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

79 Don’t Be

who was behind her using the rear- view mirror of a car parked

she expected, a man wearing a black baseball cap and

frame to be

Who was he?

as she knew the man had to

move.

wanting to give herself away, she didn’t dare

high heels and threw them to the other side

the shoes. Seizing the moment, Maia made

for her car.

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

Her plan had failed!

and

gun, she knew that it would not be

from view and scrambled backward

approached the open door. Aiming his sight at

“Fuck!”

search the parking lot. “You can’t hide

realized there. was blood

her mouth, Maia stopped herself from screaming. She should have seen this coming, as

deep breath, she

• 15 RONUS

had several missed calls. At that

came in.

It was Couric’s number.

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

of hope as she

she received a text that read,

time, Maia dared not put her guard down. Overcome with panic and fear, she started to

echoed in the empty parking

you think you can escape from

as

wonder his frame

her into responding, she dared

direction and said, “You’re a smart and pretty woman, Maia, and

by killing you, I can continue to take money from Starlight and avoid paying you. You’re