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 closed his tired eyes, hoping for a moment of rest after an exhausting day.Since returning to work, he had handed the company’s reins to Gideon during his recovery, but as its leader, a permanent reprieve from responsibility was never an option. Maximilian had anticipated the chaos of his first days back, but he hadn’t foreseen how deeply it would strain his body.Feeling the ache intensify, he turned to the drawer beside his bed and retrieved a small bottle of medicine. With practiced precision, he swallowed a dose, his expression tightening as he leaned back.“I still need to adapt to this heart,” he muttered to himself, one hand brushing against the area of his chest where the surgery scar lay. The lingering pain in his stitches made him wince. For a fleeting moment, he considered pressing the area to ease the discomfort but dismissed the thought, knowing the risk of causing further complications.Exhaling heavily, Maximilian returned to bed and stretched out. The effec
The midnight commotion began with a shock—Maximilian suddenly collapsing onto the cold kitchen floor.Panic surged through Ariadne, her thoughts racing as she scrambled to call for help. Within moments, a doctor arrived. He was a middle-aged man with an air of calm authority, his experience evident in the way he moved and spoke, even more so than Sloane, the family physician Ariadne was familiar with.Ariadne stood awkwardly to the side, unsure of what to do. She kept telling herself it wasn’t her problem and that she didn’t care, yet she found herself rooted to the spot. She couldn’t bring herself to leave the room, watching anxiously as the doctor worked.The doctor’s assistant moved efficiently, helping to organize the necessary equipment and pack up after the examination was complete. Meanwhile, the doctor approached Ariadne, his sharp gaze studying her.Ariadne stiffened, trying to maintain her indifferent demeanor. She folded her arms and averted her eyes, as if her lingering pr
Ariadne froze in shock, staring at the empty bed. Maximilian was gone, leaving behind his IV stand and no trace of his presence. Yet, miraculously, she found herself lying in his place, wrapped snugly in the thick blanket that had once covered him.She didn’t call out his name—she never did—but quickly climbed out of the bed, her mind racing as she searched for him.It made no sense, yet she moved instinctively, her steps brisk as if pulled by an unseen thread. Her heart thudded in a mix of confusion and urgency as she reached the adjoining bathroom. Without thinking, she swung the door open—and screamed.“AAAAA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”Standing there, startled, was Maximilian, stark naked. His head whipped around at her outburst, and he grabbed a towel, hastily covering himself.Maximilian stared at her, a mix of disbelief and irritation in his expression. "What are you doing?" he demanded, his voice calm but edged with confusion.Ariadne pointed an accusing finger, her cheeks burning.
Ariadne froze in shock, staring at the empty bed. Maximilian was gone, leaving behind his IV stand and no trace of his presence. Yet, miraculously, she found herself lying in his place, wrapped snugly in the thick blanket that had once covered him.She didn’t call out his name—she never did—but quickly climbed out of the bed, her mind racing as she searched for him.It made no sense, yet she moved instinctively, her steps brisk as if pulled by an unseen thread. Her heart thudded in a mix of confusion and urgency as she reached the adjoining bathroom. Without thinking, she swung the door open—and screamed.“AAAAA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”Standing there, startled, was Maximilian, stark naked. His head whipped around at her outburst, and he grabbed a towel, hastily covering himself.Maximilian stared at her, a mix of disbelief and irritation in his expression. "What are you doing?" he demanded, his voice calm but edged with confusion.Ariadne pointed an accusing finger, her cheeks burning.
The midnight commotion began with a shock—Maximilian suddenly collapsing onto the cold kitchen floor.Panic surged through Ariadne, her thoughts racing as she scrambled to call for help. Within moments, a doctor arrived. He was a middle-aged man with an air of calm authority, his experience evident in the way he moved and spoke, even more so than Sloane, the family physician Ariadne was familiar with.Ariadne stood awkwardly to the side, unsure of what to do. She kept telling herself it wasn’t her problem and that she didn’t care, yet she found herself rooted to the spot. She couldn’t bring herself to leave the room, watching anxiously as the doctor worked.The doctor’s assistant moved efficiently, helping to organize the necessary equipment and pack up after the examination was complete. Meanwhile, the doctor approached Ariadne, his sharp gaze studying her.Ariadne stiffened, trying to maintain her indifferent demeanor. She folded her arms and averted her eyes, as if her lingering pr
Maximilian closed his tired eyes, hoping for a moment of rest after an exhausting day.Since returning to work, he had handed the company’s reins to Gideon during his recovery, but as its leader, a permanent reprieve from responsibility was never an option. Maximilian had anticipated the chaos of his first days back, but he hadn’t foreseen how deeply it would strain his body.Feeling the ache intensify, he turned to the drawer beside his bed and retrieved a small bottle of medicine. With practiced precision, he swallowed a dose, his expression tightening as he leaned back.“I still need to adapt to this heart,” he muttered to himself, one hand brushing against the area of his chest where the surgery scar lay. The lingering pain in his stitches made him wince. For a fleeting moment, he considered pressing the area to ease the discomfort but dismissed the thought, knowing the risk of causing further complications.Exhaling heavily, Maximilian returned to bed and stretched out. The effec
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
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
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
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
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
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