Sarina's POV:I didn't know how long I had been sitting on the edge of my bed. Even when my mom knocked on my door, I didn't respond. Eventually, she gave up, leaving me alone in my silence.Once I felt calm enough, I decided to take a shower, hoping that some rest might help me feel better by morning.I skipped dinner and went straight to bed afterward.Lying there, staring blankly at the ceiling, I felt the familiar vibration of my phone.At first, I ignored it, but when it didn't stop, I reached for it, finding it near the foot of the bed where I had carelessly tossed it earlier.I took a deep breath and saw Maximus' name on the screen. I didn't really feel like talking to him, but I also didn't want him to overthink things.After a few more seconds, I finally answered the call."Hello," I greeted, my voice flat and uninterested, knowing I couldn't fake any enthusiasm at that moment."Mrs. Salonga, this is Aries."I frowned and looked at the screen again to confirm it was
Sarina's POV:"Why are you here? I thought you had left!" Ruth snapped, her tone laced with venom.I felt my anger boil beneath the surface, and while I tried to remain patient, the scene I had just walked into made it increasingly difficult to hold back."Grandma, Sarina is my wife," Maximus interjected.My eyebrows shot up at Maximus' swift defense. He had actually stood up to his grandmother!"I don't care!" Ruth spat, her eyes blazing with fury as she leered at me."Well, if I had known you and that flirtatious woman were here, I wouldn't have bothered coming back. I could have just stayed on vacation and enjoyed myself.""You dare talk back to me?" she hissed, then slapped me across the face.I didn't see it coming and had no time to react.I had forgotten that this was how the wealthy behaved—except for the Castro family, of course."Grandma!" Maximus exclaimed, jumping off his hospital bed and rushing to my side.I cupped my cheek, fighting back tears, my jaw clenched
Maximus' POV:"Hello," I answered as Aries called."I've located Mrs. Salonga," he said."Follow her and don't let her out of your sight. I need to know where she's going," I instructed."Okay, sir," he replied.I ended the call and turned to face my grandmother and Miranda. Anger boiled inside me, but she was still my grandmother."Miranda, I don't want to see your face ever again. If you don't stay away, I won't hesitate to ruin your family's life. Mark my words," I warned."But babe—""And stop calling me your 'babe' because I'm not!" I snapped, my voice loud and sharp, making her flinch."Maximus," my friend Gerald Onyxer, the doctor, called out. He seemed just as shocked by the events."Stay out of this, Gerald," I said coldly.Geralde wisely nodded and excused himself."I'll leave you to it," Gerald said, and I appreciated it.I didn't want him to hear what I had to say to these two women."You don't respect me anymore, Maximus!" My grandmother was clearly enraged.
Maximus' POV:More than an hour had passed when Aries called me again."Where is she? Did she go back to the condo?" I asked."No, sir. She went to a hotel," Aries replied."Where?""At Blue Hotel, sir.""Okay, you can get back to work. I'll handle my own discharge," I instructed.After our conversation, I called Gerald and asked for his help."You know what, man? I don't understand why you're going through all this trouble for your wife. Do you love her that much?" Gerald asked, disbelief evident in his voice."She got me hooked. I don't know why, but I've never felt this way with any other woman," I confessed."You're in love, man. Anyway, good luck with winning her over. But from what I saw earlier, it seems your wife might be interested in someone else," Gerald remarked.His words made my muscles tense, my jaw clench in anger, and my fists tighten.Gerald continued, "And it looks like you already know that. Good luck, bro."I nodded and said goodbye.I needed to see m
Sarina's POV:I felt incredibly comfortable as if I were being gently rocked to sleep. I wasn't sure if it was the air conditioning, but everything felt so light and peaceful.Slowly, I opened my eyes, blinking a few times to adjust. My vision was a bit blurry, and I rubbed away the dried tears. There was someone beside me, looking at me."Maximus?!" I exclaimed as I quickly sat up, feeling a bit dizzy.Before I could topple over, he pulled me close, preventing me from falling off the bed.I glanced around to confirm my surroundings. Just as I remembered before I fell asleep, I was still in the hotel."What are you doing here? How did you get in?" I asked."I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be able to get in," he replied casually, leaning back against the headboard with his arms crossed."What do you mean, ‘you don't see any reason'? This is my hotel room! You're not supposed to enter without my permission," I retorted."I can enter wherever I want, especially if I own it
Sarina's POV:I was taken aback by what Maximus said, and just as I was about to respond, he claimed my lips with his.I could feel his familiar pull as he sucked on my lips—a favorite of his, something he never failed to do whenever we kissed.His hand cupped my cheek, making it impossible for me to move my head. But when I clung to his shoulder, he let go and allowed his hands to wander across my body.I returned his kiss, something I had learned from him.Before him, all I had known were the innocent kisses Jason and I had shared. But Maximus was different. He made me crave more than just simple kisses, awakening desires I didn't even realize I had.The heat of our kiss consumed me, and before I knew it, I adjusted myself on his lap.His hands found their way to my waist as I let my hands roam over his chest, our lips still locked in a passionate embrace.I arched my back when he suddenly slid his hands under my crop top, letting out a soft moan into his mouth as his fingers
Sarina's POV:"Why stay in this room when you can get a better one?" Maximus asked.We had just finished eating, and I must admit I had eaten a lot, so I was grateful Maximus had ordered so much. I hadn't even realized how hungry I was."I don't have any money," I replied as he continued to caress my hand, which he was holding. We were sitting on the couch, with me leaning against his arm while his other arm was wrapped around me."What about the card I gave you?" he asked."I didn't want to use it, even though I was really tempted earlier. I just thought of your grandmother, who would probably explode in anger if she found out, so I held myself back." I replied."You don't need to think about her. It's my responsibility as a man and your husband to provide for all your needs and wants. So next time, don't hesitate to spend my money," he told me."No need, Maximus. I have my own money."Although what he said was sweet, I didn't want to waste his money either. I also didn't wa
Sarina's POV:"Who are you calling?" I asked Maximus."Do I have another wife?" Maximus replied with his own question.He hadn't even called me by an endearment, yet he was undeniably possessive about the title he used.I didn't answer. I simply took a deep breath before stepping closer to him."You used to do this by yourself," I said as I began to fix his tie."It feels better when my beautiful wife does it for me," he replied.I looked at him, sensing a teasing undertone. I shook my head, choosing not to take his words seriously."You don't seem to believe me.""I don't, and flattery doesn't work on me either," I said, tugging his necktie to finish straightening it. "There, all done—"I couldn't finish my sentence because he kissed me. With kisses like his, I couldn't help but kiss him back."Believe me, you're beautiful," he said once our passionate kiss ended."I've known that for a while now," I replied with feigned bravado, even though I didn't truly feel special.I