ã€ŠWhispers of Destiny: His Belated Loveã€‹


 Chapter 1

    "Martin, I want you."

    "Rosemary Chambers, look closely who I am."

    The lights suddenly flicked on, and Rosemary''s eyes focused on the man above her, her pupils

    contracting in shock!

    "Maxwell Templeton? How could it be you?!"

    The man pinched her chin, his face showing extreme detachment, "Stepping into my bed, you

    should''ve known I''m not someone to mess with."

    "It''s not like that; I made a mistake."

    Rosemary struggled to push him away, but it was toote. A tearing pain overwhelmed her, and she

    was consumed by the darkness of the night.

    Afterwards, Maxwell tossed her a card, and Rosemary pped him across the face! He ran his

    tongue over the corner of his lips, smirking sarcastically, "Isn''t this what you wanted, hmm?"

    That single sentence utterly broke Rosemary; she was out of options for regret.

    "Maxwell, I don''t want your money; I want you to marry me!"

    Three yearster, at the Meadork Retreat.

    Rosemary watched the entertainment news on TV - the dancer Victoria Temple had an ident,

    tumbling off the stage into chaos.

    A man in a suit strode through the crowd with an icy expression, scooped up the injured woman,

    and walked away from the scene.

    It was just a profile shot, but after three years of marriage, Rosemary could recognize him even if

    just by a glimpse.

    Last night, it was the same man whoid in bed, promising toe home early today. She looked

    over at the table where the meal she ved over all afternoon has gone cold.

    Rosemary stood up, and dumped the food straight into the trash. The irony was stark, with the fresh

    burn blisters on her fair hands against the emotionless act of trashing the meal.

    After dumping the food, Rosemary went upstairs to pack her bags. She remembered, on the day

    they got their marriage certificate, they also signed a divorce agreement valid for three years - the

    same time Victoria would be abroad for her studies.

    Even though there were still three months left, with Victoria''s early return, she supposed the divorce

    agreement should be effective now.

    Rosemary, suitcase in hand, descended the stairs and called Maxwell on her way out.

    An impatient voice came through the phone, "What is it?"

    Hearing his cold voice, Rosemary''s grip on her phone tightened, her fingers whitening - clearly, he''d

    forgottenst night''s promises. But then again, who would believe what a man said in bed?

    "Have you eaten?"

    Apparently he didn¡¯t want to answer her trivial question; there was silence for a few seconds before

    he said, "If there''s nothing else, I''m hanging up. Busy."

    His words were concise, and he hung up after speaking.

    Later, Rosemary drove off in the most expensive car from the garage. It didn''t seem special among

    the luxury cars, but once on the road, its ostentatious vibe was unmistakable.

    She headed straight for the city''s swankiest seven-star hotel and handed a Centurion ck card to

    the receptionist, "The presidential suite, book it for three months."

    The receptionist smiled and took the ck card, "Certainly, ma''am. That will be 1.5 million. As

    you''re booking the presidential suite, should you check out early, we''ll charge a 30% cancetion

    fee."

    Rosemary kept her cool, "Swipe it."

    Tomorrow, she probably wouldn''t be able to spend Maxwell''s money anymore. The divorce

    agreement drafted by herwyer split the assets in half, but if Maxwell didn''t agree and decided to

    y hardball, leaving her with nothing wouldn''t be a surprise.

    After all, the legal team of the Templeton Group was the cream of the crop; there was nothing they

    couldn''t do.

    So, while she was still Mrs. Templeton, she might as well splurge. After all, if she didn''t, it was just

    left for the mistress.

    Card swiped, the receptionist handed the room key with respect, "This is your room key, ma''am!"

    At that moment, others looked at Rosemary as if she was a gold-ted tycoon on the move.

    Outside the hospital''s surgery room.

    When Maxwell saw the credit card transaction, his brow furrowed slightly, not because of the

    amount, but because the payee was a seven-star hotel.

    He frowned, about to call Rosemary, when Victoria was wheeled out of the surgery room. She was

    still in her dance costume, her arms riddled with gashes from the stage decorations, now stitched

    up, looking even more ghastly.

    And her face was paler than the sheets beneath her. Maxwell put away his phone and approached,

    "Doctor, how is she?"

    "She has a mild concussion, multiple soft tissue contusions, and minor spinal trauma, but ording

    to the examination results, nothing too severe."

    Although her injuries weren''t too serious, falling from such a height has left Victoria deathly pale.

    She looked at the doctor anxiously, "Will this affect my career?"

    The doctor''s response was cautious, "We''ll have to see how the recovery goes; it''s a possibility."

    Victoria''s eyes teared up, but she tried to stay strong, looking at Maxwell, "Maxwell, thank you for

    today. You can go back now; I can manage on my own."

    She was cut off by the doctor''s stern interruption, "No, you need supervision; even a mild

    concussion can be risky. You can''t take it lightly."

    Victoria tried to protest, but Maxwell interjected, "I''ll stay tonight; you get some rest."

    Knowing him for so long, Victoria understood his temperament, "Thank you, just do you need me to

    call Rosemary to exin?"

    The news had made a big scene; she must have seen it.

    He paused for a few seconds, frowned as if feeling irked, "Not necessary."

    Maxwell stayed at the hospital until dawn before heading home. The housekeeper was already

    cleaning when he arrived and asked, "Just back, Mr. Templeton? Breakfast?"

    "Yeah."

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Sleepless and with a headache, he rubbed his temples and casually inquired about Rosemary,

    "Where''s Rosemary?"

    "She must have gone to the office; I haven''t seen her since I got here."

    Maxwell disliked strangers at home; the housekeeper didn''t live there. He nced at his watch.

    Normally, Rosemary would still be having breakfast at this time. So, wasst night''s hotel booking

    for her own stay?

    She didn''te home all night. Maxwell''s expression was a bit stormy, but the housekeeper didn''t

    catch on. As she brought in breakfast, she also had a document in hand, "Mr. Templeton, this was

    given to me by the property management this morning. They said it''s a courier package for you."

    His home address was top secret and documents were usually sent to hispany. His secretary

    would sift through them first and only bring them to his attention if necessary.

    Since he was kicking back with nothing to do at the moment, Maxwell didn''t fuss too much and just

    took the envelope and ripped it open.

    The bold letters at the top, spelling out "Divorce Agreement" instantly turned his already dark

    expression into one of icy chill. He skimmed the document at lightning speed, and when his eyes hit

    the section on asset division, a coldugh escaped his throat, "Well, isn''t this a detailed wish list."

    Every house, car, wad of cash, and stock in his name was neatly divided down the middle. Maxwell

    muttered to himself, "Pretty gutsy, I''ll give her that."

    The housekeeper, who was standing by, didn''t dare chip in. She''d obviously caught a glimpse of the

    big "divorce" letters and wished she could vanish into thin air right then and there.

    Holding the agreement in one hand, Maxwell pulled out his phone with the other and made a call.

    A woman''s voice, heavy with sleep, came through the phone promptly, "What''s up?"

 Chapter 2

    "Rosemary, what''s this divorce agreement all about?"

    Rosemary snapped to attention when she heard Maxwell''s gloomy voice on the line.

    "Literally what it says."

    Maxwell chuckled coldly, "Before you clock in for work,e to my office and take this piece of

    trash back with you. At 8 PM, I expect to see you and your luggage at the Meadork Retreat."

    Rosemary shot back with a coldugh of her own, "Maxwell, are you¡± out of his mind?

    Her voice trailed off as she suddenly grasped the hidden meaning behind his phone call.

    "Don''t worry about Victoria gettingbeled as the ''other woman''. Only our parents and a few friends

    know we''re married. To everyone else, you''re still that devoted partner who would go through thick

    and thin for your girlfriend''s career. Now that things have turned as the way you wanted, everyone''s

    happy for you."

    If the divorce papers got out now, right after Maxwell was spotted dropping Victoria at the hospital

    last night, Victoria would be stamped as the homewrecker for sure.

    Rosemary had barely finished her thought when she realized Maxwell had already hung up on her.

    That douchebag.

    Her current hotel was just a stone''s throw from the Templeton Group. Rosemary wasn''t in a rush.

    She leisurely enjoyed her breakfast before taking the subway over.

    After marrying Maxwell, she took up the role of his personal assistant at the Templeton Group at her

    mother-inw''s request.

    Assistant, my foot. She was more like a caregiver. Her job was basically to handle Maxwell''s meals

    and all the other mundane life details, the type that just coasted along collecting a paycheck.

    No one at thepany knew she was Maxwell''s wife, the wife of the Templeton Group¡¯s boss. It

    was pretty pathetic when she thought about it. Everyone knew about the mistress, but the legit wife

    had to sneak around like a spy; there were a couple of times when she was in Maxwell''s car, she

    had to get out two blocks away from the office in advance.

    When Rosemary got to the office, she went straight to herputer and began drafting her

    resignation letter. She was getting a divorce, so let someone else y his caregiver!

    Someone walked by and asked surprisingly, "Assistant Chambers, you''re quitting? Did that rich

    boyfriend of yours finally pop the question?"

    Rosemary froze mid-typing. Once, she''d been seen getting out of Maxwell''s car; the person was

    surprised and asked her if she was in Mr. Templeton¡¯s car.

    At that time, she didn¡¯t want to let others know their rtionship, so she had to lie that it belonged to

    her boyfriend.

    The next day, rumors flew around the office about her wealthy boyfriend with a car just like Mr.

    Templeton''s.

    Nobody connected the dots to Maxwell because everyone on the thirty-sixth floor knew that

    Assistant Chambers'' meals were always tossed, untouched, by Mr. Templeton. Only Rosemary was

    clueless enough to keep putting them out, meal after meal.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.

    At that moment, Rosemary denied it, "No, we broke up."

    "You really let go of such a catch? If it were me, I''d be crying my eyes out by now!" Someone

    sympathized, though how much of it was schadenfreude was anybody''s guess.

    Thinking of her ¡°golden boyfriend¡±, Rosemary replied airily but with an edge, "A man whose only

    virtue is downright toughness, you think I should keep him for Christmas?"

    "What about other aspects?"

    A cough broke the awkward chatter, and everyone turned to see the man who had arrived at the

    office entrance, scattering in fright.

    "Mr. Templeton."

    The cough came from Christ, the president''s assistant, who nced at the boss beside him and

    said, "No personal chit-chat during work hours, especially not that kind."

    Maxwell''s gaze swept over everyone, finally resting on Rosemary with a deep and heavy look,

    "Assistant Chambers, to my office. And everyone involved in this chat, a hundred bucks off your

    paycheck. Go sign the penalty form at finance."

    The crowd dispersed in an instant, but Rosemary kept typing, unfazed.

    Maxwell''s office was minimalistic. When Rosemary walked in, he waszily flipping through a

    document - it was the divorce agreement she had sent to the house that morning.

    Rosemary stood firm in front of his desk, "Mr. Templeton."

    He looked up, his face expressionless but his voice growing increasingly ominous, "Toughness is

    the only virtue; where did youe up with such a theory, Assistant Chambers?"

    Rosemary pressed her lips and yed dead. She''d have to be kicked in the head to go along with

    that line of questioning.

    After a tense few seconds, Maxwell dropped the subject. He tossed the divorce agreement onto the

    desk, "Exin this to me, what''s the meaning behind the reason for divorce listed here?"

    Rosemary hesitated for a second before replying confidently, "Exactly what it says."

    It was crystal clear to anyone who understood.

    "Three years of marriage without sex, failing to meet the basic needs of the wife, suspecting the

    husband of erectile dysfunction."

    With every word Maxwell read, Rosemary felt her scalp tighten. She feared this man might strangle

    her in a fit of rage. But she spoke the truth; in three years of marriage, he never touched her.

    As he got to the part about dividing assets, a chill flickered in his eyes, "Seems like these past three

    years as an assistant weren''t for nothing. You know my properties like the back of your hand. But

    Rosemary, do you really think you can take a cent from me?"

    Rosemary was ready to walk away with nothing, so the dig didn''t faze her. But her indifference

    seemed like a challenge to Maxwell. His well-defined fingers reached out, pinching her chin, "What

    will you live on after leaving me? With that pitiful sry of five hundred a month? Forget rent, can

    you even buy the ne you''re wearing?"

    The sarcasm was clear. Rosemary tried to turn her head to escape his grip, but failed, the pinch

    growing more painful.

    Bearing the pain, she retorted, "That''s my business, not yours."

    "Pfft." Maxwell snorted with a sardonicugh, an aura of menace around him that felt like it could

    tear her apart, "So, found yourself a new sugar daddy to take you in?"

    Seeing her silence, Maxwell took it as a yes. He suddenly chuckled, his thin lips curling up in a

    mocking smile, releasing his grip on her chin, "Seems like you''ve got something twisted. You don''t

    get to call the shots on whether we divorce or not. There''s still three months left on that agreement."

    But to Rosemary, it made no difference. He hadn''t treated her like his wife for the past three years,

    so why would thest three months matter?

    His attitude now was just because the divorce was her idea - it bruised his ego and tarnished

    Victoria''s reputation. Typical male pride!

    Looked like there was no chance of settling the divorce today, so Rosemary decided toy her

    cards on the table, "No matter how much time is left, I''m not moving back in."

    Maxwell looked down at her with a condescending re, "Are you trying to tell me you want a

    separation, huh?"

 Chapter 3

    Rosemary heard the word "separation", her heart feeling like it was squeezed hard, a bit painful.

    After they got hitched, she could count the times Maxwell returned to Meadork Retreat each

    year on her fingers - pretty much the same as living apart.-

    "Anyway, there are only three months left; I don''t see the point in living together."

    Maxwell gazed at her for a few seconds, and then scoffed with a mocking sneer, "Whether it''s

    necessary or not, I call the shots. Today, I had Christ cut you some ck for two hours to move your

    stuff back."

    Rosemary''s attempt to refuse was cut short by a knock on the door, with Christ reminding from

    outside, "Mr. Templeton, the meeting is about to start."

    Maxwell did up his cufflinks again, "Get out."

    Rosemary stood her ground, firm, "Maxwell, I''m not going back."

    Maxwell was unfazed, "When have you not said that before?"

    It wasn''t their first rodeo, nor was it the first time Rosemary had moved out, but each time it didn''t

    take long before she hauled herself back.

    Right now, Rosemary knew he didn''t believe her, and she couldn''t be bothered to argue anymore -

    time would show him that this time she was really noting back.

    After leaving the office, Rosemary hit the restroom to touch up her makeup - sure enough, the spot

    on her chin where she''d been pinched was turning blue.

    Makeup fixed, she was about to grab her resignation letter and head to HR when she heard

    someone call out, "Rosemary, the printer''s run out of ink; hop to it, we''re waiting!"

    Commands like this, she heard them by the dozen every day. As Maxwell''s personal assistant, she

    was supposed to take care of his day-to-day needs, but since he wasn''t fond of her, he had Christ

    do everything, so gradually Rosemary became the go-to gopher.

    "Rosemary, I said change the ink." Called Diana, who usually couldn''t stand her sight. It was her

    who had just mocked Rosemary for splitting with her rich boyfriend, "Even if you''re quitting, you

    gotta have some professional integrity, right? You haven''t officially left your post!"

    "My job is to follow Mr. Templeton''s orders and handle his meals. What¡¯s up? You''re giving orders

    on behalf of Mr. Templeton now?"

    Didn''t be fooled by her unmorous assistant gig; it was actually quite the hot ticket. And this one in

    front of her would love nothing more than to shove her aside and step into the ring herself.

    But Diana looked at her like she''d seen a ghost, "Rosemary, did your brain get mmed in a door

    today? In charge of Mr. Templeton''s meals? That takeout you order, when have you seen Mr.

    Templeton eat it?"

    Thinking about those meals chucked in the trash, Rosemary felt a sting in her heart. The next

    second, a sharp pain hit her chest as Diana pped the documents into her arms, strutting, "I need

    twenty copies printed by two; Assistant Chambers, you should know your ce."

    Rosemary frowned; hearing movement behind her, she turned to see Maxwell and Christ walking

    out of the office, his gaze meeting hers.

    The man smirked sarcastically, his eyes and brows screaming one message: if she couldn''t even

    handle menial tasks, what made she think she had the guts to talk about divorce?

    Rosemary couldn''t help butugh in anger, right in front of Maxwell, she tossed the documents back

    at Diana, who was still stunned when she heard the papers scattering on the floor. Rosemary

    walked away, her voice came from the distance.

    "Diana, not only should people know their ce, they should also have ears to listen. I''m not

    changing the ink, nor am I printing the documents; go ahead and tattle to Maxwell if you dare, and

    he likes girls busty and brainless; you''ve certainly got the brainless down, but you''recking in the

    other part."

    She was quitting anyway, so she wasn''t afraid of burning bridges, and getting a dig in before leaving

    felt like a real win!

    Maxwell''s face turned stormy in an instant, his lips pressed in a displeased curve.

    Later, Rosemary went to HR and handed in her resignation. The HR manager nced at it,

    "Assistant Chambers, you can take this resignation back for now. You''re Mr. Templeton''s personal

    assistant; we need his signature to process it."

    Rosemary didn''t take it back, blunt as ever, "I won''t be here tomorrow; count it as a no-show or a

    day off, whatever."

    The HR manager was taken aback, "You''re breaching the contract; even if you''re resigning you

    need to give a two-week notice."

    A job dealing with that man''s eating and drinking, was there even anything to hand over? What,

    hand over what he didn''t eat? Maxwell would probably starve to death because she had ordered

    everything under the sun.

    Rosemary couldn''t care less, "Let Maxwell sue me then."T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Stepping out of the Templeton Group, she got a call from her BFF Ynda Abbott inviting her for

    drinks, who probably saw the news from yesterday and was worried she''d be down.

    Feeling weary, Rosemary turned it down, and after getting back to her hotel, she went to sleep

    without even dinner.

    Woken up by a knock on the door in a daze, she checked the time, 7:50. Rosemary got up to open

    the door, and the person outside was the hotel manager, who said with an apologetic smile, "Hello

    Ms. Chambers, there''s an issue with this room that needs fixing."

    Rosemary didn''t make it hard for him, "Then swap me to another room."

    As she was about to head back to pack her bags, the manager added, "Sorry, we¡¯re fully booked.

    Your refund has already been processed to your card, and as it''s our fault, we''ve also transferred

    the penalty fee to you."

    Rosemary paused mid-stride, Maxwell wanted her back at the vi by 8, and here the manager was

    booting her out at 7:50 - if she didn''t get the hint now, she''d be a real dummy.

    "Is it that douchebag Maxwell''s doing? I refuse to leave!" She lost her temper for a moment, letting

    loose a curse.

    The manager didn''t beat around the bush, "Ms. Chambers, we''re just running a small business;

    please don''t make this hard for us."

    A small business worth over 1.4 million?

    Even if Rosemary didn''t agree to leave, there was nothing she could do - the hotel was adamant

    and willing to pay the penalty fee, and the repairmen were already at the door, iming there was

    an electrical issue that could cause a fire if not fixed promptly.

    Rosemary finally strutted out of the hotel, suitcase in tow, while the Templeton family wheels were at

    the already curbside waiting for her. Jason spotted her making an exit and hopped out of the car,

    eager to lend a hand with her luggage, "Mrs. Templeton, Mr. Templeton sent me to pick you up."

    Rosemary sidestepped his offer, "Tell Maxwell I''m noting back," with that, she spun on her heel

    and made a beeline for another hotel nearby.

    Jason didn''t try to stop her, and pretty soon Rosemary got the picture why he didn''t. The

    receptionist at a neighboring hotel handed her card back, "Sorry, looks like your card just got cut off.

    Got another one?"

 Chapter 4

    Rosemary was living it up on Maxwell''s dime, but as for her own cash, no need to ssh that on a

    fancy hotel stay.

    She hit up Ynda with a call and found out she was chilling at home, so she just hopped in the car

    and headed over.-

    Jason was tailing her the whole damn way, but Rosemary paid him zero mind. When she got out of

    the car to grab her bag from the trunk, she nicked her hand on some decoration - It bled a bit, but

    nothing to write home about.

    Ynda''s pad was up on the 17th floor, and knowing she wasing, she left the door wide open.

    When Rosemary waltzed in with her luggage, Ynda was taken aback - the phone convo didn¡¯t

    mention anything about baggage. Looked like a runaway situation alright.

    Ynda couldn¡¯t even bother with her face mask; she just reached out to take Rosemary''s suitcase,

    "Should''ve told me you had bags; I would''vee down to help. Oh no, you hurt your hand?"

    Seeing Ynda all worked up and about to fetch the first aid kit, Rosemary pulled her back, "Chill,

    it''s practically healing already."

    "Girl, your hands are like solid gold; can''t you treat ''em a bit better? Look at those pianists, they''d

    lock their hands in a safe if they could, just to avoid a scratch."

    Rosemary couldn''t help but crack up at her dramatics, and it blew away some of the clouds hanging

    over hertely, "This little scrape won¡¯t mess with my mojo."

    T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Ynda paused, and as she got to this point, she couldn''t help but bring up the past, "So, about

    what I mentioned before, have you given it any thought?"

    Rosemary didn''t say a word; she was still on the fence inside.

    "Oswald''s been by a few times, you know? His workshop''s like the cream of the crop in the country

    for artifact restoration. Only the best get in there! For Oswald to personally scout you - girl, you¡¯re in

    high demand! If you weren''t so keen on keeping a low profile, I''d have passed your contact to him

    ages ago!"

    Artifact restoration was Rosemary''s gig, and she was damn good at it. She learned the craft from

    her mom since she was knee-high, her skills were unique, and she even majored in it at college.

    The n was to work at a museum after graduation, but then all that crap happened, and she

    ended up hitched to Maxwell.

    Thesest few years, she could only pick up some side gigs through Ynda, working as a

    frence restorer.

    But now, things were different. She was getting a divorce, and it was time for a fresh start. Thinking

    it over, Rosemary nodded, "Hook it up for me, will ya?"

    "You''re down for it?" Ynda didn''t see thating - Rosemary had always shot it down before.

    "Let''s give it a shot. I''m ready to roll whenever."

    "Anytime?" Ynda was floored again, "What about that caregiver gig at the Templeton Group?"

    "Yup, I quit," Rosemary said it so cool and casual as if she wasn''t the one involved.

    Ynda clicked her tongue, her mind racing with the morning''s trending gossip. She let loose, "It''s

    about time you split! Maxwell, that jerk, clearly ain''t into what you''re serving, yet he makes you go

    through the motions. Guys like him should be locked away with Victoria and not mess with anyone

    else. You should just ditch the marriage too, with only three months left - save yourself the

    headache."

    Rosemary sank into the sofa, worn out from the night''s drama, "I brought up divorce, but he won''t

    have it, insists on waiting till the contract''s up."

    Ynda could onlyugh, "Such a poser! Back when Victoria turned down his proposal to hit the

    global stage, he sure won''t make it easy to divorce you now and then get with her. It''d make him

    look cheap! He''s gotta show he''s a hotmodity, or Victoria might ditch him again!"

    Rosemary hadn''t considered that angle, but Ynda''s words were like a revtion. Maxwell, that

    sneaky devil, was crafting his image!

