?Chapter 64:

The assistant went silent, though his mind was filled with confusion. Why had Vince snapped at the mention of marriage? Did he even want to marry Rosanna?

Back at the vi, Rosanna slipped through the door, quietly humming to herself. But before she could go any farther, Jarrod grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side.

Keeping his voice low, he asked, “Rosanna, did you just see Maia? Did she do anything to you?”

She shook her head calmly. “No. I only told her where to find what she needed. She agreed to delete the surveince video.”

Jarrod’s frown deepened. He recalled catching snippets of their earlier conversation and couldn’t let it go. “And what exactly were you two talking about?”

“It’s Grandma’s bracelet.”

Jarrod’s eyes widened. “Didn’t you already throw that thing away?”

Rosanna nced at him. For a moment, something calcting flickered behind hershes, but she softened her expression with practiced innocence and recited the story she’d told Maia.

“An antique dealer…” Jarrod muttered, eyebrows knotting together.

“Yeah. Maia said she’s going to track him down and get the bracelet back. I mentioned that he once told me his shop was in the ck market area of Erygan.”

Somewhere in the city. “I didn’t think much of it before, but… Jarrod, what exactly is a ck market?” Rosanna asked, feigning naiveté.

His face tensed immediately.

Jarrod knew all too well what kind of ce Erygan’s ck market was. It was a den of criminals and dirty trades, where morals vanished with the daylight.

Was Maia actually headed there? She could vanish — be trafficked, even.

Just then, a soft hiss snapped him out of his spiral.

Looking up, he saw Rosanna touch her cheek, still red and puffy from the p he’d given her earlier.

His chest twisted with guilt. He reached out, his fingers trembling as they brushed her swollen skin. “Rosanna… I’m sorry. I should have kept you safe.”

Rosanna softly held his hand, her voice warm and caring. “This isn’t your fault. You’ve always protected me. A little hurt doesn’t bother me. As long as you’re okay, I can handle anything. Even if Maia keepsing after me, I’m not scared.”

Her words brought back the memory of when she had dropped to her knees in front of Maia, begging for his sake.

The guilt surged in Jarrod’s chest.

He squeezed her hand tighter, eyes dark with resolve. “I swear, Rosanna, I’ll make everyone who hurt you pay. Even Maia’s not walking away this time.”

“Don’t me her, Jarrod. I’m sure she had her reasons…” Rosanna added gently, her face a perfect mask of concern.

“You’re too soft. That’s how they keep stepping all over you,” Jarrod muttered, his voice hardening. “You don’t need to defend her. Not this time. She’s finally going to face the consequences. The ck market…”

Jarrod’s mouth curled into a cold smirk. That ce was perfect for breaking someone downpletely.

Watching him fall into her trap so effortlessly, Rosanna smiled inwardly.

“Maia, I don’t even need to lift a finger to destroy you,” she sneered inwardly.

At midnight, Maia sat up in bed, wide awake. This was when the ck market came to life. Any earlier, and half the vendors wouldn’t have even opened yet.

Dressed in ck from head to toe, she moved carefully, shutting her bedroom door and locking it from the outside so it looked like she was still sleeping inside.

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