Chapter 1768


    She just wanted to wrap up this whole mess and have her baby in peace.


    It seemed like Ian could sense her distress, as he furrowed his brow even in his unconscious state.


    Maja held his hand for a moment and, after some thought, decided to slip on the ring she had


    secretly prepared onto his finger.


    Ian had given her a few rings before, but she had never prepared one in return. During the time he


    had disappeared, she had taken the initiative to have one custom-made.


    The rings Ian had given her were engagement rings, but the ring Maja sent was a direct leap to a


    wedding band.


    She ced the ring on his finger, remembering how the ring he had given her had helped her regain


    a fleeting moment of rity when Philip had taken her away. This time, she hoped that the ring she


    gave him would bring him some good fortune too.


    The next morning, Bernard''s people showed up. Leading them was Sarah the Doctor, and the


    others began to move Ian. Patric was also taken away, handcuffed and pushed forward as they led


    him out.


    Just as they were about to exit the living room, Patric turned back and gave Maja a deep,


    meaningful look. Maja felt he had something to say, but in the end, he just blinked and remained


    silent.


    Worried about Ian, she followed them all the way to the car. She watched as Iany quietly on the


    car seat and suddenly felt a pang in her heart.


    "Patric," she blurted out, her voice choking up.


    "Could you protect Ian?"


    She knew her request was unreasonable; after all, Patric was a victim in all of this too. As he had


    said himself, who was he? He was just a nobody without an identity.


    At her words, Patric justughed. Maja felt cruel for even asking and lowered hershes, "I''m


    talking nonsense. I just hope you stay safe too."


    Patric tugged his lips, turned his head away, and didn''t look at her. In an unseen corner, his eyes


    reddened.


    Eric had been right; because Patric was a part of Ian''s memories, falling for Maja was his destiny.


    But he was just that - a memory - so in strict terms, he was nothing at all from the start.


    The closer he got to the truth, the more devastating it became. Now Maja was asking him to protect


    Ian, but what was Ian to him? He lowered his gaze, said nothing, and the car window slowly closed.


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Maja didn''t move from her spot, her gaze fixed on Sarah in the other car. Her expression was cold,


    a stark contrast to theplexity and emotion that had flickered in her eyes before.


    Maja frowned but ultimately said nothing.


    As the cars drove away, she slowly returned to the house and said to Number 8, who had caught up


    to her, "Thank you for your help. Please keep a close watch on things from your end."


    Number 8, still naive in the ways of the world, nodded and hurried off.


    The pressure had been immense on Maja these past days, and now, finally having a moment to


    herself, she felt dizzy.


    Forcing herself to the couch, she heard her phone ring. It was Fitch, reporting that the news about


    Queena''s swap had been released.


    She asked, "How did Bernard react?"


    "Somebody wants a thorough investigation to find leverage against him, so he didn''te


    personally to pick up Ian today."


    Maja breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, "You released the news. Does Bernard suspect


    you?"


    "No, he doesn''t know it was me. The Haskins family and the March family are on good terms, but


    I''ve been dragged into the investigation of Queena''s case. If you can''t reach meter, just contact


    Number 8 directly."


    After all, Number 8 had been shadowing the situation and would know everything that was going


    on.


    Maja hung up, feeling like she had overlooked something, but she couldn''t quite put her finger on


    what it was.