Chapter 1076


    Maja wasfortably perched on a t rock while Ian went off in search of a mountain spring to clean


    the wild mushrooms he’d collected.


    The moment he left, the other women shot Maja dirty looks.


    "Why even bother to hike if you''re just going to be carried? Do you even know what hiking is? Every


    woman here is more aplished and refined than you, yet you''re the one being carried by a man."


    Maja was still holding a wild apple, which Ian had picked for her along the way. He had mentioned that


    the tree was known for its fruit-bearing, but one had to be lucky to taste its yield.


    She tossed the apple in her hand, turning to the woman who had spoken out.


    "If you''re jealous of me being carried by Ian, why don''t you just ask him to carry you next time?"


    The woman was fuming. She looked around to see thest group of hikers arriving and sneered.


    "Even Ms. Sanders, who is unwell, managed to walk here on her own. When Ian eventually tires of


    you, let''s see which man would indulge your capricious nature."


    Maja was about to retort when the other women chimed in.


    "Exactly, you''re not even a big deal. Once Ian’s done with you, you won''t even dare show your face


    around us."


    "A woman should always be independent."


    By belittling Maja, they wanted to portray themselves as strong and independent.


    Society was ever-changing. Once, the more naive and innocent a woman was, the more popr she


    became. But in recent years, the call was for women to be strong and independent, not reliant on men.


    But these women''s idea of being strong and independent was to belittle other women to elevate


    themselves. What kind of strength was that?


    Maja found it amusing. When Ian returned, she handed him the apple.


    "Could you wash this for me? Do you have a pocket knife? Could you slice it for me? It''s too big to bite


    into."


    The others felt like retching at her request.


    What were they doing right now?


    They were hiking! And it was a two-day hike. They wouldn''t be picked up by a helicopter until the next


    afternoon. They were here to enjoy the scenery and nature. A simple wash would suffice for the apple,


    yet she insisted Ian slice it for her.


    Everyone expected Ian to lose his temper because Maja was being too demanding!


    But Ian took the apple, looking at Maja.


    Maja smiled at him, even licking her lips.


    She wasn''t trying to seduce him; she genuinely wanted the apple.


    Ian’s mind was filled with Maja and her words, ''It''s too big to bite into.''


    As explicit images filled his mind, he felt a rush of heat.


    He turned and walked to the spring. The apple was sliced and ced on a clean leaf when he returned.


    He''d even whittled a stick into a makeshift fork and stuck it into the apple.


    Maja took the leaf and began eating the apple with the stick.


    Ian couldn''t bear to watch her anymore. He needed to do something to clear his mind, so he grabbed


    the backpacks from Ryan and Tyler and started setting up the tent by himself.


    Even Tyler felt a pang of jealousy, seeing how Ian pampered Maja.


    Who even behaved like this on a hike?


    But he didn''t say anything. Comining would only make him feel worse.


    Judith couldn''t stand it any longer. She was shaking with rage.


    "Maja, you''re being too much. Having Ian carry you is one thing, but now you''re making him set up the


    tent alone and even slice your apple for you. You clearly don''t care about him at all. If he were with any


    other woman, he wouldn''t have to put up with this."


    It was clear whom she was referring to when she said ''any other woman.''


    Maja, eating her apple, found this amusing.


    "This is how Ian and I get along. If we''re okay with it, why should you care, Ms. Sanders? Even if you


    want to be his girlfriend, you should consider whether Ian even wants you."


    Up until now, Maja hadn''t said anything to provoke Judith, and the others had been observing their


    passive-aggressive jealousy.


    But this statement put Judith in the position of a gold digger, which was a huge insult to her.


    Tears welled up in Judith''s eyes.


    "I was just worried about Ian. Was that so wrong? Maja, you don''t deserve to be with him."


    While Judith was the one with sinister intentions, she was now crying as if she was the one who had


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    been wronged. The others began tofort her, acting as if she was the victim.