    "My two cents - you shouldn''t save his face. p that marriage certificate online before the official

    split, let the righteousizens tear them a new one. Pin Victoria to the wall of shame as the home-

    wrecker!"

    Rosemary tilted her head, not thinking it was the best idea, "Let''s not do that. Better they trap

    themselves. If it blows up, it''ll only backfire on me if I¡¯m gonna see someone else someday."

    Saw someone else? Ynda''s eyes lit up, giving Rosemary the once-over. Looked like she was

    seriously done with Maxwell.

    This called for a celebration! Ynda snagged a case of beer from the fridge, popped one open,

    and handed it over, "Here''s to you finally escaping the mire!"

    Just as Rosemary was about to grab it, the doorbell rang.

    "Who''s that?" Ynda muttered, heading to the door.

    It was Jason on the other side, looking like a sad puppy, different from earlier. He poked his head in,

    addressing Rosemary in the living room, "Mrs. Rosemary Templeton, Mr. Maxwell Templeton''s

    waiting downstairs for you, says you gottae down now."

    Rosemary frowned, not even ncing back, a touch of irritation in her voice, "If he wants to wait, let

    him wait."

    She was indoors, with a bed and booze at the ready; he was in the car,fy as it might be,

    couldn''t stretch out. Bring it on. With that, she downed her beer in one gulp.

    No way was Jason going to ry that message - not if he valued his life! Jason, feeling helpless,

    added, "Earlier in the car, Mrs. Pearl Templeton called Mr. Maxwell Templeton; seemed like she

    wasn''t feeling great."

    Before he could finish, Rosemary''s phone buzzed. It was a call from Maxwell''s mom - Pearl Floris

    Templeton.

    Rosemary could blow off Maxwell, but she couldn''t ignore a call from Pearl. In the three years they

    were married, Pearl treated her better than her own son, showering her with goodies. And

    whenever they fought, no matter whose fault it was, Maxwell got the earful.

    "Pearl."

    "Rosemary, I called Maxwell and he said you''re not there. Did he skip out again?" She always

    checked if he was home every time she called.

    "No, I''m at a friend''s tonight; she''s throwing a birthday bash."

    Rosemary kept mum about the fight and the divorce talk, not wanting to set Pearl off. Pearl nearly

    bled out giving birth to Maxwell, leaving her with a bunch of health issues that gued her over the

    years.

    Forced to celebrate her birthday, Ynda watched her BFF lie through her teeth without batting an

    eye and couldn''t help but roll her eyes in response!

    Pearl''s voice came through the phone again, "After the birthday bash, why don''t you crash at the old

    house tonight? His dad is out of town on business, and I''m feeling a bit under the weather."

    Rosemary was concerned about her health, "What''s bothering you? Have you seen a doctor?"

    "Nope, it''s nothing serious. I just snagged a piece of jade at an auction and had it made into a little

    charm. You should check it out when you''re back, see if it''s your cup of tea. I know you young folks

    aren''t really into bracelets and stuff."

    After a brief silence, Rosemary replied, "Okay."

    Rosemary would have bailed on just picking something up, considering she was about to divorce

    Maxwell, but Pearl mentioned she wasn''t feeling well.

    Knowing she couldn''t change Rosemary''s mind, Ynda could only escort her downstairs,

    muttering, "Bet you anything, your mother-inw is faking it."

    That familiar car was parked at the entrance of the apartment building, with Maxwell leaning against

    the door, puffing on a cigarette. Hearing footsteps, he looked up to see who it was, his eyes

    brooding.

 Chapter 5

    The whole ride was dead silent, the tension so thick Jason felt like he couldn''t even shift gears

    without causing a scene.

    It wasn''t until they pulled into the driveway of the suburban vi that he let out a huge sigh of relief

    and got out to open the car door.

    Rosemary wasn''t the type to put on airs like Maxwell, and she disliked being waited on hand and

    foot. Just as she was about to open the door herself, Maxwell chimed in nonchntly, "I like busty

    girls?"

    Rosemary nearly choked on her own breath. She''d totally forgotten about that jab, and hisment

    was nothing short of nder. Who the heck knew what he was really into?!

    She turned around to catch Maxwell''s gaze drifting just below her corbone, drenched in what

    could be construed as contempt, but it was hard to tell if it was intentional. That look, Rosemary

    interpreted as disdain.

    "Aren''t all guys wired to like big ones?"

    So after three years of marriage, he couldn''t even muster basic desire, yet Victoria''s figure was

    nothing to write home about either.

    Maxwell frowned, "I don''t like them."

    But Rosemary just smirked, a dangerous kind of pretty that could snatch the soul out of any regr

    dude. Maxwell, however, remained unfazed, his eyes and brows as still as water.

    She said, "Whether you like them or not is hell none of my business, but I prefer big and passionate,

    which by the way, is the main reason I''m divorcing you."

    Instantly, Maxwell''s face turned stormy, and the atmosphere in the car froze over visibly. The car

    wasn''t exactly soundproof, so Jason, standing outside, caught every word of their exchange, now

    sweating bullets as he saw Maxwell''s temper rising and, under pressure, opened the car door.

    "Mr. and Mrs. Templeton, we''re home."

    Rosemary stepped out first to see Pearl emerging from the vi with a gentle smile, taking her hand

    and leading her inside, "Rosemary, I had Wendy stew some soup for you and even added some

    beautifying herbs."

    Maxwell, still in the car, was utterly ignored.

    Once inside, Pearl whispered, "Did Maxwell bully you?"

    She''d seen the news from yesterday and, worried about Rosemary feeling upset, had asked them

    to stay the night.

    "Pearl, about him and me."

    She wanted to spill the beans about her divorce ns, but Pearl cut her off, "If that kid bullies you,

    just tell me. I''ll get his dad to whip him with a belt! Don''t put up with his nonsense. I''ll send you a

    menuter - full of foods he hates. Start ordering them for him from tomorrow for a whole month.

    I''ve also told Christ not to make any special meals for Maxwell - otherwise, he''s fired!"

    Pearl didn''t even mention Victoria to avoid upsetting Rosemary.

    Wendy approached with a shawl, "Mrs. Pearl Templeton, you were feeling unwell earlier; why go out

    without a shawl? Mrs. Rosemary Templeton, you really must talk some sense into her; she takes

    her health too lightly."

    And just like that, Rosemary''s opportunity to bring up divorce was lost.

    "Pearl, what''s bothering you? Did you call the doctor?"

    Pearl waved it off, "Ah, it''s just an old ailment; it''ll get better with some rest. No need to drag a

    doctor out here in the middle of the night."

    It was indeed gettingte. After finishing the soup with Rosemary and slipping a trinket onto her

    wrist, Pearl went upstairs to bed.

    Before leaving, she shot Maxwell a death re, "If you don''t sweet-talk Rosemary tonight, I''ll beat

    you up!"

    Maxwell hadn''t spoken since he got back, and yet he was still taking fire?

    Maxwell and Rosemary''s room was on the second floor, and knowing they''d be returning, Wendy

    had already changed the bedding.

    Rosemary went to get her pajamas ready for a shower, but when she opened the wardrobe, her

    usual cotton PJs were gone, reced by a variety of sexy silk V-neck nightgowns and even a

    couple of cosy lingerie sets.

    Pearl''s desire for grandchildren was no secret to anyone in the vi. From the moment they got

    married, preparations for a baby room began, with heaps of toys and clothes for both boys and girls

    steadily arriving.

    These clothes were yet another strategy to help the couple conceive. Rosemary couldn''t help

    feeling a bit sorry for her. If Pearl knew about their sexless marriage of three years, would she kick

    Maxwell, all show and no go, to the curb?

    Turning back to Maxwell, she saw him looking at the wardrobe full of clothes, his gaze as indifferent

    as ever. He nced at her sideways and remarked, "These don''t suit you."

    Rosemary picked out the most conservative piece, but before she could reach for it, Maxwell tossed

    her one of his shirts, "Wear this."

    Rosemary caught it, knowing his tall, lean build meant his shirt would cover her to the knees,

    certainly a better choice than any of those odd nightgowns. Without fuss, she took the shirt to the

    bathroom.

    Byw, she was entitled to half of everything Maxwell owned. Rounding up, that shirt was hers now.

    After a shower and blow-drying her hair, Rosemary stepped out to find Maxwell on the balcony,

    smoking. The thin veil of smoke softened his sharp features.

    Maybe it was just her imagination, but his eyes seemed to deepen when theynded on her, though

    the moment was fleeting.

    Maxwell put out his cigarette and came inside, passing her by without a word and heading for the

    bathroom. Rosemary was used to it by now, numb to the heartache, and felt nothing.

    Shortly after, there was a knock on the door. It was Wendy with a bowl of soup, "Mrs. Rosemary

    Templeton, this is a soup Mrs. Pearl Templeton personally made for Mr. Maxwell Templeton. Make

    sure he drinks it; don''t let her effort go to waste. She even burned her hand making it. She''s tough

    as she appears but actually is caring. She didn''t say anything downstairs but she''s still worried

    about him, afraid he''s not eating well. Now she insisted I bring it up."

    "Okay."

    Rosemary totally got it - after all, it was her own son she was worried about.

    Maxwell finished showering quickly and came out to the sight of soup on the coffee table.

    Rosemary uttered, "Pearl made it herself, have some."

    Maxwell nced at it, remained silent, and showed no interest in drinking. Seeing him like this, and

    thinking about what Wendy said, plus all the heartache from him not eating her cooking over the

    years, Rosemary suddenly felt a bit miffed, "Maxwell, Pearl burned her hands making soup for you,

    and you''re just gonna blow off her effort like that?"

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    The phrase "blow off her effort" struck a chord with Maxwell, as if there was a hidden meaning

    behind it.

    He looked at her, half-smile creeping onto his lips, and asked, "Do you really want me to drink it?"

 Chapter 6

    Rosemary didn''t catch what was off about Maxwell''s words. She was still fuming over his icy

    detachment, huffing out a response in annoyance.

    Maxwell picked up his soup and downed it in one go, though he set the bowl down with a bit too

    much force, causing a loud bang.

    Then he flipped back the covers and slid into bed, while Rosemary turned her back to him, switched

    off her bedsidemp, and shut her eyes, ready to hit the sack.

    This past year, they''d asionally share a bed, with enough space between them to fit another two

    people. But tonight was a bit different.

    She was snoozing away when suddenly Maxwell got all up in her space. She was practically in his

    arms, her back against his solid chest. Through just two thinyers of fabric, she could feel every

    ridge of his muscles.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    His deep, raspy breathing was right up in her ear, cranking the room''s heat up to scorching levels.

    Before Rosemary could even react, she felt something pressing against her lower back. Her brain

    froze for a sec, and then it clicked what was going on.

    "Maxwell," her voice came out shaky, half from the shock and half from nerves; she was worried

    that Maxwell might force the issue.

    She had longed for this kind of scene in the early days of their marriage, but years of his coldness

    had ground those dreams to dust. Now, with divorce on the horizon, thest thing they needed was

    another entanglement.

    Some mistakes one only needed to make once.

    "Hmm?" His voice, rough as gravel, resonated above her head, oozing a domineering vibe that

    couldn''t be ignored.

    The next second, Maxwell rolled over, pinning her beneath him, towering above as he stared into

    her eyes.

    Rosemary steadied herself and tried to push him away, "I don''t want to."

    "Didn''t you use me of not satisfying you? When you asked me to drink the soup, I thought you

    were so desperate you''d hop on and take charge. Now you''re saying you don''t want to. ying

    hard to get, huh?" His lips brushed against hers as he spoke, his tone dripping with desire but his

    words full of sarcasm.

    Even an idiot could tell the soup was spiked, and Rosemary tried to exin, "I didn''t know."

    "You think I''d buy that? This isn''t your first rodeo."

    Every time that night was brought up, Rosemary felt utterly helpless, as he always forced her to

    relive it.

    "I''m only going to say this one more time, it was because,"

    Before she could finish, Maxwell''s overwhelming kiss cut her off, literally capping her words.

    Rosemary was stunned, her hands pushing against his chest trying to shove him away, but in

    return, she got an even deeper, more forceful kiss. There was no gentleness or tenderness, just

    outright conquest.

    Her lip was cut, the faint taste of blood mingling with her dizziness from theck of oxygen, until his

    scorching hand touched her and she jolted into awareness, realizing her shirt buttons had been

    undone at some point.

    She turned her head to stop his kisses, "Maxwell, let me go."

    She struggled fiercely, using all her might to break free, but women were naturally at a disadvantage

    in strength, and all her efforts were no match for Maxwell''s single arm, which easily subdued her.

    Maxwell''s just-kissed lips were tinged with red, and he smirked mockingly, "You wanted a divorce

    because you said I had erectile dysfunction and couldn''t meet your needs. Now there''s no issue, so

    your reason for divorce doesn''t hold."

    He propped himself up, kneeling on the bed, grabbed her chin, and forced her head straight,

    making her look at him. Because of their position, what Rosemary could see was quite obvious.

    His voice was as cool as usual, but every word was testing her tense nerves, "Are you satisfied with

    what you see?"

    Her face was a picture of disgust, but before she could retort, Maxwell''s phone rang. He reached for

    it on the nightstand, his brow furrowing slightly when he saw the caller ID. It was Victoria''s agent.

    He swiped to answer, "What''s up?" As Maxwell was about to get off her, the woman who had been

    avoiding him suddenly reached out.

    The moment her delicate hand touched him, his body tensed. He looked down, his eyes swirling

    with a storm that seemed ready to tear someone to shreds. His clenched jaw made a slight grinding

    sound.

    The voice on the other end of the phone continued, and Rosemary caught the gist of it - it was the

    same old story about Victoria having issues. The subtext was clear: Maxwell needed to go see her

    now.

    Maxwell shot a warning nce at the woman in his arms. She defiantly tilted her chin up at him,

    answering his previous question, "Not just satisfied, but it''ssting too long; I can barely take it, slow

    down."

    Her voice was loud enough to be heard clearly by the person on the other end! Rosemary was

    doing it on purpose, ying dirty to snag a man.

    Maxwell''s Adam''s apple bobbed as he gripped the phone tighter, his knuckles white.

    The voice came through again, "Mr. Templeton, if Victoria''s leg is done for, so is her dancing career.

    Back in the day, she suffered a lot in silence to be an internationally renowned dancer early

    and to spare you from gossip about her background. Now, she''s riddled with injuries and needs

    therapy every week."

    Maxwell bit his lip and got off the bed, "You take care of her."

    She didn''t try to stop him from leaving, knowing it was futile. Why would she humiliate herself? She

    didn''t want to snatch Maxwell back; she just wanted to get back at Victoria.

    Maxwell got dressed and headed out, not saying a word to Rosemary, his so-called wife, the whole

    time.

    Downstairs, everyone was asleep, except for the emergency lights still glowing. He reached the

    foyer to change shoes, and with a click, the massive chandelier above the living room suddenly lit

    up.

    Pearl stood at the kitchen door, remote control in hand, "Where are you off to thiste?"

    Maxwell frowned, "Mom, why aren''t you asleep?"

    "I''m asking you, where are you going leaving Rosemary behind in the middle of the night?"

    Maxwell pressed his lips, and after a moment, said without changing his expression, "I lost control

    for a moment and hurt her. I''m going to get some medicine for her."

 Chapter 7

    The way he said it was cryptic, but Pearl got it in a sh. After all, she was the one who sought out

    a top-notch doc to prescribe that powerful tonic soup - it was bound to do the trick.

    Her usually frosty face broke into a smile in an instant, but she still chided him, "What are you, a

    wet-behind-the-ears kid? Ever heard of being gentle? Go buy it already. Actually, drag Rosemary

    along too. And if it looks bad, make a beeline for the hospital - don¡¯t want an infection turning into a

    hot mess."

    Under Pearl''s earnest gaze, he ended up calling Rosemary, telling her to get dressed ande

    downstairs ASAP.

    Rosemary, sensing something was off in his tone, thought something had happened and hurried

    down after throwing on some clothes.

    What she didn''t expect was to find Maxwell and Pearl standing face to face. His voice was low and

    detached, "You''re not feeling well. Come with me to get some meds."

    Rosemary thought to herself, ¡°When did I feel unwell?¡±

    A nce at Pearl and the penny dropped - it was a bust; she was being used as a human shield!

    She rolled her eyes at Maxwell without a second thought. Talked about a sneaky jerk!

    Pearl, oblivious to the undercurrents swirling between them, was all wrapped up in joy. She noticed

    Rosemary''s tight jeans and quickly advised, "Change into something loose now; tight clothes won¡¯t

    do your wound any favors. It''s hot out; covered up like that you''re asking for an infection."

    "Pearl, what are you saying?"

    What was she going on about? She wanted to know where exactly she was supposed to be feeling

    unwell?

    Maxwell, however, stretched out and pulled her over. Rosemary, caught off bnce, stumbled into

    his arms and was held close, "We''re heading out; get some rest, Mom."

    Pearl shot him a look, "Rosemary''s injured and you''re still roughhousing? If our family doc was a

    woman, I''d have already called her over, no need for your help."

    "Right," Maxwell responded nonchntly, while Rosemary was out of it, forgetting to resist as he led

    her out with an arm around her waist.

    "Hold on." Pearl suddenly remembered something important, scurried to the kitchen, and returned

    clutching a bag of tea, "If it works well, take it with you. Drink it every night."

    Maxwell''s lips were pressed slightly, "Leave it for Dad to drink."

    Pearl was blunt, "Your dad doesn''t need it."

    So, was he that impressive without it, or it was beyond saving even with it? Was this something she

    should be overhearing?

    Seeing Maxwell wouldn''t take it, Pearl stuffed the bag into Rosemary''s hands, "Get going. Don¡¯t just

    buy meds; head to the hospital and get checked out."

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Once they left the Templeton family¡¯s mansion and got into the car, Rosemary finally got a chance to

    speak, "What exactly did you tell her?"

    Maxwell had no desire to continue that topic. He nced at the bag still in her embrace, his tone

    cool and mocking, "Really? nning to take it with you and ask me to drink it every night?"

    Rosemary, taken aback for a moment, then tossed it into the back seat like it was trash, not missing

    a chance to jab, "Just goes to show, a mother knows best. She''s aware you don''t cut it; even got

    your meds prepped."

    "Not cut it?" Maxwell drove one-handed, savoring those words. He nced at Rosemary again,

    "Then that first time, who ended up in the hospital needing stitches andid up for days?"

    Rosemary looked at him with a hint of pity in her eyes, "Did it ever cross your mind that me needing

    stitches wasn''t because you were any good, but because you¡¯re just in bad at it? Ever seen any

    other woman rush to the hospital for stitches after her first time? Such a unique case, and you never

    thought to reflect on yourself?"

    Maxwell''s eyes narrowed, displeasure and darkness on his face thick enough to drip, and he

    mmed on the brakes, "Get the hell out!"

    They were on the main road now; cabs were plentiful. Rosemary figured he was itching to see

    Victoria at the hospital, and she had zero interest in watching a love fest.

    Without hesitation, she stepped out of the car with her head held high and marched away.

    With a roar of the engine and a cloud of dust kicking up, the car sped off, leaving her behind.

    Rosemary yelled after the disappearing vehicle, "That eager, huh? What, did she kick the bucket

    and you''re rushing to y corpse collector?"

    Silence was her only answer. Later, Rosemary stood by the roadside, waiting for a taxi. Instead, a

    sleek ck Bentley pulled up smoothly in front of her.

    Jason stepped out, the picture of respect, "Mrs. Templeton, Mr. Templeton asked me to take you

    home."

    The subtext clear: he might have ditched you, but he had taken care of the aftermath.

    She wasn''t about to make things harder for herself and hopped right into the car. As she sat there,

    she mulled over making their divorce public - knowing Maxwell''s pride, it would probably piss him

    off!

    But riling him up now would be more trouble than it was worth. After all, it was just three months and

    ny days. She could suck it up.

    But after tonight, she sensed Victoria wouldn''t wait that long, not with her character, and especially

    now that she was back in the country.

    In the dead of night at the hospital.

    Just as Maxwell arrived at the door of the ward, he overheard Victoria berating her agent Tracy,

    "You''re paid by me; you should be listening to me. Who told you to go calling Maxwell on your

    own?"

    Tracy stood her ground, not budging an inch, "Victoria, you don''t take care of yourself, sneaking in

    dance practice with injuries like that, ignoring advice. I can''t talk sense into you, nor can the doctors,

    so I had to call Mr. Templeton."

    "It''s my own business. He''s married now. You shouldn''t bother him with my affairs, putting him in a

    tough spot," she said coldly yet with an undertone of vulnerability, the tremble in her voice at the

    end tugging at people¡¯s heartstrings whenever they heard it.

    "You left for abroad because Mrs. Templeton didn''t approve of your family background. You

    should''ve told him instead of suffering in silence. You wanted to be a world-ss dancer not

    for yourself but to be his equal. But what about him? Back home, he married."

    The rest of her words were cut short as Maxwell entered. Tracy''s voice turned stiff, "Mr. Templeton."

    She nced at Victoria on the hospital bed and said, "Take a look at the gash on Victoria''s leg,

    please. I''m gonna head out."

    Once the room cleared, Maxwell walked up to the bedside, towering over her, "Lift up your pant leg;

    let me have a look at that wound."

    Victoria had taken a nasty spill off the stage yesterday, slicing a long cut into her calf that needed

    over a dozen stitches.

    But in that moment, she didn''t do as told, and just shook her head in denial, "Don''t mind Tracy''s

    rambling - she''s just making a mountain out of a molehill because she''s worried about me."

    Maxwell cut her off, his face unreadable, but his tone dripping with impatience: "Just lift it up."

    Victoria bit her lip, and seeing that he was dead set, she reluctantly hiked up her pant leg a bit.

 Chapter 8

    The wound on her leg was wrapped in gauze, so it was hard to tell if it was infected or not, but that

    area was definitely swollen, sticking out prominently.

    "Did you get a doc to check it out?"

    His tone was so chilly; even her swollen leg didn''t warrant a flicker of sympathy in his eyes, leaving

    Victoria puzzled and hesitant to y up her femininity.

    "I had the doc redo the bandage. I think it might''ve gotten infected when I, uh, got it wet in the

    shower today."

    Maxwell fished out his pack of smokes, snagged one, and popped it between his lips, tantly

    ignoring the no-smoking sign on the wall. With a flick, his lighter red to life, casting warm light on

    his sharp, icy features.

    He took a drag, and then finally let his gaze fall back to Victoria''s leg, "Victoria, you chose this path.

    Stick with it and don''t sell yourself short. Don''t trash the dream you''re chasing after."

    Victoria hadn''t expected that response; she thought at least he''d show a bit of concern or offer

    someforting words after seeing her injury.

    After all, there was a time when he''d frown just seeing her sttered with oil, and he''d personally

    grab an ice pack to soothe the burn.

    "Maxwell." She choked out a bit, her voice tight, "are you still holding a grudge against me?"

    "There''s nothing to hold a grudge about. It was your choice, and I chose to support it." Maxwell

    stamped out his cigarette, "It''s your leg. If you don''t wanna dance anymore, do whatever you want.

    I''m noting back to this hospital."

    With that, Maxwell left without a second nce.

    Not long after he departed, Tracy walked in, "So? Did Mr. Templeton show any reaction to your

    injury?"

