They were in such an aggressive fight that Maia did not give a second thought as she rushed toward them, trying to break them up!When Cedric noticed her dashing headfirst into their fight, he immediately cradled her in his arms and turned, shielding her from Nigel’s attack.The force of Nigel’s attack hit Cedric fully as he frowned and hugged Maia tighter. The only thing in Cedric’s mind was Maia’s safety as he asked, “Are you okay?” Maia was momentarily stunned before she heard him ask. She lifted her gaze to meet his and shook her head in response. When Nigel was finally able to notice what was going on, she was already in Cedric’s arms. He quickly asked apologetically, “Are you hurt? By the time I saw you, it was already too late for me to stop my attack.”Maia pushed herself away from Cedric’s embrace and replied, “I’m fine.” That attack did not reach her at all as she was instantly protected by Cedric. She did not even see what exactly had happened. Maia drew her lips together
Baz blocked Maia’s path as he explained himself eagerly, “Ms. Maia, it was my fault for not answering your calls last night. I admit that I had my own agenda, but Mr. Cedric was not part of it at all. He was in so much pain, how could he possibly tell me not to answer his call?” “Okay, I got it. I’m not upset, so don’t worry,” Maia replied.“I bought breakfast for you after Mr. Cedric told me to. He gave me a list of your favorites and told me to get them as soon as possible. When I got here, I saw Mr. Nigel provoking Mr. Cedric. It was he who started the fight! “Mr. Cedric wasn’t planning to wait for Mr. Nigel at all! He just wanted to delivery breakfast to you. Please, don’t be mad at him.” Maia tightened her grip on the bag of food as she heard Baz’s words. “I understand.” Baz could not tell if Maia truly believed him or not, so he continued, “Ms. Maia, I can assure you that the food wasn’t drugged. It had taken me about an hour to buy them, and Mr. Cedric would never do th
“At first, I thought that they were just being ridiculous, but now that I think about it, it made sense, in a weird way. Anyway, I’m used to being a nominee. This time I was nominated because of The Eternal Dance, right?”Maia nodded.“Right, then I’m pretty sure I’ll just be a nominee. According to those anti-fans, fantasy movies are illogical and boring. Furthermore, The Horizon Awards usually prefers movies based on real events.” Spending a long time in the industry had not only made Hope an excellent actress, she had also developed an easy-going mindset. She could even make jokes about herself without feeling bad about it. Maia smiled at Hope’s silly comments, “I’m sure many artists would be willing to do anything just to be able to attend this award ceremony.”“You’re right! I should stay positive! Even if I was just a nominee, I should be the best out of all of them!” Hope smiled and added with determination. Maia’s smile deepened as she continued to stare at Hope. Sho
Hope went along with it and said with a smile, “Birds of a feather flock together, Maia. I got my bad temper from watching you and Victoria. I used to be very patient.”Maia was amused by the way she said it and teased her, “I know your temperament very well, but I have to say I didn’t know how thick-skinned you are until now.”“You’re teasing me again, Maia!” Hope didn’t know what else to say. Maia chuckled at that. “Let’s check this out!” Hope took her into the nameless boutique and pushed open the glass door. The staff saw Hope and greeted her at once. “You’re here, Ms. Hope. I’ll call Victoria over! She’s working upstairs!”“That won’t be necessary, Ava. Let her focus on her work. She’ll skip meals when she’s immersed in her work. If you disrupt her, she might not be so happy about it.”Ava nodded. “I guess you’re right, but don’t you think she’ll be happy to see you?”“Of course! However, I want her to focus on her work.” Wasn’t that what friends are supposed to do? Ava
Maia kept her faint smile, but her expression grew cold. She was in Victoria’s boutique, after all. She did not want to do anything drastic at first, but it seemed she had no choice. She had to teach Fiona a lesson and show her just how pathetic she was!Maia turned around, walked toward Fiona, and slapped her before she could react! Silence descended over the entire boutique. The two ladies behind Fiona were gobsmacked. Hope, too, was shocked and covered her mouth. “She did it…”At this instant, Ava knew Victoria had to come down. So, she turned and climbed the stairs. Fiona yelled after a few seconds of silence. “How dare you slap me, Maia?”“I’m older than you. An older person must educate the young. You just got schooled. What choice do I have when your parents didn’t teach any manners?” Maia was calm. She should have been seething with rage, but she was very calm. Too calm. “Why, you…” Fiona was about to return the favor, but Maia was too quick for her. She caught Fiona
Hope nodded and said, “You’re right, Maia. We have to think from all angles before doing anything. Acting recklessly is just asking for trouble!”Victoria agreed. “That’s right. The business world is a battlefield, especially when there’s something to be gained. The same can be said for wealthy families too. “Everyone is scheming and plotting against each other to gain more power. It ends in a bloodbath every time! I wouldn’t have cut ties with my family otherwise…” She sighed.“Victoria…” Hope felt sorry for her. The Smith family is also a renowned family, ranking just slightly below the Larkins. She could talk about the family feuds for days and nights and she would get no closer to finishing the story.The Larkins were enjoying relative peace because everyone was wary of Cedric. They could do nothing but lie in wait. The same couldn’t be said for the Smiths, though. No one had the capability to reign over the entire family. So, they were divided by countless internal feuds ov
