Chapter 571
Chapter 571:
Curiosity sharpened in Maia’s eyes. “Then tell me — what exactly caused it? Was it from an accident, or something more serious p>
Instead of answering immediately, Chris sank deeper into the couch, eyes drifting upward, as if the ceiling could somehow take him back. “A bullet,” he murmured, his voice detached, like he was recounting someone else’s memory. His fingers lifted, touching just behind his temple. “It went through the skull. Lodged close to the brainstem. They got most of it out, but… a fragment’s still in there p>
Maia inhaled sharply. “A bullet? You were shot?” Her hand shot out, clutching his as if trying to tether him to the moment. Her eyes brimmed with disbelief.
Chris let out a dry chuckle, unbothered. “Most people don’t make it through something like that. I got off easy — just a lifetime of headaches p>
The words hung in the air, but Maia couldn’t respond.
What kind of life had he lived?
Not long ago, Chris got injured because he was shot. It was the second time he’d experienced this. But wasn’t he just a driver? How had he come under fire not once, but twice?
Silence crept between them, heavier than before.
Wanting to breathe some levity into the moment, Maia forced a shaky smile. “Let me guess. The first time you got shot, you were taking a bullet for your boss, just like you did last time p>
A shadow of a grin tugged at Chris’ lips. “No,” he said, his tone softer this time. “I was eighteen when it happened. Had nothing to do with work p>
Maia froze for a moment, surprised all over again. Chris had only been eighteen when he was shot in the head?
How had he survived all these years with that kind of injury?
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Worry clouded her face as she glanced at Chris, her gaze drifting to the old scar on his head. She reached out, gently tracing it with her fingers. “So you’ve just been living with this pain all along p>
“I sleep whenever I can, pop painkillers if it gets too bad, and lock myself away if the pain gets unbearable. That’s about it.” Chris replied in an offhand way, treating it like it was nothing out of the ordinary.
A heaviness settled in Maia’s chest, as if something vital had gone missing. “Did you ever think about getting the fragment removed by a doctor p>
“I’ve tried.” He nodded and looked down. “I’ve met with top neurosurgeons from all over. Every single one took one look at my scans and refused. They said the risks were too high p>
Maia fell silent. Her quiet didn’t come from fear of his condition, but from understanding — no doctor would want to risk their career for a surgery with such a slim chance of success.
After a moment, she asked softly, “Has your headache gotten worse over the years p>
Chris met her eyes, something dark flickering in his own. “Honestly, I’m lucky to even be here. I can drive, dance, and talk just like everyone else p>
He tapped his head. “Sometimes it feels like someone’s poking around inside with a needle. It’s a constant reminder of what happened. That day wasn’t an accident — it was an assassination attempt p>
“An assassination?” Maia’s breath caught as she looked at his striking features, noticing the deep bitterness hidden in his gaze.
Chris let out a low laugh. “I was only eighteen, fresh out of high school. I’d just been accepted to Ocktin University and was getting ready to leave for school when they ambushed me. I know it was Kolton who sent people after me, but unfortunately, there’s no evidence p>
Maia’s hands curled into fists. “Kolton? Why would he want you dead p>
Chris’s eyes turned fierce. “He was afraid I’d become a threat to him. Even though I was just a teenager, he saw me as a rival. He couldn’t let me get any stronger.” His smile was thin, but there was a cold edge to it.