    "He said he''s noting back to the hospital."

    "Didn''t you y the damsel in distress? I told you, guys dig it when their girl leans on them. You

    can''t be all high and mighty like usual. That''ll just push him further away."

    Victoria thought of his impassive face and forced a smile that looked more painful than crying,

    "Under the circumstances, I bet if I''d dropped dead in front of him, he''d just calmly tell you to take

    care of my funeral."

    Tracy fell silent, and then shook her head after a pause, "Guys have their pride, especially someone

    like Mr. Templeton, with all that power and status. When has he ever been tripped up by a woman?

    You just bruised his ego too much back then."

    Victoria stayed silent, with a hint of self-mockery in her eyes. Was that really how it was?

    The next day, with no need to be a caregiver at the Templeton Group, Rosemary slept in.

    Ynda had already headed to the shop and sent her a message, "The meeting with Oswald is set

    for tomorrow, but I''ve got clients to see, so I can''t join you."

    After graduating, Ynda had opened an antique shop with some family backing, and she also

    helped Rosemary snag some gigs from time to time.

    She texted back "Okay" and, after breakfast, headed out.

    Moving out from Meadork Retreat, she needed to find a new ce to crash. Staying close to

    work would be convenient.

    Rosemary hit up a rental agency and locked down a two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment by

    noon. It was close to the studio, not too much furniture to worry about, and she could turn the spare

    room into her workspace.

    The best part? The property was well-managed, requiring ID for entry and exit.

    Lease signed, Rosemary saw she still had time to kill and decided to hit the mall. Ynda''s birthday

    wasing up, and she wanted to splurge on a bag for her.

    Ynda had been yapping about this season''s new release for ages, and this mall had the brand.

    Rosemary rode the elevator to the seventh floor, where a sales assistant approached, "Looking for

    anything in particr, Miss?"

    High-end shoppers usually had their eye on something specific.

    "Got the summer hit bag in stock?"

    The sales assistant gave an apologetic grin, "Sorry, that''s a limited edition. All imed at our store."

    A bit bummed, Rosemary uttered, ¡°Okay, thanks.¡±

    As she turned to leave when a power-dressed woman breezed in, telling the shopping guide, "I''m

    here for the limited editiondies'' bag Mr. Templeton reserved a few days ago."

    Rosemary froze, her fingers slowly curling into fists. The Templeton surname was umon, and

    she knew the woman - Victoria''s agent, a face from the news.

    The guide responded, "Sure, but we need to confirm with Mr. Templeton. May I have your name and

    ID for verification?"

    "I''m picking it up for Ms. Victoria Temple. I''m Tracy, her agent."

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    The guide went to check Maxwell''s contact on theputer.

    Rosemary didn''t want to linger; the brief sh of heartache had numbed her. With a divorce on the

    horizon, it wasn''t her ce to care who he gifted bags to.

    As she was about to leave, Tracy stopped her, "Ms. Chambers."

    Rosemary hadn''t expected to be recognized. She raised an eyebrow, "What''s up?"

    Without mincing words, Tracy got straight to the point, "Ms. Chambers, you''re young and attractive.

    Why cling to a man who doesn''t love you? Better to let go now while you can stillnd someone

    decent."

    "Is that what Victoria told you to say?" Rosemary''s chin tilted with defiance, "My, how times have

    changed. Back in the day, mistresses hid in the shadows, scared of being dunked in a pig cage.

    Now they''ve got the guts to taunt the wife to her face?"

    Her posture as she spoke was utterly dominant.

    "Not being loved is what makes a mistress." Tracy didn¡¯t show any sign of backing away, "Victoria

    and Mr. Templeton are meant to be."

    "Tracy, not married yet, are you?" Rosemary''s eyes narrowed, her seductive charm sneaking

    through, "When you tie the knot, I''ll be sure to introduce your husband to a few ''closedy friends¡¯.

    Just to honor your magnanimity."

    Tracy''s smile stiffened. Before she could snap back, Rosemary''s tone was soft but intimidating, "As

    for the bag, please ry a message to Ms. Temple. Tell her to send half its cost to my ount.

    Sure, it''s from Maxwell, but we''re not divorced yet. It''s our joint property. If that transfer''s not in my

    ount within three days, she can expect a letter from mywyer."

    Tracy didn''t see iting. The woman who seemed all quiet and unassuming turned out to be a

    real firecracker, a tough nut to crack!

    For a moment, even Tracy, who had usually got the gift of the gab, was at a loss for words.

    Rosemary was about to make her exit when the shopping guide behind her called out, trembling,

    "Mrs. Templeton, Mr. Templeton asked you to wait for him here."

    Before making the call, the shopping guide had no clue she''d be walking into such a bombshell of a

    situation. And she certainly didn''t expect that, although she called Mr. Templeton''s assistant, it

    would be Mr. Templeton himself who picked up the phone!

 Chapter 9

    Rosemary would be kicked in the head by a donkey to wait around for Maxwell. But she

    underestimated a man¡¯s pace and barely made it to the door before spotting his tall, poised figure

    approaching.

    Maxwell was decked out in a sleek ck shirt, crisply ironed suit pants that fit him like a glove,

    looking dashing and exuding an air of aristocracy. His natural haughtiness was impossible to ignore.

    Handsome face, charming aura, young and loaded. If one overlooked the fact that he was a total

    jerk, Maxwell was the definition of a dream guy. With Christ tagging along by his side, his regal

    presence was undeniable.

    In the few seconds Rosemary stood there gobsmacked, Maxwell was already in front of her, his

    furrowed brow signaling his current displeasure, "Jason said you didn¡¯te homest night?"

    He came all this way just to ask that?

    "Didn''t Jason ry my message? I won''t being back, not justst night but never."

    Rosemary turned to leave from the other side but was blocked by Christ, "Assistant Chambers, Mr.

    Templeton knew you were upstairs and that¡¯s why he came."

    So what? Was she supposed to be overwhelmed with gratitude?

    Christ was one of the few who knew the real deal between her and Maxwell, but he always

    addressed her as ¡°Assistant Chambers¡± or ¡°Ms. Chambers¡±.

    After three years of being Maxwell''s caregiver, not just him, even his cronies never considered her

    Mrs. Templeton, not even bothering with a pretense.

    Rosemary was peeved at Christ blocking her way.

    "Rosemary." Maxwell''s voice was tinged with irritation, "A little squabble adds spice to a marriage,

    but too much is overkill. You didn''t take any of your clothes, shoes, or jewelry with you. You want me

    to sweet-talk you intoing back, don¡¯t you? Christ, make a dinner reservation."

    After issuing hismand, he turned to Rosemary, "Let''s have dinner tonight. Pick whatever you

    want at the jewelry exhibitioning up."

    This was Maxwell¡¯s typical way of cating her after a fight: handbags, clothes, jewelry - anything

    money could buy. Rosemary used to console herself thinking he was just clueless about treating

    women, until she saw his tender care for Victoria and realized what a p in the face it was.

    Sheughed sarcastically, "Those things? I didn¡¯t take them because they''re a gift for Victoria. She

    loves picking up other people''s castoffs, right? Consider that junk my wedding gift to you two!"

    Tracy interjected, "Mrs. Templeton, you''ve really got Victoria wrong. She may have feelings for Mr.

    Templeton, but she never thought about breaking up anyone''s marriage! She just asked Mr.

    Templeton to help her order the bag because she didn''t have a membership to do it herself. If you

    like it, we''ll let you have it. There''s no need to insult her with words like ''mistress''."

    If there were ranks for angelic bitch, this one in front of her was top-tier. Since they wanted to drag

    this dispute over a handbag, Rosemary turned around with a flirty smile, "Well then, I should thank

    you."

    That bag was really hard to get; Ynda would definitely love it. And why not? She didn''t have to

    pay a dime. As for Maxwell, who cared what he thought.

    As she headed towards the cashier, Maxwell grabbed her wrist, "Stop it. If you like it, I¡¯ll order

    another one for you. It won¡¯t take much longer."

    A twinge struck Rosemary''s heart, and her eyes felt a sour sting. Thinking about her three years of

    widow-like marriage, her own battered self, and the favored Victoria, Maxwell''s message was clear:

    the bag was for Victoria, not for her to touch.

    Her face went pale, but she didn''t let him see, casually pointing to a men''s bag and telling the

    shopping guide, "This men''s bag, wrap it up for me."

    Maxwell pressed his lips; seeing she wasn''t mad and even buying him a gift, his gloomy mood from

    the past few days lightened a bit.

    Although, Maxwell didn''t actually like that men''s bag. His voice softened, "Let''s go to dinner tonight,

    and I¡¯ll have someone move your stuff back from Ynda¡¯s."

    Rosemary ignored him and continued with the guide, "Can you include a greeting card?"

    T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    The guide nodded, "Certainly."

    "Then write: ''Mr. Joe, Happy Valentine¡¯s Day.''"

    Maxwell''s eyelid twitched violently, his grip on her wrist tightening, and he questioned, "Who is Mr.

    Joe?"

    Rosemary casually replied, "Oh, he¡¯s my date for tonight."

    She yanked her hand out of Maxwell''s grip, "Mr. Templeton, cut it out. If you like it, I¡¯ll order another

    one for you. It won¡¯t take much longer."

    His own words being thrown back at him made Maxwell''s forehead veins pop, his jawline tense.

    The guide finished the transaction, but with the situation so tense, they didn''t dare speak up.

    Rosemary passed her card over, "Swipe it."

    Maxwell''s handsome face darkened with a cold aura, "Rosemary, you think with your sry, you

    can afford this bag?"

    The unlimited Centurion ck card he had given her before was already cut off, and apart from the

    huge expense at the hotel the other night, she hadn''t used any money from it all year.

    Even without eating or drinking and saving for a year, it would barely be over five thousand, not

    even half the price of the bag.

    But the card was approved. Rosemary took the gift-wrapped box from the shopping guide and

    walked away. Maxwell watched her leave, his eyes nearly spitting fire.

    Once outside the mall, Rosemary felt deted, and seeing it was gettingte, she hailed a cab to

    Ynda''s antique store.

    Ynda was free at the moment and hurried to greet her, "Why are you here? Didn''t you say you

    were going to cook for me tonight?"

    Rosemary tossed the gift box to her and slumped onto the sofa, "Don''t ask. Just had bad luck."

    Ynda, clutching the gift box, had stars in her eyes, "What''s this? A birthday present for me?"

    Rosemary, with her eyes shut, murmured a vague reply, "Mm-hmm."

    Ynda ripped open the wrapping, all giddy, but when she saw the men''s bag inside, her

    excitement deted, "Even if you think I''m notdylike, there''s no need to rub it in my face like this."

    Rosemary replied nonchntly, "You could re-gift it to your boyfriend."

    Ynda was speechless. What boyfriend? Did the guys from the club - Kevin, Andy, Jeff - count?

    After taking a brief break and letting her mood mellow, Rosemary recounted the whole mall incident.

    Upon hearing about Maxwell insisting that Rosemary move back in, Ynda found it bizarre. After a

    moment of silence, she dropped a bombshell, "Don''t tell me that douchebag Maxwell has fallen for

    you?"

 Chapter 10

    Rosemary was staring at her like she''d seen a ghost, "You like someone and you let them y the

    merry widower for three years? Man, your love is really something else!"

    Ynda nodded in agreement, "True that. But why is he so hell-bent on having you move back in?

    After all, you''ve got to move out again in three months. It''s totally pointless."

    Rosemary was clueless and couldn''t care less about digging deeper.

    Out for dinner, Rosemary ordered a ridiculously spicy broth that made her sweat buckets, but it was

    a seriously refreshing kind of torture.

    At night, worried that the guy would pull another stunt, Rosemary just shut her phone off. The next

    morning she got up at the crack of dawn, packed her stuff into the car, and moved to her newly

    rented ce.

    After sprucing up her outfit a bit, she headed to her soon-to-be workce.

    Heritage Revive Studio.

    Oswald, the head honcho there, was well into his sixties, not the tallest dude around, but his jaw

    dropped when he saw Rosemary!

    "You''re the ''Rose'', the restorer?"

    Rosemary nodded politely, "Yep, that''s me."

    Throughout the years, Rosemary didn¡¯t take on many projects, but the ones she did were tough as

    nails, so she had quite the rep in the industry.

    But she didn¡¯t want to bask in the limelight, so she never used her real name. Her stage name was

    a no-brainer - just "Rose".

    Before this, Oswald had never met her in person, only seen the masterpieces she''d restored. Her

    skills were top-notch, her technique impable. Some of her work was so on point that even the

    old-timers in the biz doubted they could match it, but Rose nailed it every time.

    In Oswald¡¯s mind, he had pictured Rose to be someone around his age, not a youngss!

    "I''ve seen your restoration work. You''re really going ces for someone so young!"

    Rosemary chuckled, "You tter me. There''s a lot I still need to learn."

    While chatting, Oswald walked her over to a vacant spot, "This is your workstation. Hans." He called

    someone over, "Grab a few pieces for our new colleague to get acquainted with."

    As a restorer, identifying the era, origin, and authenticity of cultural relics was bread and butter stuff.

    Normally, he would waive the entry assessment for someone he personally invited, but Rosemary

    was not what he expected, better stick to the protocol.

    Hans quickly brought over a few relics from different periods, carefullyying them out on the table.

    Seeing this, the rest of the studio crew gathered around, murmuring, "Didn''t they say a pro was

    joining today? Why''s it just a young girl?"

    "Probably someone padding their resume, thinking they could snag some prestige working here, but

    got caught by a tough nut like Oswald who wants to test her."

    ¡°I heard in order to get her recruited, Oswald has personally asked for others¡¯ help. Looks like he¡¯s

    gonna be disappointed!¡±

    As they chatted, Rosemary had already identified the pieces on the table - era, origin, and even

    some intricate details and quirks, spot on.

    Hans was surprised, "That was fast."

    As Oswald''s protege, he''d been in the game since graduating from college nearly a decade ago,

    and to be honest, even he couldn''t identify them as quickly.

    Oswald nodded in approval, acknowledging Rosemary''s theoretical chops, but as for her practical

    skills, they''d have to see her in action.

    Since he''d never seen Rosemary''s restoration work firsthand, he didn''t dare to give her an authentic

    piece to work on, so he asked Hans to bring over a fake, a practice piece for her to restore.

    "Don''t take it personally; it''s just how we do things around here. Those relics are priceless and

    irreceable, so we''re a bit extra cautious when ites to picking the right person."

    Rosemary got it. Restoration work could be a lengthy and monotonous process, and since everyone

    had low expectations for Rosemary - she looked more like an apprentice than a master - interest

    fizzled out and people dispersed.

    It wasn¡¯t until closing time, when they saw the finished product of her restoration, that everyone was

    gobsmacked.

    Someone murmured wistfully, "When I started here, it took me three days to fix that shard."

    Everyone was dazzled by Rosemary''s speedy yet superb restoration skills, all except Oswald. He

    was peering at the restored shard in his hands through his reading sses, silent for a long while. If

    one watched closely, it was easy to find his fingers trembling uncontrobly.

    Oswald looked up at Rosemary, his eyes holding aplex mix of emotions, "What''s your

    connection with Rosalind?"

    At that name, Rosemary''s eyes flickered dramatically, but it was a fleeting moment missed by all.

    After a brief silence, she replied, "Heard of her, but never met her."

    Rosalind, once the brightest star in the restoration field, a jack-of-all-trades talent whose

    craftsmanship was described as ¡°transcendent, divinely inspired¡±. Anyone in the biz knew her

    name, but she vanished shortly after making a ssh.

    For years, her whereabouts remained a mystery.

    Oswald pressed on, "But your technique, it''s like it was cut from the same cloth as hers."

    "My grandpa was also a restorer; I learned from him."

    Oswald''s face darkened slightly, and then he just nodded, not prying further, though clearly

    disappointed. Regardless, Rosemary''s talent was undeniable. Oswald introduced her to everyone

    formally, "This is Rose, our new colleague."

    Hans was shocked, "Rose? The one I''ve heard about? But shouldn''t that be an elder? How could it

    be a young girl, and such a looker at that?"

    Oswald shot him a look that told him to zip it.

    "Don''t mind him, Rose."

    Rosemary just smiled. Oswald went on to introduce the rest of the team. The studio was a cozy

    bunch, just eight or nine folks, all down-to-earth and genuinelyplimentary, nothing like the

    passive-aggressive vibe she used to get at the Templeton Group.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Rosemary was digging it, especially since it was her passion. After work, the studio gang decided to

    grab a meal together, a Heritage Revive Studio tradition. Whenever a new member joined, they

    would all go out for a weing feast.

    It was a seafood joint, and right across from it was this fancy restaurant. Up on the second floor, by

    the floor-to-ceiling windows, Archer Winters was taking a smoke break and casually nced down.

    He cocked his chin up a bit and nudged Maxwell, "Hey, check it out. Isn''t that Rosemary over

    there?"

    Maxwell lifted his gaze following Archer''s nod and, sure enough, spotted Rosemary down there,

    yukking it up with a few folks.

 Chapter 11

    The bustling seafood joint was thick with the scent of life and cooking.

    Rosemary''s slightly curly hair was pulled up into a simple bun with a clip. As she looked down, stray

    locks fell and covered her profile, making her fair skin stand out even more against her hair.

    She pointed at the menu, turned her head, and muttered something to the guy next to her. He

    nodded, and Rosemary cracked a smile, reaching out to g down a waiter.

    Archer raised an eyebrow, "Looks like your wife is having the time of her life without you, huh?"

    Maxwell didn''t say a word and just turned to leave the private room.

    Back in the seafood joint, Hans was chugging a beer, still in disbelief, "Are you really Rose? The

    Rose who restored that severely damaged porcin vase?"

    Rosemary was speechless. Hans had asked her the same question over and over again on their

    way there, and by now, she didn''t even know how to respond anymore.

    Oswald kicked him under the table, "Ease up on the booze. Rose, don''t mind him."

    Rosemary obediently replied, "Okay."

    "Food''s up; careful, it''s hot!" The waiter announced, bringing over a te of steamed ms with

    minced garlic. Just as Rosemary picked up her utensils, her phone rang.

    She put down her utensils and fished out her phone from her bag. Her finger was about to slide the

    answer button when she saw Maxwell''s name on the screen. She paused, didn''t answer, and

    eventually put the phone on silent mode and back on the table.

    The phone rang twice and then stopped. Rosemary wasn''t surprised; Maxwell was never the patient

    type. In the past, if she was a tad slow to answer, he''d hang up.

    But what was different this time was that shortly after the call ended, a message popped up.

    She tapped on it and was taken aback the next second - it was from Maxwell, just some blunt

    words, "Come over here."

    Rosemary frowned, her gaze inadvertently sweeping around, finally resting on the ck Bentley at

    the entrance of the opposite five-star hotel.

    Maxwell''s car was custom-made; she could recognize it at a nce. Rosemary ignored it and

    continued with her meal, yet clearly distracted.

    Hans thought she was being shy because she wasn''t eating much, so he helped her out by putting

    some shrimp in her bowl, "Don''t be so formal. The folks at Heritage Revive Studio are chill. Just

    treat us like friends. And if you ever need to take a day off, Oswald won''t stop you for a second.

    He''d be d to see the back of us."

    It was tough to keep people in their line of work. Casting aside promotions, just finding a boyfriend

    was a nightmare when they were dealing with dead things all day long. After a hard day''s work,

    there was barely any time left.

    Few young people could endure the hardship and loneliness, so Oswald tried to make concessions

    whenever he could, just to keep people around. They were prettyid-back with the rules.

    Rosemary smiled, "Thanks."

    She was about to dig into the shrimp when another message from Maxwell popped up, "Shall I

    come there, or will youe over?"

    Even through the screen, she could feel his simmering anger and displeasure.

    She knew Maxwell''s temper all too well. She quickly finished the shrimp Hans had served her, put

    down her utensils, and apologized, "Sorry Oswald, I''ve got an emergency to deal with. My Uber''s

    here, and the driver keeps rushing me. I need to go."

    Oswald was easy-going, "Sure, go ahead. I''m about to head out myself. Can''t keep up with you

    young folks anymore."

    Rosemary apologized to the others and then picked up her bag and made a beeline for the Bentley.

    She got into the passenger seat with urgency, "Let''s go."

    Maxwell''s already sour mood darkened a few shades more, and his anger became harder to

    contain. Instead of driving off, he reached out and grabbed her chin, "Am I that embarrassing to

    you?"

    Rosemary winced a bit from the pain but refused to back down in front of Maxwell. During their

    three-year marriage, she had always been the one to give in, and it never earned her an ounce of

    his tenderness. She wasn''t about to start pampering him now.

    "We''re getting a divorce. I don''t want people getting the wrong idea, thinking I''m still tangled up with

    my ex."

    He stared at her soft lips, his rough fingertips pressing down, "Did you enjoy the shrimp?"

    Rosemary caught the hidden meaning behind his words right away.

    Ha, typical male ego. Even if he didn''t want her, he couldn''t stand the thought of someone else

    touching her.

    But she was determined to show him she wouldn''t be oppressed. She raised an eyebrow at him,

    "Of course, it was..."

    Before she could finish, Maxwell''s lips crashed down on hers, cutting off her words. The scent of

    tobo mixed with a faint smell of alcohol invaded her nostrils; his kiss was as dominant as he

    was, leaving no room for refusal.

    Rosemary was caught off guard. In all their time married, he rarely kissed her, and any loss of

    control was always within limits, always able to stop on a dime.

    But this time.

    In the brief moment her thoughts drifted, his hand had already crept up under her blouse, his rough

    palm tracing her waistline, hinting at moving higher.

    For a second, Rosemary had the illusion that if she didn''t stop him, Maxwell might actually have his

    way with her in the car.

    She closed her eyes and made a risky move.

    "Mmph," he inhaled sharply, releasing her, but his lips were still dangerously close, as if ready to

    kiss her again any second.

    Maxwell wiped his mouth with his finger, revealing a trace of blood, and smirked, colder than if he

    hadn''t smiled at all, "You bit me?"

    Rosemary wiped her lips with her sleeve, visibly disgusted, "What''s the matter, Victoria not

    satisfying you? Got you running around all hot and bothered like a rutting deer?"

    Maxwell was unfazed, "We''re still married. It''s safer to touch you than her."

    The word "safer" was dripping with irony! Rosemaryughed out of sheer anger, wishing she could

    p him right then and there, "If she knew how lousy you are, she''d probably dump you again,

    huh?"

    Before her voice trailed off, a knocking sound came from outside the car - it was someone tapping

    on the window.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Both turned to look and saw Hans bending over, trying to see if anyone was inside the car. The car

    windows were tinted with privacy film - one could see out from the inside, but no one could peek in

    from the outside.

    Maxwell didn''t bother rolling down his window, just gave Hans a once-over with a picky eye. Then

    the man''s voice, cool and mocking, cut through the air, "This is the new guy you''ve hooked up

    with?"

    Hans wasn''t decked out in luxury brands, but his clothes were top-notch, and the watch on his wrist

    was worth over one grand. To Maxwell, who threw around money like it was nothing, that was

    chump change - not even enough to cover his bill for a single meal.

