Herbert breathed a sigh of relief seeing Max dance with Gabriella. The couple couldn’t stop smiling and laughing, spreading joy to everyone who witnessed them.
“Aren’t they very compatible?” the old man murmured to the young servant sitting nearby.
“Yes, Sir,” the girl answered, nodding.
While keeping his lips curved, Herbert continued to stare at the excitement of the event. “It looks like, I can calm down now,” he thought as he checked his memories.
After a while, the old man’s face returned to a level. The thing that Julian had just returned was stuck in his heart again.
“Please get the black cell phone that you kept earlier,” Herbert asked, making the servant reach for the bag hanging from the wheelchair.
When the phone arrived in his hand, the old man immediately pressed the on button.
“What’s with this phone? Why did I leave it to Julian?” he thought, furrowing his brows. As soon as the screen lighted up, Herbert started checking messages.
“How dare No Name continue to demand payment after harming my son and daughter-in-law. Has he gone bankrupt to the point of threatening me like this? He even made up stories about taking orders from me,” the old man grumbled before snorting.
“Fortunately, he’s already in jail. Otherwise, I won’t rest easy, thinking about Max and his wife’s safety.”
A second later, Herbert handed the cell phone to the servant.
“Throw this away. I don’t need it anymore,” the old man said without the slightest hesitation. He did not remember anything about the conversation with No Name, the night before he was rushed to the hospital.
By getting rid of the silent witness, the evidence that Herbert had ever made an order beyond his mind, vanished. The old man seemed destined to start all over with a calm heart. There was no longer a burden that weighed down his breath.
Lifting the corners of his lips again, he watched his son who was kissing Gabriella amidst the cheers of the guests. “Be happy, Max. You deserve it. I will not interfere with your life again.”
***
Seeing Gabriella come in with tray in hand, Max stared. “Why did you do it yourself? You can ask a servant for help,” the man said as he was moved to approach his wife.
“It’s okay, Max. Think of this as an expression of my gratitude for having such a memorable party,” the woman said as she placed the tray on the table.
A second later, Gabriella lifted the cup and gave it to her husband. “Here is your tea, Sir.”
“If you want to thank me, it’s enough to always be by my side, Gaby. You don’t have to serve me like this,” Max said before kissing his wife’s forehead and accepting the cup.
“I don’t mind at all,” Gabriella shook her head with pursed lips.
Hearing that casual answer, the man’s eyes narrowed. “If you serve me in bed, do you mind?”
The woman’s small laugh was suddenly heard. “After I finished this. Okay?”
“Is that the herbal medicine you just got?” Max asked, pointing to the glass his wife was holding.
“Yes. I chose the darkest color. But apparently, this is the most bitter,” Gabriella muttered, noticing the brown color of the water. As soon as she took one gulp, her face contorted.
“Is it bitter?” Max asked, grinning too.
The woman nodded while tasting. “Yes,” she sighed, making her husband laugh.
“Then, finish it in one drink. You won’t be in too much pain,” Max suggested, placing the glass back against his wife’s lips.
Before Gabriella could protest, her husband had already raised the bottom of the glass. Inevitably, the woman drank the medicine so it didn’t spill.
“Max!” Gabriella grumbled while holding her neck. “I can barely breathe.”
“It’s for your own good, Gaby.”
“But, this is very bitter,” the woman said in a pitiful tone.
Feeling both pity and exasperation, Max put the cup and glass back to the tray. Then, without warning, he kissed his wife’s lips.
“Is it still bitter?” he asked after neutralizing Gabriella’s mouth.
“Is this what it’s like to drink the spicy coffee?” The woman said again, inviting laughter. “How do you know that kissing can reduce the taste? Have you ever done this to another woman before?”
“No, Gaby. It’s just a brain suggestion,” Max said before sipping his tea with a wry smile. He felt exasperated because Gabriella still didn’t realize that her husband had been fascinated by her lips for a long time. “Now, how about you open Camilla’s gift? I can’t wait to see it.”
With a chuckle, the woman approached the box on the bed. “What if your guess is wrong? Will you be disappointed?”
“I can’t be wrong. It must be a lingerie.”
“But it’s a bit heavy, Max. I’m sure there’s something heavier than clothes,” Gabriella guessed as she shook the box.
While sitting quietly enjoying tea, Max fixed his eyes on his wife. “Then open it! We’ll prove it together.”
“Okay,” the woman said before snorting in amusement. The look on the husband’s face was like a cat being offered a fish.
As soon as the box opened, Gabriella’s brows began to furrow. Grimacing, she lifted the handcuffs covered with fur.
“What’s this?” Her sigh succeeded in making Max chuckle.
After placing the cute handcuffs onto the bed, the woman took out a whip which stunned her even more. “Does Camilla want us to catch a criminal?”
A second later, her expression turned confused with the pincers attached to the chain. “What’s this for?”
“Take it easy, Gaby. I won’t use it on you,” Max said as he sat down next to his wife. “By normal way, that’s enough for me.”
Blinking, Gabriella tried to forget the confusion. “I really don’t understand Camilla’s thinking,” she muttered before turning her attention to what was left in the box. In just an instant, her brows arched maximally.
“Didn’t I tell you? Camilla gave you lingerie?” the man whispered with a crooked smile holding back laughter.
“This isn’t lingerie, Max. It’s just a sewn rope,” Gabriella chirped as she stretched the strange clothes in front of her body. “Look, this doesn’t cover anything.”
For the umpteenth time, Max laughed at his wife’s response. “You’re so cute, Gaby,” he sighed, wiping away tears.
With pursed lips, the woman repackaged Camilla’s gift. “I don’t think we need this,” she muttered with cheeks turning red.
“No, Gaby,” Max stopped, pulling the lingerie out of the box. “I want to see you wearing this.”
“That’s the same as not wearing clothes, Max,” Gabriella objected as she threw the strange rope into the box.
With a mischievous smile, Max picked up the pinchers. “Or do you want to use this? Choose one,” he said intimidatingly.
“Where is it being used? At the ear?” the woman said with flushed cheeks.
“I know you’re not that innocent, Gaby,” Max said, raising an eyebrow. “Or do you want to wear both?”
“Didn’t you say the normal way was enough?” Gabriella asked, carrying the box out of bed.
With a smile, the man took his wife’s hand. “Yes. I’m just kidding. But if you take it seriously, that will be better,” Max teased, making his wife snort.
“Then, wait a moment. I will surprise you,” the woman said, raising an eyebrow.
“Are you serious?” the man asked with round eyes.
Without giving an answer, Gabriella took the pinchers from her husband’s hand. Then, covering her cheeks, the woman went to the bathroom, leaving the dumbfounded man on the edge of the bed.
“Apparently, my wife is not innocent anymore,” Max muttered, shaking his head faintly. While feeling the heartbeat with one hand, he took a deep breath. “Be patient, Little Prince. Dad will send your invitation soon.”