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.
The atmosphere in the house had grown colder than usual since learning of Maximilian’s illness. The once faint but consistent effort Maximilian made to engage Ariadne in conversation had disappeared entirely, leaving an unsettling silence that stretched over several days.On the rooftop flower garden, Ariadne crouched down, tending to the delicate buds of her flowers, which were on the brink of blooming. The serene task usually brought her peace, but her mind wandered relentlessly to Maximilian and the last time they had shared a meal together."Is he offended by my question?" she muttered to herself, recalling the moment she had asked a sensitive question.Scoffing quietly, she added, "Turns out he’s a sensitive person after all." Her tone was laced with annoyance as she moved to another section of the garden. But just as she reached out to adjust a flower, she froze, startled by the sudden presence of a pair of feet beside her.She looked up sharply, her hands still gloved and duste
Ariadne woke with a start, the last remnants of her half-remembered conversation with Maximilian lingering in her mind. She turned to look beside her, but the other side of the bed was empty.Sitting up quickly, she scanned the spacious hotel room, her alert gaze sweeping every corner, but there was no sign of him.A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She padded over to the door and opened it. Several hotel staff members stood there, offering polite smiles.“Good morning, Mrs. Ariadne Milton,” one of them greeted. “We’ve come to help you get ready.”Ariadne stepped aside to let them in, her curiosity piqued. She allowed the staff to assist her as they brought out an outfit Maximilian had apparently selected. They dressed her in a tailored, cream-colored blouse with a delicate silk scarf tied neatly around her neck, paired with high-waisted, wide-legged beige trousers that gave her an effortlessly chic silhouette. Her makeup was understated yet elegant, with soft neutral tones
This was the highlight of the event that had prompted Maximilian to bring Ariadne along on his business trip: a celebration marking a collaboration and a symbol of Maximilian’s success. Yet Ariadne entered the grand hall alone. Maximilian had been delayed by urgent matters related to his business. Ariadne didn’t complain, but she was irritated—having to navigate a crowded space like this on her own was hardly enjoyable.The attendees glittered, clad in polished suits and gowns that seemed to sparkle with gemstones. The sheer radiance almost hurt her eyes.It wasn’t surprising that she felt a twinge of insecurity when their gazes landed on her, intentional or not. She couldn’t decipher their expressions, but she disliked them.“Maximilian, in the end, is just a selfish bastard!”Ariadne was furious, and she didn’t hold back from cursing her husband. Whether angry or not, Ariadne had never taken their marriage as seriously as others might expect. That was Ariadne Harper.As she moved fu
They ended up at an upscale restaurant with a table prepared especially for them."Why are we here? I want to go back to the hotel!" Ariadne exclaimed in confusion and annoyance. Instead of returning to the hotel, it seemed they were about to enjoy a romantic dinner on an open terrace with a stunning and elegant view of San Francisco by night."This is your reward.""What? Isn't it up to me where I use my reward ticket?""I've already told you-l make the rules." Ariadne held back her protest, shrinking under her husband's icy gaze."Place your order. The waiter will be here shortly," Maximilian instructed with a lifeless tone."I just want to go home!""I won't allow it," Maximilian replied, painting a warning smile on his face, prompting Ariadne to scoff and look away.Maximilian took in the view. The quiet atmosphere around them made the night even more serene. "My mother used to use these quiet moments to have a conversation."Ariadne glanced at him coldly, uninterested. "Your moth
On the way home, there was only silence. Ariadne, who had been complaining about feeling sleepy earlier, now had her eyes wide open. Her drowsiness had faded, but the lingering tension kept her alert. She glanced at Maximilian, who drove calmly, as if he had already forgotten what he had done at the restaurant earlier.But Ariadne hadn’t.She still remembered it vividly, and for a brief moment, she regretted her decision to end up where Maximilian wanted. Why, then, did she falter when she so desperately wanted to confront him? It was deeply unsettling.“Did you enjoy the meal?” Maximilian asked, clearly looking for something to say.“It was alright.”“And the dance? Did you like it?”Ariadne held herself back. Maximilian was clearly doing this on purpose.“You know I didn’t enjoy anything I did with you,” she said, her voice sharp. “I held back, but honestly, I wanted to hit you for the vile things you said earlier. Are you trying to provoke me?”“What stopped you? You usually have w
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.