"Do you mean if I can find anyone who was on the mission with my parents, then they can be free of
the charge?"
Maia clutched Tim's hand.
Now she was like a helpless child, placing all her hopes on him.
Tim's heart grew tender at the woman in front of him.
"So you know who was on the mission with your parents?"
"I don't know, but Uncle Jase may know something. I can ask him when we see him tonight."
"Alright."
Tim was struggling in his heart. Looking at Maia's excited face, he could not be sure if she was acting.
Perhaps that was a coincidence?
But this explanation could not even convince himself.
Tim sighed quietly and said, "I'll go outside for a cigarette."
"It's not good for you to smoke too much. Don't do it so often."
Maia's words struck Tim. He chuckled, "What? Now you're in charge of me?"
"Don't get me wrong. It's for your own good."
Maia flushed.
She couldn't tell what exactly her feelings were for Tim.
Tim stopped teasing her and stepped out.
He leaned against the window and lit a cigarette. Hardly smoking it, he just tucked it between his
fingers and let it burn into ashes and fall on the ground.
With his mind drifting away, Tim stood there looking blank.
This was what Maia saw when she came out.
She felt that Tim was weird lately. Maybe there was something bothered him. But she was too timid to
ask.
She wished it was about the Emerald King, Jase Wilson.
Maia vowed silently that she must make this transaction work, otherwise she would owe Tim too much.
Then, Maia returned to the ward.
After spending some time outside, Tim walked into the ward. He happened to see that Maia already got
herself dressed.
He was slightly shocked by her outfit.
"I've never seen you in a skirt. You look pretty."
Maia felt a little shy.
"I don't think it's convenient to wear a skirt. But we're going to see Uncle Jase today, so a skirt would be
better. What do you think? Do I look good?"
As she spoke, she showed him with a spin.
"You look good."
Tim smiled faintly.
Maia walked to his side and said, "Don't worry. I will do all I can do to help you. I believe Uncle Jase will
say yes to it. Cheer up. You've been worried too much lately."
"I'm fine. Let's get going."
"Alright."
The two of them quickly left the hospital and went to Jase's.
Tim wasn't surprised at all when he saw Jase's magnificent house. But Maia was kind of astonished.
"I never know Uncle Jase is so rich."
"Well, the emerald business is very lucrative. A villa like this is nothing."
Tim sounded indifferent. It made Maia feel that she was overreacting.
She whispered, "Is my dress too shabby?"
"It's okay. Jase won't mind."
Tim took a glance at Maia's skirt. It might be the most expensive of all her clothes. Tim really thought it
was okay.
They were here to visit her uncle. What mattered was her care for the elder, not her dress.
"Will I embarrass you?"
Maia suddenly became worried.
Tim laughed and held her in his arms, saying, "You look good in my eyes. It doesn't matter what others
say."
"Alright."
Maia lowered her head timidly.
When they arrived at the door, a butler went to inform his master of their arrival. Subsequently, Jase
came out to greet them.
Tim frowned slightly when he noticed Jase's gait.
He used to be a soldier, so he instantly knew what Jase used to do.
He was a veteran.
"Hi, Uncle Jase. Long time no see."
Maia greeted Jase in a polite and relaxed way.
Jase smiled and said, "Maia, you have already grown into a big girl. If your parents were alive, I believe
they would be very happy. Come on in."
As he spoke, Jase was about to pull Maia into the house.
Maia swiftly came to Tim's side. Wearing a smile on her face, she said, "Uncle Jase, this is my
boyfriend, Tim."
Jase looked at Tim's face and then put on a faint smile. "You look decent. But you don't seem to be so
nice to your girlfriend. Young man, a man's dignity doesn't just lie in your own appearance."
Hearing Jase's remarks, Maia hastened to explain, "Uncle Jase, it's not like that. Tim wanted to buy
clothes for me, but I rejected. I'm fine to wear like this. Do you mean you don't wanna see me because
I wear a cheap dress?"
"Maia, you're so considerate, just like your mother. Come. Get in."
Jase shook his head and turned around. He didn't pay much attention to Tim.
Tim was okay with it. He followed behind Maia into the house.
The servants in the house served some pastries in a few minutes, all of which were Maia's favorites.
"Thank you, Uncle Jase."
"It's okay. Feel yourself at home. Your parents and I were very close. But they are unfortunate. I've told
you to come to me long time ago, but you're so stubborn. You never came. Now you're here, of course
I need to make it up for you."
Jase was being very nice to Maia.
Sitting by the side, Tim didn't say anything but observed their interactions.
He took a look at the decoration of Jase's house. It was extremely luxurious.
Noticing Tim's silence, Maia hurriedly said, "Uncle Jase, what do you think of the business I've told
you...."