“I’ll buy you this dress, Hope.” Maia smiled at Hope and gave her credit card to Ava. Ava looked at her boss uncertainly. Victoria nodded and she proceeded to process the payment. Maia and Hope got out of the gowns and headed to Victoria’s studio upstairs. Maia had to give it to Victoria. She was such a maniac when it came to designing gowns. Just about every tool a fashion designer needed was here, even the most unconventional ones.“Did you add more to your collection of tools, Victoria?” Hope stared at the marble table. There were design works all over it, including some of which she had never seen before. “I’m an excellent fashion designer.” Victoria praised herself and continued excitedly, “Allow me to show you around! I have a mind to buy the place next door and expand my studio!”She proceeded to show them around. “How is it? Nice, huh? Don’t you think it’s more amazing compared to the last time you were here, Hope?”“It’s certainly messier.”“You’re itching for a beat
Cedric sneered and asked, “What’s the matter? Are you trying to get paid from both sides?”“I knew you doted on Maia, but she insisted on paying me. So, I immediately tailored another dress and gave it to her as a gift. “What made you think I’d dare to play tricks on you? I might be a hothead but I know better than to get on the bad side of the both of you!”“It’s a given. It’s your honor that Maia wears your gown.”Victoria was speechless. She cleared her throat several times, “You’re right, Cedric. You saved my life and you’re my boss. Whatever you say goes!”“From here on out, you’ll be in charge of her gowns.”“Gotcha, Cedric.”“Put it on my tab.”“Alright! Loud and clear! Consider it done!” Victoria said. Then, Cedric hung up the phone. She looked at the phone and said, “I envy you, Maia. Cedric is so cold to everyone. You’re the only person in his heart. He cares about you in ways that astonish people around him.” She put her phone back into her pocket. Victoria had
Amanda came to sit next to Maia as she said, “I’m glad you’ve noticed this as well. Lauren is usually quite into the drama that she’s watching on TV. Today’s episode was a sad one, so I was wondering why she was still so happy watching it.” Lauren smiled back at them and replied, “I’m just really happy. I’ve never thought that I’d be able to see my eldest son again and that he has such a kind and beautiful wife by his side. “Eddie was also able to find his loved one, and I was lucky enough to be a grandmother. I never thought that I’d be able to go on a family trip with all my sons.” She started to tear up.“Lauren, don’t cry,” Maia said as she handed Lauren a handkerchief to dry her tears. Lauren wiped her tears as she smiled and nodded. “Don’t worry about me. I’m just being dramatic.” She looked around and asked, “Where’s Cedric? Is he with Eddie?”Maia nodded. “Yeah. This new project is a bit of a hassle, so he went over to try to help.” Lauren sighed, “Eddie’s father an
Cedric just smiled when he saw Maia’s worried reaction. “You sure you’ll keep your promise?” Maia tugged the blanket closer to herself and nodded. Maia would not dare to say no. If Cedric decided to do as he had said, she would just end up in bed the whole morning. “We can register our marriage anytime. You mean it?” She knew that Cedric was just baiting her, but she had no choice. She did not know what he would do next. When she glanced at his handsome face, her heart could not help but skip a beat. Just then, Cedric took out two pieces of paper from the bedside drawer. Maia was taken aback as she saw the document. They were marriage registration forms, and they were already filled in. “T-This was a setup! You’ve already had this all planned out from the beginning!” Maia scanned through the forms and was surprised to see that the only section left empty was the signature. Maia did not know when Cedric had started to prepare all this, but it looked like it had been a whil
Cedric glanced at Baz and asked, “How does it feel to miss someone so much?”Baz’s smile froze as he shook his head quickly. “Now, I can finally understand why you hate being separated from Ms. Maia.”Cedric just looked at Baz coldly. Baz quickly added when he noticed Cedric’s glare, “I’m just saying that you love your wife very much, and that man who’s like you would definitely understand.”“That’s a fact,” Cedric replied as he turned around and walked back into the bedroom. Baz immediately stopped him as he asked. “Mr. Cedric, why don’t you tell Ms. Maia the real reason why you’re so against calling Ms. Lauren your mother? Why didn’t you tell her the scars on your back were inflicted by Ms. Rita?” It was a horrible and unimaginable part of his childhood. “I don’t want to frighten her.”“But it’s difficult for you as well, Mr. Cedric. Calling Ms. Lauren your mother brings back horrible memories for you too.” “It doesn’t matter. I’ll do anything for her.” Cedric replied as he
