This tone


    If Rosemary wasn’t mistaken, this was the first time they had met, wasn’t it? They don''t even know each other''s names yet. There was no prior bad


    blood or recent resentment between them. But this woman was acting all high and mighty. dismissive and disdainful. What''s wrong with her?


    Hogan might be a rough guy with only a handful of women he’d interacted with over the years, but he can still sense the obvious rudeness.


    Frowning, he was about to speak when Rosemary raised an eyebrow, “What?


    Molly had intended to hint subtly at the truth. But since Rosemary''s asking for it, Molly wouldn''t hold back, "Does Hogan know that you''re married?”


    Whoops, there goes the show, with the lead actor tumbling off the horse right at the start.


    Rosemary turned to Hogan, who had his brow furrowed so tight he could squish a fly. She meant for him to exin for himself. Though Molly’s words


    are harsh, they''re somewhat understandable.


    If it were her friend pursuing a married person, Rosemary guessed she would also think the other person was deliberately deceiving, and her attitude


    would probably be worse than Molly’s.


    Hogan was not exactly cold to Molly, but he wasn’t warm to her, either. To him, Molly’s just his sister''s BFF, and nothing more, “I know, but this is


    between us...”


    “Bro,” Sylvia looked at her brother in disbelief. He was their handsome brother who had always been popr with women, “You actually know about


    this and still go along with it? This is immoral! Just wait until mom breaks your legs.


    Hogan couldn''t deal with his sister, so he just put on a stern face and shoo her away, “Off you go, Miss Talkative.


    Rosemary couldn''t help but chuckled, and Hogan gave her a look, a mix of helpless indulgence.


    Rosemary didn''t see the look, but Molly did. A fleeting trace of resentment shed in her eyes


    Hogan was hers. She had waited so many years for him, and there was no way she would let another woman have him.


    Sylvia used to not be very scared of Hogan, but ever since he joined the military, whenever he showed a stern face, she felt herself like a mouse


    facing a cat. Seeing him genuinely mad, she quickly dragged Molly out of there.


    Once they’re out of the café, she started nagging Molly, “My brother''s just yacting with that woman. Molly, you should confess your feelings to my


    brother soon! I''ve been waiting for you to be my sister-inw for ages.


    Molly forced a smile, “We''ll see, I don''t want to pressure Hogan.”


    Only someone as naive and innocent girl as Sylvia couldn''t see the possessiveness in a man’s eyes. Hogan liked that woman, even if she was


    married


    Back in the café, Rosemary stirred the undissolved sugar in her cup, “If you don''t like her, you should be clear with her. Putting on this act is just


    hurtful.


    She remembered how she felt in front of Maxwell and couldn''t help but feel a sense of sympathy for Molly.


    “She never said she liked me. Each time she looks at me, there’s always a trace of girlish shyness,” Hogan said helplessly, “I cant just outright tell


    someone not to like me because of that, and that I have no feelings for her, right?”


    It was improper for an outsider toment on their rtionship; Rosemary just kept her mouth shut.


    Halfway through their coffee, the curtain was lifted again


    Before they could look up, they heard the new arrival instructing the bodyguard at the door, "Tell the waiter to add a chair.”


    Rosemary’s gaze skipped over the neer,nding on the two bodyguards. She couldn''t believe her luck. How could she run into Maxwell in such


    a ce?


    Feeling Rosemary’s gaze, the bodyguards awkwardly looked away.


    Hogan gave Maxwell a challenging eyebrow lift. his words cocky and provoking, “Mr. Templeton, you''ve got so much free time—is the Templeton


    Group going under?”


    “Why don''t we ce a bet and see whether the Templeton Group faces bankruptcy first, or the Abbott family disappears from Greenwood first?


    As the waiter came to add a chair, the glimmer of gossip shined brightly in his eyes.


    First. three men and a woman shared a booth, then two more women showed up. now here was another man. The situation seemed to be getting


    moreplex andyered.


    Hogan smirked with a taunt, standing up to whisper just loud enough for two to hear, “Mr. Templeton. dare youy a hand on me?”


    If Maxwell were to throw a punch, his rtionship with Rosemary would only get more discordant - they both knew that.


    Maxwell sat dawn, his voice icy, “The


    Abbott family-actually has quite a


    reputation itr the military, fullof =o


    tough guys. But how did Mr. Abbatt


    grow upto be so non-threatening,


    meddling in other people’s a


    matriages? Does beinga >


    liémewrecker make youproud?”


    Rosemary wanted to speak, but


    Hogan didn''t@ive her the chance. He


    looked serious and said, “Mr. NN


    Templeton: you can insult me all you


    want, buty off Rosemary. I wor’


    >) _


    crosathe line before you''re divorced.


    If you can win her back, I premise to


    wish you well and never say another


    word about having feelings for her.”


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    His gaze was sharp and resolute, honed from years in dangerous missions, “But if you can’t, the moment you''re divorced, I''ll be taking her straight to


    the wedding.”


    Rosemary was gobsmacked, “What are you on about...”


    Before she could finish, a chilly gust passed by her ear. When she reacted, Maxwell had already grabbed Hogan’s cor, “You think you stand a


    chance?”


    The room was already cramped, and as Maxwell reached out, he identally bumped into Rosemary. causing her to stagger towards Hogan


    Before she could bump into Hogan, Maxwell pulled her into his arms, standing up with her, “Even if it''s something I don''t want, it’s never your turn.”


    Hogan, whose face hadn''t changed despite being cored, suddenly looked fierce as he heard these words, “You son of a


    He was about to swing a punch at Maxwell''s face when Rosemary stopped him, “Hogan.


    The man''s fist stopped in mid-air.


    After a moment of silence, Rosemary spoke again, with her emotions suppressed, "Don’t dirty your hands for trash.”


    She''d never regretted falling for


    Maxwell. That marriage was based


    on mutual needs. After marriage, all.


    ~


    his indifference and neglect were


    simpl because he wasn''t into her.


    She Knew from the beginning-that


    Maxwell had no feelings forter, so it


    wouldn''t be fair to hold a grudge just


    because he didn''t love her.


    Love was not like a business deal, where one thing is exchangeable for another.


    When Rosemary brought up divorce, she had already pictured him settling down with another woman. Sure, it stung a bit, and she felt a pang of


    sadness, but she was ready to wish him well.


    But now.


    Now she only felt that she had been blind at the time, to actually have fallen in love with such a man who does not understand what respect is.


    Rosemary wriggled out of Maxwell’s embrace. From the moment he finished the sentence, she hadn''t given him so much as a sideways nce. Her


    words were directed solely at Hogan, “Sorry for dragging you into this mess.”