Getting a testing question, Max suddenly straightened face. His throbbing jaws became clearer, as did the angry look in his eyes.
“Did you have this bad attitude back then?” he asked slowly and emphatically.
Hearing those unexpected words, Herbert’s eyes widened slightly. “What are you talking about?”
A petty snort spontaneously escaped the CEO’s mouth. “If you already had such a selfish and cunning mind in the past, it’s no wonder that Mama cheated on you.”
In just seconds, the old man was standing with hands clenched tightly. “Watch your mouth! Why do you justify the despicable act of that sly woman?”
Once again, the corner of Max’s lips twitched sadly. “Then, can this despicable act of yours be justified?”
A second later, the CEO stepped forward and straightened the crumpled sheet of photos. “Didn’t you say that I was smart?”
After asking, the man showed a photo of his wife receiving two pieces of paper from Herbert.
“Do you expect me to believe this as evidence of Gabriella’s betrayal?” Max asked before taking a quick breath. “Even without seeing her expression, I could tell that she was holding back disgust at your treatment.”
After letting the photo fall to the floor, Max showed a picture of his wife lying under Sebastian.
“Then, do you think I don’t know that this is evidence of an assault? It’s clear that Gabriella didn’t want to be touched by this bastard. Do you think that trapping an innocent woman like this is not a despicable act?”
Without waiting for a response, Max threw the photo to his father’s face. “This isn’t the first time you’ve framed Gabriella. When you made her come to my house, did you take the risk into account?”
“She herself decided to come to your house,” the old man said as he was still trying to defend his story.
Realizing that ego was too high, Max shook his head quickly while chuckling in disgust.
“Are you aware that you have thrown an innocent girl into the deep abyss of torture? You have the heart to sacrifice Gabriella’s happiness for revenge, leaving her trapped in a trauma that threatened her dreams. Your action is far more despicable than adultery.”
Herbert’s jaw throbbed at the CEO’s words. He did not accept if the moment he had been waiting for for a dozen years, had to end up failing.
“Why do you trust that woman so much?” the old man asked in a trembling voice, accompanied by a rumble.
“Because I never doubt my love for her. Trust is a matter of choice. By choosing Gabriella, it means that I have faith in her and must be able to instill the same trust in her heart.”
Herbert gritted his teeth knowing that his plan had totally failed. He should have brought Max down with betrayal. However, he was given a lecture instead.
“How dare you teach me about trust!”
“Why are you angry? Did you just realize that you loosened the trust of my mother?” Max replied, lifting his chin. The bloodshot eyes no longer hesitated to express firmness.
“You don’t know anything about our marriage. It’s not your right to judge me like that!” Herbert exclaimed, starting to get out of control.
Feeling managed to corner the old man, Max laughed blandly. “You also have no right to mess up my marriage with Gabriella. Now, give up. You will gain nothing from revenge. Tell me where you keep my wife.”
A second later, Herbert looked away, trying to find another way. However, no matter how hard he racked his brain, a solution could not be found. There’s nothing to break the CEO’s trust and make him feel betrayed.
“Why are you silent? Are you making up a new story to make me sick of betrayal?” Max said successfully to freeze Herbert’s annoyance. “Take it easy. You’ve managed to reached the goal. Being betrayed by someone I thought as a father is far more painful than being lied by love.”
Despite his hesitation, the old man finally met the CEO’s gaze. As soon as he saw Max’s teary eyes, a strange feeling suddenly filled his heart. However, before it could affect his mind, Herbert cursed, “Nonsense!”
“Sorry if my mother betrayed you and sorry for always reminding you of that pain. But please … let go of Gabriella. She has absolutely nothing to do with your suffering. Don’t involve her in this game of yours.”
Instead of giving in, Herbert snorted. His chest was already smoldering with a rage that’s too great to describe. With tightly clenched fists, he said, “So, do you prefer that girl over Quebracha?”
“I defended Quebracha to get your attention. But now, I guess it’s not my dream anymore. No, in the first place, I have chosen the wrong dream.”
A cold laugh escaped the old man’s mouth again. “Are you willing to give up a company as big as Quebracha just for the sake of a woman who can’t promise you anything?”
“A big company can be rebuilt from scratch, but finding a woman I can love like Gabriella … I’m sure that miracle won’t happen again.”
Hearing the final inviolable answer, Herbert’s breath suddenly quickened. With eyeballs moving as wildly as his rage, the old man searched for a blank sheet of paper.
“Then prove your point. Write your resignation letter from Quebracha. Leave the company to the real heir.”
Watching his father urge the younger brother to step down, Julian shook his head faintly. “Wait a minute, Dad. Don’t be so rash.”
“I’m not reckless. How could I be willing to hand over my company to an illegitimate child?” Herbert said with wide eyes shrouded in vengeance.
Not wanting to prolong the debate, Max hurriedly grabbed a paper and started writing the requested letter. After his signature was stamped, he handed over the decision without the slightest tremor in his hand.
“Now tell me where Gabriella is,” he demanded firmly.
Instead of answering, the old man laughed like a madman. Even after five seconds, his laughter still didn’t subside, and instead grew louder.
Realizing the oddity, Max’s breath roared, while his eyeballs trembled with fear again.
“Where’s my wife?” he asked in a booming voice.
With an innocent look and a lingering laugh, Herbert replied, “I don’t know.”
Max’s brows furrowed even deeper. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know,” the old man shook his head with a satisfied smile. “She refused the plane ticket from me.”
In just an instant, Max understood what was happening. Instantly, cold sweat flooded the nape of the neck.
“Gabriella?” he sighed in a voice as thin as hope.
“You tricked me!” the man rebuked as he had just relinquished his CEO position.
“What? Do you want Quebracha back to your hand? You’re not willing to let it go, huh?” Herbert teased before laughing again.
Instead of grabbing the letter and tearing it up, Max got out, running towards the car. While starting the engine, he tried to call Gabriella’s cell phone. Unfortunately, the wife’s contact was not active.
Feeling his senses thinning, the man looked at Snowy in the side seat. The horror grew when he realized that Gabriella herself had decided to disappear from his life.
With a suffocating gasp, the man whispered, “Where should I look for Gaby?”
After a moment of silence, no answer came to his mind. Not wanting to be silent, Max stepped on the gas even though he didn’t have a destination.
“Do I need to hire a detective?” the man thought with furrowed brows as he realized that his logic was being unreliable. He needed help of others who are more professional.
After taking a deep breath, he called the second secretary who still held onto his trust.
“Mia, do we still have a connection with the detective I used to want to hire?” the man asked without a chance to say hello.
“Detective? There seems to be. Let me check first,” the woman replied before leaving a pause.
After a while, she finally continued to speak. “His contacts are no longer active, Sir, but you can meet him personally.”
A glimmer of hope suddenly lifted the arch of an eyebrow that was full of weight. “Do you save the address?”
“Yes,” Mia said before giving the full address.
After thanking her, Max rushed to set up the GPS. Unfortunately, due to the divided focus and heightened concern, the man did not pay attention to the intersection in front of him. Without reducing speed, he passed the red light. Two seconds later, another car hit him from the side. The sound of a loud crash was inevitable.