NovelEnglishWhen Maja woke up the next morning, the other side of the bed was empty.
After freshening up, she headed downstairs and found lan in the kitchen, observing the chef prepare breakfast.
The chef was explaining, "Mr. Raymond, you see, food like this, too cooling for the system, is something Ms. Pennyfeather should
avoid."
lan nodded, and as he emerged from the kitchen, his gaze met hers.
Maja smiled and continued down the stairs with a spring in her step.
"You're up early. What's the deal?"
"Just couldn't sleep."
Settling on the couch, she overheard him say, "Abner is coming to Greenfield soon, and | owe him a dinner."
Abner had been a big help to him overseas.
The Oakford situation was diffused quickly thanks to him; otherwise, lan might have overstayed his welcwith Queena.
A debt of gratitude needs to be repaid.
After breakfast, they headed to the hospital.
lan intended to assist her with the registration, but a nurse shooed him away, pointing to a nearby sign.
Certain areas were off-limits to men, boldly stating — Men Stop Here.
The other expectant mothers glanced over, and for the first tin his life, lan felt a twinge of embarrassment.
Maja chuckled, "Sorry, he's just a bit anxious."
The tension broke, and laughter spread among those present.
lan was ushered to a different area to wait.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe check-up took two hours, and lan was quick to offer his arm for support afterward.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine, the doctor didn't mention any concerns. Sresults will be ready tomorrow."
lan nodded, relieved.
They were about to take the elevator when they spotted Abner's car.
lan had mentioned Abner's imminent visit, but didn't expect him so soon.
Abner's distinctive profile was hard to miss, his chin propped in his hand, quietly observing something in the distance.
There was a woman, clad softly, with long hair and a hat, her features obscured by a scarf, laughing with someone beside her.
It was a look lan recognized from their ttogether at sea, possibly while Abner was replying to a message from a certain Ms.
Dorothy.
Absorbed in his observation, Abner didn't notice lan and Maja.
As the woman prepared to leave, Abner's car window closed, and he began to follow at a distance.
lan rubbed his eyes exaggeratedly, "Who's this stalker?"
Maja found it funny, having heard tales of Abner's eccentricities. Wasn't he supposed to be as wild as Omar? Yet, there he was,
seeming almost foolish.
"lan."
"Yeah?"
"You owe Abner a favor, right? Find out who she is."
"All | know is her last nis Dorothy. You wantto play matchmaker? Are you sure?"
Arter all, he had lost his own wife due to his actions; how could he possibly assist Abner in romance without cursing him to the
sfate?
Maja genuinely appreciated Abner, despite Greenfield's opinion of him. To repay a favor, one must be strategic.
She massaged her temples, realizing she couldn't rely on lan for this.
"I'll go."
"Maja, stop fussing. You're pregnant. Besides, what does Abner's marital status have to do with me?"
As long as he had his own wife, that was what mattered.
lan squeezed her hand lightly, and she couldn't help but laugh.
"I didn't even exert any pressure, why are you yelling?"
Sighing, she added, "I'm just making contact, gathering info. | won't intervene if it's not feasible."
"Alright, I'll have Jeff look into it."
lan made a call, and by that afternoon, Jeff had gathered all the necessary information.
Shirley, a college English teacher, cfrom a family of educators. Her father was a headmaster and her mother taught middle
school.
Her family was comfortably middle-class. Shirley had a former fiancé who had broken off their engagement, and she remained
single.
Moreover, Shirley was thirty, six years older than Abner.
Maja frowned at the report. Anyway, the two seemed mismatched.
lan explained, "When Abner was born, a fortune teller called him a 'born to be lonely' boy destined to bring death to those around
him, which led to him being sold to a rural village by servants of the Olson family. Shirley had joined a program to support children
in remote areas, and somehow, she ended up driving to the village and brought Abner back hherself. It seems her fiancé left
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmher over this."
So, was Abner secretly harboring feelings for Shirley?
Was she aware of it?
A man as wild as Abner, playing the gof unrequited love?
With nothing else pressing, Maja's curiosity blazed to life.
Seeing the spark in her eyes, lan sighed.
"You're pregnant. Can't you just stay hand rest?"
"I'm just going to meet this person, and while I'm at it, I'll repay the favor you owe."
"No, | owe Abner. I'll sort it out by giving him sbusiness deals."
"Just givea week. If there's no progress, I'll cstraight home. Deal?"
lan, considering his own health issues he wanted to keep from her and her persistence, eventually nodded, ruffling her hair gently.
"Safety first."
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