Chapter 26
Maxine gently put down the photo album and opened the bedroom door as quietly as possible, tiptoeing towards the living room.
The closer she got to the door, the more certain she was someone was there!
Her nerves were on edge, and she instinctively glanced in the direction of the balcony.
The curtains in Ivanna’s living room were very thick and seemed to be made of high quality material. Maxine had noticed something off last time–once the curtains were drawn tight, not a single ray of light from outside could penetrate in.
Maxine went over to the circuit breaker and turned it off quietly. Then, she took out her phone and sent a message to Cleo.
She held her breath, listening to the noises outside.
It sounded like two people outside because Maxine could hear low murmurs occasionally, which seemed to be coming from two men.
This made her even more nervous.
She glanced at her phone. The message she had just sent to Cleo hadn’t been read yet, and Maxine felt an inexplicable sense of restlessness.
The noise coming from the lock area grew louder. Maxine started looking around for a weapon.
She didn’t know who was at the door, but whoever it was clearly wasn’t up to anything good, given that they were picking the lock late at night.
‘Could it be Gabriel’s people?!‘ At this thought, Maxine’s heart almost leaped into her throat.
She wanted to call the police, but hesitated when she considered how powerful Gabriel was. She suppressed this idea right away.
At that moment, the commotion by the door suddenly stopped.
In total darkness, every sound became crystal clear, and Maxine’s wildly pounding heart only heightened her sensitivity.
She silently moved from the dining area into the living room and stared intently at the lock on the door.
Suddenly, a flurry of footsteps echoed through the air.
Maxine widened her eyes in alarm.
In that next second, Bam bam bam!
The sudden knock on the door nearly sent Maxine’s heart soaring to her throat.
She gripped a folding stool in her hand and instinctively took steps back.
But then came a familiar voice from outside. “Maxine, it’s me, open up!”
Maxine’s eyes suddenly widened. ‘Is it Sebastian?!‘
At that moment, Maxine had no idea what was going on with her; she strode forward almost uncontrollably and open.
Sebastian was standing right there at the door.
e door.
The moment she opened the door, the dim voice–activated lights in the hallway turned on, illuminating Sebastian’s tall figure.
Looking at his face now, Maxine felt incredible warmth. She glanced behind Sebastian as if she had just survived a disaster, and then anger welled up inside her.
1/2
Chapter 26
“Sebastian, were you following me?!” she questioned.
Sebastian’s expression was stern, a mix of anger and lingering fear. He said through gritted teeth, “Someone was trying to pick the lock just now. Didn’t you hear it?”
“I heard-” Maxine realized something. “How do you know?”
Sebastian sneered, “If I weren’t downstairs, seeing someone suspicious enter the building and following them up here, you’d probably be dead by now?
Looking at his wristwatch, he grabbed Maxine’s wrist directly. “Come with me.”
Maxine broke free from Sebastian’s grip and asked irritably, “What are you doing?”
Sebastian smirked sarcastically, “If you don’t leave soon, those people will come back and find out that you were snooping around Ivanna’s place tonight. By then, you might already be dead before collecting all the evidence.”
Hearing this, Maxine was shocked but didn’t hesitate any longer.
She quickly grabbed the file folder and photo album and hurried down with Sebastian.
After leaving the building entrance, Maxine walked about ten steps to a streetlight, and her tense mood eased slightly.
She paused, catching her breath slightly, her gaze complicated as she looked at the back of Sebastian.
“Thanks…” she whispered softly. “For today.”
Then, she couldn’t help asking again, “Did you see who was at the door just now?”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
