?Chapter 763:

Chris said nothing.

Maia read the hesitation in his silence, taking in his rumpled appearance once more. Suspicion bloomed in her chest. He must have been involved in something dangerous tonight — something he was determined to keep from her.

Another mission with his boss, perhaps? Yet he had promised her explicitly that he wouldn’t take such risks again.

Time crawled by in heavy silence.

After what felt like an eternity, Chris exhaled softly and met her gaze. “Just some unfinished business from work. But trust me, I’m safe. I didn’t get hurt this time.”

“Really?” Skepticismced Maia’s voice. He hardly looked like someone who had spent the night in safety.

Chris reached out and gently ruffled her hair. “Really.”

Drawing Maia’s hand to rest against his chest, a yful smile tugged at Chris’s lips. “Want to check for yourself?”

Maia traced slow circles across his chest with one finger, her clear eyes sparkling with mischief as she looked up at him. “And how exactly should I check?”

Chris caught her wandering finger and brought it to his lips with tender reverence. His gaze burned with quiet intensity as his voice dropped to a husky murmur. “Any way you want.”

Maia’s pulse stumbled, heat blooming across her cheeks. Quickly pulling her hand free, she felt herself teetering on the edge of surrender once more.

But he had kept her waiting all night. Forgiving him this easily would be far too generous.

Rising abruptly, she let a small pout curve her lips. “I’m sleepy. We’ll discuss this after I’ve rested.”

Without a backward nce, she headed for the bedroom and closed the door with quiet finality.

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Maia settled onto the bed, ears tuned to the faint movements beyond her door, followed by the gentle click of another closing. Chris had retreated to his own room atst. Yet a hollow ache bloomed in her chest.

He still hadn’t offered any real exnation. Did he genuinely care about her feelings?

Even after everything they had shared, Maia felt as though Chris remained a puzzle with missing pieces. Beneath his charming smiles and fleeting tendernessy something hidden, something carefully guarded.

Every instinct whispered that Chris was concealing far more than he had ever confessed.

Sleep eluded her as she tossed restlessly, her mind churning until exhaustion finally imed her.

Elsewhere, Hursty sprawled across his bed, faint yellow streetlight filtering through the window and casting long shadows across the wall. Silently, he stared at the ceiling, his mind restless and unsettled.

Everything circled back to what his daughter Mnie had told him just a few hours earlier.

That evening, Hurst had kept his promise and returned home early to prepare Mnie’s favorite meal: tender barbecue ribs and creamy homemade mac and cheese.

During dinner, Mnie devoured the food with obvious delight, humming cheerfully between bites while slipping in subtle praise for Maia.

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