Will You Marry Me, Again by Pear Heart

“Wait here.“‘

Baz would arrive soon with the bodyguards. Cedric knew he had to buy some time for Maia.

Shaking her head, she said earnestly, “No, it’s too dangerous. He has a gun!”

Cedric saw her gripping his palm with both hands and smiled. “I’ll be fine.”

He sounded casual and confident, but Maia knew how dangerous it was.

“Cedric-”

Before she could say anything further, the door was closed, and she was left alone in the cramped and dark room.

Peering out through a narrow gap, she watched Cedric move away.

Still feeling the warmth of his palm, she covered her mouth to stop herself from making any sound lest she would spoil his plan.

‘Pull yourself together, Maia! You must not cry or make any sound…‘

She kept telling herself.

However, she couldn’t hold back her tears. Suddenly, she heard a flurry of rapid footsteps.

Maia saw Theo chasing after Cedric.

As she was the one Theo wanted to kill, she knew she couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Biting her lips, Maia glanced around through the narrow gap.

She took out her phone to see where her car was.

Making sure that Theo had run away, she pocketed her phone and hurried toward her car in quick steps while staying low to the ground.

Having a good sense of direction, Maia was relieved when she soon found her car.

She got into the car in the dark.

She knew full well what would happen if she were to start her car now–Theo would be drawn by its lights and sound, and she would become a live target.

Yet, she knew she had to do it. Shutting the car door, she started the engine and floored the

gas.

Driving around, she searched around for Cedric.

she quickly opened the passenger door

Don’t Be

was behind her

expected, a man wearing a black baseball cap and a black

his frame to be

Who was he?

dwell on it as she knew the

move.

herself away, she

she swiftly removed her high heels and threw them to the other side to make some noise before hiding behind a

clatter, the man hurried toward the shoes. Seizing the

for her car.

the key fob. However, when she was about

Her plan had failed!

the man charging over and ducked behind her car

would not be safe to stay in

shield herself from view and scrambled backward before breaking into a run–she knew the security

gun, the man ran to her car and carefully approached the open door. Aiming his sight at

“Fuck!”

search the parking lot. “You

was thrilled to see the security booth was lit, but as she hurried over, she realized there. was blood all over the glass

stopped herself from screaming. She should have seen this coming, as the security guard would

deep breath, she hid behind the

• 15 RONUS

she had several missed calls. At that

came in.

It was Couric’s number.

send him her location. However, as the signal was weak, the

as she finally saw that the message

that read,

her guard

man’s voice then echoed in the

you think

as she recognized

his frame looked

to trick her into responding, she dared

against the wall, she peered over at the man as he moved in her direction and said, “You’re a smart and pretty woman, Maia, and I couldn’t bear to hurt you too. But you left me

“Only by killing you, I can continue to take money from Starlight and avoid paying you. You’re too smart, Maia, and unless I eliminate you, you’ll always be