?Chapter 758:

Throwing his hands up in defeat, Ethan sighed. “Fine, fine, I’lle clean… Today at school, I overheard someone saying that Maia got married.”

Kathie’s amused expression vanished instantly, freezing mid-smile.

Slowly sinking back into her chair, she blinked repeatedly as if trying to process his words. “Married? Who’s getting married?”

Watching Kathie’s bewildered reaction, Ethan managed a bitter smile. Clearly, the news had blindsided her just as much as it had him.

“Maia, obviously!” Ethan replied with awkward frustration. “People are saying she’s already tied the knot.”

His voice dropped to a disappointed murmur. “But… she never said a word to me about it.”

Kathie froze for a second, then burst outughing. “You seriously fell for that? Come on. It’s clearly one of your ssmates pulling a prank. Haven’t you figured Maia out by now? If she had really tied the knot, you’d be one of the first people on her guest list.”

Ethan said nothing. His eyes stayed fixed on the floor.

Everything he had heard from Mnie and Marisa kept swirling in his head, tangled with the chaos he’d seen online.

Kathie noticed the way he shut down and tried again, this time with more patience. “But I get it. Maia’s at that stage where marriage is on the table. I’ve even been encouraging her to find someone. Not long ago, she told me she wasn’t dating anyone. And don’t forget those rumors about her having a sugar daddy —pletely debunked, by the way. People will always talk. You shouldn’t take everything to heart.”

The memory of the online gossip about Maia rushed back to him, especially the rumors from before she was revealed as the mysteriousposer K. All of it had turned out to be baseless in the end.

A small sigh escaped him as he muttered under his breath. “Looks like I let my thoughts get the better of me.”

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“Listen to me, Ethan. Stop wasting your energy on doubts that might not even be real.” Kathie gave him a light pat on the back. “If it bothers you that much, then talk to her. You’re her brother. She’ll be honest with you if you just ask.”

With that advice sinking in, Ethan gave a slight nod. He decided to call Maia after dinner and ask her to meet him at Marvelous Garden for a proper conversation.

That decision brought him a strange sense of relief, but also reminded him how drained he felt. His stomach rumbled in protest.

He picked up his utensils and started eating with renewed appetite. “Thanks, Kathie. This food’s really good.”

Kathie’s lips curved into a pleased smile. “No rush. Enjoy every bite.”

Elsewhere, in one of the Elysium Apartments, night had already settled in. Maia sat at the dining table with her arms folded, her expression tight and unreadable.

The meal had been carefully prepared — five dishes and a soup — yet the warmth had long since faded. The cutlery was perfectly in ce, but Chris still hadn’t shown up.

Twenty minutes slipped by without a word.

Eventually, she gave in and reached for her phone, staring at the screen before pressing Chris’s contact.

Only one ring came through before the t, automated message yed: The number you are trying to reach is currently unavable. Please try againter.

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