Gabriella silently stared at Max who was bowed in front of her. The attack that had just been launched was completely beyond expectation. She did plan to fight back, but not to the point of scorching her husband’s patience.
“You’ve spit on me three times already,” Max said in a low, gripping tone.
The cold air instantly caressed Gabriella’s neck. Her ears had caught the growl between the man’s breaths. Even so, she still gripped the pill strip as tightly as she was determined to confront.
“That’s what happens when you force your will on me,” the woman replied in a flat tone. It was difficult for her to put away the doubt in words.
Max’s eyes slowly returned to greet his wife, showing a hint of annoyance that was no longer contained. “So, you really don’t respect me?”
“I will never bow to you,” Gabriella said, lifting her chin. She must look fierce. “You have no right to rule my life.”
The grip on her arm suddenly felt stronger.
“Stop your bullshit. Right now, throw that pill away!”
Seeing the determination in Max’s eyes, the woman realized that she was getting closer to defeat. She had to immediately inject some extra courage into his veins.
“I don’t want to.” Without thinking, Gabriella opened the package in her hand.
Not even a second had passed, the strip had already landed on the floor. Max’s shoes shattered the tablet she was about to take again.
“Nooo!”
The woman’s annoyance immediately skyrocketed. Apparently, she was still not strong enough to fight her husband.
“Why are you doing this?” Gabriella screamed as she pushed the strong chest in front of her.
There was no longer any doubt or fear in the woman’s heart. Her annoyance was purely due to disappointment and despair.
“Why won’t you let me take it? Do you expect me to bear your child, hm?” Sadness had crept in the corner of her eyes.
“What’s wrong if you are pregnant with my child? You are my wife.”
Gabriella spontaneously snorted in displeasure. “Wife? A wife you can leave anytime, right?
The man’s brows furrowed to the max. A second later, he shook his head trying to understand the woman’s thoughts. “What do you mean? I never thought of divorcing you.”
“You think I don’t know? You married me because you feel guilty for making my hands tremble like this. If my tremors are cured, you will definitely divorce me.”
The man was annoyed. “Please don’t make it up.”
“I’m not making this up. That is the reality that will happen.”
Once again, Max grabbed his wife’s arm, but in a more gentle way. “Even if you are healed, I will not divorce you.”
Unfortunately, Gabriella was unable to see that sincerity. Her eyes had been blinded by worry and anger.
“If it aren’t for my healing, you would definitely divorce me because of the woman of your dreams, right?”
The man was stunned before heaving a tired sigh. Understanding Gabriella turned out to be much more difficult than making the most complicated mockups.
Witnessing Max’s silence, the woman became convinced by her long-held suspicions. She started nodding with a clenched jaw.
“I understand now. You do use me to cheer you up while you are looking for a woman to suit your taste.”
Hearing those baseless accusations, Max’s heart suddenly heated up. Disappointment burned the hope that has just grown. As it turned out, Gabriella wasn’t really sincere when she served him. The woman did it purely to repay the favor.
“Am I that bad in your eyes?” the man asked through the narrow opening of his mouth.
“Am I wrong? You always wanted me to suffer. Look at how you forbid me to take birth control pills. You must be planning to throw me out on the street with a kid you don’t want.”
Max swallowed really hard. Gabriella’s prejudice had gnawed at the limits of his patience. With a hopeless motion, he let go of his wife’s arm.
“From now on, it’s up to you what you want to do. I won’t care anymore. You want to take that pill? Take it! But, don’t blame me if your tremors get worse.”
Without waiting for an answer, Max walked out of the kitchen, leaving the woman standing in confusion in silence.
“Why does he talk like someone who cares about me?” Gabriella muttered with furrowed brows that had changed meaning. There was a hint of regret when she saw her husband’s back disappear behind the door. Before the feeling crushed her ego, the woman shook her head to get rid of it.
“Why do I think about his feeling? He’s not as good a person as Auntie once said.”
With pursed lips, Gabriella bent her knees and picked up the strip that was no longer slippery. Some of the contents had been turned into pieces, but some were still edible. A smile suddenly expressed relief.
However, as soon as a pill landed in the palm of her hand, the woman suddenly froze. The mouth that had been open slowly closed again.
“Will this tablet really make my hand worse?” she thought with furrowed brows. “But if I don’t drink it, I could get pregnant.”
After a moment of silence, Gabriella let out a sigh of resignation and bowed. The shattered pieces of the tablet seemed to be calling her common sense.
“Right. Throwing these pills away doesn’t mean I lose. I do it for my own good.”
With unsteady steps, the woman approached the trash can and threw what she had been fighting for.
“Besides, I won’t be pregnant. Soon, my period will definitely come,” she mumbled reassuringly.
