A month had passed, yet Maximilian hadn’t returned, leaving Ariadne alone in the expansive penthouse, which felt like a prison in the absence of purpose or company. To pass the time, she would escape to the rooftop garden, tending to flowers or swimming in the afternoon; some days, the hours slipped by with TV shows filling the silence. She kept herself occupied with Pilates and made use of the abundant space, but the freedom to step outside was forbidden. She did everything alone, even managed her illness without a soul nearby.Though Maximilian provided everything Ariadne wanted before she could even ask, the one thing she truly desired—to leave—remained out of reach. Trapped, Ariadne grew increasingly resentful, feeling as if her isolation was deliberate, a punishment cloaked in privilege.One evening, wrapped in a bathrobe, her damp black hair rolled into a towel, she sipped fruit juice and gazed out at the towering skyscrapers bathed in the orange light of sunset. The sight, beau
In the opulent silence of Maximilian's mansion suite, he stood speechless, his eyes widening in surprise as he took in the scene before him. Ariadne, her gaze cold and seething with fury, let her bathrobe slip to the floor, standing exposed and defiant, arms spread as if daring him to take all of her."What are you waiting for?" she challenged, her tone biting. "You can start touching me all you want."Maximilian's eyes stayed locked on her, sharp and unyielding as he assessed the situation. He had expected Ariadne's anger, her confrontational stance, but this-her bold nakedness-had caught him off guard."Put your robe back on," he said, his voice steady but laced with irritation. "Why are you leaving with no clothes on at all?"Ariadne ignored Maximilian's command, her gaze piercing as if demanding he see the depths of her suffering-the anger simmering within her after a month of a loveless marriage."Why ask me to pick it up again?" she said, her tone both bitter and accusing. "Isn'
Ariadne couldn’t escape Maximilian's words: "From the moment I took you out of your house, I was already cursed." The phrase echoed in her mind as she went about her day, lingering at the edges of her thoughts when she was alone. As she slipped under the covers at night, as she sipped her morning coffee, or as she simply walked past Maximilian, his statement haunted her, evoking a new question each time: What did he mean by that? What curse did he suffer?She tried distracting herself, her eyes fixed on the television, yet she absorbed nothing from the screen. Her thoughts wandered back to him, cycling through frustration and confusion. Annoyed, she let out a cluck. "Does he think of me as a curse to him? Damn it," she muttered, frustrated. "If he truly felt cursed, why did he marry me in the first place? And if he’s so cursed, shouldn't he have divorced me by now?"Her private resentment simmered until she heard the sound of footsteps descending the staircase. She glanced up to see M
Ariadne couldn’t deny that Maximilian had changed since his month-long disappearance. Though she hardly knew him, she’d understood enough: Maximilian was typically apathetic, cold, and uninterested in connecting with anyone. But since his return, there was a subtle shift in his behavior.Despite being the head of a vast business empire, he spent his days confined to the penthouse, forcing Ariadne to endure the irritation of their constant, unavoidable encounters. And then there were his attempts at conversation—he’d ask trivial questions, like whether she’d slept well, as though it mattered to him.Sitting at the dining table, her glass now empty, Ariadne pondered aloud, “Does he feel guilty? For leaving me for a month?”But even these gestures grated on her. Every action of his, whether indifferent or suddenly attentive, felt suffocating, as if he was closing in on her world, inch by inch, leaving her feeling more trapped than ever.Ariadne's gaze drifted toward the stairs just as Ma
Maximilian returned just in time for dinner, much to Ariadne’s disappointment. She had hoped he wouldn't come back, knowing their deal required them to eat together all week for her to earn the freedom to go outside."Looks like I made it back in time," Maximilian remarked, eyeing the dinner set out on the table.Ariadne muttered under her breath, "Shit..."Maximilian heard her but only smirked, amused by her frustration, as he took his seat across from her. He began to eat, clearly savoring the chef's special preparation, which confirmed Ariadne’s suspicion—he’d timed his arrival to keep their arrangement intact.Though Ariadne remained silent, the clinking of her fork and knife against the plate filled the air, adding a tension to the table that needed no words.Maximilian was silently annoyed by Ariadne's noisy eating—his upbringing had taught him to maintain quiet at the table—but he kept his expression composed, finishing his meal while she was still halfway through."Is there so
Maximilian hurried to Ariadne’s room, flinging the door open—only to freeze at the sound of a sharp crash.“Ack!”He glanced behind the door and found Ariadne curled up on the floor, clutching the back of her head. Shocked, Maximilian realized the door had struck her, leaving her in tears.Panic swept over him as he knelt beside her. “Harper…” he stammered, uncertain and distressed.Ariadne shot him an irritated glare, her voice laced with sarcasm. “What are you doing? Trying to kill me?”“I didn’t mean to,” Maximilian defended, exasperated. “Why were you behind the door anyway—and why were you screaming?”Ariadne couldn’t respond; a wave of dizziness clouded her senses, her right eye throbbed, her back ached, and her toes stung, having been caught under the door when Maximilian barged in. All she could do was curl up, frustrated and helpless, though she desperately wanted to yell at him.Without a word, Maximilian carefully lifted her, carrying her over to the bed before calling for
