Female Novel
Chapter 1386
Everyone lowered their heads, busying themselves with their meals.
Only Nydia, with an apologetic lift of a glass of red wine, said. "Ian, I'm so sorry."
This morning's breakfast was supposed to be a gathering for internal members to formally introduce
Maja into their circle. No one expected such an incident to occur.
Ian let out a slight sign.
"It's not your fault."
Nydia wanted to offer some comfort; after all, having a woman throw juice at him in front of his
subordinates must have been quite embarrassing.
But Ian shifted the conversation.
"It's just Maja—she loves me too much to see me get hurt. That's all."
The atmosphere suddenly became charged, as if everyone had been shown up by an unexpected
display of affection.
Nydia gripped her wine glass tighter and took a deep breath.
"I never realize you were the lovesick type before."
Ian wiped the juice off his cheek, leaving only three words.
"It’s my wish."
Having said that, he followed the direction in which Maja had left.
Inside, he felt a sense of relief.
Even if Maja had cried her eyes out, she was still on edge. Having witnessed Ian collapsing before her,
any little thing might set her off.
Ian had thought through these consequences before making his decision.
He was torn—aching for her, but at the same time, feeling lost.
Love makes one tread on eggshells.
But her fiery outburst was at least better than keeping it all bottled up.
As soon as Ian turned the corner, he spotted the loathsome Patric loitering nearby.
His day was already bad.
His presence just added fuel to the fire.
Ian looked around and finally saw Maja sitting near a window.
Hastily grabbing a fruit bowl from the kitchen, he planned to make some amends.
But before he could get close, there was Patric, sidling up to Maja who was browsing the bookshelf,
struggling to reach a book. Patric, playing the gallant, handed her the volume.
Wasn't this the classic scene between the lead characters in a cheesy rom-com?
And to make matters worse, Patric was her first love!
Ian's blood boiled. He strode forward, shoving Patric aside.
Stumbling from the push, Patric gave a dark glare, " Weren't you on death's door? Where's all this
strength coming from?"
Ian wished he could smash the fruit bowl into Patric’s face.
He had risked treason to bring Patric to North America, not for him to be a thorn in his side.
The next moment, Ian clutched his chest and began to cough dramatically.
Maja had been trying to ignore him, still seething, but hesitated at the sound of his coughing.
Ian had been recuperating, and his wound had indeed not been healed. His sudden cough made him a
shade paler.
Almost instinctively, she dropped the book and checked his wound under the clothes.
"Where does it hurt?"
Ian set the bowl aside and pulled her down to the sofa by the bookshelf.
"The wound, it's itching and aching."
Patric, feeling sidelined, frowning deeply. "Stop faking it. It's your eyes that hurt, isn't it? Seeing me—
Maja’s first love here, must be driving you insane with jealousy."
Ian forced a smile, gripping Maja's hand.
"Maja, if only I'd met you sooner. Some people have deliberately caused misunderstandings between
us—remember that? He made you suffer for a while, but I would never force you into anything. If we
had met earlier, you wouldn't have been deceived."
This was about when Patric had manipulated a doctor to create marks on Maja to drive a wedge
between her and Ian—a move that had caused her much pain and almost led Ian to a murderous rage.
As expected, Maja's gaze turned cold as she looked at Patric.
Patric felt a sudden stab in his chest—surely an echo of Eric's emotions.novelbin
He pursed his lips and walked away.
Ian couldn't have been more pleased. He took advantage of the moment to lean into her, using her lap
as a pillow.
His feigned weakness had diffused her anger, and her fingers now gently combing through his hair.
Even knowing he was pretending; she couldn't help but become soften.
She had always known Ian had a way of making her go soft.
On the other side.
When Phelps got the news about the explosion, he thought he'd misheard.
He had muddled Maja's memories, and was sure enough that she couldn't find the place. How had
Ian's men found it?
He tapped his fingers slowly on the desk, until he heard Phil from across the table.
"Could it be that Maja remembered?"
"That’s impossible. She'd risked her life to awaken her memories, and Ian wouldn't allow it. I let her go
back to break her obsession. Her fixation was to see Ian. But once she saw how mundane life with him
would be, she'd yearn for me, long to return. She'd become more obedient than before."
But what exactly had gone wrong now?
A confusion crossed his face.