As soon as he got out of the bathroom, Max was wide-eyed because he just found Cherry on the bed. After looking around and still not finding his wife, an annoyed sigh wafted from his mouth.
“Why did she leave her husband with another woman? Is she completely heartless?” the man grumbled before looking at Cherry with disgust.
“This woman … always troubles me. Tsk, I should have just let her cry in the lobby. She’s the one who canceled the marriage, but why am I the one who get trouble? If I didn’t try to be a good friend, I would have enjoyed a peaceful dinner.”
A second later, Max’s eyebrows were pushed up. His words just reminded him of the promise to his wife. Quickly, he turned to face the table which was already full of dishes. An incredulous sigh immediately floated in the air.
“Why did she return to her room? Does she want to let me have a dinner alone?” the man grumbled as he walked over to the surprise prepared by his wife.
As soon as Max highlighted the menu, his body immediately froze. The long-forgotten childhood food was in front of him.
“Th-this … why did she prepare this menu?”
After swallowing hard, the man’s gaze shifted to the rabbit-shaped pieces of fruit. In a sudden, his heart tightened and red streaks surrounded his lens. Anger was clenched in his grip.
“Gabriella, how dare she expose my past,” Max muttered with trembling voice.
A second later, he stomped out of the room. His annoyance had peaked, especially as the memory of how Gabriella held his hand on the plane, flashed through his mind.
“Apparently, that woman secretly insults me. She must know the consequences.”
Arriving in front of his wife’s room, Max no longer thought about ringing the bell. With tightly clenched and, he banged on the door.
Hearing the shocking sound, Gabriella’s sobs suddenly stopped. With quivering eyes, she turned towards the door.
“Is that Max? Why is he here?” the woman murmured while wiping away tears. Without stalling for time, she walked over to greet her husband.
Before Gabriella could say any word, Max had already pushed her against the wall. After slamming the door, the man made an angry face in front of his wife.
“Are you bringing up my past on purpose?”
The woman’s lips automatically trembled in surprise. “W-what do you mean? I don’t understand.”
Unexpectedly, Max grabbed Gabriella’s chin so that their gazes met again.
“Confess it! You must have read my diary.”
A second later, the woman grimaced and expected pity. She just realized that the book was a secret that should not be dug up.
“Forgive me. I didn’t mean to dig into your past.”
“Then why did you read my book? Have you been looking for my weakness all this time? You want to knock me down, huh?”
Tears rolled down her face as she shook her head. “It’s not like that,” Gabriella said weakly. Disappointment had clogged her throat.
“Then, what?” Max’s loud voice made his wife’s sadness flow faster.
“I’m just trying to understand you,” Gabriella replied with her eyes closed. She couldn’t bear to see anger that hurt her heart. “Is it wrong for me to know my own husband?”
The man suddenly fell silent. Gabriella’s scream was a slap to him.
After releasing his grip, Max took a step back, giving his wife room to breathe. In an instant, the woman lost her strength. She sat on the floor with eyes that could not find any focus. Her vision was too blurry with sadness.
“Am I wrong for trying to understand my own husband?” she muttered quietly.
Unable to answer, Max took a deep breath. However, after waiting for a while, his brain never sent a word. The man realized that he had already hurt his wife’s heart too much. He should not be carried away by the emotions that arouse along with the past.
Unfortunately, Max’s prestige was still too high. Instead of saying sorry, he left his wife and went back to his room.
“Tsk, why do I feel like this again? Why do I pity her? She’s presumptuous of revealing my secret.”
Arriving at the room, Max’s annoyance increased without limit. Seeing a woman who wasn’t his wife lying on the bed was disgusting.
While ruffling his hair, the man groaned furiously. “Aaargh! Why is my mind so complicated?”
A second later, his gaze locked on the food he hated so much. Without a second thought, Max picked up the plates of steak and fruit, then carried them to the trash.
Just before his hand poured the food, he froze. The clumps of white paper stained with blood had provoked astonishment.
“Why is there blood here?” he muttered, doubting the conjecture that had crossed his mind.
With a slow motion, Max turned to the apple-shaped piece of rabbit. Five-star hotel chefs wouldn’t do a sloppy job. The fruits should be served neatly.
Subconsciously, the man swallowed hard, hoping that his throat would no longer be dry. However, the burning sensation in his chest only increased.
“Why is she so persistent in serving dishes I hate the most? Stupid!”
Spontaneous sigh released into the air. The man was then closed his eyes, experiencing mixed feelings. Before he could find a solution, his cell phone rang.
Annoyed, Max put the plate on the table and checked the flickering screen.
“Sebastian?” he muttered in a deep voice. The man’s jaw suddenly hardened again. Bowing his head, he received the call.
“What’s wrong?” he answered stiffly.
“Why do you sound so scary? Was the meeting not going well?”
Max automatically took a deep breath. “No. I’m just tired. So, what is it?”
“I’ve called many times. What made you not answering them?”
The CEO’s patience was running low again. “What’s wrong, Bass?” he asked emphatically.
“I just want to let you know that the data you requested has been sent. The reports from the managers have also been summarized and attached there.”
“Only that?” the disturbed man snapped.
“Actually, I’m also curious about one thing. Why do you take Gabriella with you? Everyone in Quebracha talks about it all day.”
Max’s annoyance could no longer be contained.
“Why do you often ask about Gabriella lately? Do you like her?” the man asked with a displeased frown on his forehead.
Unexpectedly, Sebastian laughed without burden. “Of course. Who doesn’t love a girl as attractive as Gaby?”
The CEO’s blood immediately boiled. “So you’re attracted to her.”
“Yes, this is the first time I meet a beautiful woman who is as firm as she is.”
Max’s brow furrows suddenly changed meaning. “What do you mean with ‘firm’?”
“Didn’t she tell you? I think you’re that close,” the secretary replied lightly. Little did he know that his answer had pushed the limits of his cousin’s patience.
“What do you mean, Bass? Don’t make me think hard.”
“Yesterday, I intended to treat the wound on her eyebrow. Who would have thought that she refused and even brushed my hand away. That was the first time a girl avoided me like that. It makes me feel like a masher.”
The CEO was instantly stung by regret. His whole body was paralyzed because of the pain rooted in his heart. “Apparently, I was wrong?” he thought before swallowing hard.
“Now, I understand why you like her so much, Max. And I guess, you’re lucky that the girl who was trapped with you is Gabriella. The mastermind has chosen the wrong person.”
Without another word, Max ended the conversation. He didn’t care if Sebastian would berate him another time. What crossed his mind was far more important.
“I’ve done it wrong again,” the man mumbled before sighing with his eyes closed. “I shouldn’t have been rude to my own wife.”
After exhaling heavily, Max started to walk on instinct. The longer it went, the faster his feet moved. His heart couldn’t wait to free himself from regret.
However, as soon as it was almost there, its movement slowed down. The gap in the door had provoked nervousness.
“Why does she let it open? Could it be … she ran away because she couldn’t stand my attitude?” With a pounding heart, Max pushed open the door.
Two seconds later, the man heaved a sigh of relief mixed with pity. Gabriella was huddled in the corner of the wall. Her tears were hidden behind the folded hands on her knees. Every now and then, the woman’s shoulders jolted with sobs. Her quivering fingers struggled to hold Snowy.
“Gabriella?” the man called when he was on knees. His tone was no longer angry, but gentle and soothing.
The woman lifted her head to check the voice. As soon as she looked at the man, her eyes closed and her head bowed again. A second later, the shaking of Gabriella’s body was getting worse.