Chapter 18

Maxwell's POV

I sighed, the tension easing slightly as we shifted to a more neutral topic. "Same old, same old," I admitted with a wry smile. "You know how my dad is—always rigid, always chasing after more money. It's been stressful, but we're pushing through."

"That sounds tough," Scarlett sympathized, her tone genuine. "But I'm glad to hear you're managing."

"Yeah," I nodded. "And how about you? What have you been up to?"

She shrugged lightly, a flicker of a smile playing on her lips. "Oh, you know," she said casually. "Trying to keep busy. Nothing too exciting."

"That doesn't sound like you," I teased gently, trying to lighten the mood. "I remember you always had a knack for finding excitement."

She chuckled softly, a hint of her old self shining through. "Maybe I've changed," she mused. "Or maybe life has."

"Maybe," I agreed, studying her face. Despite the sadness in her eyes, there was a resilience that hadn't dimmed. "You don't look bad yourself, you know," I added quietly.

Scar