After a faint snort, the woman turned and walked aimlessly. “What should I do now? He has set me free. Should I practice the piano again?”
Suddenly, a servant walked quickly over. “Mrs. Evans, Master is waiting in the car.”
Gabriella’s eyes automatically widened. “He’s waiting for me?”
“That’s right, Madam. Hurry up! Master seems to be upset.”
Hearing the young girl’s panic, Gabriella’s feet automatically stepped in response to the call. She didn’t want other people to get into trouble because of her.
As soon as Gabriella approached the car door, the CEO’s cold expression greeted her.
“Does it take five minutes to swallow the pill?” the man quipped, raising an eyebrow.
“Why do you wait for me? Haven’t you set me free to do anything?” Gabriella replied with eyes as large as the full moon.
“Since you’ve been released, then you want to act as you please and shirk your responsibilities? Have you forgotten the patterns waiting to be traced?”
Gabriella’s brows furrowed. “Is this guy secretly plotting something to revenge?” she thought suspiciously.
“Are you a statue or a human? How long are you going to stay there? Hurry in! I could be late because of your slow motion.”
Not wanting to cause a commotion, the woman had to obey. With the corners of his lips pulled down, she sat next to the CEO who then placed a small bag on her lap.
“If you can’t finish the patterns today, don’t expect to get out of my room,” Max threatened with a straight look ahead. The angle of her stiff jaw was evident from Gabriella’s position.
“Tch! Just a few minutes ago, you said that you wouldn’t care about me anymore,” the woman grumbled as she folded her arms and raised her chin.
“I really don’t care about you. I just don’t want my mockup to be abandoned because of an irresponsible woman.”
Gabriella’s eyes immediately turned to Max. The man was also glancing, but with a lopsided smile.
“Why? Are you disappointed that I really don’t care?” Max teased, inviting his wife’s sigh.
“Please don’t act like you ever cared about me. I don’t want to fight anymore.”
The man’s eyebrows suddenly arched high. A second later, he started nodding. “Good. You do have to save energy to complete your task.”
After one breath, the CEO’s focus was fixed on the screen of his cell phone. He no longer paid attention to the glances of the woman who was still pursed her lips observing his movements.
“Let’s see! I’ll prove that I can complete the task. Tomorrow, I won’t come into that gloomy room again,” Gabriella thought as she took a deep breath and nodded faintly. She had to show that she couldn’t be underestimated.
***
Gabriella’s eyes widened as Max spread the papers in front of her. She rolled her eyes several times, but still couldn’t believe what she was looking.
“Where’s my work yesterday?”
The CEO shrugged lightly. “Trash can. Nothing to use. You have to make it from scratch.”
The woman’s brows instantly drew protest. “Are you upset that I spat on you? That’s why you give me difficulties?”
“No. I just teach you the importance of responsibility. Now, hurry up. You can’t leave this room until all the patterns have been traced.”
Gabriella was about to take a breath to launch a fight. However, a knock on the door stopped her.
“Excuse me, Sir. Miss Cherry wants to see you,” the secretary explained from outside the door.
In an instant, Max’s eyes widened and turned cheerful. “Come in!”
Without having time to leave a message to Gabriella, the man walked casually towards the door. As soon as the guest was seen, his hands were immediately spread wide.
“Cherry … I don’t have any idea you come so soon. I don’t even think you read my message,” he said in a light voice. The perfect curve of the lips was set on his face.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow, Max. Besides, I’m not busy and you won’t have a meeting in two hours.”
Gabriella was stunned by the melodious voice. It turned out, not only the charming face, but graceful gestures and also a pleasant tone of voice could hypnotize anyone who encountered the lady.
“How are you, Max?” the woman in the red dress greeted while embracing the CEO and pressing his cheek without awkwardness.
“It’s never been this good. How are you?”
“This is my best day, Max. When else can I work with the best graduates from our campus?” Again, Cherry’s smile captivated the woman who was quietly watching from afar.
“By the way, why did you cancel the contract with Roberto? Isn’t his reputation above mine?” the red dresser asked as she followed Max to the sofa. Gabriella’s ears suddenly sharpened.
“Maybe, because I miss my first mock-up project partner,” the CEO answered, suddenly inviting the guest’s crisp laugh.
“You shouldn’t bring up old memories, Max. You make me want to repeat our time together.”
“Aren’t we doing it? However, the project this time is much bigger.”
Cherry waved her hand gracefully. The curve of his wide lips looked very warm. Anyone who saw it would definitely smile, including Gabriella, even though her eyes had turned sad.
“That woman is very beautiful. This must be why Max brought me here. He wants to show the woman who suits his taste.”
Unknowingly, Gabriella’s shoulders drooped following the exhalation under her lowered head. “Apparently, I have to prepare to become a widow. Soon, he will definitely divorce me.”