“Then kneel before Gabriella. Apologize to her and promise not to repeat your mistake,” Max said without hesitation.
For a moment, the atmosphere became silent. The CEO’s wife was still trapped in shock, not expecting her husband to keep her status so high, while Cherry was speechless, considering the condition. A frown of displeasure had overshadowed the lady’s restless eyes.
Before Gabriella had time to ask her husband for leniency, the beautiful lady had already knelt down with head bowed.
“I’m sorry, Miss. Next time, I won’t do it again. I really didn’t know you were Max’s lover.”
The soft-hearted woman sighed in pity. However, when she was about to touch Cherry’s shoulder, her husband held her back.
“You don’t have to pity her, Gaby. She has to remember this moment so she won’t be mean to anyone again, especially you.”
“But, I think this is enough, Max. She already regrets. After all, isn’t she your friend? You shouldn’t give punishment like this,” Gabriella said, suddenly making Cherry peek.
“Is this woman pretending to be nice? But, she seemed honest,” the lady thought, starting to feel guilty. A second later, Max’s snorting caught her attention.
“Why do you protest whenever I defend you?” the CEO grumbled in an unheard-of tone.
Cherry’s doubt immediately vanished. With a look of amazement, she looked at the couple who stared at each other warmly.
“The one who can subdue Max Evans is a woman like this? Tsk, why do I realize this now? What a shame,” Cherry thought before grimacing silently.
A second later, the lady took a deep breath and closed her eyes. There was only one way to fix the mistake.
“I’m really sorry, Miss. Please, accept my apologies,” she said loudly.
Gabriella could no longer remain silent. “Stand up please. You don’t have to kneel before me. Knowing that you have acknowledged your mistake is enough for me.”
The lady with knees on the floor did not dare to move. With a hopeful frown, she stole a glance at the CEO.
“Did you hear that? My lover has a very soft heart. So, don’t try to take advantage of her kindness. Once again you’re rude to her, there won’t be a second chance.”
Getting the forgiveness, Cherry was finally able to heave a sigh of relief. Still in the same position, she kept saying thank you.
Before Gabriella could respond, Max had pulled her out of there. “We have to go now,” he said without looking back.
“But Cherry…”
“She can take care of herself.”
Hearing such a cold tone of voice, Gabriella did not dare to argue. Without any word, she followed the man who gripped her fingers tightly.
It was only when they were in the elevator that the woman dared to whisper. “Why are you so hard on Cherry? Her pride must be hurt.”
“Then, should I allow my wife’s pride to be hurt? Please don’t be stupid,” the CEO said with furrowed brows. He still didn’t understand why Gabriella wasn’t touched by his defense.
Considering the stiff atmosphere, the woman was silent again. She could not deny the truth. Mrs. Evans was actually still unable to maintain the dignity of the family.
All the way to the lobby, regret grew fast in Gabriella’s heart. When they arrived at the car, it could no longer be suppressed. “I’m sorry,” she said in a low voice.
The man glanced at her with a questioning look. “Why are you suddenly apologizing?”
“Because I still fail to take care of myself. The Evans dignity is being threatened again because of me,” Gabriella admitted before looking down and squeezing her own fingers.
Seeing such a sweet thing, Max secretly smiled. He should not scold the person who struggled to obey his order. “I think you already have the courage to fight back.”
“Yes, but I still lost. She managed to slap me, while I didn’t,” the woman explained while deepening her head bow.
“Should we go back so you can slap her?”
Gabriella spontaneously straightened up and shook her head in disapproval. “That isn’t what I mean. I just say that I’m still weak. But at least, I have the courage to fight even though I still lose.”
Suddenly, the man caressed her cheek. “Next time, there will be no one you have to fight. I won’t let bad people get close to you.”
Gabriella’s lips froze. Her brain was unable to send words. Max Evans in front of her was not a man she remembered. Since when had the CEO been so gentle with her?
Feeling her cheeks heat up, the woman turned towards the window. However, as soon as she recognized the direction of the car, her brows furrowed again.
“This is not the road to the airport,” she sighed, tinged with confusion.
