“Wait here.“


    Baz would arrive soon with the bodyguards. Cedric knew he had to buy some time for Maia.


    Shaking her head, she said earnestly, “No, it’s too dangerous. He has a gun!”


    Cedric saw her gripping his palm with both hands and smiled. “I''ll be fine.”


    He sounded casual and confident, but Maia knew how dangerous it was.


    “Cedric-”


    Before she could say anything further, the door was closed, and she was left alone in the cramped and dark room.


    Peering out through a narrow gap, she watched Cedric move away.


    Still feeling the warmth of his palm, she covered her mouth to stop herself from making any sound lest she would spoil his n.


    ‘Pull yourself together, Maia! You must not cry or make any sound...


    She kept telling herself.


    However, she couldn’t hold back her tears. Suddenly, she heard a flurry of rapid footsteps.


    Maia saw Theo chasing after Cedric.


    As she was the one Theo wanted to kill, she knew she couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Biting her lips, Maia nced around


    through the narrow gap.


    She took out her phone to see where her car was.


    Making sure that Theo had run away, she pocketed her phone and hurried toward her car in quick steps while staying low to the


    ground.


    Having a good sense of direction, Maia was relieved when she soon found her car.


    She got into the car in the dark.


    She knew full well what would happen if she were to start her car now-Theo would be drawn by its lights and sound, and she


    would be a live target.


    Yet, she knew she had to do it. Shutting the car door, she started the engine and floored the


    gas.


    Driving around, she searched around for Cedric.


    When she saw him, she quickly opened the passenger door and sped over.


    Chapter 79 Don’t Be Afraid


    She gradually slowed down her pace and nced to see who was behind her using the rear- view mirror of a car parked nearby.


    As she expected, a man wearing a ck baseball cap and a ck mask was following her.


    She found his frame to be familiar.


    Who was he?


    Feeling anxious, she didn’t dwell on it as she knew the man had to be watching her every


    move.


    Not wanting to give herself away, she didn’t dare to quicken her pace now.


    Just as she turned a corner, she swiftly removed her high heels and threw them to the other side to make some noise before


    hiding behind a pir.


    Hearing the tter, the man hurried toward the shoes. Seizing the moment, Maia made a run


    for her car.


    The car lights shed a few times as she unlocked her car with the key fob. However, when she was about to open the car door,


    a gunshot was heard, followed by hurried footsteps.


    Her n had failed!


    Biting her lower lip, Maia saw the man charging over and ducked behind her car so that he couldn’t shoot her.


    As he had a gun, she knew that it would not be safe to stay in her car now.


    She quickly opened the car door to shield herself from view and scrambled backward before breaking into a run—she knew the


    security booth was not far away.


    Holding the gun, the man ran to her car and carefully approached the open door. Aiming his sight at it, he stepped closer and


    saw there was no one behind it.


    “Fuck!”


    The man cursed and started to search the parking lot. “You can’t hide forever, bitch!”


    Maia was thrilled to see the security booth was lit, but as she hurried over, she realized there. was blood all over the ss door


    and a man was sitting lifelessly in a chair inside.


    pping her hand over her mouth, Maia stopped herself from screaming. She should have seen thising, as the security


    guard would surely havee running as soon as he had heard the gunshot.


    Taking a deep breath, she hid behind the booth.


    ? 15 RONUS


    She took out her phone and noticed she had several missed calls. At that moment, another call


    came in.


    It was Couric’s number.


    As she couldn’t risk exposing her whereabouts, Maia quickly hung up and tried to send him her location. However, as the signal


    was weak, the message failed to go out.


    After several attempts, she felt a glimmer of hope as she finally saw that the message had been delivered.


    Soon, she received a text that read, “Wait for me” and felt strangely reassured.


    At the same time, Maia dared not put her guard down. Ovee with panic and fear, she started to tremble.


    The man’s voice then echoed in the empty parking lot.


    “Give yourself up, Maia. Do you think you can escape from me?”


    Maia was stunned as she recognized the voice.


    Theo? No wonder his frame looked familiar!


    Knowing that Theo was trying to trick her into responding, she dared not make a sound.


    Leaning t against the wall, she peered over at the man as he moved in her direction and said, “You''re a smart and pretty


    woman, Maia, and | couldn''t bear to hurt you too. But you left me with no choice by trying to make me give back the money |


    took!”Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    He went on. “Only by killing you, | can continue to take money from Starlight and avoid paying you. You''re too smart, Maia, and


    unless | eliminate you, you''ll always be a threat. Just like your mom!”


    Maia was surprised that he had found out she was suing him so soon. Biting her lower lip, she nced around and saw the


    electric switch—box.


    She slowly got up and moved toward it. After checking the switches inside, she quickly turned them all off and plunged the


    parking lot into darkness before making a run for it.


    Hearing her footsteps, Theo pulled the trigger in the dark.


    Several gunshots rang out.


    Startled, Maia screamed. Suddenly, she was pulled aside, and a pair of warm lipsnded on hers before she could respond.


    She smelled a familiar scent.


    20


    Surprised that he hade so soon, Maia’s eyes went wide in disbelief seeing Cedric


    “Don''t be afraid,” he whispered into her ear as he pinned her to the wall.


    He then looked toward Theo, who was shining a light on his surroundings with his phone, still searching for M.


    “Stop hiding, Maia. You''re family after all. | promise I’m going to make your death a quick one, alright?”


    Theo''s voice sounded particrly chilling in the quiet parking lot.


    Terrified, Maia covered her mouth with her hand lest she make a sound. After all, she and Cedric were easy targets now.


    Checking his watch, Cedric nced at a utility room nearby. He took her hand and quickly pulled her toward it.


    “Get inside.”


    Maia did so and saw Cedric standing outside.


    “Aren''t youing in?” She whispered, frowning.


    Knowing she was terrified, he caressed her face. With a hint of a smile, he then tried to close


    the door.


    Maia seized his hand and asked nervously, “Where are you going? Are you trying to lure him away?”