'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
A woman in high heels entered the venue wearing bright red lipstick and a slit bodycon dress. The commotion gave way to silence. Then, the crowd exclaimed in amazement. "It's Maia Burgess!""What is she doing here?""Hasn't she gone missing?"Yvette and Homer were stunned onstage. Quickly adopting a fatherly tone, he exclaimed, "Maia, you're... finally back! I missed you so much."Maia frowned, disgusted by the man. She knew better than anyone what her father and stepmother were like. Yvette, however, was not as calm as Homer. Holding onto his arm, she paled as if she had seen a ghost. "Y-You…" Outsiders assumed Maia had gone missing for a year, but the Burgess couple was sure she died in the fire. But there she was, at the press conference!"Long time no see, Yvette. Too excited to see me?" Maia let out a half-smile. She turned to the reporters before the two could say anything. Live cameras were pointed directly at her, and flashes kept going off. "The footage yo
Maia could not help but be nervous while trapped with him alone.Even after a year, she had to admit that the man still had power over her. However, she would no longer give in to her feelings. She quickly composed herself and smiled.“What should I explain? Yes, I made it out alive, but you know that you're the reason why I was trapped and nearly died in the fire."Cedric smiled. "You've become so argumentative now, haven't you?""I won't let anyone push me around anymore." She was no longer her former self. "Who dares to mess with you with me around?"Maia snorted. "So says the man who does.""Oh, yeah?" He leaned in and said in a deep voice, "You know I have to."The elevator dinged, and its doors opened. Cedric scooped Maia up."What the hell are you doing, Cedric? Let me go!" Maia struggled. He narrowed his eyes. "I intend to make you pay for deceiving me." He wanted her to pay the price for the rest of her life. Before Maia could respond, he kicked open a door to
"I'll give her my life if that's what she wants."The family had owed her too much, and she was right to take her revenge. Hearing this, Rita stumbled backward a few steps, shocked. "What the hell has Maia done to you? She no longer pretends to be innocent as she once did, and yet you want to offer her your life?"Palming her chest, Rita felt she could hardly breathe. She was bewildered as to why her son would side with Maia now. Ignoring Rita, Cedric instructed the bodyguard at the door, "Send her home.""Right away, sir." Cedric then strode away, ignoring Rita's calls. Despite being used by Maia, Cedric was in a good mood.Maia, on the other hand, had mixed feelings.She planned to take a cab back to her apartment after leaving the hotel. However, she was uneasy that Cedric did not erupt in rage as she had expected. He even played along just now. He even admitted that if she had died in the fire, he would be heartbroken.Bewildered, Maia wondered what it was all about
Cedric chuckled. "It worked, didn't it?"Baz understood now. "Well, Ms. Maia becoming the new CEO is indeed more newsworthy than Mr. Errol being deaf."Cedric smirked. "Something even more newsworthy will be trending shortly."Soon enough, the topic of Cedric liking the post began to trend, becoming the top trending topic in just a few minutes. He liked the post on purpose to generate more buzz. After all, nothing was more appealing than gossip.Cedric smiled and picked up his document folder. Suddenly, Baz's phone rang, and he quickly answered it. "What? Susie’s dead?"Cedric’s face froze. Susie had been the woman in charge of Maia's meals when the fire broke out.After he hung up, Baz said, "Sir, our men found Susie dead at her rental home. The police said it could be suicide." Cedric snorted. "Seems more like murder to me." He snapped his folder closed in frustration. They had been searching for Susie for six months, and now this! As Baz had been put in charge of fin