Chapter 808


    Maja shouldn’t have to deal with all this crap. She was trying to understand: where did her uncle and


    aunt go wrong? They’ve never left Crystalbrook Valley, always influenced by their surroundings.


    They lived in a culture where boys were favored over girls, so naturally they followed suit. So when


    they found out Olivia was carrying a boy, their decision made sense to them.


    It’s not that they were heartless; their worldview was just that narrow.


    Furious, Maja cut ties with everyone and never thought their next encounter would be like this.


    Four lonely graves sat there in silence, and she sat there until night fell. Only then did she get up, rub


    her numb legs, and drive away.


    But just as she was about to open the car door, she saw another car parked not far away, just a run–


    of–the–mill car.


    Who woulde here at this hour?


    She didn’t give it a second thought and got into her own car.


    In the other car,n sat.


    The car window was cracked open, letting in the mountain wind.


    Cigarette buttsy scattered under the window; clearly, he had been waiting for a while.


    If he’d driven his fancy car, Maja would have known he was tailing her.


    So after arriving in Crystalbrook Valley, he swapped cars with the locals.


    Now it waste, and Maja would probably head to Riverside Haven.


    pretend it was a coincidence, and she wouldn’t get mad.


    He watched Maja’s car disappear from sight before slowly pressing the gas pedal.


    He drove for over an hour before returning to town. Fearful of being discovered by Maja, he drove


    around town and heard Maja spent herst year of high school here, so he went to her high school.


    But it was pitch ck; he couldn’t see the school’s full view.


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    Figuring it was about time, he drove back to Riverside Haven and quietly switched back to his own car.


    Upon entering Riverside Haven, he was led to his room by the manager.


    Then he asked, “Did anyone else check in tonight?”


    “Do you mean Maja?”


    The manager had dealt with Maja several times, and with the Elston family’s incident, her name was


    well–known in Crystalbrook Valley.


    “Maja is staying in the room next to yours. If you don’t like it, I can.”


    He had heard that Mr. Raymond didn’t like women too close to him.


    “That’s fine; there’s no need to switch.”


    Upon reaching his room, he recalled their first encounter here.


    She was painting on the wall quietly, and he couldn’t resist joining in.


    Back then, he was mesmerized by the beauty of the painting; she seemed to be part of it.


    At that moment, he felt a stir, but chalked it up to admiration for her painting skills, a subtle resonance.


    Now, passing this wall again,n’s feelings were different.


    The scene from that night reappeared in his mind: she sshed paint on his shirt, looked up in panic,


    and called out, “Mr. Raymond.” Her voice was crisp and pleasant.


    But that Maja, he would never see again.


    Until the manager couldn’t help asking, “Mr. Raymond, if you really like this painting, we can have Maja


    paint more.”


    wishful thinking.


    “No need.”


    He said it casually, then moved on towards his room.


    But as he passed the corridor, Maja came from the opposite direction, seemingly on a call.


    She was so engrossed that she didn’t notice him even as she passed by.


    This maden incredibly nervous, but once he realized she hadn’t noticed him, he regained his calm.