Chapter 1553


    Walter propped against his chin, ncing between Ian and Dn before his gaze finally settled on


    Maja, who was lounging on the couch.


    The air was thick with an unspoken tension among the trio, but he couldn''t afford to dwell on it now.


    Ian hadid out the n: they were making their move tonight, and that meant Walter needed to get his


    head in the game.


    In the room, Dn turned to Walter, "You''re with me. Watch your six."


    Walter couldn''t help but curl his lips into a smile, "Rx, I''ve got it."


    As Ian stepped outside, he scooped Maja up and carried her off to bed for some rest. Maja slept


    soundly, undisturbed by the movement, but it was the distant sound of an explosion during the night


    that jolted her awake. She scrambled out of bed and rushed to the living room.


    The men were gone, and a wave of unease washed over her. At the door, she noticed a note under the


    light switch - a message from Ian.


    "Stay put, I''ll be back soon."


    She exhaled in relief, but then a knock on the door startled her. It was the woman from next door.


    "Maja, you up?"


    When Maja opened up, she saw the woman holding out a steaming bowl of soup.


    "You haven''t had your dinner yet, have you? Let’s eat something."


    Maja ushered her in, and they took a seat at the dining table. "You know Ian, don''t you?" Maja inquired.


    Ever since Ian had arrived, the woman had kept her distance. Now, with Ian away, she was at the


    doorstep.


    The woman nodded, her gaze drifting to the window, "I''ve seen him at the undergroundbat pit in


    North America."


    Maja was taken aback, "Does he know you?"


    "Even if he doesn''t recognize me, I''m sure I''d seem familiar to him."


    The woman''s demeanor turned icy as she leaned back, her slender fingers twirling a sharp dagger - a


    de that could easily slice skin but seemed to bloom into a flower in her expert grip.


    "Maja, no offense, but I feel a connection with you. I wasn''t in thosebat pits by choice; I was sold


    into them, like a ve, forced to battle with beasts just to survive. I was the second person to make it


    out alive in five years."


    Then she hesitated, ncing at Maja, unsure whether to continue.


    Maja''s voice was calm, her expression cool andposed, "The first one was Ian?"


    It seemed she''d already figured it out.


    The woman confirmed with a nod, a sharp glint in her eyes, "Yes, he was the first. I''ve kept tabs on him


    since then. But I never imagined the person you were looking for would be him. He might not recognize


    me, but he''d find my face familiar."


    And Ian? He was never one to volunteer his past. Especially in front of those he cared about, he


    preferred to shoulder everything alone.


    Maja hade to prevent him from doing just that - worried that he might get into trouble and keep her


    in the dark again.


    The woman''s wrist was adorned with a small jade bead, threaded on a red string. Noticing Maja''s gaze,


    she offered a smile. New ch?pter av?ble o? Draмаnоvеls.cоm


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "This was made for my brother and me when we were born. I engraved his name on mine, and he has


    my name on his."


    Her voice softened when she spoke of her brother, a touch of warmth breaking through her usual


    frostiness.


    "My brother was snatched right from me. I cried and chased after them for as long as I could, but I


    didn''t realize then that it would be thest time I''d ever see him."