“Is that true?” Gigi asked her grandmother.Lauren nodded and said, “Of course it is. Has grandma ever lied to you?”“Wow! Grandma, what was Daddy like when he was a kid?” Gigi was excited. She was not sleepy anymore as she pestered Lauren to tell her more. “Whenever I brought him to attend events, he would always cry. I still remember he had wet his pants once in kindergarten.” Gigi covered her mouth and giggled happily. Amanda laughed and looked at Eddie. “Did you really wet your pants?”Eddie palmed his forehead and told his mother, “Stop embarrassing me in front of my daughter, Mom.” Lauren just smiled happily back at her son. At the same time, Maia tugged on the hem of Cedric’s shirt and questioned cheekily, “Did you wet your pants when you were a kid?” Cedric drew her into his arms in response and threatened, “Maia, it seems like you won’t be able to go to bed tonight.” “I’m not afraid of your empty threats,” Maia replied. “Are you sure about that?”Maia nod
It was hard to believe he’d change his mind out of nowhere. She blinked and gawked at him. She almost forgot to breathe because of the sheer shock. Her face turned red from it, too. “Hey, breathe.” Cedric frowned. He realized her eyes were widening and her cheeks were completely reddened. Then, her lungs worked, and she started drawing breath again. She gripped the hem of his shirt instinctively. “Hmm?” Cocking his brow, he looked at her casually while taking her hands in his. “Do you want to know why I changed my mind?”She nodded immediately. Needless to say, she wanted to spring that question on him, but she wondered if she should. On the other hand, he merely chuckled and didn’t say anything. All he did was fix a deep, passionate stare at her. His eyes were filled with love and affection when he did it. Realizing that he wasn’t going to talk, she was bewildered. “W-Why aren’t you saying anything?”His grin widened at what she said. Reaching out, he pinched her fair ch
Taking his hands, she rested her fair cheeks on his palm.“Is there another reason you did it?” She asked. “I had someone plant something in the painting.”“What do you mean?” She pressed.“A wire.”Then, it hit her. “D-Does this mean you knew Fidelia would buy the painting at all costs?”“Mm-hmm.” He nodded.Pursing her lips, she said, “I guess it tracks. After all, Fidelia will surely buy anything you donate to Nordic College. She loves you so much that she peeled an entire bowl of prawns for you.”“Do peeling prawns mean she loves me?” He cocked his brow.She nodded instinctively.“Well, then. Do you know how much I love you now?”Maia was initially pondering something, but she was scattered the moment she heard what he said!Her face turned red. She couldn’t decide if she should nod or shake her head now. The only thing she could do now was change the topic. “Wait a minute. I just asked Gigi to bid on it. Did I almost mess up your plan?” Her brows were furrowed. She
“Maia!” Amanda called out to her and hastened over. “D-Did you just say I was already on trending search?”“Mm-hmm.” Nodding, she handed her phone to Amanda. Amanda saw the search topic ‘Amanda Tate Burst Out Laughing.’ and was rooted to the spot.“H-How’s this already up there?”Maia chuckled. “There are so many people in the dining hall. There’s no way you can keep it from spreading on the internet for long. Even Gigi and Eddie got on the trending search. They were right behind you. “Valentines Group has also started working on the public relations angle. I browsed the internet and didn’t find any overly vicious remarks either. None of the marketing accounts were trying to stir up trouble either. All of Gigi’s pictures were censored as well. So, there’s nothing to be worried about here.”Amanda let out a sigh of relief at what she said. “It’s a good thing that no one attacked Gigi on the internet. Otherwise, I’m going to start chasing them with a machete that’s one foot long!
“Why, you!” Fidelia took the glass of fruit juice from the table and spilled it all over him!The sticky juices clung to his cheeks for a second before rolling down them.“Listen up, plastic face! It doesn’t matter if I can’t lay a finger on Maia because Cedric loves and protects her. It isn’t your place to make fun of me! Who do you think you are, Neilson? “You’re nothing more than my family’s lap dog. Look at how stiff your face is. You’ve wasted a perfectly good glass of fruit juice!”Staring at him angrily, Fidelia warned him nastily. She was so gripped with rage that her chest was rising and falling hastily. Then, she gritted her teeth and threw the empty glass at him.Catching the glass midair, he lowered his head. “You make a fine point, Ms. Fidelia.” Wiping the fruit juice from his cheeks, he apologized again. “Please calm down, Ms. Fidelia. You have to look at where we are now. It’d be wise not to make Mr. Thomas mad again.”“Are you seriously warning me again? Who do
Maia made up a reason so Amanda could take Gigi away. Amanda nodded, carried her daughter, and left the scene. All Gigi did was speak the truth, but Fidelia’s face grew grim and shot the three-year-old girl a terrible look. It was clear that Fidelia might do something outrageous to Gigi again if she didn’t divert her attention from the little girl. After all, Fidelia didn’t care about the consequences of her actions at all!So, she looked at Fidelia and said, “I’m not sure why you kept trying to win my husband’s heart, but I’ve been sitting here the whole time. Are you ignoring me on purpose? Or, are you so arrogant that you care only about Cedric and nobody else?”Fidelia immediately shifted her gaze to Maia. Glaring at her, she directed all of her anger and frustration at Maia. “What are you trying to say, Maia? My dad saved Cedric’s life. So, is there anything wrong with me peeling the shrimp for him? What’s the problem if I try to win his heart? What does it have to do with