"Today is just a family reunion. Let's not talk about business. Maia, it's been so many years since the
last time I saw you. No business today. Okay? I feel glad to see you again. By the way, how's your
brother?"
Tim soon understood that Jase was not interested in the deal.
He responded with a smile and said nothing. But he was kind of annoyed.
He considered himself to be a famous figure in the Seapolis City. Although this was the first time he got
into the emerald industry, Jase's arrogance really annoyed him.
In Jase, he could not sense any vibe of a soldier at all.
Hearing Trevin was brought up, Maia hurriedly replied, "My younger brother is at the university. He will
graduate in a year."
"Really? What major was he in?"
"Financial management."
Jase was a little surprised at her answer.
"Financial management? I thought he would go to the military academy. When he was a kid, he always
said that he wanted to be a soldier when he grew up."
"Uncle Jase, he needs to make a living. Besides, after knowing what happened to my parents, he lost
his faith. So...."
Maia was a little sad when she mentioned this.
Smart as Tim was, he began to take that part of the conversation to himself.
"Mr. Jase, you were close to Maia's parents. Do you know who was on the mission with her parents?"
Jase hesitated for a moment.
"Why are you asking?"
"Maia's parents haven't moved into the Martyrs' Cemetery yet. I want to look into what happened at that
time. As long as everything is clear, her brother won't have any problems joining the army, let alone
going to the military academy."
Just as Tim finished speaking, Jase's eyes turned sharp.
"You got connections?"
"Yes."
"Who are you?"
Tim was amused at his question. And he really laughed.
"Mr. Jase, you're funny. Maia has told you. I'm her boyfriend."
Maia suddenly felt that the atmosphere between the two men was tense. She explained, "Uncle Jase,
Tim is also a veteran. He doesn't mean to be rude. He just tries to help me."
"Veteran? Which unit?"
"Mr. Jase, I think we're getting off the subject. What are you going to do if you know the designation?
Are you going to look into me?"
Tim's words made Jase frown slightly.
Designation?
So he belonged to a special unit.
Jase's look turned more serious.
"Back then, their mission was a secret. I don't know if there's anybody else on the mission. I also
reported this to my superior afterwards, but there hasn't been any news coming out. Anyway, I believe
that they are innocent."
Tim immediately smiled and said, "Of course they are innocent. Otherwise, Maia and her brother
wouldn't have suffered so much all these years. So Mr. Jase, you mean you don't know anything about
it?"
"I really don't know."
"Then thank you, Mr. Jase. Maia, we should go."
After Tim finished speaking, he stood up and turned to Maia. Maia saw he was going to leave.
She got anxious.
"Tim, didn't we come here for the emerald business? Why..."
"Money is just a number for me. Don't worry. I promise you a happy life. You won't have to worry about
money. As for the emerald business, Mr. Jase doesn't want to talk about it. Never mind. Without this
business, I can do anything else. Let's go."
Tim made it very clear and direct. Jase was embarrassed.
"Young man, I didn't say I wouldn't give you a chance. I just said I didn't feel like talking about business
today."
"Mr. Jase, I've been in the business for several years. You don't have to play riddle with me."
Although Tim smiled, he looked straight into Jase's eyes.
Jase at once felt that Tim was not easy to deal with.
"I think you're misunderstood. Maia never asks me for anything. Since she asked, of course I will give
her the face. How about this, the day after tomorrow, we'll find a time to talk about it."
"Alright."
Tim didn't say anything else but nodded to Maia. It was obvious that he wanted to leave.
Maia did not expect this meeting to end up like this. She looked at Jase apologetically and said, "Uncle
Jase, I'm really sorry. We're leaving then. You two can talk about it the day after tomorrow."
"Alright."
Jase still wore a smile. But Tim knew that he was now cursing him in his heart.
But that was not his problem.
After Tim left Jase's with Maia, Jase's face turned dark right away.
It wasn't just because Tim showed him no respect. But he asked about Maia's parents.
Who on earth was this guy?
Jase wasn't sure, so he quickly made a call to check on Tim's background.
"| think you're misunderstood. Maia never asks me for anything. Since she asked, of course | will give
her the face. How about this, the day after tomorrow, we'll find a time to talk about it."
"Alright."
Tim didn't say anything else but nodded to Maia. It was obvious that he wanted to leave.
Maia did not expect this meeting to end up like this. She looked at Jase apologetically and said, "Uncle
Jase, I'm really sorry. We're leaving then. You two can talk about it the day after tomorrow."
"Alright."
Jase still wore a smile. But Tim knew that he was now cursing him in his heart.
But that was not his problem.
After Tim left Jase's with Maia, Jase's face turned dark right away.
It wasn't just because Tim showed him no respect. But he asked about Maia's parents.
Who on earth was this guy?
Jase wasn't sure, so he quickly made a call to check on Tim's background.
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