over and pushed Nigel off his boss. "Sir, Mr. Cedric tried to save Ms. Maia!"Nigel scoffed. "He tried to save Maia? More like trying to get her killed!"Then he pointed at Cedric. "Maia endured your family's suspicions and mistreatment for years, but you’re all indebted to her. Especially you, Cedric!"The deal that helped your family turn things around? You only got it because Maia visited Lonnie Knowles multiple times and persuaded him to give you the deal!" Tears were welling up in his eyes. "What did you say?" Cedric approached Nigel, his eyes bloodshot, and shouted, "Say it again!"Nigel continued, "You thought she was trying to steal documents from your company and never believed her, no matter how she explained. Maia did countless things behind your back for your sake. You didn’t deserve her at all!"Cedric clenched his fists, allowing Nigel to scold him. Part of him seemed to have died along with Maia. "Just fuck off, alright? We'll bring her body h
He could hardly hold onto the phone as he typed a reply with trembling fingers. "I’m back, Maia."However, she would never return home now because of him.Due to the strong wind, the fire raged until dawn."Have they found her?" Cedric asked Baz calmly, despite his agony.With his head hung low, Baz replied, "They’re still trying to find where the fire started. They think it should be the kitchen…""I'm asking if they have found her!" Baz took a deep breath. "The fire burned for almost three hours, and the whole building has turned into ruins. It would take time to find her remains if we ever do…""I don't fucking care! Just find her." "Yes, sir." Cedric's phone rang as he stared at the ruins. He wished it was a call from her, but he knew it was impossible.He answered it, and Zera's voice said, "Cedric, the police said they've found Mom, and she's fine!" "Okay.""Where are you, Cedric?"He hung up without a reply. The only person he wanted to talk to now was Maia.
This was the only thing he had given her, and now it had been returned to him. "Thanks." Taking the music box carefully, Cedric nodded at Errol and walked away. He brought it straight to her memorial.When it opened, a melodic tune began to play. Inside the box were several photos of the Northern Lights. He remembered what she said the other day. "People say our wishes would come true if we wished upon the aurora, but we can’t grow old together now that we're divorced."Letting out a bitter smile, he tried to put a photo back into the box. However, something on its back caught his attention. Written on it was a message in her handwriting: "How I wish you could see this, Cedric."She spent the so-called honeymoon alone in Frostholm, but when she saw the Northern Lights, the first person that came to her mind was him. 'What the hell have you done over all these years?' he reflected. 'It was you who killed her!'Holding the music box between his arms, he gazed at her pho