    Before Rosemary could respond, Maxwell''s gaze slid from Hans to the seafood joint across the

    street, "You made a huge fuss about divorcing me, all for a guy who takes you to these kind of grub

    shacks?"

    Each of his words was nastier and more spiteful than thest, "Rosemary, have you had your fill of

    exotic delicacies and now you''re craving some in ol'' porridge?"

    Rosemary looked at his cold profile, her heart sinking as she thought about all the wasted years,

    "Yeah, Mr. Templeton, you''re loaded and easy on the eyes, and you don''t think twice about dropping

    hundreds of thousands even millions on gifts. But your wife would rather chow down at a street food

    stall than stay married to you. Makes you wonder why, doesn''t it?"

 Chapter 12

    The car fell into an eerie silence for a while.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Maxwell cocked his head to look at her, "Because you''re an idiot, got a screw loose, blind as a bat."

    "I mean, really." Rosemary couldn''t help butugh in exasperation, "Why would I bother wasting

    time shooting the breeze with a pig?"

    She turned to open the car door, but Maxwell grabbed her in a sh, his handsome face as grim as

    a thundercloud.

    Outside, Hans, seeing no movement inside, rapped on the window more frantically, "Rose, are you

    alright in there?"

    "Rose?" The man''s eyes narrowed with a chilly gleam, "Pretty cozy with the pet names, huh? Can''t

    wait to hook up with other man even before the ink is dry on the divorce papers? But gotta say, your

    taste in men has taken a nosedive."

    Thatst line was through gritted teeth. Rosemary couldn''t be bothered to clear up the

    misunderstanding the name had caused. It didn''t matter anymore.

    "Yeah, my taste in men has always been crap, hasn''t it? Ended up marrying you, didn''t I? Hans is

    just a co...a friend. Just because you y dirty doesn''t mean everyone''s out to y dirty like you."

    She could throw shade at him, but she wouldn''t drag an innocent person down with her. She didn''t

    say ¡°colleague¡± because she didn''t want to get into a never-ending argument with Maxwell, and

    besides, wasn''t there something more important they should be discussing right now?

    "When you have some free time, let''s hit up City Hall and get the divorce papers signed."

    Hearing her bring up divorce again made Maxwell''s temples throb violently. Rosemary didn''t give a

    fig about his expression; she just kept talking, "If it''s because of the contract not being up yet, I can

    pay the penalty."

    She wasn''t sure which part had set Maxwell off, but his eyes were practically spitting fire, "Does

    your new me know you''re still hitched? What would he think if he saw us getting cozy in the car?"

    Rosemary thought to herself, ¡°Damn it, is he even listening to a word I¡¯m saying?¡±

    But when she caught the knowing look in his eyes, her heart skipped a beat! The next moment,

    Maxwell showed her he wasn''t kidding around.

    His hands mped around her slender waist, pulling her into his embrace, and then he leaned

    down for a kiss.

    The console between them didn''t do a thing to stop his advances. One hand found the seat

    adjustment button, and with the other supporting Rosemary''s waist, the seat reclined back, and she

    was pinned underneath him.

    This was the first time Rosemary saw Maxwell lose control like this, she squirmed, "Let me go!"

    With her struggle, the car shook, and the knocking outside suddenly stopped.

    This scene. Good luck to anyone not getting the wrong idea!

    Rosemary immediately froze, ring at Maxwell with red-rimmed eyes, her lips swollen from the

    kiss, looking utterly victimized.

    Maxwell saw her like this, his mood softening; he pressed his hand to his temple, "Send him away; I

    won''t touch you."

    The moment he withdrew, Rosemary hurriedly tidied up her disheveled clothes and hair, then

    pushed the door open and stepped out, mming the car door shut with a bang!

    Outside, Hans stepped back as the door opened, "Rose, did that guy in the car bully you?"

    In the moment before the door shut, he caught a glimpse of the man inside, those eyes flickering

    like a bottomless pool.

    And that suit on the man, Hans had seen it in magazines before, easily a six-figure price tag, and

    the car.

    This guy didn''t look like an Uber driver from any angle.

    Rosemary knew what Hans was thinking, but she just shook her head, "I''m fine, thanks. You go

    grab some food; I''m heading out."

    Without waiting for him to say more, she gged down a taxi, gave the driver the address of her

    new apartment, and the car sped off in a cloud of dust.

    Back home, Rosemary headed to the bathroom. After a shower, she called thewyer who had

    helped her draft the divorce agreement, "Louis, what are my chances of winning a divorcewsuit

    under these circumstances?"

    "If you want the property division you mentioned before...it''s going to be tough," Louis remembered

    Rosemary''s case vividly because of the massive property involved and the husband''s status.

    "What if I don''t care about the property?"

    Rosemary had never expected to get a slice of Maxwell''s wealth. She had listed it just to tick him

    off.

    "Then it depends on how much Mr. Templeton wants the divorce. You can still file, but if Mr.

    Templeton disagrees, it could drag on for a long time. Without evidence of abuse or irreconcble

    differences, judges tend to advocate for reconciliation, and if they don''t grant the divorce the first

    time, you have to wait three months to appeal."

    Rosemary figured that the main reason Maxwell was clinging to her was that she had brought up

    divorce first, bruising his ego, and the timing made it easy for people to assume Victoria was the

    other woman.

    But they were secretly married. If this went to court, everyone would find out, and Victoria would

    never shake off the homewreckerbel. For Victoria''s sake, Maxwell would surely agree to the

    divorce.

    Rosemary pressed her lips, "Louis, draft awyer''s letter and send it to him for me."

    After hanging up, she let out a long sigh.

    Louis was quick. The next morning, Maxwell received thewyer''s letter. Christ, who always

    checked Maxwell''s mail first, had a bad feeling the moment he saw it.

    Sure enough, the atmosphere in the office plummeted a few degrees as he saw Mr. Templeton''s

    frosty expression and tentatively said, "Mr. Templeton, Ms. Chambers might just be ying hardball

    with you."

    Maxwell looked up, sweeping Christ with an icy re, "Find out what Rosemary''s been up totely."

    What kind of lucrative job had shended or who had she hooked up with to be so bold as to send

    him awyer''s letter!

    It wasn''t hard to track Rosemary''s movements, and by noon Christ had exact news, "Ms. Chambers

    is currently working at Heritage Revive Studio."

    "Heritage Revive Studio?"

    ¡°A restoration studio that''s big news in the antiquities game, they only handle the tough gigs, the big

    league stuff. Only the cream of the crop gets in there, real national treasures.¡±

    Maxwell frowned, he couldn''t recall Rosemary ever messing with that sort of thing, though she did

    graduate from some fancy art college.

    "She can fix up antiques?"

    "Nah, Ms. Chambers is in there as a janitor."

    Christ had to check it out himself, and saw Rosemary sweeping the floor with his own eyes. Just to

    make sure he wasn''t barking up the wrong tree, he even asked around to confirm she was indeed a

    janitor.

    "A janitor?" Maxwell snorted, tossing thewyer''s letter away, "Seems thedy of leisure got bored

    of her pampered life, itching for a taste of the real world. I''ve been spoiling her rotten these past

    couple of years; should''ve had her hustling for a living, that would''ve kept her too busy to stir up

    trouble."

    Truth be told, Christ felt kind of sorry for Ms. Chambers. As the wife of the president of the

    Templeton Group, it was bad enough nobody knew it, but she was also slumming it serving tea and

    running errands; even her takeout ended up in the trash.

    Anyone else would''ve probably flipped their lid and stuck the takeout box right on Mr. Templeton''s

    forehead!

    "Get out," he dismissed Christ, and then called Rosemary.

    Right then, Rosemary was in the middle of a delicate restoration job, and the buzz from her phone

    nearly made her slip up.

    Already in a foul mood, seeing that name shing on the screen only cranked up her irritation. She

    knew why Maxwell was calling; he must have gotten thewyer''s letter by now.

    Before she could get a word out, the man''s mocking voice came through, "Rosemary, do you have

    any idea how much property goes for in Greenwood these days?"

    "What?"

    "With that pitiful janitor''s paycheck of yours, bet you can''t even make rent, huh?"

 Chapter 13

    Maxwell must have thought he''d given her a good enough nudge because his tone mellowed out a

    bit, "A little tiff between husband and wife can be spicy, but if you overdo it, it just gets nd. I don''t

    have time to y this divorce-remarry drama with you. Move back in tonight. I''ll let your recent

    shenanigans slide."

    Rosemary didn''t really listen to him, nor did she ponder why he mentioned "janitor¡±. All she heard

    was him dissing her for her low sry, not being able to afford rent, and her dramatics!

    "Maxwell, what the hell is wrong with you? Even if my sry is crap, I''d rather crash in a bridge

    nook munching on near-expired buns than move back in with you. Either you hustle and get that

    divorce paperwork sorted with me, or I''ll see you in court!"

    She hung up the phone on him and chucked him straight into the cklist. She wanted to block him

    on WhatsApp too, but she held back, figuring she needed to keep at least one line open for divorce

    talks.

    Rosemary swore, the moment she got that certificate, she''d block that jerk Maxwell and never cross

    paths with him again.

    Meanwhile, a couple of colleagues were gossiping nearby, "That hunk who came asking about Zora

    this morning, wow, wonder if he''s married."

    Rosemary was taken aback for a second; the guy who hade to the studio this morning was

    Christ. She did see him, but she was busy mopping up some water she''d spilled, so she couldn''t be

    bothered to chat and just walked off.

    And at that time, she recalled that Zora was right there cleaning her desk.

    The colleagues were still joking around, "He was asking about Zora''s job in our studio? With her

    cleaning uniform on and mop in hand, isn''t it obvious?"

    That was when Rosemary realized why Christ hade. It all made sense. Knowing Maxwell had

    the wrong idea, she didn''t call to exin; she didn''t need to report her job to him.

    She thought Maxwell would agree to the divorce quickly after getting thewyer''s letter, but a week

    had gone by with no peep from him.

    Rosemary was getting antsy, but all she could do was wait. After work, Ynda invited her to a

    trendy new restaurant. Rosemary, with her flexible schedule, went ahead to grab a seat.

    She had just sat down when the ce filled up, and seeing the long line outside, she was d she

    came early.

    Head down, she was texting Ynda the table number when she heard a voice overhead, not quite

    familiar, "Rosemary, you here by yourself? Mind if I join your table? I got herete, and the waiter

    said it''s at least a two-hour wait."

    Rosemary looked up to see Victoria in herdylike outfit, light makeup on, not strikingly gorgeous

    features but a prettybo that turned heads.

    Rosemary t-out refused, "Not really convenient."

    But Victoria sat down anyway. Rosemary''s face chilled instantly, "Ms. Temple, can''t you understand

    words?"

    Victoria looked apologetic, "Are you still mad at me? The night you married Maxwell, I didn''t mean

    to call him; I didn''t think he woulde."

    Rosemary cut her off, not wanting to hear about the past, "It''s not about hate, just pure dislike for a

    drama queen."

    With that said, it was time to drop the subject unless someone wanted to humiliate herself. Victoria

    went silent for a few seconds, her gazeplicated, and then probed, "I heard you''re getting a

    divorce with Maxwell?"

    Rosemary wasn''t surprised she knew, yet the thought that Maxwell was clearly stringing her along

    while eagerly sharing the news with others made her curse them silently a thousand times!

    Meeting Victoria''s inquiring eyes, Rosemary put down her phone and smirked sarcastically, "Yeah,

    but he won''t agree. He''s like gum on my shoe, can''t shake him off, totally annoying! I thought he''d

    be over the moon to get rid of me for Ms. Temple." She snorted, tossing out a conclusion, "Turns

    out, you''re nothing special either."

    Victoria''s face went through a series of changes, her hands clenched on herp, her fresh manicure

    digging into her skin.

    Rosemary saw Victoria like this, her mood lifting, slightly arching her lips upwards, "Ms. Temple,

    could you please not hog the seat? It''s a bit sickening."

    Victoria held back her anger, notshing out, and watched Rosemary ignore her and y with her

    phone. Then she asked lightly, "Are you ying hard to get with this divorce, or is it because Martin

    is back?"

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Martin. Rosemary''s expression froze, a name she hadn''t heard since getting married, felt like a

    st from the past.

    When did he return? She wasn''t in the same circles as him, but they had mutual friends. Maxwell

    and him were tight as thieves, yet she hadn''t heard a peep.

    Seeing Rosemary stunned, Victoria felt she scored a point, the gloom in her eyes dissipating, and

    she prodded further deliberately, "Why act so innocent? You''ve been in touch with him all along,

    right? Have you already made your move behind the scenes? I mean, you almost ended up in his

    bed once."

    The sharp sound of a p echoed, shocking the people waiting outside the restaurant and cutting

    off Victoria''s words.

    Rosemary, looking at Victoria holding her face in shock, was even surprised herself that she had

    lashed out. The burning pain in her palm was a clear reminder of the force of her p.

    "Rosemary!" A dark voice called from behind her. That sound?

    Before she could turn around, Maxwell was already beside Victoria, looking down at her with a

    menacing air, the hostility enveloping the surroundings, "What do you think you''re doing?"

    With Maxwell''s arrival and a painful face, Victoria''s eyes turned instantly red, as if her savior had

    finally arrived.

    Rosemary wasn''t the least bit scared of the guy''s interrogation, casually shaking off her sore hand,

    "What does it look like? I socked someone."

    "Maxwell." Victoria clung to the man, wrapping her arms around his waist, her voice husky with a

    tinge of distress, "I didn''t mean to tick off Ms. Chambers. I just casually mentioned Martin, but I

    never expected her tosh out. If I had known Ms. Chambers was still hung up on him, I never

    would''ve brought him up."

    Maxwell heard the reason, his face turning stormy, his lips curling into a mocking sneer. Looked like

    after all these years, she was still not over that dude.

    He red at Rosemary, his wordsced with authority, "Apologize."

    Even though she saw iting, the fact that he sided with Victoria without even asking for her side

    of the story, it''d gotta sting.

    But Rosemary wasn''t about to let Maxwell see her crumble. She tilted her head defiantly, locking

    eyes with him. Then, out of the blue, she shed a cheeky grin, her eyes sparkling with a brazen

    charm, a tant taunt, "Dream on."

    Apologize to Victoria? That''d happen when pigs flew!

    Maxwell''s eyes narrowed, his lips turned down, pressing into an unhappy line, "I said apologize;

    don''t make me say it a third time."

    His words were seething with anger. Rosemary thought, geez, to get Maxwell this riled up, she must

    be the worst, right? Little did she know, it wasn''t the fact she hit someone that got him mad.

    "I''ll say it again too, no way!"

    After taking a firm stand, Rosemary was totally off her food. She grabbed her bag and was ready to

    bolt.

    But before she could make her grand exit, her arm was yanked back with a vengeance, followed by

    Maxwell''s voice, furious to the max, "Causing all this drama just to get a divorce, huh? Fine, I''ll grant

    you your wish. Tomorrow morning, nine o''clock, let¡¯s get it done!"

 Chapter 14

    Maxwell agreeing to a divorce out of the blue really caught Rosemary off guard. But it was

    something she''d been dying for, right?

    With a victorious grin, she said, "Thanks for giving me the green light, Mr. Templeton."

    Then she spun on her heel and left that vibe-killing ce behind.

    Back home that evening, Rosemary tossed all the documents she''d need in the morning into her

    bag. But when she caught sight of their photo, she zoned out for a second.

    This was their only pic together in three years of marriage. She stared at the expressionless dude in

    the photo, a pang of hurt starting to creep up on her.

    At least it was finally curtains for this soul-sucking marriage. No more sitting in an echoey living

    room every night, eyeballing the clock on the wall, wondering if her hubby woulde home, or

    getting all fluttery over his idental touches, only to realize she''d been foolishly sentimental.

    Rosemary took onest look at the photo, and then nonchntly slid the certificate into her bag.

    The next day, she was up at the crack of dawn, after a night of tossing and turning in a half-sleep

    daze.

    Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, she faced her pale, haggard reflection, with two telltale

    dark circles under her eyes. To look a bit more alive, Rosemary dolled herself up with a heavier

    makeup job.

    Fearing traffic, she left early, but the roads were clear, and she barely hit any red lights before

    reaching the ce.

    Checking the time, she was an hour early. It seemed even God thought their divorce was the right

    move, letting her breeze through rush hour to her destination.

    In the peak of summer, the 8 a.m. sun was scorching. Rosemary found a shady spot to wait in. That

    was when she got a message from Ynda, "Rosemary, need me to tag along?"

    She cracked a smile and replied, "Nah, it''s not like I''m heading to a brawl. I can handle a divorce

    solo."

    No sooner had she sent the message than a call came in from the Templeton vi. Only Wendy

    would call from that number, and it had to be about Pearl.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Rosemary frowned, not really in the mood to answer. With the divorce just around the corner, she

    didn''t want anyst-minute curveballs.

    As she hesitated, the call dropped. She breathed a sigh of relief, but then Wendy was on the line

    again.

    Rosemary''s frown deepened. A repeat call? Must be something urgent. A wave of anxiety hit her,

    and without overthinking, she answered, "Wendy, what''s up?"

    "Mrs. Rosemary Templeton, Mrs. Pearl Templeton just passed out while eating breakfast! Hurry over

    to the hospital; the doc needs a family member to sign off!" Wendy sounded close to tears.

    Rosemary''s face tensed up as she bolted to hail a cab, replying, "Got it. Keep cool; I''m on my way!"

    Half an hourter, the car parked outside the hospital. She dashed into the emergency room, a

    familiar route by now.

    Upon seeing her, Wendy rushed over, clutching Pearl''s shawl, "Mrs. Pearl Templeton fell asleep in

    the tubst night, probably caught a chill, and that''s what kicked off the fever."

    Ever since Pearl had Maxwell, she''d been so delicate, getting sick at the drop of a hat, and always

    in a big, unexpected way. Even a fever could send her knocking on death''s door.

    Rosemary held her breath, wiped the sweat from her face, and asked, "Did you call Maxwell?"

    Wendy shook her head. Rosemary wasn''t surprised. Maxwell''s always swamped with work, and

    Wendy had gotten used to calling her for anything important. But with the divorce imminent, Maxwell

    needed to be the go-to guy from now on.

    "Wendy, call Maxwell now."

    Before she could finish, the doors to the emergency room swung open, and the doctor stepped out,

    "Family of Pearl¡¯s?"

    Rosemary hurried forward, "That''s me. How''s she, doc?"

    The doctor gave her a once-over, "Patient''s out of danger for now, brought back from the brink, but

    she''s still unconscious. I suggest a full-body checkup to be sure."

    Rosemary''s heart skipped a beat as she nced at Wendy, who was already heading back into the

    ER.

    Rosemary queried, "Doc, is there something wrong with her health?"

    "Can''t say for sure until we get the results. Arrange the tests as soon as you can."

    After the doctor left, Rosemary could tell something was off.

    Pearl waster moved to a regr ward. Rosemary stayed by her side while Wendy went back to

    make some healing soup.

    Seeing the weakened woman on the bed, Rosemary tidied her messy hair. She took Pearl as her

    mother; no matter what happened between her and Maxwell, she''d keep visiting the olddy.

    Lost in thought, Pearl woke up. She always had low blood pressure and was prone to fainting, so

    waking up in a hospital was nothing new.

    "Rosemary, sorry to be a bother again."

    "Pearl, it''s no bother. Are you feeling okay anywhere? I''ll get the doctor."

    Pearl gripped her hand, shaking her head, "It''s the same old thing. I''ll be fine in a couple of days."

    Her eyesnded on Rosemary''s made-up face, and she asked with a smile, "You look so pretty

    today, Rosemary. You should doll up like this more often. Got a date with Maxwell?"

    Rosemary rarely put on such a polished look; naturally beautiful with great skin, she was a knockout

    at that moment.

    She didn''t want to worry Pearl by saying she was actually going to finalize her divorce with Maxwell,

    so she stayed silent.

    Pearl took her silence as confirmation and was over the moon, "I''m fine now. You go have fun with

    Maxwell. Wendy will be here soon; she can take care of me."

    Rosemary held her hand, "Pearl, since you''re here, let''s just do a full checkup. It''ll give me and

    Maxwell some peace of mind."

    At the mention of tests, Pearl instinctively shook her head, a tad resisting the advice. Before she

    could even utter a word, Rosemary''s phone started buzzing. A nce at the screen showed it was

    Maxwell calling.

    Rosemary answered, about to speak, when she heard a man''s voice on the other end, barely

    containing his anger, demanding, "Rosemary, are you pulling my leg?"

 Chapter 15

    Rosemary was left utterly gobsmacked when she got yelled at and couldn''t snap back to reality for a

    moment. She nced at Pearl, who was staring at her from the hospital bed, and then turned to

    walk outside the ward.

    "What are you on about?"

    What was with this ¡°pulling his leg¡± business?

    Maxwell''s voice was low and grave, ¡°Where are you now?¡±

    ¡°At the hospital.¡±

    She was about to say his mom was sick, but the man cut her off unceremoniously, ¡°Rosemary, if

    you''re gonna make excuses, at least make them believable. Just yesterday, you couldn''t wait to get

    a divorce, and now what? What kind of monumental illness has you so weak you can¡¯t even get out

    of bed? Or is this whole drama not really about the divorce, but just you ying hard to get?¡±

    Rosemary knew she wasn''t exactly the apple of Maxwell''s eye, but she hadn''t expected to be this

    low in his estimation. He didn''t even have the patience to let her finish her sentence before he

    brutally passed judgment on her.

    Taking a deep breath to suppress the heartache bubbling up inside, she said, ¡°It''s not me; it''s Pearl.

    She''s got a fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit and was just rushed to the hospital.¡±

    The man on the other end of the phone suddenly fell silent.

    ¡°You didn''t know, did you?¡± Now it was Rosemary''s turn to sneer, ¡°Your mom''s sick, and the maid

    only remembered to call me but never thought to inform you. In the past three years, do you have

    any idea how many times I¡¯ve covered filial duties for you?¡±

    The irony of it all was that one time, while she was at work, she got a call from Wendy saying Pearl

    had gone into shock. At that moment, Maxwell was giving her a hard time, and the HR department,

    trying to curry favor with him, was kicking her while she was down by refusing her leave. In her

    urgency, she just skipped work.

    Later, without any regard for the facts, Maxwell reprimanded her in front of everyone, ¡°If you can¡¯t

    handle the heat, go back to being daddy¡¯s little princess. The Templeton Group doesn¡¯t take in

    trash!¡±

    She was foolish, keeping silent to save his face, never defending herself. To this day, Rosemary

    remembered the contempt and disdain in the eyes of her colleagues.

    Time seemed to stand still, and after who knew how long, Maxwell''s indifferent voice came through,

    ¡°Next time something like this happens, call me.¡±

    Rosemary didn¡¯t detect any softening in his tone, and even if she did, she wouldn¡¯t have dwelt on it -

    she had been down the road of wishful thinking too many times.

    She didn¡¯t respond, just hung up the phone, and loitered in the hallway for a good while before

    going back in, not wanting Pearl to sense anything was off.

    Maxwell arrived swiftly. Rosemary nced at Pearl, now asleep on the hospital bed, looking so frail

    as if half her life was slipping away with each illness.

