Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 1491

Maja hadn't touched the watery oatmeal served to her.

The maid rolled her eyes and whisked the bowl away without a word.

"Just stay put in bed, honey. Nobody's here to wait on you hand and foot."

The door clicked shut, and it was only then that Maja cautiously slid out from under the covers.

Thankfully, her body felt unmedicated and strong.

Peering through the window, she realized she was trapped in a lavish estate, with faux hills and babbling brooks decorating the grounds.

She tried to open the window, but it was sealed shut.

Next, she came to the door and tried pushing against it. It wouldn't budge, as it was locked from the outside.

Was she being held captive?

At least the room was spacious, complete with an en suite bathroom.

She returned to the bed. Uncertain of her current predicament, she was left with no choice but to wait.

Meanwhile, in the grand parlor of the Bradshaw estate, a steaming cup of coffee sat before Patric.

The Bradshaw patriarch, Timothy, now in his forties, had taken the reins of the family after the previous head passed away years ago.

Recognizing the Patric's poise, Timothy watched him with a light chuckle. "So, Mr. Patric, you're interested in further business with us?" he inquired with a smirk.

Setting down his cup, Patric spoke in a nonchalant tone.

"What kind of business would the Bradshaws be unaware of? Aren't you folks the best at peddling 'bipedal beasts'?"

"Bipedal beasts" was a crass term for humans.

On Forbidden Island, everyone knew what the elite families were up to – a grim yet enduring trade.

And it was a monopoly held tightly by these families, who sold ordinary folks like chattel.

Here, women's status was pitifully low, as their value was nearly reduced to childbearing alone.

For every additional child birthed, a handsome reward was offered. As a result, there was rarely any one-child family on the island.

Every school on the island existed solely to cultivate the children's innate talents, and those who showed particular promise would be earmarked for greater things.

The rules weren't as exaggerated as Quentin had described to Maja, but they were close enough.

Only the select few heads of the Inner Island clans were privy to these rules, and even their own kin remained in the dark.

The clan members had somehow felt their unassailable status, and therefore inflated their arrogance when dealing with others.