Chapter 1408


    Ian was a man of caution, especially when it came to Maja, his trusted confidant. So when she needed


    to step out, he insisted on assigning two seasoned bodyguards to shadow her every move.


    Maja had seen her fair share of trouble and wasn''t about to take any chances.


    As they approached the entrance of the grand hall on the ground floor of the upscale restaurant, the


    metal detector let out a brief chirp, and the waiter greeted the bodyguards with a polite smile.


    "Apologies, folks, but we have a strict no weapons policy inside."


    The bodyguards frowned at the request. This establishment prided itself on its high security, which


    made it a popr neutral ground for the big shots of North America to negotiate deals.


    It wasn''t just weapons that were banned; even cell phones were to be left with the coat check.


    The bodyguards turned to Maja with concern. "Ms. Pennyfeather, perhaps you could meet your mentor


    somewhere else. This ce is quite strict—nothing gets past those doors."


    "Does that apply to everyone?"


    "Yes, ma''am. No exceptions."


    Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Maja hesitated, then tried to call Herbert, but as expected, he didn''t pick up.


    With no way to reschedule, she decided to go with the flow. "If that''s the rule for everyone, then we''ll


    y by it."


    She handed over her smartphone, and her reluctant protectors relinquished their guns, knives, and


    phones.


    Stepping into the hall, Maja caught sight of Dn and couldn''t shake an uneasy feeling. She


    instinctively stepped back, just as the heavy doors nged shut behind her.


    With a raised eyebrow, she made for the elevator to head to the third floor, where she was meant to


    meet Herbert, keen to avoid any conflict with Dn.


    But then, a swarm of about thirty people emerged, encircling her and the bodyguards.


    It dawned on her that Dn had been lying in wait.


    "What''s the meaning of this, Mr. Sanders?" she asked.


    Despite her recent run-ins with Judith, this level of scheming seemed over the top.


    Dn''s gaze was icy. "You know exactly what you''ve done, Maja. You won''t leave here alive today. It''s


    the only way I can answer to Judith."


    Maja''s brow furrowed. She had been confined by K and then hidden away in the underground fighting


    rings. She couldn''t recall any recent spats with Judith, especially since she had generously helped her


    just days before.


    Seeing her bodyguards ready to fight, she stopped them. "There''s no point. You''re outnumbered and


    unarmed. Just go find Ian when you get out."


    The guards said nothing; they had to follow Maja''s orders.


    Dn had Maja taken away and put into a car.


    As she got in the vehicle, she pondered aloud, "Mr. Sanders, are you really willing to go this far for a


    fake sister?"


    "Shut up!" Dn snapped, his mind seething with the memory of that video.


    Maja chuckled coldly, "I just feel sorry for thete Ms. Sanders. She was killed by Judith, and you didn''t


    shed a tear. Instead, you''re eager to avenge Judith. Don''t you see the absurdity in that?"


    Dn, who never hit women, couldn''t hold back this time and pped her across the face.


    Maja''s head turned with the blow, blood on her lips.


    "What do you know! Do you have any idea what you''ve done to Judith? You''ve ruined her life, made


    her theughingstock of society, and now she''ll never marry. If you had any conscience, Maja, you''d


    apologize to her! But it seems you''re unchanging, even now, with no thought for Judith''s plight!"


    Licking the blood from her lips, Maja felt nothing but disdain for him. It was a pity her hands were tied,


    preventing her from retaliating with a p of her own.