Chapter 1762


    As she awaited word from Fitch, she had Ian taken to Greenfield Gardens and made a point to


    scrutinize every individual there.


    No one raised her suspicions, so she turned to Jeff.


    "Who did he meet with today?"


    Jeff recounted the day''s encounters.


    Maja settled calmly onto the couch. If it was Bernard, there was no cause for concern.


    What step had gone awry?


    She called for Beck.


    "Beck, when you guys were searching over in Cania, did youe across a man who looked a lot


    like Ian? My first night in Cania, some guy posing as Ian came to pick me up. He bore a striking


    resemnce to Ian. Lately, there haven''t been any suspicious characters around me, and I''ve


    almost got the measure of everyone else. It''s just that man; I still don''t know which side he''s ying


    for."


    And with the research facility''s affairs being a thing of the past, it was odd that the man''s faction


    hadn''t made a move.


    Was it because they had already acted, or because they hadn''t?


    With the enemy in the shadows and them in the light, they needed to get to the bottom of this.


    "I''ve never seen this man, but considering you were almost fooled, he must look a lot like Ian. Was


    he targeting you?"


    "Yeah, he tried to whisk me away, but Ian called me just in time, and I realized it was a sham."


    Beck''s expression darkened. Someone that could pass for Ian was a serious threat. What if this


    person used Ian''s identity to carry out some plot?


    "Maja, what''s your take on this?"


    Maja led Beck upstairs to the bedroom where Iany on the bed.


    She closed the door behind them and went over to grasp Ian''s hand, her voice steady.


    "They''re after me, which means I have something they want. They failedst time, so they''ll


    definitely use that face again to deceive me at some point. Now with Ian out cold, I bet someone will


    try to take him away soon. He''ll disappear for a while, and when he reappears, it might be that man


    whoes to us. Otherwise, as long as Ian is here, it''s hard for them to make a move."


    This was why Ian had suddenly lost consciousness—the people behind that man were likely


    nning their next step.


    She held his hand tight, not blinking an eye.


    "Beck, the existence of that man has always troubled me. Lately, I''ve been thinking about all the


    scenarios in which he might reappear. The one I''ve deduced now seems the most usible. So,


    we''ll see who tries to take Ian away."


    Sheid Ian''s hand against her cheek, her voice softening.


    "I just want to put an end to all this and have a peaceful wedding with him, to bring our child into the


    world."


    Beck moved closer, affectionately ruffling her hair.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll talk to Fitch and get our big brother involved. He''s sharper than I am, and with his


    influence, Abner will keep assisting us. Let''s get this sorted out quickly, then we can n your


    wedding."


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    "How''s Dad doing? Is he better?"


    "Much better. He''s up and walking now, keeps asking about you. But he gets winded after just a few


    steps, can''t fly yet. I figured we''d let him recuperate, and once he''s stronger, he cane over."


    Maja nodded, her gaze shifting back to Ian''s peaceful face.


    The doctor said he''d been enduring a lottely.


    She''d just asked Jeff and learned that Ian hadn''t been sleeping at night, tormented in the small


    hours by whatever gued him.


    "Also, Beck, have someone check on Phil and Philip. Since the earthquake, they''ve been missing.


    I''ve got a hunch they''re not so easy to kill."


    "We''re on it, but no leads yet. Philip is a cautious man after all."


    Maja tucked Ian''s hand under the nket and patted it gently, "Then we wait and see who''sing


    to take Ian."