    ¡°I need to talk to you.¡±

    Maxwell thought she was going to bring up the divorce again and frowned in irritation, ¡°Whatever it

    is, we can talkter. Mom''s this sick; I don''t have time for your games.¡±

    He still thought she was just ying games with him? Rosemary turned to say something but then

    her eyesnded on a red mark on the man¡¯s neck.

    That spot. She couldn''t help but let out a bitterugh; so tant, still not divorced and already not

    bothering to cover up his tracks!

    She said, ¡°Should I just say it here then?¡±

    Maxwell shot her a fierce re and stormed out of the ward.

    In the hallway, with her hands in her pockets, she faced the stark white wall, ¡°The doctor wants her

    to have a thorough check-up.¡±

    Maxwell frowned, ¡°What''s going on?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know; the doctor said they have to wait for the test results to know for sure.¡±

    After finishing, she nced at her wrist for the time, ¡°Pearl just fell asleep, and won''t wake up for a

    while. We can have the nurse watch her. There¡¯s still a bit more than an hour before City Hall closes

    for lunch; we can still make it.¡±

    As Maxwell heard this, his gaze darkened. Ever since Rosemary had been harping on about the

    divorce, her attitude towards him had turned cold and prickly, lighting a fire in him that he couldn''t

    vent or swallow, making everything irksome.

    ¡°Mom''s this ill, and you''re still thinking about the divorce? Rosemary, don¡¯t you have conscience?¡±

    Her conscience? It was ground away by his repeated indifference and distance.

    ¡°If that''s what you think, then no.¡±

    Maxwell¡¯s eyes narrowed with irritation at her nonchnt attitude, and he couldn¡¯t help but recall the

    last time she bought that men''s bag right in front of him.

    He thought Rosemary had bought it on a whim just to spite him and that it would end up sending

    back to him after a few days.

    It wasn''t the first time she''d done something like that, buying stuff that would make him jealous

    under the pretense of gifting it to someone else, but in the end, it would just sit in the closet at

    home.

    But at a partyst night, he saw a man with that bag. Initially thinking it was just the same model,

    but luxury bags each have a unique serial number. For some reason, he took a closer look. It was

    the same one that Rosemary had purchased.

    ¡°You''re in such a hurry to get rid of me, eyeing a better prey? That bag you boughtst time, was it

    for him? What do you see in that old and ugly guy, huh?¡±

    Rosemary couldn¡¯t fathom what Maxwell was rambling about, but her patience worn thin, she

    frowned, ¡°Are you done or what? Don¡¯t you get tired of talking so much?¡±

    ¡°Heh.¡± He scoffed coldly, ¡°We''ll talk about the divorceter. Mom¡¯s still on IV and needs care.¡±

    Now Rosemary was not having it, sensing that waiting could only lead to moreplications.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    ¡°The nurse can look after her for a bit. It won''t take too much of your time.¡±

    Maxwell¡¯s expression grew even stormier, his eyes casting a shadow, ¡°I said, let''s schedule another

    time.¡±

    Rosemary didn¡¯t catch his implication, and after a moment¡¯s thought, she asked, ¡°How about this

    afternoon?¡±

    She had already taken the day off and didn''t mind an extra half-day.

    Pearl''s IV wasn¡¯t much, it should be done by noon, and City Hall was open until 5:30 pm, so there

    was still time today.

    But as soon as her words fell, Maxwell suddenly grabbed her jaw, his voice rough and menacing by

    her ear, ¡°Men can''t stand to be provoked. The more you rush, the less I feel like giving you what you

    want.¡±

    His words wereced with a warning, nasty as could be.

    ¡°Maxwell, it''s not men who think like that; it''s beasts,¡± Rosemary shot back without a hint of

    politeness and pped his hand away, turning to leave.

    Watching her disappear into the elevator, Maxwell was irritated, so irritated he felt like smoking.

    After standing there for a while, he turned and walked into the ward, only to be greeted by a pillow

    thrown at him smack in the gut!

    Pearl was ring at him with a disappointed look, "Can''t even sweet-talk your own wife; where the

    heck did you crawl out from, a trash can? We''re in a hospital, for crying out loud. Go get a paternity

    test done ASAP. There''s no way your dad and I could produce a piece of work like you!"

    "You just slept with herst night, and today she''s talking divorce. Spill the beans, are you hitting a

    snag ''cause you''re getting on in years or what?!"

    Hearing this, Maxwell''s eyes turned frosty, his voice dropping a few notches, "Rosemary told you we

    slept togetherst night? That we''re getting a divorce?"

    That woman, making a fuss about wanting a divorce on one hand and snitching behind his back on

    the other, knowing full well that Pearl would never stand for them splitting up. He really

    underestimated her!

 Chapter 16

    Pearl was taken aback, "Didn¡¯t do it? Then that hickey on your neck?"

    She cut herself off mid-sentence, eyes bulging, "Are you messing around with that Victoria chick

    again? Is that mark on your neck her handiwork? Are you trying to drive me up the wall? I''m telling

    you, I''ve never approved of you two, not then, not now!"

    If there had been an extra pillow on the bed, she would''ve thrown it at him again for sure.

    Maxwell instinctively touched his neck, "You''ve got it all wrong." He didn''t borate, just frowned

    and headed for the bathroom.

    Downstairs, Rosemary stepped out of the hospital into the zing sun, and Ynda texted her,

    inviting her out for dinner in the evening.

    Since it was still early and she didn''t have to go to the studio, she decided to hit the supermarket

    and picked up some essentials.

    After work, Ynda drove over to pick her up, "I nailed a huge deal today, so I''m gonna treat you to

    a fancy dinner to celebrate you finally shaking off Maxwell!"

    Rosemary chuckled teasingly, "If your dad hears you say that, he''ll whack you six ways from

    Sunday."

    That dude was Maxwell, the economic powerhouse of Greenwood, the high-flying business hotshot

    - who would dare to cross him? If Maxwell heard Ynda''s words, it wouldn''t just be their antique

    shop at risk; even the Abbott Group might not make it through unscathed.

    "I''m just venting to you; don''t you know me by now?"

    When they got to the dinner spot, Rosemary couldn''t quite believe her eyes at the dazzling lights of

    the club, "This is your idea of a fancy dinner?"

    Night Club was Greenwood''s ritziest joint - pricey with all the bells and whistles - yet the food was

    infamously nd. But let''s be real, no one came here for the grub.

    "A five-figure splurge not good enough for you? Tonight, we''re partying hard, no going home sober!

    I''ve been so over your nd nun-like life, props to you for sticking it out for three years. Maxwell

    used to hit this ce up all the time; now it''s our turn to live it up!"

    For the past few years, Rosemary''s life was all about thepany and home, running back and

    forth like a nun - a far cry from her wild, carefree pre-marriage self.

    As the server led the way, Ynda noticed Rosemary''sck of enthusiasm and thought she was

    down about her divorce, "If you''re feeling blue, just let it all outter. Cry your heart out - it''s just us

    tonight; I won''t tease."

    Rosemary didn''t feel like crying. The thing was nothing had gone as nned today. She was so

    bummed precisely because the divorce hadn''t happened, plus Pearl''s situation was weighing on

    her.

    She said quietly, "I didn''t get divorced."

    The club was too noisy; Ynda didn''t catch that, "What?"

    "Maxwell and I, we didn''t get divorced today."

    Once Ynda grasped what she said, silence fell, and after a bit, she asked uncertainly, "You don''t

    want to divorce him, do you?"

    Rosemary''s feelings for Maxwell were obvious to Ynda - sure, he had been distant after the

    marriage, but he never skimped on material things. When Rosemary was at her wits'' end, he was

    the one who pulled her from the brink.

    Women tend to be emotional, often developing special feelings for a knight in shining armor. Plus,

    they had three years of marriage under their belt.

    Rosemary didn''t respond for a long time. It wasn''t that she didn''t want to divorce; in fact, she was

    very firm about it. But today''s events weren''t something she could easily exin.

    Ynda, in her self-assured way, continued, "If you don''t wanna split, just find an excuse to stall! Or

    tip off your mother-inw, tie him down. Given how much she adores you, if she knew what Maxwell

    did, she''d break his legs for sure!"

    Rosemary couldn''t help butugh at her wild imagination, curious to hear more of what she''d say,

    "And then what?"

    "Just keep him hanging; men are such scoundrels - the less attention you give them, the more they

    treasure you. Look at Victoria; she''s a master of ying hard to get. If you could pick up even a

    fraction of her skills, Maxwell would be eating out of your hand!"

    Chatting away, they entered their private room. Around the corner in the corridor, a man who had

    overheard most of their conversation told the server, "Let''s go to the third floor."

    Night Club was all about hierarchy, with membership cards reflecting social status. Given Archer''s

    standing, he should''ve been on the top floor, but he''d just happened to spot his buddy''s wife here.

    Plus, he''d noticed a couple of shady groups eyeing them.

    Archer called Maxwell''s number, "Hey, your wife''s at Night Club."

    Maxwell was just dropping off Victoria at her ce, after she''d heard about Pearl being hospitalized

    and decided to visit - only to get kicked out by Pearl after a barrage of cold taunts.

    After Maxwell heard this call, his brow furrowed, "What''s she doing there?"

    "Talking about ying hard to get with you, leaving you high and dry, making you crazy for her.

    Even mentioned getting your mom to hold you back, so you don''t have a chance to divorce."

    His eyes narrowed, his gaze bing inscrutable. Archer didn''t say much more, just reported the

    room number and hung up.

    "Maxwell, what''s up?" In the car, Victoria sensed his mood drop after the call, the atmosphere

    turning icy.

    Maxwell shook his head, said nothing, and after stopping the car, "You go up on your own. You''re

    still healing from that injury, so don''t rush into dancing."

    "Maxwell," Victoria bit her lip, "are you still mad at me for mentioning Martin to Rosemary

    yesterday?"

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Maxwell frowned, lit a cigarette, and as the smoke dispersed, it veiled his current mood, "No, just

    stay away from her in the future."

    "Was it me who provoked her? I merely mentioned a name and she got violent. Have you spoiled

    her too much?" By the end, her voice rose slightly, filled with resentment.

    Finishing his cigarette, Maxwell crushed the butt with a calm demeanor, "I''ve got to run. I have

    things to do. If you needpensation for yesterday, just name it."

    Victoria red at him, fuming to the point where her eyes were rimmed red, "Compensation? And

    who are you to do it for her? She''s the one who hit me; she should be the one apologizing."

    Then, she held back her voice, and let out a long sigh, "Alright, you want to make it up on her

    behalf, huh? Fine. Then divorce her and marry me!"

 Chapter 17

    Maxwell shot her a nce, "You wanna give up your spot as lead dancer or what?"

    The dance troupe Victoria had joined was top three in the world, and snagging the lead dancer role

    was something everyone was dying for.

    Maxwell''s words were enough to shut her up and she figured out his bottom line. Maxwell found the

    silence boring and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel impatiently, "Get out."

    "Maxwell."

    The man turned his head, his eyes in the night cold as ice, chilling to the bone, "Victoria, you know

    I''m not the patient type. Don''t make me repeat myself."

    Twenty minutester, when Maxwell got to the Night Club, he just happened to catch a glimpse of a

    few men walking into the private room where Rosemary was.

    Through the half-open door, he could see the woman''s face, flushed and captivating from the

    booze.

    Inside, Ynda nudged Rosemary, "Earth to Rosemary, what''s got you so spaced out? You''re not

    even responding when I call you."

    Rosemary was a bit tipsy and shook her head, "I think I just saw Maxwell."

    "What?" Ynda was skeptical, ncing towards the entrance where there was no one in sight,

    "You''re seeing things. Even if Maxwell was at the Night Club, he wouldn''t be hanging out on this

    floor."

    She pointed upwards, "That bunch of rich kids and tycoons? They''re up there looking down on the

    rest of us."

    Rosemary also felt she must have been mistaken and turned her attention back to the lineup of

    various men in front of her, "Did you call them here?"

    "Yeah, to pour some drinks. We ordered booze anyway, might as well let them make a buck."

    The men had been arranged when she booked the spot this morning, originally to celebrate

    Rosemary''s return to single life, but now the divorce hadn''t gone through, so they were only able to

    appreciate instead of making any move.

    Rosemary wasn''t keen on this sort of scene and wasn''t into drinking, but Ynda said the drinks

    were ordered and couldn''t be returned, so she had to bite the bullet and down a couple of beers.

    The result was both of them getting drunk, not ckout but definitely stumbling around. Two men

    supported them, one on each side, but as they got to the elevator, Rosemary identally bumped

    into someone.

    It was a middle-aged man in his forties, short and chubby with a beer belly, who was leering at

    Rosemary, "Hey, isn''t this Assistant Chambers? I''m Fitch from Ascendia Industries. We met at the

    Templeton Groupst time, remember?"

    Hispany had run into some troublest time, and through connections, he managed to meet

    Maxwell and saw Rosemary. Since then, he couldn''t stop thinking about her.

    Rosemary sobered up a bit and pulled her arm away from the man''s grip, her voice indifferent, "Hi."

    "You out with friends for drinks, Assistant Chambers?" The two men beside her sported Night Club

    badges.

    "Why don''t we switch rooms and keep the party going? I''ve got some things I¡¯d like to discuss with

    you."

    Rosemary''s head was spinning, and she declined outright, "Sorry, but if it¡¯s business, I''m just a

    junior assistant. I can''t make decisions for Mr. Templeton."

    This Fitch apparently was up to no good. She didn''t mention her resignation, knowing that as long

    as Maxwell was watching her back like a protective deity, no one would darey a finger on her.

    "It''s not business." Fitch said, noticing her expression darken, "But it''s definitely a good opportunity

    for you. I know you''re underutilized at the Templeton Group. They call you an assistant, but you¡¯re

    just a gofer. Come work for me instead. You name your sry. You¡¯ll be my chief assistant, head of

    the assistant department. How about it?"

    As he spoke, he reached out for Rosemary''s hand again, "Sure, the Templeton Group is a big

    company, but you could work there for a few lifetimes and still not afford a ce in Greenwood.

    Stick with me, and I''ll take you house hunting tomorrow, we¡¯ll put it straight in your name."

    Rosemary stepped back, pretending not to catch his hint, "Sorry, I''m not interested in buying a

    house in Greenwood. I appreciate the offer though."

    Fitch had his eye on plenty of women before, and they all came running at the drop of a hat. He had

    never been so outrightly and mercilessly rejected to his face, and his expression soured,

    "Rosemary, don''t y hard to get. It''s your lucky day that I''m interested in you. Stick with me for

    three months, and I''ll give you more money than you could earn in a lifetime!"

    Rosemary''s expression turned even colder, "I don''t."

    But Fitch didn¡¯t give her a chance to refuse and grabbed her hand, attempting to drag her into the

    private room.

    He was so brazen because he knew the third floor was amon area, and anyone with a bit of

    backing wouldn''t be caught dead there.

    Rosemary struggled, trying to break free, "Let go of me!"

    Seeing themotion, Ynda, fighting off dizziness, stood in front of her and swung her purse at

    Fitch''s head.

    "Get your hands off her! Go take a look in the mirror, will ya? Who do you think you are, dreaming of

    us falling for you?!"

    Caught off guard by Ynda''s attack, Fitch couldn''t defend himself in time and was momentarily

    dizzy from the blow.

    But his natural physical advantage quickly took over, and with a shove, he pushed Ynda hard

    against the wall, "You dare to hit me? I''ll kick you to death!"

    He aimed a kick at Ynda, not holding back, but thanks to his short and stout physique, he could

    only reach her thigh.

    Rosemary pushed and pulled, trying to drag Ynda behind her. In the midst of the scuffle, she

    caught sight of a figure in the corner of her eye. There was Maxwell, standing not far off, watching

    the scene unfold with an icy detachment, and it was unclear how long he had been there.

    The fight drained out of her, and she felt a chill run through her body from head to toe. After three

    years of marriage, was this how cold-blooded and heartless he was going to be, just standing there

    while she was harassed?

    This whole fiasco kicked off in a sh and wrapped up just as quick, with Fitch getting his butt

    handed to him by the Night Club security guards.

    The Night Club manager strolled over, first off saying sorry to Rosemary and Ynda, and then had

    a doc check them out to make sure they were okay before turning his gaze to Fitch, who was all tied

    up, "Fitch, brawling and harassing thedies ain''t part of the deal here at Night Club."T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Fitch was grinning through the pain, but he wasn¡¯t about to talk tough now. He had no clue who the

    big cheese of Night Club was, but he knew well enough they were out of his league.

    So he tried to turn the tables, pointing his finger at Rosemary, "I didn''t hassle her. She wanted to

    crash with me. I offered her a price and she didn''t bite, so she threw the first punch!"

 Chapter 18

    The manager turned around upon hearing this and asked Rosemary with a smile, "Is that so, as

    Fitch ims?"

    Clearly, the manager didn''t want to check the security footage. People who came to nightclubs were

    either rich or powerful and valued their privacy a lot. They wouldn''t want every move under the

    microscope.

    "No, he harassed me and even hit my friend. If you don''t believe me, you can ask your staff."

    The manager nced at the two men next to him and saw them nod, then catching practically the

    full story.

    But he was quite the smooth operator, sizing up who he was dealing with. He''d never seen

    Rosemary before, and judging by her outfit, well, it was nothing to write home about, no bling or

    anything. But he knew Fitch, and even though the guy had seen better days, he still had some

    influence. So he figured he''d just smooth things over and call it a day.

    "Miss, I see your friend doesn''t look injured. How about we don''t make a big deal out of this, okay?

    Of course, Fitch will definitely cover any medical expenses."

    Rosemary had seen her fair share of fair-weather friends; she took one look at the manager and

    knew exactly what kind of character he was.

    "And what if I insist on taking this further? Is the Night Club going to cover for him?"

    "Of course not. Disputes between guests are your own business; the Night Club doesn''t get

    involved. But we have rules here: no fighting allowed on the premises, so we''d appreciate it if you

    took your grievance outside."

    They ran a club, not amunity center. As long as the fists didn''t fly in the club, they couldn''t care

    less about what happened outside.

    "I''d like a copy of the surveince footage from earlier."

    The manager kept his cool, "Sorry, we cater to a special clientele here. Aside from the lobby and

    elevators, we don''t have cameras anywhere else."

    That was obviously a load of bull. In ces like this, where trouble was always brewing, how could

    the hallways not have cameras?

    Off to the side, Archer, who had been enjoying the show, raised an eyebrow at Rosemary, who had

    her back to them the whole time, "Looks like your wife isn''t looking to you for help."

    She had clearly seen Maxwell earlier, but since then, she hadn''t looked back at him once. Now,

    even though she knew the manager was giving her the runaround, she didn''t think to ask her

    husband for help.

    She must know that if Maxwell said the word, the surveince footage and Fitch would be served up

    on a silver tter.

    Tsk, talked about having a backbone!

    Maxwell was already irked, and at Archer''s words, his brow furrowed even more, and his expression

    darkened, "Nobody thinks you''re mute if you keep quiet."

    Archer''s gaze fell on the marks on the man''s neck, with a teasing lift of his eyes, "What''s with the

    marks on your neck? Who did you sleep with?"

    As if he''d stumbled upon something scandalous - knowing full well the line of women dying to get

    into Maxwell''s bed over the years, none had seeded.

    Archer had even wondered if Maxwell had been left with some kind of sexual dysfunction after that

    one night three years ago!

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Maxwell couldn''t be bothered with him and brushed it off, "Mosquito bites."

    His gaze still fixed on Rosemary, wondering when she''d remember she was Mrs. Templeton and

    could throw her weight around if she wanted to.

    Meanwhile, Fitch provocatively lifted his chin towards Rosemary. Without the Night Club''s

    protection, what were two women going to do against him - they were putty in his hands, right?

    "Assistant Chambers, I''d advise you to be smart about this. You should just..."

    His words got stuck in his throat as Fitch saw Maxwell walking towards them! After all, Rosemary

    was with the Templeton Group, Maxwell''s subordinate. Bullying someone in front of him was like

    asking for trouble.

    He''d heard a rumor before that someone who''d gotten fresh with Maxwell''spanion during a

    business deal ended up with a broken arm on the spot.

    With that in mind, Fitch was shaking like a leaf, "Mr. Templeton."

    Maxwell nced at him coldly and then back at Rosemary, who was about to call the cops with her

    phone.

    But before she could make the call, the manager beat her to the punch, "Miss, if you''re going to call

    the cops, please step outside. We don''t want the Night Club involved."

    "It happened here, so the police need to deal with it here," Rosemary didn''t budge an inch, and she

    didn''t even spare a nce for the man approaching.

    As Maxwell was ignored like that, his lips tightened.

    Seeing his expression, Fitch tentatively asked, "Mr. Templeton, thisdy looks a lot like an employee

    at yourpany. I thought she looked familiar and asked if she worked at the Templeton Group."

    He wasn''t sure how long Maxwell had been there or what he had seen, so he yed it by ear,

    waiting to see how Maxwell would react.

    Maxwell chuckled enigmatically, "Is that so? Let me see how much she resembles the employee."

    He stepped in front of Rosemary, his dominating gaze falling on her. Rosemary intended to ignore

    him, but his piercing look forced her to meet his eyes.

    Maxwell was silent, but his eyes clearly said one thing, ¡°Beg me.¡±

    Rosemary bit her lip hard, thinking to herself, ¡°In your dreams!¡±

    "Huh," even his deep voice couldn''t hide the nastiness in his words, "I don''t know her; you must be

    seeing things."

    Fitch''s heart, which had been in his throat, settled down, and he quickly buttered Maxwell up with a

    few more ttering words.

    Rosemary tried to get her phone back from the manager. Without being able to call the cops, she

    had to find someone else to help.

    She opened her contacts, going directly to the names starting with ¡°M¡±. Maxwell''s eyes narrowed

    sharply. Before she could find the person she was looking for in her contacts, he grabbed her hand,

    pulling her into his arms.

    Rosemary hadn''t expected him to suddenly do this. His unexpected move startled her, and her

    phone slipped from her grasp, crashing to the floor!

    Maxwell didn''t give her a chance to pick it up, dragging her towards the elevator with a face as dark

    as a storm cloud.

    "Maxwell, what the hell! My phone, wait, my friend!"

    Rosemary was still fretting over Ynda, who was even more smashed than she was. When she

    turned to check on her, she found Ynda had somehow conked out on the floor without anyone

    noticing!

    "She''s stered; I gotta take her home. Get off me."

    Maxwell''s voice cut through, chilly and detached, "Archer, handle the rest!"

    Meanwhile, Fitch was freaked out by the whole scene, just standing there like a deer in headlights,

    gawking at the direction the two had left in.

    Didn¡¯t he say she wasn¡¯t employees of the Templeton Group?

    "Mr. William," came Archer''s icy voice from behind, "do you get what Mr. Templeton means by

    ''handling the rest?"

    The nightclub manager, who hadn¡¯t expected the scene just now and was already scared out of his

    wits, jumped a mile high when Archer called out to him!

    "Don''t worry, neither Mr. Templeton nor you will ever have to deal with Fitch in the Night Club

    again."

    Down in the underground parking lot, Rosemary was unceremoniously shoved into the car.