Due to Ariadne’s sprained ankle and fragile health, Maximilian finally arranged for maids to stay at the penthouse, ensuring she received proper care and attention. While Ariadne rested, fully pampered by the services he provided, Maximilian returned to his duties. However, he still made a point of appearing at each mealtime, showing up to share her company.Like this morning, Maximilian came to Ariadne’s room with breakfast, ensuring she ate with him there. He eased her situation by sparing her the effort of going to the dining room, instead choosing to join her so they could share their meals together.Despite his efforts, Ariadne couldn’t hide her irritation; seeing Maximilian’s face so often remained an unwelcome routine for her.As soon as the maid cleared the plates, Maximilian asked, "How’s your ankle?"Ariadne responded coolly, though with less edge than yesterday. "Better. Not as painful as it was.""Good," Maximilian replied. "Seems like you're aiming to recover quickly befo
Gideon’s words made Ariadne pause, her initial question forgotten as a new thought surfaced.He scoffed lightly. “It’s refreshing to see how he treats others. Seems like there’s still a trace of humanity left in him.”Ariadne narrowed her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying you think he lacks humanity?”Gideon tilted his head, throwing her question back at her. “What do you think? You’re the loudest voice when it comes to proclaiming his so-called ‘cruelty’ to the world.”She fell silent, her retort stuck in her throat. As much as she hated to admit it, Gideon might be right. In her narrative, Maximilian had always been the villain.But Gideon gave her a knowing smile. “Despite his coldness and cruelty, look at how he treats you here. How he ensures you’re taken care of. I even heard your friend paid you a visit—entirely with his knowledge and approval.”Ariadne’s voice rose with anger. “It’s nothing compared to what your brother did to me! Locking me here, isolating m
Maximilian averted his gaze, the weight of unspoken words heavy in the air. There was something he couldn’t bring himself to say.Ariadne’s voice broke the silence. “You do realize that your silence only makes me more suspicious, right?”Maximilian turned to her, steeling himself to deliver yet another carefully crafted response. “I just got along with your brother so well,” he said, his tone deliberately casual. “I decided to help him out.”Her eyes narrowed. “Even to the point of leaving your lover?”Maximilian hesitated before answering, his words measured. “Harper, Havana, and I were together for business.” He saw a flicker of surprise in Ariadne’s expression, realizing she hadn’t known this before. “Everyone talked about how perfect we seemed, but that was all for appearances. It was just professionalism.” His voice softened as he held her gaze. “I never truly loved Havana. In fact, I never loved anyone sincerely… until I saw you.”Ariadne froze under the intensity of his gaze. F
Less than a week into their vacation, Maximilian was already eager to take Ariadne somewhere new. Her daily progress was evident, and Maximilian wanted to celebrate it by going on another outing.They left late at night, the plan as spontaneous as Maximilian Leander Milton himself—a man whose intentions Ariadne could rarely predict. She had initially refused, but her husband insisted. Thus, this morning, she found herself waking up in yet another unfamiliar bed. A pang of homesickness hit her; she missed her bed back home.Something else felt odd this morning. Not only had she woken up slightly disoriented, but Maximilian was nowhere to be found, though he had been beside her last night.“Maximilian?” Ariadne called out, wondering if he was in the bathroom. Being disciplined in every aspect of life, including personal hygiene, it was a plausible assumption. But no response came.Determined not to let her fears spiral, Ariadne tried calling again, “Maximilian Leander Milton?” Still, si
Maximilian immediately sought out Mrs. Amber, the familiar name of the garden’s owner, who was known to be a kind neighbor to both her and William's grandfather. The moment his eyes found the elderly yet vibrant figure, he waved and called out, “Mrs. Amber!” His loud call irked Ariadne, who squinted in mild annoyance.It took Mrs. Amber a moment to recognize Maximilian, but once she did, she waved back and beckoned him over. Maximilian grabbed Ariadne’s hand and pulled her along as he ran to greet Mrs. Amber Hwang. Despite her protests to walk normally, he ignored his wife—acting like he was the one returning home, not Ariadne.“Maximilian?” Mrs. Amber asked, confirming his identity. Maximilian nodded, and the two embraced, reconnecting after more than a decade apart. “You’ve grown so handsome! I almost didn’t recognize you.”“Thank you, Mrs. Amber. You’re as wise as ever.”“And who’s this? Your girlfriend?” she asked as she noticed Ariadne. Startled, Ariadne quickly greeted her polit
