Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 1476

In the dimly lit confinement of a small, steel-reinforced cage, Oliver huddled against the biting cold, his brow furrowed in frustration. He peered through the bars at the shadowy figure lurking outside—Ian, his cloak a dark swirl against the night.

"Come on, Ian, can you actually deliver? Did you track down your sweetheart yet?" Oliver's voice carried a mix of irritation and urgency.

Ian adjusted his cloak, concealing his eyes once more. "Almost there," he murmured, the vagueness of his reply hanging in the air.

Oliver plopped down on the cold ground, his backside growing numb. "Ian, I'm in this mess because of you. You've got the Porter family seal now. You can rally some support. So why all the dilly-dallying?"

Leaning against the wall, Ian allowed himself a small chuckle, reflecting on the fallen state of the young master before him. Oliver was not as naïve as he appeared; his insight into people's true nature was sharp, a trait that had led him to bet his entire fortune on Ian.

The night they met, Ian had painted a picture of the world beyond, convincing Oliver to make a decision. He yearned to escape Forbidden Island, a place where his sexual-orientation made him an object of scorn. Yet he knew the outside world was vast, there must be somewhere he could belong.

As the heir to the Porter family, remaining unmarried would subject him to vilification. If his orientation were exposed, it could even cost him his life.

"Forbidden Island isn't exactly the land of the free," Ian commented, his voice low.

"You mean BLACK, the guy who's been dealing with the families behind the scenes? He's a chameleon—sometimes an old man, sometimes a woman, other times a young lad. No one knows what he really looks like. But he's ruthless. Anyone who's seen his face is likely sleeping with the fishes. Finding this guy is going to be tough," Oliver said, chin propped on his hand as he sat on the ground.

The man, a member of the Porter family, glared furiously. "You'd better keep up that tough talk until I snap your legs."

Leaning back, Oliver patted his legs. "Go on, try me. Break them if you can."

Nobody dared hurt Oliver, not until Ralap gave the word. But the real issue was the family seal that Oliver had hidden. It was a symbol of power. The hidden forces of the Porter family would only heed the holder of the seal.

Ralap had passed the seal to Oliver, and now with it missing, they needed to find it and have Oliver pass it on before he could be disposed of. Otherwise, those shadowy forces would be left without a leader.