Chapter 1374


    In the dimly lit basement of an underground fight club, the buzz of hushed conversations and clinking


    sses was asionally punctuated by the roll of dice and the shuffle of cards. Ian sat leaned back in


    his chair, a concerned crease forming between his brows as he rubbed his temples. The man across


    from him nodded solemnly before disappearing into the crowd, leaving Ian to ponder his next move.


    With a deep breath, Ian pushed through the swinging doors to find Maja, who was still fretting over a


    lost cell phone. Her eyes widened as she instinctively stepped back when he approached.


    "Maja, how about we catch a movie tonight?" he suggested, trying to distract her from her unease.


    She nodded, though clearly puzzled by his intentions. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and


    guided her to the spacious living room. Maja sat perched on the edge of the couch, the vastness of the


    room amplifying her difort.


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    "What do you feel like watching?" Ian asked.


    Maja couldn''t decide, her mind a nk. She almost said they should watch whatever he liked, but then


    realized she didn''t know his preferences. Had they ever watched a movie together before?


    "I don''t want to watch a movie," she murmured.


    "What would you like to do, then?"


    "I don''t know."


    Her honesty reflected her current state: lost, as if trapped in a room of chaos with no sense of self.


    "Let''s go downstairs and have some fun," Ian suggested, leading her back to her room to change.


    Descending the staircase hand in hand, Maja saw a sea of faces, most masked, as they stepped onto


    the bustling casino floor. She clung to Ian, only rxing when they reached a long, crowded table.


    Ian sat down, pulling Maja onto hisp, a pile of chips stacked before him. "Remember when you


    cleaned up at that game in Greenfield?" he asked.


    "Yeah," she replied, recalling the time before Ian knew she was his wife, when he was infamously


    known as an easy mark.


    But what happened next? Her memories were foggy, emotions from that time erased, as if she''d been


    watching someone else''s life.


    Ian ced her hand over the chips and smiled indulgently. "Back then, you won big, sharp-tongued and


    clever. Now, I''m giving you the reins. You''re good at card counting, right? Help me win a hand."


    Ian''s hands held her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder. Maja''s cheeks flushed as she tried to


    remember her winning strategy, but the knowledge had slipped away, along with the confidence on how


    to bet.


    Her fingers trembled slightly as panic set in, but Ian''s grip tightened reassuringly. "Take your time, no


    rush," he whispered.


    The crowd around the table was drawn in by Maja''s stunning appearance, but Ian''s mask made them


    hold their taunts. The mask was a symbol known to all in the fight club circles—it meant something.


    And now, Barlow, who had never publicly shown affection for a woman, was openly cradling one in his


    arms at the gaming table.


    Maja''s palms were sweaty as she lost the first round. The dealer announced the loss amounted to thirty


    million. She stiffened, wanting to flee from the enormity of the wager.


    Ian''s embrace remained steadfast. "Keep ying," he urged.


    "Ian, I''ve lost too much of your money."


    "It doesn''t matter to me."


    "But I can''t win."


    The environment was overwhelming her. In response, Ian tilted his head and began to nt soft kisses


    along her neck, causing her blush to deepen and her grip on the remaining chips to tighten.


    Seeing her eyshes flutter nervously, Ian let out a sympathetic sigh. "Okay, we''ll stop."


    He scooped her up, leaving the chips on the table, and whisked her away to the elevator. The moment


    the doors closed, he kissed her thoroughly.


    Back on the seventh floor, Maja felt a sense of relief. She clutched his hand, asking timidly, "Ian, could I


    perhaps see Dr. Herrington?"


    The more her anxiety grew, the stronger her desire to see Phelps became.


    Ian studied her face, noting the confusion in her eyes. After a moment, he smiled softly.


    "Yeah, I''ll take you to see him the day after tomorrow. But you have to promise to have fun with me for


    these next two days, okay?"


    Her anxiety vanished, reced by a bright smile. "Okay."


    Comforted by the thought of seeing Phelps, her fears subsided. She joined Ian for movies, reading


    sessions, and sat beside him during meetings, fighting sleep but refusing to retire alone.


    Ian was right—she had be a pet, her sharp edges dulled. Holding her close, he sighed and turned


    to his associate.


    "So, is that n going to work or not?"


    "Mr. Raymond, it''s too risky," the man replied.


    Ian only wanted to know one thing: "What are the odds of sess?"


    "No one can say for sure."


    Ian stroked Maja''s hair, sighing deeply. "Alright, I understand."