Today, Monday to be exact—no longer did the 'monotonous activities' apply. For today marked the beginning of a holiday for Maximilian, and for Ariadne, of course.Maximilian wasted no time inviting the young woman on vacation; he didn't want to risk whatever crazy thing Theo might do as long as she was within his reach.He even suspected that Theo might already know where Ariadne lived, so this trip also served as a way to keep Ariadne away from Theo for an indefinite period.Maximilian couldn’t predict how long he would stay at their vacation spot, but one thing was certain—he would do his best to resolve the situation with Theo as soon as possible.Ariadne didn’t know where they were going; Maximilian only told her they were going on a vacation but left out the details of the destination—he said it was a surprise.Yet, even knowing a surprise was being prepared for her, Ariadne couldn’t muster even a sliver of excitement. She was still haunted by the fear of Theo’s disturbances, whi
“Hmm?” The man pursed his lips, forming an adorably confused expression as he stared at his phone. Struggling to understand the reaction of the girl he observed from a distance, he continued to watch her, ignoring the voice calling out from the other end of the line.“Hey, Theodore Lee!” The sharp shout from the phone snapped Theo back to reality, prompting him to bring the device back to his ear.“Yes, yes! Why are you so loud? I’m right here.”“You’re not doing anything crazy with that girl, are you?”The voice on the other end sounded suspicious, and Theo’s face fell into a disappointed pout.“Do you doubt me? How could I hurt the woman I love so dearly?”“It’s not that I doubt you, but you’ve reached a point where you’re borderline insane. I helped you, but not so you’d end up in legal trouble or, worse, prison.”“Good grief, have you forgotten who I am? I’m Theodore Lee. I can do whatever I want, including protecting you from such nonsense.”“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Look, I’m busy.
Ariadne was silent at Sarah's words. For some reason, after hearing them, a strange sensation tickled her stomach and made her ears burn. She quickly sought clarification, asking, “Are you siding with him now?”Sarah swallowed hard. It seemed Ariadne’s tendency to misunderstand things was hard to shake off.“It’s not like that, darling. I’m just stating the facts. He acts that way because he cares about you and wants to keep you safe under his watch.”Ariadne fell silent, slowly digesting Sarah’s words. If she thought about it, perhaps the Bennett girl was right.She didn’t fully understand what it was like to be loved by a man as a partner. It had been so long since she felt it—ever since her relationship with her ex, who now had a happy family of his own. Perhaps her feelings had grown numb over time. Marrying Maximilian had warmed her heart again, if only she would realize it.“Stop it, Sarah. Don’t talk about Maximilian—I’m getting a headache! We’re here to have fun!” Ariadne quic
After the incident with the bouquet of flowers, Maximilian couldn't go a single day without thinking about Ariadne.Whether he was reviewing work documents, in a meeting with clients, or even during lunch, his thoughts always wandered back to her. How is Ariadne doing at home? Has that person caused trouble again?Because of this, whenever possible during his lunch break, Maximilian would return home to check on his wife. Even though Gideon had assigned a few of his men to guard the house, Maximilian couldn't feel at ease unless he saw for himself that everything was fine.That afternoon, as usual, Ariadne greeted Maximilian's return with a look of mild exasperation. It wasn’t that she disliked him coming home—it was just that he worked hard, and it seemed absurd to her that he would waste time and energy returning home for the trivial reason of checking on her safety.“Have you eaten? Would you like to eat with me? Or maybe you want me to order something from your favorite restaurant
After completely overhauling the security system and replacing the guards, Maximilian thought he could return to work in peace, even if it meant leaving Ariadne behind. However, it wasn’t that simple. Two days after the mysterious flowers were delivered, nothing unusual happened around them; he and Ariadne lived through uneventful days. Ariadne had questioned the flowers once, but Maximilian explained they had wilted and were disposed of.Since then, Maximilian hadn’t set foot in his office. He worked from home, even conducting important meetings with his top clients remotely. Maximilian felt compelled to stay home to oversee Ariadne’s safety directly, though he failed to realize that his own thoughts had confined him to his room all day. The pounding on his door was the only thing that snapped him back to reality.He hurried to open the door, startled to find Ariadne standing there with an irritated expression. Only then did he realize he had locked his door, breaking the promise he
“Sloane?” Ariadne immediately stood up, facing Sloane, whose sudden presence nearly startled her out of her wits. Sloane looked equally surprised, particularly by the way Ariadne addressed her. She smiled. “Good morning, Madam. What has you so startled?” Ariadne’s gaze was skeptical, though she composed herself, maintaining politeness despite her unwilling mood. “I’m startled and also wondering what brings you here to see me again.” “I’m not here to see you, Madam. I came to speak with Max—” “Oh, and that’s why you brought these flowers?” Ariadne remarked, referring to the bouquet in her hands. Sloane’s eyes widened in confusion as she pulled the bouquet from behind her back, further surprising Ariadne. “I’m allergic to roses. I’d never give Max roses—I always send him lilies.” Ariadne was momentarily speechless, bewildered by Sloane’s explanation. Reflecting on the events of the previous night, Ariadne doubted that the bouquet in her hands had been sent by Maximilian.