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

79 Don’t

pace and glanced to see who was behind her using the rear- view mirror of a car

baseball

his frame

Who was he?

on it as she knew the man had to be

move.

wanting to give herself away, she didn’t dare to quicken her pace

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

the clatter, the man hurried toward the shoes. Seizing the moment, Maia made a

for her car.

a few times as she unlocked her car with the key fob. However, when she was about to open the car door, a gunshot was heard, followed by hurried

Her plan had failed!

over and ducked behind her

had a gun, she knew that it would not be safe

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

her car and carefully approached the open door. Aiming his

“Fuck!”

to search the parking lot. “You can’t

booth was lit, but as she hurried over, she realized there. was blood all over the glass door and a man was sitting lifelessly

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

a deep breath, she hid behind

• 15 RONUS

out her phone and noticed she had several missed calls. At that

came in.

It was Couric’s number.

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

felt a glimmer of hope as she finally

text that read, “Wait

same time, Maia dared not put her guard down. Overcome with

voice then echoed

you think you can escape

stunned as she recognized

No wonder his frame looked

to trick her

a smart and pretty woman, Maia, and I couldn’t bear to hurt

you, I can continue to take money from Starlight and avoid paying you. You’re too smart, Maia,