?Chapter 759:

The voice caught Maia off guard. She held the phone for a moment before setting it back on the table.

Chris hadn’t returned as he had promised, and no message had been sent to exin why. Now, he had even turned off his phone?

Maia’s brows drew together, a quiet pressure settling in her chest. It wasn’t exactly pain, just a dull, confusing weight.

Her eyes drifted to the food she had carefully prepared. The steam had long vanished.

He said he’d be home by seven. She had made dinner earlier than usual, even adding a special herbal dish just for him.

A sigh slipped past Maia’s lips. A flicker of doubt ran through her mind — maybe she cared more about Chris than he had ever intended her to. Maybe the truth was simpler: Chris just didn’t feel the same way she did.

If he genuinely cared, wouldn’t he have at least sent a message or made a phone call to exin? How could he just turn off his phone, as if she were insignificant, not worth his time or a single word?

She began to feel ridiculous. Expecting anything from him now seemed like a mistake. Expectations only ever led to disappointment.

“I’ll just eat,” Maia whispered under her breath, pressing her teeth into her lower lip as she pushed the food around her te.

A few mouthfulster, she set her knife and fork down. The vors felt muted, as if the meal had lost all its warmth.

Another quiet sigh escaped her.

She left the table and stepped out onto the balcony. The evening breeze brushed against her skin, cool and quiet. The sky hung above her, empty of stars, just like the hollow feeling inside her.

Back on the sofa, she checked her phone once more. Nothing.

G  a lno  ve ls . is where the magic begins

With her jaw tightening, she redialed his number — only to hear the same automated response. His phone was still off.

Holding the device in her hand, Maia remained seated as the silence of the room deepened and the hours dragged on. The glow from the ceiling light cast long shadows, making her loneliness feel even more pronounced.

Slumped against the couch, she clutched the phone, unaware of when sleep finally crept over her.

A sharp ring suddenly pierced the quiet.

Startled, Maia sat up, reflexes snapping to life as she grabbed the device. But when she checked the screen, the name staring back at her wasn’t Chris — it was Ethan.

For a brief second, Maia hesitated. Ate-night call from Ethan wasn’t typical — had something happened?

She pressed the answer button with a trace of unease. “Hey, Ethan. Is everything okay?”

On the other end, Ethan drew in a steady breath. “Can youe to Marvelous Garden right now? There’s something I’d rather say in person.”

That caught her off guard. Maia had never heard Ethan sound so serious, and a quiet concern settled over her. “Did something happen?”

His response came a momentter. “Not really… I just need to see you and talk properly.”

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