    She was already tipsy, and after the rough manhandling, she felt a tsunami churning in her

    stomach. She was about to hurl!

    But before she could make a move, Maxwell mped down on her chin with zero gentleness,

    leaning in close. His handsome face was now stern and ominous, "Who were you trying to ask for

    help just now, huh?"

 Chapter 19

    Maxwell had Rosemary in a grip that was a bit too tight, causing her pain. She tried to turn her head

    to dodge, but how could she possibly match a man''s strength?

    Seeing her silent, Maxwell leaned in, his eyes roiling with anger that he forcefully suppressed. From

    his expression alone, she couldn''t tell there was a firestorm brewing inside him.

    T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    In fact, his voice was even softer than usual. Closing in on Rosemary, he said slowly and with

    restraint, "What''s this Fitch guy that you need to go asking strangers for help? Is the Mrs. Templeton

    title not cutting it for you, or are you just too high and mighty to use it?"

    "Maxwell, you''re hurting me," Rosemary tried to wriggle out of his vice-like grip to no avail. After a

    few attempts, the skin under his calloused fingertips was burning with pain, making her wonder if it

    was broken.

    She frowned in irritation, "We''re getting divorced anyway; who I ask for help is none of your

    business!"

    "Divorce? Are you for real? Just half a month ago, you stripped down and seduced me, saying you

    wanted to spend a lifetime with me."

    Things that were yful in bed turned into a ring shame when brought into the open.

    It felt like Rosemary had been pped hard across the face, herplexion drained of color, but

    she didn''t show any weakness in front of this man. Instead, she provocatively curled her lips into a

    smirk, "Yeah, considering you''ve been acting all uninterested for the past three years, I had to make

    sure you still had it in you for the sake of my future happiness. Good thing I did, it helped me make

    up my mind that divorce was the only option."

    Maxwell''s grip tightened as he said, "Wasn''t that pre-wedding romp enough to satisfy you?"

    "That time the drink was spiked. I used a hefty dose just to make sure, and now it''s proven you''re

    really hopeless without the drugs."

    Rosemary was genuinely tipsy, Maxwell''s face in front of her blurring, indistinct even in features, let

    alone expression.

    She heard herself spitting out words, responding subconsciously without knowing exactly what she

    was saying.

    And Maxwell, with that nerve in his brain stretched taut, felt his anger burning brighter, almost

    hissing, "Rosemary, you''ve really got some nerve!"

    He opened the car door, dragged the slumped Rosemary out, and headed straight for the elevator

    to the Night Club hotel at higher floor where he had a private suite due to being the boss of the

    ce.

    The elevator stopped on the 24th floor, his territory that required a fingerprint to ess. Maxwell

    hauled Rosemary into the room and unceremoniously dumped her on the bed.

    Looking down at the curled-up, drowsy woman, his expressionless face grew even darker. He

    methodically removed his suit jacket and unbuttoned his shirt, revealing tight, toned muscles.

    Even in moments like this, the scion of a noble family retained his elegance, without a hint of

    rushing. Maxwell hadn''t nned on doing anything to Rosemary, but she was asking for it!

    Meanwhile, Rosemary, dragged along like a sack of potatoes, felt dizzy and nauseous, wanting to

    throw up butcking any strength to do so.

    She felt a sharp pain on both sides of her face; at the thought of Maxwell''s earlier violence, tears of

    grievance began streaming down. People tend to be more vulnerable in these moments, easily

    recalling those they would rather not think of when sober.

    Maxwell saw her cry, his heart softening slightly. He leaned over to pick her up for a bath, but then

    Rosemary murmured, "Martin."

    The atmosphere in the room turned oppressively tense with that single name, like a spark ready to

    ignite an explosion.

    Maxwell, with deep eyes, eventually asked, "What did you just say?"

    His voice was indifferent, not harsh, but those who knew him understood that this Maxwell was even

    more terrifying than one in a rage.

    Rosemary kept her eyes closed, silent, as if asleep, and indeed she was. sping her chin,

    Maxwell shook her awake forcefully, "Rosemary, who did you just call for?"

    Confused and groggily waking up, she looked at him with tear-filled eyes, her voice hoarse, "Martin,

    I should have listened to you, not to marry Maxwell. I regret it, so much regret."

    Maxwell''s gaze fell upon Rosemary, unfathomable, "Regret?"

    No response. The silence of the room was broken only by the woman''s low sobbing; whether from

    pain or sorrow, it was unclear.

    His hand stroked her slender waist with a heavy touch, turning the skin red wherever it moved,

    "You''ve had no regrets for three years, and now that Martin is back, you''re full of them?"

    Stung by the pain from the body sobered her a bit, but she still felt dizzy. It took a while for

    Rosemary to realize who the man before her was, and she quickly furrowed her brows and tried to

    move away, "Maxwell, don''t touch me."

    Maxwell''s barely restrained fury was nowpletely unleashed by her words. Ignoring her

    resistance, he grabbed her ankles, dragged her over, and pinned her beneath him, "Don''t want me

    to touch you? nning on having someone else? Martin? Or that guy you gave the gift to?"

    "Rosemary, you''ve really made something of yourself, using my money to keep a man. If you''re

    going to do that, at least pick someone decent." His fingers traced her cheek, down her neck,

    belittling her with each word, "If you''d been this eager from the start, maybe I would''ve taken you

    long ago, instead of being uninterested even when you stripped and threw yourself at me."

    Maxwell leaned in close to her lips, his voiceced with malicious mockery, not softened by the

    proximity, "That guy''s over forty, right? You''ve been lonely for three years; does he still satisfy you in

    bed?"

    Rosemary''s lips moved as if to say something, but it was too faint for the furious man to hear. Her

    face crinkled in difort, she turned her head away, but Maxwell emotionlessly turned her face

    back toward him, "What? Don''t want to see me? Or did I hit a nerve."

    At that moment, Rosemary couldn''t hold back any longer, vomiting all over Maxwell.

 Chapter 20

    The bedroom was silent for a few seconds, the air thick with the heavy scent of booze.

    It finally dawned on Maxwell what Rosemary had just said, as she uttered, "Maxwell, I feel like I''m

    gonna puke."

    "Rosemary!" He ground out her name through clenched teeth, but ultimately, got up to head to the

    bathroom with a sickly look on his face.

    Meanwhile, Rosemary closed her eyes again, out like a light. She slept like a log, only to be woken

    by the harsh morning light. She stared nkly at the ceiling for a good while before realizing this

    wasn¡¯t her rental pad.

    Her head was splitting something fierce, the aftermath of a wicked hangover. She propped herself

    up slowly, her gaze sweeping the room - it was obviously a hotel setup.

    She looked down, almost instinctively, at her attire. Her clothes from yesterday were gone, reced

    at some point by an oversized men''s shirt, clearly of an expensive make.

    After three years hitched to Maxwell, she knew his scent better than anyone. Even though the room

    was empty except for her, she was sure the shirt was his.

    After freshening up, Rosemary couldn¡¯t find her own clothes anywhere in the room, so she decided

    to check outside.

    She was too steredst night to remember what went down, but given Maxwell''s previous

    indifference and the way her body felt, he probably just changed her clothes.

    Of course, she didn¡¯t think it was out of the goodness of his heart - more likely, he just couldn¡¯t stand

    her being dirty.

    As Rosemary was about to step out of the bedroom, she heard Archer''s voice from the living room,

    "Martin¡¯s throwing a wee-back bash at Rosewood Vi tonight, you in?"

    Rosemary pulled her foot back in. She hadn¡¯t expectedpany, and there she was in just

    Maxwell¡¯s shirt barely reaching mid-thigh with nothing underneath.

    She was about to close the door again, her hand barely touching the knob, when Maxwell''s gaze

    snapped to her. His eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of his shirt on her.

    Archer, noticing the change in Maxwell''s demeanor, nced over curiously. Maxwell stepped

    forward, effectively blocking Archer''s view, "Got it, you can head out now."

    In that brief moment, Rosemary had shut the door.

    Sensing something was up, Archer took the hint, grunted an acknowledgment, and left the suite.

    Back in the bedroom, Rosemary wrapped her nearly naked body in the duvet. Half a minuteter,

    Maxwell walked in to see her bundled up like a cocoon on the bed. He let out a mocking scoff, "Now

    you decide to be modest?"

    Rosemary knew what he meant, and that he was digging at the past. She shot back without missing

    a beat, "Everyone''s got to be brainless now and then."

    Back when they were newlyweds, Maxwell had never shown an interest in her. Even sharing a bed,

    there¡¯d always been a mile-wide gap between them. Then he''d been caught on camera heading to

    Faloria; no exnation given, but Rosemary knew he was off to see Victoria.

    Victoria''s dance troupe was touring in Faloria at the time. Stung by the revtion, and wanting to

    cling to their marriage, she¡¯d impulsively stripped in front of him upon his return.

    It had been over two years, but she could still vividly remember the mix of mockery and contempt

    on his face as he said, "Rosemary, I have no interest in women who throw themselves at me. If

    you¡¯re so desperate for a man, I could send a few your way."

    She didn''t want to dwell on these humiliating memories. If she could go back to that day, she¡¯d kick

    him out of bed the moment she caught a whiff of perfume on him.

    "Where are my clothes?"

    Maxwell looked down at her and after a brief silence, answered a different question, "Tonight, you''re

    coming with me to Rosewood Vi."

    Rosewood Vi was Martin''s ce, and Rosemary frowned, "I¡¯m not going."

    She hadn''t been aware of Martin''s return or his party, and certainly hadn''t been invited. Of course,

    her refusal wasn''t just about avoiding an old me. She also didn''t want to get tangled up with

    Maxwell again, especially considering his closeness to Martin.

    "Attending necessary social events is part of your duty as Mrs. Templeton."

    Rosemary felt the need to remind him, "Had Pearl not copsed suddenly yesterday, we would be

    divorced by now."

    What was the point of ying the happy couple when they were one signature away from divorce?

    To gross out themselves and everyone else?

    The man changing clothes turned towards her, his voice cold, "Since the divorce didn¡¯t go through,

    you''re still Mrs. Templeton. As long as you wear that title and enjoy the perks it brings, fulfill your

    obligations."

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    The perks of being Mrs. Templeton? Rosemary couldn''t help butugh, her lips curling slightly, "The

    biggest perk of being Mrs. Templeton has been ying errand girl at the Templeton Group for three

    years."

    The sarcasm in her words was unmistakable.

    The wall-mounted video inte rang, and Maxwell went to answer it.

    "Mr. Templeton, this is the dress you had us pick out for your wife." Rosemary recognized the voice

    of the Night Club manager.

    "Fitch wants to personally apologize to Mrs. Templeton. He''s been waiting sincest night - I didn''t

    dare make a call without your say-so."

    "Let him up."

    Maxwell returned to the room, tossing the bag of clothes at Rosemary, "Without the title of Mrs.

    Templeton, do you think Fitch would¡¯vee knocking to apologize?"

    His words were a clear response to her earlier jab.

    Fitch arrived shortly. Rosemary had just changed and was about to leave when she saw Fitch drop

    to his knees in front of her with a thump.

    "Mrs. Templeton, I was totally blind and didn''t recognize you - I''m such a jerk; I deserve to be

    punished! Please put in a good word for me to Mr. Templeton. I beg him not to hold a grudge; don''t

    let me get cklisted from the Night Club!"

    Not being able to get into the Night Club was no biggie, but if Maxwell himself gave the order, which

    company would dare to risk offending the Templeton Group and coborate with him? This was

    practically career suicide!

    Fitch said this while pping his own face left and right, the scabbed corner of his mouth soon split

    open, and blood dripped down his chin onto the floor.

    Last night, he couldn''t ept it, and he followed him nervously, asking about Rosemary''s identity,

    only to be scared out of his wits by the answer - Mrs. Templeton.

    How could he dare to stay after that? After being dragged out of the Night Club by security, he just

    stood outside all night long, begging for a chance to see Rosemary and Mr. Templeton.

    And now, Rosemary could hardly recognize the man in front of her with a face swollen like a pig''s

    head and bloodshot eyes - the same Fitch who was so arrogantly self-assuredst night, saying he

    wanted her to be his sugar baby.

    The suit that was neat and smartst night was now covered in grime and blood, wrinkled as if it

    had been fished out of a trash heap, with a swollen, purplish bump on his forehead, oozing blood.

    Rosemary turned to look at Maxwell, who was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, looking

    nonchnt, "Did you have someone do this?"

    Maxwell didn''t speak, but the manager by his side took the initiative to say, "Mrs. Templeton, Fitch

    did this to himself; it has nothing to do with Mr. Templeton."

    Whether it was Maxwell or Archer, neither had said anything about how to deal with him explicitly.

    But people of their stature didn''t need to give specific orders or get their hands dirty; a casual

    remark from them could send someone tumbling down into an abyss with no way out!

    Fitch wasn''t an idiot. He didn''t need someone else to rough him up; he was extra harsh on himself,

    beating himself to a pulp.

    Facing the man''s desperate pleas, Rosemary couldn''t care less to get involved in this mess, and

    she indifferently said, "I''m about to be Mrs. Templeton no more; begging me is useless."

 Chapter 21

    Fitch wouldn''t dare ask Maxwell for help even if he had the chance. He was thinking women are

    soft-hearted, and that was why he dropped to his knees in front of Rosemary the moment he walked

    in, "Mrs. Templeton, Mr. Templeton is mad because of you. If you don''t forgive me, even if I offer my

    life in front of Mr. Templeton as an apology, he won''t let me off the hook!"

    Rosemary was in a rush to get to work and didn''t have time to listen to his bber, "I can''t help you

    with this."

    She sidestepped him and made for the door.

    Seeing hisst chance slipping away, Fitch panicked, instinctively reaching to grab Rosemary''s leg.

    But the moment his fingers brushed the hem of her pants, he had a lightbulb moment and forcefully

    withdrew his hand.

    Looking up, he was right to see Maxwell''s gaze fixed on his outstretched hand - not terrifying, but so

    heavy it made him shiver to his core!

    Maxwell frowned at Rosemary, "Mom has to undergo a thorough check-up at the hospitalter; you

    shoulde with me."

    "I have to work." She was actually worried about Pearl''s condition too, but taking leave from the

    studio right after starting there would look bad, "Just let me know when the results are in."

    Maxwell watched her walk away, his tone icy, "So, your janitor job is more important than Mom''s

    health?"

    Without breaking stride or exining the janitor situation, Rosemary quipped, "In a couple of days, I

    should start calling her ''Mrs. Pearl Templeton''."

    What she said was a fact, yet in Maxwell''s ears, her words twisted to mean - they were getting a

    divorce, and his mother''s situation was no longer her concern.

    Lately, whenever Rosemary saw him, ¡°divorce¡± was the word she brought up the most. Now,

    Maxwell''s impatience was evident as he sneered, "Even if she had raised a dog for three years, it

    would stick by her side, wagging its tail."

    At that, Rosemary turned back, wondering where he got the nerve to use her of ingratitude.

    During Pearl''s health struggles over thest three years, she was the one signing hospital forms,

    bustling about taking care of everything. Compared to her, Maxwell, her own son, was the one

    acting like a stray dog, wasn''t he?

    She coolly eyed Maxwell, "Yeah, you''re right; even a dog knows to wag its tail. I''ve catered to you

    for three years, and it''s not even as good as raising a dog."

    This woman was quite the master at turning the tables!

    Rosemary pulled open the door and left the suite straight away. After exiting the club, she hailed a

    cab to Heritage Revive Studio.

    On the way, she called Ynda to check in, "How are your injuries?"

    Fitch''s kicksst night were merciless,nding heavily on her, looking quite rming.

    On the other end, Ynda took a breath and said through gritted teeth, "That bastard, the doctor

    said I have a fracture and need to heal for a while. I''m going to sue him, but the Night Club definitely

    won''t give me the surveince footage; it''s going to be tough."

    Rosemary thought of Fitch''s pathetic state just earlier; whether she sued him or not, he was done

    for.

    "First, get a medical report on your injuries; I''ll figure out the rest."

    Ynda didn''t want Rosemary to get into trouble on her ount, "Forget it, even if I do sue him, at

    most he''ll be detained for ten days to half a month. I''ll find another way to deal with him. Fitch that

    son of a gun must not have been the first time he''s forced himself on a woman; I''ll find more

    evidence."

    Rosemary,cking energy, leaned against the car window, "Ynda, I''m sorry for dragging you into

    this."

    "What are you talking about? I should thank you for giving me the chance to take out the trash."

    They chatted a bit more until the car stopped in front of Heritage Revive Studio, and Rosemary

    hung up.

    The moment she stepped in, her colleague Beth grabbed her, nodding towards Oswald''s office with

    an excitement she could barely contain, "Guess who I just saw?"

    "Who?"

    "Victoria."

    Seeing Rosemary silent, Beth thought she didn''t know who Victoria was and enlightened her, "You

    know, the dancer who''s been acknowledged as the most talented in the past twenty years! I just

    watched her Greenwood tour live stream. My god, it was mind-blowing; those fluid movements,

    something ordinary folks could never learn in a lifetime!"

    Implying that Victoria was not ordinary, but a deity?

    Rosemary, uninterested, gave a nomittal response. She wasn''t interested in listening to Beth

    sing praises, nor did she care why Victoria was here. Just as she was about to head to her desk,

    Oswald''s office door opened.

    "Rose, can youe here for a sec?"

    Hearing Oswald''s call, she paused, and then walked over, "Oswald."

    Oswald ushered her into the office, "Let me introduce you. This is Ms. Temple. She would like you

    to restore an old painting for her; you can name your price."

    Rosemary followed Oswald''s direction and saw Victoria sitting arrogantly on the sofa, sunsses,

    fisherman''s hat, and a ck face mask covering her.

    When she heard the name Rose, she looked up, but her expression changed upon seeing

    Rosemary.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    "Sorry, Oswald, you might have misunderstood. I''m not looking for her. I''m looking for the ''Rose''

    known for her miraculous restoration skills in the circle."

    Oswald was taken aback, and so was Rosemary, taking a few seconds to process. Victoria was

    looking for Rose?

    "My painting is severely damaged, not something an ordinary apprentice could restore. I had the

    fortune of seeing a painting restored by Rose before; it was simply divine! But she''s quite a mystery;

    I''ve been unable to track down her whereabouts or what she looks like. I thought you might know

    her identity; that''s why I came to ask for your help."

    Realization dawned on Oswald that Victoria had made a mistake; he kindly smiled and said, "She is

    the..."

    "Oswald," Rosemary chimed in, cutting him off, "restoring antiques is all about fate. Since Ms.

    Temple and I aren''t destined to be, I won''t force it."

    Oswald got the hint loud and clear. Rose was politely turning her down, and he could sense there

    was something off about the vibe between the two.

    Victoria hadn''t quite figured out the meaning behind her words when she saw Rosemary turning to

    leave.

    She quickly stood up and hurried over to Rosemary, "Rosemary, did you know Martin is throwing a

    wee-back bash at Rosewood Vi tonight?"

    "I had no idea."

    "Seriously, about Martin," her purse ¡°identally¡± dropped to the floor, and out conveniently slipped

    a ck invitation with gold lettering. Victoria bent down to pick it up, all too deliberately, "Even after

    what you did back then, he shouldn''t be so heartless. After all, you guys go way back. Not giving

    you an invite? Isn''t that just asking for the gossip mill to make you theughing stock?"

    Rosemary looked straight at her, unflinching, and smiled, "Ms. Temple, do you know what the ''and

    family'' part after the names on the invitation means?"

 Chapter 22

    Just one sentence was enough to make Victoria''s face turn fifty shades of red. The smugness that

    she wore while reveling in someone else''s misfortune just moments ago had vanished, leaving

    behind a frozen mask of embarrassment.

    She got the hint loud and clear: Rosemary, as Maxwell''s wife and family, didn''t need two separate

    invites.

    Victoria was itching to p back, but catching sight of Oswald still standing there, she swallowed

    her words in the end.

    She turned to say goodbye to Oswald, but didn''t forget why she came, "Oswald, do me a solid and

    keep tabs on Rose for me, will ya? Even though she''s not officially on the radar, with your sky-high

    rep in the social circle, sniffing out some frence restorer should be a piece of cake. I''m good for

    the money, whatever she quotes."

    Oswald caught another glimpse of Rosemary''s icy demeanor and awkwardly nodded before

    showing Victoria out.

    After clocking out, Rosemary stepped out of the studio to find Maxwell''s car parked at the curb. A

    custom Bentley with a shy license te was a rare sight even in the swanky parts of town, let

    alone here, naturally drawing stares from all around.

    Her phone buzzed in her hand, a text from Maxwell, "Come over here."

    Rosemary wasn''t about to y his game, so she headed straight for her apartmentplex

    instead.

    She wasn''t keen on being the center of attention now, or the talk of the town tomorrow. Back at the

    Templeton Group, when people thought she was dating some rich man, the snide remarks and

    backhandedments really got under her skin.

    As Maxwell watched her walk away, his eyes narrowed and suddenly, he let out a chuckle, but it

    was the kind that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine.

    Rosemary hadn''t gone far when his car pulled up beside her. The window rolled down and

    Maxwell''s chilly voice cut through, "You want me to y rough?"

    Rosemary frowned, knowing full well he wasn''t bluffing.

    "I''m going to change my clothes."

    She was covered in dust after a day''s work.

    Maxwell fell silent, just peering at her with his stormy eyes that were colder than ever. Unaware of

    his mood, she kept walking until the car suddenly sped up beside her and screeched to a halt. The

    door swung open and she was yanked inside by a strong arm.

    Her ankle banged against the door frame, a sharp pain shooting up her leg, bringing tears to her

    eyes. In that moment, she really wanted to curse out loud - was Maxwell out of his freaking mind?

    "Change clothes?" Maxwell pinned her down, his tone t and emotionless, but it was clear he was

    seething, "Maybe throw on some makeup? Fix your hair?"

    Rosemary had no clue what set him off. She turned her head away from the fingers on her cheek,

    responding coolly, "If you don''t care, I can go like this."

    Her outfit, picked up from a night market for less than 50 bucks, screamed ¡°barely passable¡± - far

    from branded, not to mention quality.

    If Mrs. Templeton showed up to a fancy shindig in this get-up, Maxwell would be the talk of the

    town.

    After a tense silence, he let her go and instructed the driver, "Jason, head to Shining Studio."

    Shining Studio was the go-to for a unique makeover, a big hit among the rich girls'' club, where a

    single style could set one back four figures.

    The dress was brought over by Christ, a more casual, high-end brand design. By the time they got

    to Rosewood Vi, it waste.

    Maxwell tossed the car keys to the valet and escorted Rosemary inside. Right before walking in, he

    handed her the gift box he was carrying.

    The lobby was abuzz with clinking sses and chatty clusters.

    Rosemary''s arrival drew most guests¡¯ attention; cautious of the formidable Maxwell at her side, no

    one dared to gossip openly, but those disdainful nces spoke volumes - how dare she show her

    face here?

    Maxwell led her towards Martin.

    Today''s wee-back party was casual, no suits required. Martin didn¡¯t wear business suit; decked

    out in a white shirt and ck trousers, and with his pleasant features, he looked the part of the

    cultured gentleman.

