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
"Mrs. Maia jumped off the building!" The maids cried out.Maia Burgess felt excruciating pain, as if her insides had been torn apart. She saw a woman standing triumphantly at a window—her mother-in-law, Rita!“Cedric, help…”Even in such despair, he was the first person who came to her mind.It was common knowledge that Cedric Larkin had never loved her, and their marriage was purely to forge a business alliance. After her mother’s passing, it became inevitable that Maia would get dumped. That day had finally come. Only Maia knew she had loved Cedric for an entire decade. However, her unconditional love appeared to be over. Her vision blurred as blood soaked her clothes, and she passed out. ...Intense pain jolted Maia awake. She slowly opened her eyes, and a deep voice asked, “You’re awake?”She froze as she recognized the sultry voice. Her memories flooded back, and she clutched her covers.Maia used to love Cedric passionately, even if he had always been cold to her. How
’He thinks I killed the baby? How could I ever do such a thing?’ Maia choked up and realized her entire marriage had been a joke. “You’re right. I should stop pretending to be your wife. I don’t deserve your affection, and I’ve brought this upon myself!”Maia tried to fight back her tears, determined not to let Cedric hurt her again. Her fingers shook as she held on to the blanket. “I won’t let my child’s murderer go unpunished!” Maia declared as she yanked the IV needle from her arm and stormed out of the bedroom.‘Rita Larkin! You’re the one who pushed me out of the window and killed my baby!’Despite the pain, Maia hurried downstairs to the living room. She rushed over when she saw Rita chatting with her adopted daughter, Zera Larkin.Maia snatched a teacup from Rita’s hand and smashed it on the floor before grabbing Rita by the collar. “You fucking killed my baby!” “Help! Help!” Rita screamed in terror. Maia was not being her usual docile self.With tears in her eyes,
"Please believe me,” Maya sobbed. “I saw her push me with my own eyes!" She wanted him to believe her for once. However, Cedric scoffed at her earnest expression and pushed her hands away.‘He doesn’t believe me!’She tried to explain everything to him, but he was not buying it. It was hard to believe that Rita, the philanthropist, could be the villain. Likewise, the gentle and charming Zera was an insincere woman.No one would believe that. People would ultimately see Maia as the villain. She felt her whole body ache, and her legs barely supported her."Maia, I never want to see you again!" Cedric gave her a nasty look and left the house. Maia watched him leave, then collapsed heavily onto the floor. The pain in her lower abdomen was excruciating. With their pretense dropped, Rita and Zera approached Maia. They burst into laughter as they looked down at her."Maia, are you that dumb? Cedric is my son. He’ll always believe me," Rita said as she laughed. "Do you think anyone
Instead of looking ashamed, Rita and Zera responded with sarcastic laughter."Who else is going to have her back after Rosa's death? You?" Rita taunted.Tess tried to help Maia up while clenching her teeth in anger. Maia was in too much pain to stand or even talk. She gradually succumbed to the darkness and could no longer hear her aunt’s cries. "Maia, are you okay? Wake up!” Tess cried out, “Oh, my God, you're bleeding! Hang in there, Maia!" When she saw Maia’s pants soaked in blood, Tess paled as she dialed for an ambulance....Maia had a long dream. She dreamt that she wasn't alone anymore as she waited for the aurora during her honeymoon. She saw him in the darkness, and her face lit up with a sweet and warm smile.However, as wonderful as dreams might be, reality could be cruel. The smell of disinfectant and the constant beeping of equipment brought her back to reality.As she opened her eyes, she felt so much pain that she gasped. Tess quickly called out, "Maia? M
Tess knew she could not keep the truth from Maia anymore. With a heavy sigh, she said, "Errol had been trapped in the winery for the past two days. I have no idea how he is now.”Maia's heart skipped a beat. Without a second thought, she leaped out of bed and ran toward the door.A sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen, causing her to stagger. Despite this, Maia was more worried about what her cruel father and stepmother would do to Errol. She ignored the pain as she ran. Shocked, Tess quickly went after her niece. "Maia, where are you going? It's raining outside!" …HL Corporation was in the midst of a high-level executive meeting.Baz Males, Cedric's assistant, had just learned the news. He glanced hesitantly at Cedric.Cedric, who was presiding over the meeting, noticed Baz from the corner of his eye. He asked flatly, “Yes?”Baz answered, "Sir, Mrs.—I mean, Ms. Maia has woken up, but she left the hospital without permission. It was something urgent, I think.”There wa
"How dare you hit me, Maia? I'm your stepmother, for heaven's sake!" Yvette shouted angrily. She addressed the bodyguards, "Get her! They won't be going anywhere, even if they hand over the Pinot Nuage formula, got it?"Knowing who the boss was at the winery now, the bodyguards followed her orders."Get your hands off me!" Maia struggled, but she was no match for these men. "Yvette, what the hell are you doing? Let Maia go!" Tess tried to run over, but two bodyguards grabbed her. "It was Hans Larkin who wanted Maia to marry his grandson. You can't afford to cross him!""Hans Larkin?" Yvette burst into laughter. "He's bedridden and can barely look after himself. What can he do to me? Maia's father doesn't want her, and neither does Cedric. No one will lift a finger to save her, you see? And there's nothing you can do about it!""You asshole!" Tess shouted, but the two bodyguards held her back."Beat her up!"A bodyguard marched over with a baton and struck Maia hard. She fell
Tess was excited as she exclaimed, "Mr. Cedric is Maia's ex-husband, you know? He's here to make you pay for your actions!"Maia wondered if he had come to rescue her. After all, they had been married for 11 years, and she had been utterly devoted to him.She gently held the cuff of Cedric's trousers and struggled to look up at him. After a moment, she managed to say, "Cedric..."Refusing to release her grip on his cuff, she gazed at him with tearful eyes, too weak to say anything more.Cedric's eyes narrowed beneath a stray lock of hair."Putting on an act again?" His gaze was unreadable, but his words were cold.A sense of hopelessness overcame Maia. Tears mixed with rainwater streamed down her face.‘He’s not here to save me. No.’ She let out a bitter smile and slowly let go of his cuff. Yvette was relieved and triumphant. It was surprising but also reasonable that Cedric cared so little about Maia. Everyone in Prismara knew how much he despised her.She let out a welcomin