Chapter 304: So, What's the Reason?

After hanging up, Maggie couldn't shake off Ronald's last questions. It was clear he suspected her, but even if he did, what could he really do? As long as they avoided a direct confrontation, the battle would continue. She had already lost her life once and was determined to make the Camerons suffer, to make them understand the pain of losing everything.

Driving home on the expressway, her recent time with Nathael sparked an idea. She wanted to create a brooch inspired by his profile—not for selling, but for herself. She worried she might forget his gentle face in the future, that one day they might become strangers. She wanted to record these good moments, to always remember how affectionately he looked at her.

As she parked downstairs, her phone rang, displaying a dreaded name: Timothy. Maggie remained in her seat, staring at the flashing name, her expression darkening. "He just won't leave me alone," she muttered.

Just before the call ended, she answered. "Hey."

"11:00 PM, Willow Hotel," Timothy's voice came through. It was as if the person who had threatened her and Nathael wasn't him. The chaos and injuries felt like a distant dream.

Maggie remained silent; Timothy didn't mind. He simply said, "I'll be waiting for you, Maggie," before ending the call, showing no concern, as if certain she would come.

Maggie sat in the car, irritated by Timothy's name. She felt powerless, without control. Timothy wasn't just crazy; he was reborn, like her. After a while, she restarted her car and headed to the hotel.

At 11:00 PM, Maggie arrived at the hotel restaurant. Timothy sat in the same window seat. The midday sunlight cast a warm glow on him, washing away the darkness and making his pale face look fresh and innocent. Maggie couldn't help but lament how young he looked. However, his soul was that of a lunatic!

Sitting across from him, Maggie frowned. But now, sitting across from him, it was clear: he'd been beaten up.

Seeing her gaze, Timothy chuckled. "Looks pretty bad, huh?"

"It's fine. You weren't exactly handsome to begin with," Maggie replied bluntly.

Timothy was stunned, then called a waiter for a mirror, examining his face. "Am I not… handsome?" Confusion flashed in his eyes, as if her words had made him doubt himself.

Maggie found him cute in that moment. His youthful and naive demeanor seemed genuine, not a facade. Or perhaps this was genuinely who he was all along. This genuineness explained why she hadn't been suspicious of him at their first encounter.

However, she couldn't help but recall the man who had threatened her with a dagger. His craziness and darkness were equally real, brutal, and heartless. It felt like two personas resided within him, tearing him apart and putting him back together.

Timothy set down the mirror and glanced at Maggie. "Maggie, you don't seem too well either."

He silently watched her. She was dressed in a dusty pink knitted sweater with a vintage rose, paired with a skirt, giving her a gentle and cozy appearance. The sunlight bathed her, accentuating her delicate features. Her radiant face seemed illuminated, her eyes clear and chilly, with a hint of detachment but without her usual guardedness; she was inexplicably relaxed.

"Nathael lost a finger, so naturally, I'm not in a good mood. And you abducted me. Do you expect me to be cheerful?" Maggie remarked, sounding upset.

It wasn't that she'd decided to go along with Timothy; she realized that the more she resisted, the more dangerous he would be. Maintaining her distance and boring him might prevent violence. Moreover, she'd already suffered the consequences of her previous refusal. This time, she'd made a decision and felt less enraged.

Timothy chuckled derisively, reclining and exposing his leg. "What do you think Nathael is, a soft-hearted person?"

Maggie's gaze lingered on his leg, encased in thick plaster. Coupled with his facial injury and words, his meaning was clear. Timothy's pupils were pitch-black, reminiscent of a dark night. He murmured softly, "He had someone break my leg and lock Toby in the old house. Jeff ended up hospitalized with twelve broken bones, and Mr. Hudson's barred from walking for six months."

Toby and Jeff were clearly Timothy's close associates; Maggie had met Samuel. However, she still didn't believe Nathael had acted improperly. He remembered Charlie's kindness and had never been harsh on Timothy, but that didn't mean he would tolerate anything. Otherwise, he wouldn't have achieved his current position.

Maggie regarded him impassively. "But you provoked him first. Maybe, if you hadn't, he wouldn't have been so furious."

Timothy chuckled, and the sunlight seemed to dim around him. Only darkness enveloped him, his breath icy and oppressive.

"So, that's the consequence of me showing mercy to him," Timothy said softly.

Maggie paused, incredulous. "You're showing mercy?"

A hint of mockery flashed in Timothy's eyes as he laughed. "Do you think if I hadn't shown mercy, he would have left that temple alive?"

Maggie paused, suddenly recalling that in her previous life, Joseph had rigged explosives. She'd exploded into a gruesome mess, and Nathael had even lost an arm. Yes, that was the actual outcome—not the one they'd experienced, where they'd escaped in time, the explosives hidden behind the statue. The statue's collapse had mitigated some of the explosion's force. Even without retrieving the severed finger, they would have had a chance to flee.

Maggie's eyes were clear as she gazed directly at him and softly asked, "So, what's the reason? What's the reason he let us go?"