    At the sight of Maxwell, he greeted him with a smile, "You''rete. Was starting to think you''d bail on

    us." After that, he flicked a cool nce at Maxwell¡¯s wife and acknowledged her with a nod.

    Maxwell replied, "Got held up. Where¡¯s Archer?"

    "Hasn¡¯t arrived."

    Rosemary stood by, lips pressed tight, eyes on the floor. She had zero interest in their chit-chat and

    just wanted to bolt.

    Back then, she''d first reached out to Martin when she was desperate, but he hadn''t given her a

    straight answer. Later.

    Her proposal recording was leaked online, along with videos of her and Maxwell at a hotel.

    Overnight, she became the shameless, slutty ¡°fallen socialite¡± everyone loved to hate.

    Rosemary was about to sneak off while they talked, but Maxwell stopped her, looping an arm

    around her waist.

    He looked at her with a half-smile, "Tired? Hand over the gift to Martin; then I''ll take you to the

    lounge for a break."

    Rosemary¡¯s eyes twitched; a bad feeling crept over her. Though she wasn''t sure what Maxwell was

    up to, when had he ever spoken to her with such indulgence? This abnormal behavior meant he

    probably had some evil idea brewing.

    With the gift in her hands and Martin now paying attention, along with the prying eyes around, she

    hesitated for a second before passing over the box.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Martin took it with a neutral expression, "Thanks." Then his gaze was back to Maxwell, "Much

    appreciated, Maxwell."

    Maxwell lifted his chin, "Why not give it a look?"

    Martin didn''t think twice and opened the box. Inside was a watch, a custom piece from an ultra-luxe

    brand.

    Maxwell spoke in a nonchnt tone, "Didn''t you say you lost that watch before? Last time I was on

    a business trip; I casually hit up the original designer to whip up a new one."

    But the moment Rosemary caught sight of that watch, her face went ghostly pale! Others didn''t

    notice, but Maxwell, who had his arm around her, felt her barely contained shivers crystal clear.

    She forced herself to look away, coolly removing his hand from her waist, her voice trembling

    slightly, "I need to hit the restroom."

    Maxwell''s eyes turned stormy as he watched her beat a hasty retreat. He stroked his jaw, the

    corners of his mouth dropping into a frosty curve.

    Martin caught the interaction but was clueless, "What''s up, is there something off with that watch?"

    "No." Maxwell replied, detached and clearly unamused, brushing off a wrinkle on his shirt, "You go

    ahead with your thing."

    With that, he strode off in the direction Rosemary had fled.

    In the restroom, Rosemary mmed the stall door shut as if she were drained of all strength,

    slumping against the door.

    She had been married to Maxwell for three years, and since the wedding, she had never seen him

    wear that watch again.

    That night, if it hadn''t been for that watch, she wouldn''t have gone to the wrong bed. And she

    wouldn''t have been trapped in this torturous marriage for three years.

    After who knew how long, the silence of the restroom was broken by voices.

    "Can you believe Rosemary has the nerve to show up? If I were her, I would have drowned myself

    in a basin after Martin leaked that recording online."

    "Back in the day, she was notorious. I can''t fathom what kind of dumb luck she had, not ending up

    with Martin but instead marrying the even more eligible Mr. Templeton!" A woman let out a scornful

    laugh, "Everyone in the circle knows her dirtyundry; no idea what Mr. Templeton was thinking,

    actually marrying her!"

    Someone chimed in, "Maybe she''s got some special skills, you know, like she''s good at using her

    hands, and then there''s,"

    The person didn''t finish their sentence when the restroom door was pushed open.

 Chapter 23

    In no time, the chit-chat outside came to a halt, leaving Rosemary puzzled. She stepped out only to

    find Maxwell puffing away at a cigarette by the sink, and she froze, taking a moment before asking,

    "What are you doing here?"

    With his stern face, he looked at her, a sly smirk ying on his lips, oozing with sarcasm,

    "Disappointed to see me? Who were you hoping for then?"

    T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Rolling her eyes, Rosemary shot back, "This is thedies'' room. Who the heck do you think I''d be

    expecting? Have you lost your marbles?"

    She moved to wash her hands, her mood easing a bit, but she was still pale as a ghost. Suddenly,

    Maxwell grabbed her chin, forcibly turning her face toward him, "It''s just a watch. You''re gonna lose

    it over that?"

    His words said it all - it was all his doing.

    Rosemary red at him, "You did that on purpose?"

    His half-smile was mocking, "It''s just a watch. If you hadn''t attached some sort of sentimental value

    to it, it''d be nothing but a trinket. Instead of grilling me about whether I did it deliberately, why don''t

    you ask yourself if you''re still hung up on him?"

    It was like a reminder when he slowly enunciated the name, "Mrs. Templeton."

    Frowning, Rosemary was sick of hearing those words; they felt like shackles that sometimes made

    it hard for her to breathe.

    She tried to push his hand away, but his dominance was inescapable.

    "Rosemary, are you regretting that you ever got into bed with me?"

    She retorted, "If it wasn''t for that watch, I would''ve never slept with you."

    And he knew it better than anyone! Maxwell sneered, and the next second, he pulled her into his

    embrace, his masculine scent enveloping her.

    "Seems about right. You were so resistant after seeing my face that time. If the guy in bed with you

    had been Martin, your first time would''ve been pleasurable instead of painful, right?"

    "Maxwell, do you really want me to loathe you this much?"

    Loathe?

    Maxwell''sugh was cold and thin, "After all thepromises, he''s back and you can''t wait to

    divorce me and run into his arms. Do you really think he''d want a woman who''s been married

    before?"

    Rosemary thought she was immune to his emotional maniption by now, but she had

    underestimated how vile Maxwell could be!

    Right now, her heart felt like it was tangled in a tight knot, barely able to catch her breath! She

    blinked, trying to mask the bitterness welling up inside her, "Think whatever you want, but I''ll be

    waiting for you at City Hall tomorrow. We must get a d¡­"

    She never got to finish thest word as Maxwell''s sudden kiss devoured it.

    Rosemary nearly suffocated in his fierce kiss, tasting the familiar mint of his cigarettes, her mind

    foggy until she realized she was struggling toote - he had lifted her onto the washing station

    behind them.

    Her skirt blocked her legs, which were now wrapped around his waist, creating an erotic tableau.

    Footsteps approached, someone hurriedly pushed open the restroom door.

    The disturbance brought out a dangerous edge in Maxwell''s already stern features. His shirt buttons

    hade undone, revealing the sharp contours of his muscles.

    He looked at the two women at the door, his voice dark and threatening, "Get out!"

    They hadn''t expected such a scene and certainly didn''t dare to use the toilet now. They scurried out

    with a quick "sorry," sneaking a nce at Rosemary, who waspletely shielded by Maxwell, only

    her ck evening dress visible.

    This buzzkill interruption put an end to Maxwell''s assault. Looking down at her from his height, he

    saw her reddened eyes - whether from feeling wronged or from his bullying, he couldn''t tell.

    He let go of Rosemary, "How pathetic can you be to pine after a man who rejected you when you

    were desperate for help three years ago?"

    The disdain in his eyes was almost palpable.

    Rosemary, chin lifted defiantly, shot back, "It''s because I''m pathetic that I''ve stuck with a painful

    marriage for three years!"

    Silence instantly fell in the restroom. After a while, Maxwell''s lips curved in a faint, mocking smile, "A

    painful marriage? That''s too bad because I''m quite satisfied with it, and I have no intention of

    getting a divorce."

    Rosemary looked up sharply, her face so pale now that not even blush could cover it, "Maxwell, just

    to make my life miserable, would you really let the woman you love carry the dirtybel of a

    homewrecker?"

    Maxwell didn''t respond, as if it was of no consequence. He straightened out the creases in his

    clothes and left the restroom.

    When Rosemary came out afterposing herself, Maxwell was nowhere in sight. She lingered in

    a corner, trying to make herself as unnoticeable as possible.

    No one at the party bothered to talk to her; their avoidance suggested contact with her might taint

    them. Rosemary just sneered in response - fine by her, she didn''t want to deal with them anyway.

    Though they ignored her, they didn''t stop gossiping about her.

    Rosemary had just sat down with some dessert when she overheard a whispered conversation from

    behind a partition, "People born nouveau riche really have no manners. To do that kind of thing in a

    toilet. You wouldn''t believe it, but when I opened the door, that woman''s clothes were half off."

    "No wonder she moved on to Maxwell right after being rejected by Martin. Men really do like those

    who are shy and easy!"

    "Please, Mr. Templeton is just ying around. Everyone in our circle knows he prefers the pure and

    innocent type like Victoria. Rosemary just happened to be in the right ce at the right time,

    delivering herself to his door during Victoria''s absence!"

    Hearing this, Rosemary couldn''t help butugh. She leaned over and said with a chuckle, "If you

    want to know what Mr. Templeton really thinks, you''d have to ask him. Maybe he''s just naturally

    drawn to the shy and easy types, you know?"

    The gossipers looked up and saw that it was Rosemary speaking, and their faces turned colors!

    One even frowned in disgust, "What''s it to you what we''re chatting about? Talk aboutcking

    manners!"

    "Oh, so talking smack about people behind their backs is what passes for ssy in your book? My

    bad, I''m not part of your clique; didn''t get the memo. Maybe I should go ask Maxwell about itter,

    huh?"

    The moment thosedies heard Maxwell''s name, they chickened out and ended up slinking away,

    cursing under their breath.

    Every social circle has its pecking order, and clearly, they weren''t ying in the same league as

    Maxwell.

    Rosemary watched their flustered retreat, snorted, and thought to herself, ¡°Looks like the best way

    to deal with jerks is to unleash the hounds!¡±

    After that fiasco, she lost her appetite and got up to head out to the small terrace outside. Later on,

    Rosemary figured she must''ve walked out without paying her respects to Lady Luck tonight - bad

    vibes all around.

    She just wanted some peace and quiet, but of course, she ran into Martin,ing out to sober up.

    Compared to this, she''d rather go back and eavesdrop on the gossip. Rosemary was about to spin

    on her heel and head back to the party when Martin called out, "Rosemary."

 Chapter 24

    Rosemary hesitated for a few seconds, and then stopped herself from walking away.

    Martin was a bit tipsy, the drunkenness clear in his eyes, and his shirt was more wrinkled than

    usual. His voice was hoarse as he murmured, "I''m really sorry about what happened back then."

    Rosemary''s gaze drifted momentarily, knowing exactly what he was referring to. The audio of her

    proposing to him.

    At that time, she was up to her eyeballs in debt, scrambling for money, and the sudden exposure of

    that recording just threw her into an abyss of no return!

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    The thing people said to her the most back then was, ¡°Ms. Chambers, since you''re so bold, why not

    just sleep with a few more guys? A debt of ten more million is nothing you can''t handle, right?¡±

    Even three yearster, those memories were crystal clear in Rosemary''s mind, unforgettable.

    "Back then, we were talking marriage, but at the end of the day, it was nothing more than a willing

    deal," Rosemary said tly, but that didn''t mean she was over it.

    "You could have totally rejected me, even said I was dreaming on. You could have ridiculed me

    however you wanted, but why did you put that recording online? No matter how much you disliked

    me, that was a low blow, not something a real man would do!"

    By the end, Rosemary couldn''t help but get emotional. After she spilled her guts, Martin let out a

    laugh, "You think I leaked the audio?"

    Rosemary didn''t answer, but her silence was as good as a confirmation. The audio only had the two

    of them, and the ce they spoke was a tea house Martin had chosen for its privacy.

    The quality of that recording was so clear; it had to be up close and personal. Who else could it be

    but him?

    Martin''s gentle smile faded a bit, and after a moment of silence, he said sternly, "Not me."

    Beyond those two words, he offered no further exnation. Whether Rosemary believed him or not

    was anyone''s guess.

    She nced at her watch, wanting nothing more than to leave, but the party outside was in full

    swing and wouldn''t end anytime soon.

    She had arrived in Maxwell''s car, and since Rosewood Vi was the only house in this area, walking

    out meant no chance of hailing a cab.

    The terrace was spacious, so Rosemary picked a spot not too close nor too far from Martin and

    started mindlessly scrolling through her phone.

    The silencested for a while until Martin broke it, "How''ve you been these past few years?"

    Her thumb paused on the screen. She knew he was asking about her marriage to Maxwell. She

    forced a smile and replied nonchntly, "Not great, should''ve listened to you."

    Best friends knew each other, indeed.

    When the news of Rosemary and Maxwell''s wedding broke, Martin had warned her, "You and

    Maxwell aren''t a good match. He¡¯s fallen for someone else. This marriage won''t make you happy."

    Back then, Rosemary was desperate and didn''t care aboutpatibility. Maxwell was her lifeline,

    but looking back, she had indeed rushed into things.

    "Ha, listen to him?"

    The cold voice that suddenly cut in made Rosemary jump. She turned to see Maxwell walking in,

    his aura of aristocracy failing to mask the storm brewing in his eyes, "Listen to him and end up

    dealing with loan sharks, sold abroad to do prostitution?"

    Martin''s brows knitted at the sight of him; he felt a sense of hostility from his good buddy for the first

    time.

    "Maxwell, don''t talk like that. Don''t twist people''s words."

    Maxwell nced at him, asking indifferently, "Aren''t you busy hosting your party?"

    With a resigned touch to his nose, Martin knew it was not his ce to say more and left the terrace

    with his drink in hand.

    Rosemary also wanted to leave, knowing Maxwell was on the verge of blowing a gasket. She''d

    have to be crazy to stick around for his sneers and taunts.

    But just as she reached his side, he grabbed her arm, his voice sharp and icy, "Rosemary, don''t

    forget who paid off your debts when you were drowning. Back then, Martin was probably off

    canoodling with some other woman!"

    She didn''t want to hear any more about the past and chose to remain silent, but an enraged

    Maxwell clenched her wrist and dragged her away from Rosewood Vi.

    As soon as the car hit the main road, Rosemary said, "Pull over. I''ll get a cab home."

    Maxwell just drove, not looking at her.

    "We''re going to the old house tonight. Mom''s been talking about you all day, asking if I''ve been

    bullying you again."

    "Did the test resultse back?" Hearing they were visiting Pearl, Rosemary dropped the idea of

    leaving the car. She was genuinely concerned about Pearl''s health.

    Maxwell wasn''t keen to discuss it, "Some results won''t be back until tomorrow."

    By the time they returned, it waste, but Pearl had waited up for them in the living room,

    immediately pulling Rosemary''s hand with care at the sight of her, "Hungry? Wendy made some

    soup; it''s warming in the kitchen. I''ll get it for you."

    "Pearl." Rosemary hurriedly stopped her, "I''ll get it myself."

    To keep Pearl from suspecting anything, she served a bowl for Maxwell as well.

    Pearl rolled her eyes, "Why are you feeding him? Wasting my good soup!" She still remembered the

    hickey on Maxwell''s neck, possibly from some other woman.

    Maxwell chuckled helplessly on the sidelines, "Mom, you''re ying favorites."

    "I haven''t killed you just because of our mother-son rtionship!"

    Later, unable to stay awake, Pearl headed upstairs after seeing Rosemary finish her soup, not

    without a parting shot, "Don''t spoil him. Sometimes you need toy down thew with this

    ungrateful man."

    Pearl wasn''t worried about other women, but Victoria, that angelic bitch, was a handful, and Pearl

    had seen her tricks before.

    Listening to Pearl describe her own son in such terms, Rosemary was torn betweenughter and

    warmth, feeling truly cherished.

    Her own mother had passed away early, and her father was a scumbag! After marrying Maxwell,

    Pearl had filled the void of family for her.

    If she could, she''d love to keep doing right by Pearl, but after a divorce, they''re just not family

    anymore.

    Back in her room, Rosemary hit the showers first. Then, while Maxwell was having his turn in the

    bathroom, she snagged a nket from the closet and chucked it onto the sofa.

    The man came out with his skin still damp, caught sight of the nket on the sofa, raised an

    eyebrow, but headed straight for the bed anyway.

    Lying on the bed, Rosemary scrunched up her face in irritation, "You hit the couch."

    They were getting divorced after all, no need to share a bed anymore. But Maxwell just looked at

    her and cracked a smile, his eyes dripping with thick sarcasm, "I sleep on the couch, and then you

    p me with a divorce for being ''unsatisfied''? Nice try."

    Hearing that, Rosemary set him straight, all high and mighty, "It''s not about my unsatisfaction; it''s

    about your ''performance issues''. You can''t even meet the basic needs of a marriage. I''ve got to get

    hitched again in the future, you know. Don''t go slinging mud my way and making my future hubby

    get the wrong idea."

    "Get hitched again?" Maxwell let out a coldugh, "To who? Martin?"

 Chapter 25

    "Don''t kid yourself thinking he''s into you. Even if he was, he wouldn''t want you. Here in Greenwood,

    even the women I pass on, nobody dares to pick up the ck."

    Rosemary was so mad she could spit nails. She spun around and red at him, "If you think that

    excuse bruises your ego, feel free to pick another one. I get nauseous just looking at you, have zero

    physiological reaction, can''t get satisfied by this sexual life!"

    "Rosemary," Maxwell''s eyes suddenly swirled with a rage that could tear someone apart; he called

    her name through clenched teeth.

    Fearing he might do something rash in his anger, Rosemary deted and softened her stance,

    "Whatever the reason, we''re headed for splitsville eventually. I mean, look at us, what couple lives

    like this?"

    Thinking back on those three agonizing years of marriage, the smiles she offered only to be met

    with his cold indifference, the meals trashed without a nce, a wave of grievances welling up

    inside her, unstoppable.

    Maxwell''s gaze was steady on her, her eyes rimmed with red yet stubborn as a gamecock. His

    Adam''s apple bobbed, suddenly annoyed, he just shut his eyes andy down, "Sleep time."

    With the man holding her, her face pressed against his chest, she was breathing in nothing but

    Maxwell''s scent; this was the first time he¡¯d held her in their bed since they got hitched. Before, they

    slept separately, with at least a one-person gap between them.

    The man had just taken a shower, his body cool but quickly warming up, scorching Rosemary like

    she was hugging a hot water bottle.

    Held like this, she was anything butfy. She squirmed, trying to turn over and face away from

    him. Maxwell frowned, his voice rough and slightly raised, "Stop wriggling, sleep."

    Rosemary, nearly sweating from the heat and oblivious to the odd note in his tone, protested, "Stop

    hugging me; it''s ufortable."

    Her leg instinctively lifted, trying to push him away a bit, but her knee identally bumped into

    something, and she froze!

    Maxwell''s voice was calm, "Mrs. Templeton, I''m just not into you but it doesn''t mean I can''t perform.

    If you keep moving, I''ll take it as an invitation. in water might be nd, but when there''s no

    choice, it quenches thirst."

    If Maxwell ever winded up dead in the boonies, it''d be because of that mouth of his! But Rosemary''s

    eyes fell on the red mark on his neck, almost gone, probably invisible by tomorrow.

    "Go find the woman who left that mark on your neck; stop grossing me out!"

    Almost as soon as she finished speaking, Maxwell¡¯s lips found her neck, not just a peck, but a

    sucking kiss.

    Rosemary winced in pain, frowning and pushing him hard, "Maxwell, have you lost your mind?"

    He let her go with the flow, "You''ve never dated before me, have you?"

    Rosemary didn''t get where he was going, and just clenched her teeth hard, "Had I known I''d end up

    with you, I''d have dated different guys every week."

    She touched the spot where he''d kissed; that nutjob, definitely left a mark. It was summer; all she

    wears were low-cut tops, no hiding it.

    Maxwell just snorted, "No experience with love, I''ll teach you; this is what a hickey looks like. Don''t

    get dirty thoughts just because you see a red mark on someone''s neck."

    Rosemary was taken aback; what was he implying? That the mark on his neck wasn''t a hickey?

    But whatever it was, he had no right to treat her like this; they were getting divorced! Rosemary

    turned her back on him and stopped engaging, her anger pushing her to close her eyes and force

    sleep.

    Maxwell watched her turned back; had to admit she was incredibly soft. The heat in his heart ring

    up, he fought down the sudden desire, and steadied his breath.

    The next day was the weekend; Rosemary and Maxwell went to the hospital together to pick up

    Pearl''s medical report.

    The doctor''s brows furrowed as he examined the report. Rosemary had an ominous feeling, "Doc, is

    there a problem?"

    "From the test results, the patient has hypertensive heart disease caused by long-term high blood

    pressure. The frequent fevers are likely due to severe depletion in her youth, leading to low

    immunity."

    Rosemary caught the gist: heart disease.

    "Can it be treated?"

    "Hypertensive heart disease is hard to cure because the cause is difficult to eliminate. We can only

    slow its progression. The patient needs to watch her diet, exercise moderately, and, most

    importantly, avoid emotional stress."

    In other words, a chronic condition that required constant vignce.

    Exiting the hospital, Rosemary let out a long sigh, nced at the time, and wished it was Monday

    so she could make a trip to City Hall.

    "When exactly are you nning to take care of the documents with me?" She asked impatiently.

    "So eager?"

    Was this eagerness? Wasn''t this long overdue? Rosemary bit her lip to keep her temper in check,

    suspecting Maxwell was dragging his feet on purpose, "I worry Victoria won''t wait. She finallyes

    back from abroad, and if you don¡¯t keep an eye on her closely, you might lose her again."

    Maxwell shot her a frosty look, "She¡¯s not a pet needing frequent watch."

    Rosemary thought, ¡°Isn''t that just what you two are, a pair of mongrels?¡±

    Of course, she didn''t dare say that out loud, afraid of getting hit.

    Soon Jason drove up, Maxwell told her to get in, but she stood her ground.

    "I''ll take a cab." Rosemary frowned, issuing her ultimatum, "One week is my final line. We''ve been

    married three years. I hope we can part amicably; not end up in court for the whole town to gossip

    about."

    "Are you threatening me?" Maxwell''s eyes narrowed, a frosty edge to his look, "If I don''t agree to

    the divorce, you''ll sue me?"

    Rosemary stayed silent, a tacit agreement to his assumption. He scoffed, "Leaving so much stuff at

    home, hoping toe back anytime?" His impatience showed, the brows furrowed, "ying hard to

    get is overdone and just annoying."

    Rosemary rolled her eyes; how could he still think like this at this stage? She couldn''t help her

    sarcasm, "Maxwell, have you ever cleaned your face growing up?" Thick-skinned much!

    "That stuff? It''s all junk to me. Chuck it or burn it for all I care."

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Maxwell snorted, "You''re talking divorce and still expect me to lift a finger for you? Clean up your

    own mess; show me you''re serious. Then we can talk divorce."

    "Why not let Sandy toss it?"

    Sandy was the maid at Meadork Retreat, a real whiz at dealing with trash.

    Maxwell gave a fake smile that didn''t reach his eyes, "Rosemary, you haven''t paid a dime towards

    the household expenses since we got hitched. Every paycheck around herees out of my

    ount. What makes you think you''ve got the right to order my hired help around?"

    "Fine, I''ll get the movers to pick it up."

    "I don''t want strangers snooping around my ce."

    Rosemary''s eyes twitched in irritation, "This won''t do; that won''t do. What the heck do you want,

    Maxwell?"

