Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 1553

Walter propped against his chin, glancing between Ian and Dylan 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 had laid out the plan: they were making their move tonight, and that meant Walter needed to get his head in the game.

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

Walter couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile, "Relax, 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 underground combat pit in North America."

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

Maja had come to prevent him from doing just that - worried that he might get into trouble and keep her in the dark again.

So she followed quietly, deciding that being in the same city, even if just lingering in the shadows, was better than waiting hopelessly back at the Sanders family home.

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

"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 the last time I'd ever see him."

Fifteen years ago, child abductions were all too common, and law enforcement was less vigilant. It seemed she was still trapped in the day her brother was taken, never quite moving past that moment.