“It’s not,” Max said, successfully reclaiming his wife’s attention. The woman was then looking at him with adorable round eyes.
“Is your business here still unfinished?”
“Yes,” Max answered with a mysterious curl of his lips.
“But why do you take me with you? I could have waited at the hotel.”
Instead of answering, the man pulled Gabriella to lean on his shoulder.
“Do you forget? We are playing the role of lovers. I want to gather some evidence so Cherry doesn’t get suspicious.”
Gabriella’s mouth suddenly rounded. “But, what’s the point of us posing like this? Cherry isn’t looking.”
“Before we get into the roles, we have to practice chemistry. That way, our acting will look more natural,” Max explained, raising an eyebrow. He was afraid that his motives would be exposed.
Miraculously, the woman was not suspicious at all. She replayed memory without any movement.
“Anyway, why did you call me Gaby? Is it to look more familiar?” she mumbled in a sudden, causing the husband’s expression stiffened.
“Isn’t that your nickname? I’ve noticed several times you don’t protest when Sebastian calls you that.”
The woman finally moved from her husband’s shoulder to meet his eyes. “Even though it’s a common name for people named Gabriella, but I find it strange if it’s not my parents who say it.”
“Why is that?”
“Since Mama and Papa died, I ask everyone not to call me Gaby. I want to keep the memories of my family in that name,” the woman explained with a sad look.
“Then why don’t you protest when Sebastian call you that?”
Gabriella took a deep breath. “I’m too lazy to explain. Those who don’t know my background will find it hard to understand.”
Max started nodding. After a moment of silence, his eyes suddenly widened.
“The mastermind also called you Gaby. Could it be, he know you since a long time ago?”
The woman’s face automatically turned stiff. After pondering for a moment, she shook her head. “I didn’t know anyone from Quebracha before. So I guess it’s impossible.”
“Tsk, you’re right. That person must just want to sound familiar with you,” Max nodded before letting out a faint sigh. “I hope he will show himself soon.”
“Is your plan not going well?” Gabriella inquired with a small wrinkle at the base of her brow. It wasn’t easy for the woman to hide her worries.
The corners of Max’s lips began to lift, easing the tension. “There is no instant process. We just need to be patient. Wait until we throw the real surprise. I’m sure that mastermind won’t hide anymore.”
The woman took a deep breath. Her eyes were still worried. Realizing it, the man was moved to pull his wife leaning on his shoulder.
“Worrying about the uncertain coming thing is just wasting energy. Don’t put your focus on something like that. Just pay attention to the present,” Max said wisely, making his wife furrowed her brows.
“So, what should I pay attention to now?”
“Making people believe that we are lovers,” the CEO answered without a second thought.
In an instant, Gabriella shook her head in disbelief. “Shouldn’t we just pretend in front of Cherry?”
“I think, we’d better do it in front of everyone, so the mastermind will be angry. We mess up his plan.”
“But, what if he comes up with a more sinister plan?” the worried woman asked.
“Then we have to make a bigger surprise.”
After pondering for a moment, Gabriella finally sighed in resignation. “Before you find the woman of your dream, I hope the plan works.”
Max smiled wryly. “Our chemistry will be ruined if you keep bringing it up,” he protested disapprovingly.
“Alright, alright. I won’t be noisy anymore,” Gabriella muttered as she adjusted her position. While watching the road, she kept thinking.
Not even a minute of silence, the woman had asked again, “Actually, where are we headed?”
“Why are you so curious?”
The woman’s lips pursed for a moment. “Shouldn’t I know?”
“No, unless you want to spoil me.”
Gabriella’s eyebrows twitched spontaneously. “Why are you so annoying?” she muttered before looking out the window.
The man smiled mysteriously. “Just wait. Soon, you will stretch out your arms and hug me,” he said teasingly.
“For what reason will I do that? Don’t dream.”
Max kept his meaningful expression. “Let’s see whether what I said is just imagination or not. If it’s true, you owe me one sincere kiss,” he challenged in a casual tone.
“Take it easy. That’s not going to happen,” Gabriella said without thinking. She didn’t know that the place they were going to would make her fly and forget her prestige towards Max.