    He stayed silent, looking down on her like some lofty god, with a look that screamed ¡°are you an

    idiot?¡±

    She exhaled sharply, her temper ring, "If you''re so picky, why not take it up a notch? Don''t live

    above ground - move underground. Ghosts float around without touching a thing; won¡¯t dirty your

    precious home."

    Maxwell''s face turned thunderous in a sh, "You have a death wish?"

 Chapter 26

    Rosemary had never pondered that question; she just knew that even if she had to return to

    Meadork Retreat now, she wouldn''t be caught dead sharing a ride with him!

    She took a cab to Meadork Retreat herself, and whether by design or ident, they arrived

    almost back-to-back.

    Rosemary ignored him, just huffed and headed straight for the steps. When Sandy saw her return,

    she beamed, "Mrs. Templeton, you''re finally back! Mr. Templeton has been in a foul mood these

    past few days without you. I''ve been walking on eggshells, not even daring to make a peep while

    cleaning."

    Rosemary was easygoing, and since she had personally hired Sandy, thetter felt more at ease

    around her and rattled on, "What couple doesn''t squabble now and then? Don''t let the sun go down

    on your anger. Mr. Templeton cares about you."

    Rosemary didn''t want to hear any praise about Maxwell and offhandedly shot back a question,

    "Sandy, does your husband eat what you order for him?"

    Caught off guard by the sudden question, Sandy answered honestly, "Oh yeah, my man isn''t picky

    at all; he''ll eat whatever I get him. He''s not one to turn down a meal I''ve made."

    Rosemary changed her shoes and walked inside, her tone cool, "But my husband never eats what I

    order, let alone anything I cook."

    Sandy was suddenly at a loss for words, casting a nce at the man standing at the door, his face

    stormy, lips tightly pressed, an icy aura surrounding him that was quite intimidating.

    Rosemary went straight upstairs, opening the bedroom door to be greeted by a familiar scent.

    Maxwell probably hadn''t stayed here while she was gone. The room was exactly as she had left it;

    even the little trinkets she''d put on the nightstand were still there.

    Just back to pack up, Rosemary wasn''t prepared for much; there were only two suitcases that were

    around 22 inches at home, and even stuffed to the brim, they wouldn''t hold a quarter of the clothes

    from the walk-in closet.

    She had taken what she had purchased before, leaving behind only the gifts from Maxwell - the

    latest seasonal fashions from top luxury brands, the kind of stuff ordinary folks would kill for, enough

    to wear a different piece every day for two years without repeating.

    In the three years of their marriage, aside from not liking her, Maxwell hadn''t shortchanged her

    materially, leading her to asionally delude herself into thinking maybe he did have feelings for

    her.

    Maxwell walked in just in time to see Rosemary squatting on the floor, frantically stuffing things into

    a suitcase. He felt an inexplicable restlessness, and his face grew darker, "All this fuss just because

    I didn''t eat what you ordered? Is it really worth kicking up such a stink over something so trivial?"

    Rosemary mmed the clothes she was holding into the suitcase, stood up, and faced him, "You

    think it''s trivial?"

    Maxwell frowned at that, his impatience clear, "I thought we had an unspoken agreement about how

    things were."

    Having her work at the Templeton Group as his life assistant was Pearl''s idea. He had arranged it,

    but that didn''t mean he had to eat the meals she ordered. He had even told her she could request a

    transfer to another department anytime she wanted.

    But Rosemary didn''t want to. Since shecked ambition and was content with a cushy, do-nothing

    job, he had nothing else to say - he just treated her like a freeloader.

    Rosemary was so infuriated by his entitled attitude that she felt like taking a hammer to his head to

    see what was really going on in there!

    "Yes, we had an agreement, so now I want a divorce, just like we agreed when we got married."

    She didn''t have the patience to sort through everything item by item and just bunched up the

    clothes and shoved them into the suitcase, zipping it up, "I''lle back for the rest tomorrow. Let''s

    get the papers on Monday, so we don''t waste each other''s time."

    Maxwell heard her still talk about divorce, his patience running out. As Rosemary walked past him

    with her suitcase, he grabbed her wrist and pinned her on the couch, tossing his phone at her.

    "Order it."

    Rosemary, visibly annoyed, didn''t understand what he was up to.

    Maxwell added, "You heard the doctor today. Mom can''t handle any stress right now. Isn''t this whole

    fight just because I didn''t eat what you ordered? So order now, I''ll eat now, and let''s drop the

    divorce talk, at least not until Mom''s condition stabilizes."

    Rosemary''s frown never eased, suspecting Maxwell was doing this on purpose. This wasn''t about

    eating or not eating, making a fuss or not. He knew full well what the real problem was in their

    marriage, yet he deliberately missed the point, twisting her words.

    Rosemary met his gaze unwaveringly, "The biggest concession I''ll make is to keep our divorce from

    your mom, to save face for you. I''ll y along whenever you need, ready 24/7."

    Despite her words, whether she''d actually be there after the divorce was not Maxwell''s concern; she

    had to sweeten the deal for now.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Seeing Maxwell''s mood darken to the brink of explosion, Rosemary hardened her feelings and

    yed her trump card, "Maxwell, clingy, desperate men are such a turn-off."

    She knew him too well. A guy like Maxwell, born into privilege, used to being ttered and coddled

    from a young age, how could he stand being described with such disdain?

    "Clingy and desperate?" The man was indeed provoked, his voiceden with venom, followed by a

    sneer of contempt, "You? Who do you think you are?"

    He stood up, looking down on her, "Mywyer will contact you tomorrow to discuss the details of the

    divorce. Now get lost."

    Rosemary leaped up from the couch, grabbed her luggage, and bolted faster than a rabbit, fearing

    Maxwell might change his mind, "I''lle back for the rest tomorrow."

    "No need, I''ll have Sandy throw it all out."

    Rosemary didn''t miss a beat, her voice trailing off in the distance, "Fine, have it your way!"

    Maxwell watched her flee, his expression as cold as ice.

 Chapter 27

    Bright and early the next day, Rosemary got a ring from Maxwell¡¯swyer, and they decided to catch

    up at a coffee joint nearby. Just to y it safe, she also buzzed Louis.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Given Maxwell''s agreeable mood about the divorcest night, she had this nagging feeling that

    today''s rendezvous wouldn''t be a walk in the park.

    When Rosemary arrived, the legal eagle from the Templeton Group was already there. She

    recognized the face. Harvey Holiday, the big cheese of the Templeton Group¡¯s legal squad, but he

    was always wrangling big-ticket corporate cases. Divorce gigs? Not his usual turf.

    But it didn¡¯t take long for Rosemary to realize this was no small potatoes. ''Cause when it came to

    splitting the assets, a whopping amount was north of 300 million!

    "Mr. Holiday, what''s the deal here?"

    Harvey was all business, no sharp edges to his words, "The hefty 350 million debt Mr. Templeton

    cleared for you was your personal debt from before you tied the knot. Legally speaking, post-

    divorce, he''s entitled to w that back."

    He flipped to thest page, "Here''s the breakdown of the marital assets. After the split, you''re still on

    the hook for 300 mil to Mr. Templeton."

    Rosemary scrunched her brows, "But I only married Maxwell to clear that debt. We had an

    understanding."

    If she hadn''t been cornered back then, she wouldn''t have married Maxwell.

    "Do you have any proof that the money was a gift from Mr. Templeton to you?"

    Faced with Harvey''s question, Rosemary mmed up. Of course, she didn''t have a shred of

    evidence.

    Seeing her face, Harvey guessed the answer and said with a smile, "No proof means no gift."

    Right then, Louis showed up, taken aback at the sight of Harvey, "Mr. Holiday?"

    Harvey was a legend amongwyers, the kind many would bend over backwards to have in their

    corner. Yet here he was, on a divorce case.

    Louis stepped forward, "Mr. Holiday, I''m Ms. Chambers'' legal rep."

    Harvey gave a nod and nced at his watch. He had other fish to fry and couldn¡¯t stick around, "Ms.

    Chambers, gotta run. Mr. Templeton has signed off on the divorce papers. If you''re cool with it, you

    can finalize the paperwork anytime."

    Five minutester, Louis closed the divorce papers, looking dead serious, "Ms. Chambers, my two

    cents? You should have a heart-to-heart with Mr. Templeton. Taking this to court is not looking good

    for you. No evidence means no gift, and with Harvey on his side. An out-of-court settlement would

    be golden."

    Rosemary''s face was a picture that said a thousand words. She pocketed the divorce papers and

    gave a faint nod, "Thanks for today, Louis. I''ll give you a buzz once I''ve made up my mind."

    Stepping out of the caf¨¦, she called Maxwell. He was in a meeting, phone on silent, but the screen

    lit up and he swept a nce.

    ¡°Rosemary¡± was shing on it. He didn''t pick up.

    By now, Harvey should''ve had the talk with her. If she''d all fired up about divorcing, she¡¯d gotta face

    the music. He knew what the call was about - divorce and a 300 million debt hanging over her head;

    or stay married and keep living the high life as Mrs. Templeton.

    It was a no-brainer, unless she was off her rocker. But he wasn''t in the mood to entertain her just

    yet. Let her stew a bit, learn her lesson, so she wouldn''t think of pulling the divorce card over every

    little thing again.

    The call rang out to voicemail, and he half-expected her to ring back, but nada.

    The meeting wrapped up, everybody else cleared out, and then Christ walked in, "Mr. Templeton,

    Ms. Chambers'' call got redirected to me."

    Maxwell looked indifferent, with a mocking chill in his eyes. He had things to do, no time to waste on

    Rosemary.

    "Tell her to move her stuff back and if she throws another divorce tantrum, I''ll grant her wish."

    Christ checked his boss'' vibe, hesitated, and then bit the bullet, "Ms. Chambers said she agrees to

    your terms. She''s signed the divorce papers, asking you to find time to wrap it up at City Hall."

    Rosemary''s actual words were way saltier, something about Mr. Templeton being a sticky ster!

    But Christ didn''t have the guts to repeat it verbatim!

    Maxwell''s eyes narrowed suddenly, "She agreed to divorce?"

    "Yeah, that''s what Ms. Chambers said."

    The man stared at his phone, silent for a long beat.

    Christ, unable to read him, asked cautiously, "Mr. Templeton, you want me to get back to Ms.

    Chambers?"

    Next thing, Maxwell shot up and strode out of the conference room, an indescribable chill

    emanating from him. Christ scrambled after him, nearly getting pancaked by the mming ss

    door!

    Maxwell was swiping his phone, making a call.

    "Christ tells me you agreed to divorce?"

    "Yeah."

    Right then, Rosemary was at the curbside, hailing a cab, drenched in sweat from the scorching sun,

    just wanting to get home for a cool shower.

    But Maxwell''s voice on the phone was ice-cold, "When are you nning to pay it back?"

    Rosemary frowned; was he in that much of a hurry?

    "Let''s get the formalities done first. I''ll pay you back in installments."

    "Installments? How long?" Maxwell''s voice dripped with sarcasm, "With the peanuts you earn from

    your job, how many lifetimes will it take to scrape together 300 million? I finalize the papers, and

    you back out, what then?"

    Bearing the heat and irritation, Rosemary shot back, "I can write you an IOU."

    "Pfft, banks loan money based on assets. What kind of assets do you have that make me believe

    you can pay back 300 million?

 Chapter 28

    Hearing that, Rosemary was so mad she was at a loss for words. Finally, she mmed down the

    phone with a thud. That jerk really couldn''t spit out a single nice word from his fricking mouth!

    But 300 million was no chump change. How could she scramble up that amount in no time?

    Rosemary was seriously ticked off. In the end, she hailed a cab to Ynda''s antique shop. The staff

    there all knew her, "Ms. Chambers, the manager''s upstairs."

    "Alright, thanks."

    She headed upstairs. Ynda had just walked a customer to the staircase and did a double-take

    when she saw her, "What brings you here at this hour?"

    Later, Rosemary flopped onto the sofa, deted, and gave Ynda the gist of the situation. Ynda

    was gobsmacked!

    "That guy''s such a lowlife, huh? Is the Templeton Group going belly up or something, trying to nickel

    and dime ady now?"

    What Maxwell was thinking, Rosemary didn''t have a clue. As for the Templeton Group, far from

    going bankrupt, they were actually thriving.

    Ynda pressed on, "So what''s your game n?"

    "What else can I do? Pay up."

    It was spelled out clear as day in the divorce agreement: the debt was hers alone from before the

    marriage, and she had to settle it to be square.

    Ynda was still fuming, "But you married him in the first ce just to get out of this debt, right? Or

    is Maxwell pulling all these stunts because he doesn''t want to divorce?"

    Rather than not wanting a divorce, Rosemary''d prefer to think he just wanted his money back.

    "Why not just stay married? Maxwell may be a jerk, but he''s got the looks and the cash. He lets you

    swipe the card without a care and doesn''t even ask you to do wifey duties. Lots of gals would kill for

    that."

    Rosemary''s mind wandered, but recalling the soul-sucking three years of marriage, her face clearly

    showed her disgust, "Divorce was my call. Ynda, keep an eye out for me, will ya? If any decent

    gigse up, snag ''em for me."

    She needed cash, stat. The studio paid a fixed wage, and most of the restoration was on

    archaeological finds meant for museums, not exactly a gold mine. To rake in the dough, she''d have

    to take on private jobs.

    Ynda was silent for a beat, sensing Rosemary''s resolve. Something came to mind, but her

    expression turned a bit sheepish, "I''ve actually got a job for you, but I''m afraid you might not want

    it."

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Rosemary was puzzled, "Is it tough?"

    "It''s Victoria who''s looking for you." Hearing that name made Rosemary frown. Ynda added,

    "She''s been asking around for youtely, even approached other restorers, but her painting is so

    badly damaged; hardly anyone dares to take it on. And those who do aren''t sure they can actually

    fix it."

    Rosemary remembered thest time she saw Victoria in the studio,ing to see Oswald about

    Rose. She would have refused before, but now.

    "How much is she offering?"

    Ynda shed a number, a pretty heftymission by industry standards.

    "Dance really does pay the bills." Rosemary mused, her lips curling into a dazzling smile, "Contact

    her, add another zero, and I''m in."

    Ynda caught on, and gave her a shocked thumbs-up. Ruthless! She turned right around to make

    the call, not to Victoria directly, but to leak a hint to their circle. Victoria had been burning bridges left

    and right to find Rose.

    Soon enough, Victoria was on the phone, super polite, "Hello, are you Rose''s agent?"

    Ynda spoke in a hushed tone, "Yes."

    After half an hour of haggling, she gestured an ¡°OK¡± to Rosemary, who was sitting by, "But she has

    one condition: it must be restored within two months."

    With the clock ticking, Rosemary set up a time and ce with the other party to pick up the painting.

    She had to go fetch it herself, to check its authenticity and avoid any handover issues. Once at

    Victoria''s ce and her purpose exined, Victoria turned extremely shocked!

    "You''re picking up something for Rose? I don''t buy it. Where is she?¡±

    ¡°Do you think she¡¯s too idle toe herself? I''m her assistant, in charge of these matters."

    Rosemary didn''t want to waste another word on her and got straight to the point, "Where''s the

    painting?"

    Naturally, Victoria wasn''t going to take Rosemary''s word for it and grilled her, "Weren''t you an

    apprentice at Heritage Revive Studio? Since when did you be Rose''s assistant? I haven''t

    heard of her working at Heritage Revive Studio."

    Rosemary was getting impatient. If it wasn''t for the money, she wouldn''t bother with this woman.

    Finally, she gave out the phone number Ynda had used to contact Victoria, and, sure enough, it

    checked out.

    "I don''t trust handing it over to you." Victoria said haughtily, chin up, "With a price that high, Rose

    herself should make the trip, right? If there''s a problem with the restoration, who''s gonna be on the

    hook?"

    "If you don''t trust her skills, then find someone else who''s up to snuff," Rosemary didn¡¯t bother to

    speak any further, ready to leave.

    Victoria''s eyes bulged, shocked that Rosemary would walk away so decisively. She was just an

    assistant; what right did she have to act so high and mighty?

    "Do you have any idea how much I''m willing to pay for this restoration? For a mere assistant to

    make such a call, aren''t you scared that as soon as you get back, Rose might give you the boot?"

    Such threats were like feathers to Rosemary.

    Seeing the woman almost out the door, Victoria clenched her teeth in frustration, but was out of

    options. She had to get Rose to restore the painting - it was meant for...

    "Wait!"

    In the end, Victoria caved, pulling the painting from its box with extreme care and unfolding it.

    When Rosemary saw the painting, she raised an eyebrow in surprise - she hadn''t expected this

    piece to be in Victoria''s hands.

    Back in the day, some mysterious collector snagged this painting for a whopping 20 mil at an

    overseas auction. After bringing it back home, they had it on disy at the museum for a free

    month-long show, and since then, it was like it vanished into thin air.

    Now, peeping the extent of the damage, Rosemary couldn''t help but let out a sigh: No wonder

    nobody was brave enough to touch it.

    This wasn''t just damage; it was a hot mess!

    Rosemary popped open her toolkit and started sussing out whether the painting was legit or not, a

    process that was not exactly a sprint.

    Victoria''s silently fuming on the sidelines. She never would''ve pegged Rosemary as Rose''s right-

    hand woman!

    "You keeping this side hustle from Oswald? What if I spill the beans? Think you''d get the boot from

    the studio?"

    Rosemary was unshaken, "Go ahead; give it a whirl."

    Victoria snorted. She was not about to test those waters. She hadn''t got a clue how tight Rosemary

    was with Rose, and thest thing she wanted was to ruffle any feathers ande out worse for

    wear.

    She''d just wait till the painting was all patched up and then maybe drop a dime to Oswald.

    "Why didn''t you spill the beans when I was sniffing around Heritage Revive Studio asking about

    Rose?"

    If only she''d known, it would''ve saved her a ton of time, and time was ticking - only two months left!

    Rosemary arched an eyebrow and shot back, "Since when are we that close?"

    Victoria watched her bending over the artwork with a meticulous eye, but inside she was scoffing.

    Rosemary, still wet behind the ears, probably couldn''t tell a fake from the real deal. The real pros in

    antiques appraisal? They had got decades in the game.

    Pfft, she was just putting on a show!

    Eventually, an idea sparked in Victoria, and she smirked smugly, "Fixing this painting''s gonna cost a

    pretty penny. Good thing Maxwell tossed me his supplementary card; otherwise, I''d be up a creek

    without a paddle."

    Hearing this, the usually stoic Rosemary finally showed a reaction. She turned to look at Victoria,

    but her face wasn''t the picture of outrage Victoria expected. Instead, she was all chill, "Rose hates

    homewreckers. You want me to pass that message along?"

    Seeing Victoria zipped it, Rosemary dialed back the attitude and got back to work. But thinking

    about how she was earning Maxwell''s dough, she was instantly kicking herself for not charging

    more.

    She should''ve asked for a cool 300 mil!

 Chapter 29

    After confirming the authenticity, Rosemary carefully packed the painting into a box and whipped out

    the contract she had prepared earlier for Victoria to sign.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    As Victoria put her signature on the dotted line, she couldn''t resist taking a jab at her, "Look at you,

    once the cream of the crop at the art school, raking in a cool 300 grand for a painting before even

    graduating. And now? You''ve hit rock-bottom, ying errand girl as someone''s assistant. How''s that

    feel?"

    This whole ordeal was like a stain on Rosemary''s life that just wouldn''t wash out. Yet, Victoria never

    got the satisfaction of seeing Rosemary blow her top. Her face, a cocktail of allure and aloofness,

    remained an emotionless mask.

    Without a word, she hugged the painting and made her exit. She walked away with her back ramrod

    straight, only slumping down like a deted ball once she was safely inside a cab.

    This painting was in bad shape - a massive project with time ticking away. There was no time to

    lose, so she headed straight home once she had the artwork in her possession.

    Her two-bedroom apartment had one room transformed into a studio. Rosemaryid out the

    protective paper on the table, smoothed it out with a damp brush, and then ced the

    unrecognizable ancient painting on top, misting it with lukewarm water around 50 degree

    centigrade.

    Restoring paintings required the patience of a saint. By the time she finished the first step, night had

    completely fallen.

    The buzz of her phone broke Rosemary''s concentration. A nce at the screen - It was Maxwell

    calling.

    Her eyes flicked to the ancient painting in front of her, recalling Victoria''s barbs from earlier today

    about the supplementary card Maxwell had given out.

    With furrowed brow and an irked tone, she answered, "What do you want?"

    Maxwell was also frowning on the other end, "Did someone light your fuse?"

    "Spit it out if you''ve got something to say, or else I''m hanging up," just as she was about to cut the

    call, Maxwell''smand stopped her in her tracks.

    "Come downstairs."

    "What?" It took a few seconds for Rosemary to react. She strode to the window, yanked back the

    curtain, and sure enough, there was that familiar Bentley parked below. He had actually shown up.

    "I''m busy; let''s talk over the phone."

    She feared seeing Maxwell would make her lose her cool, and maybe even use her stilettos to give

    his face a new look!

    On one hand, he was coldly handling legal issues with his wife, and on the other, he was unting

    his mistress around town with his credit card. Even a dog wouldn''t be that showy!

    "I''m taking you out to eat." After a brief pause, Maxwell''s voice returned with a sly undertone, "Or

    would you prefer Ie up and drag you to the restaurant?"

    Rosemary rejected the offer without hesitation, "Not hungry, I''ll pass."

    "Mom made the reservation. If you''re not going, tell her yourself."

    That remark took the wind out of Rosemary''s sails.

    Pearl had wanted them to go out like a regr couple, to dine out now and then. She had gone

    through so much trouble, booking couple''s restaurants for them to share intimate moments, but

    Maxwell was too chilly to even hold hands in public, let alone go on a date.

    And as for couple''s restaurants, they had never been to one. Now he was suddenly ying the

    obedient son?

    But after a few seconds of hesitation, Rosemary went downstairs anyway. She hadn''t eaten since

    noon and was famished. The fridge was barren except for a few bottles of yogurt. She''d just chalk it

    up to filling her stomach - pure and simple!

    Pearl''s choice was, as usual, a romantic couple''s restaurant with dim lighting, flickering candlelight

    on the tables, soothing piano music, and secluded rooms - perfect for a date.

    Walking in, Rosemary caught sight of a few couples kissing. Instinctively, her gaze turned to

    Maxwell, not with any particr intent - if there had to be a reason, it was out of sheer

    awkwardness.

    Maxwell''s face was expressionless, but his words made Rosemary want to p him on the spot.

    "Jealous, huh? Want it?"

    Suppressing the urge to smack him, Rosemary lowered her voice, "There might be reporters here."

    Such a ce was prime territory for gossip hounds chasing scandals of the rich and famous. He

    had previously avoideding here, afraid of exposure, right?

    Seeing Maxwell unfazed, Rosemary figured her warning was superfluous. Finally, with a feigned

    sigh, she answered his earlier question, "Yeah, I''m green with envy. But the thought of it being with

    you just kills the mood."

    "Not interested in kissing me, then who are you interested in?" Maxwell turned to face her, his jaw

    clenched, his gaze unblinking; even in the dim light his eyes were clearly brimming with menace.

    He was being outrageous, and their exchange caught the attention of many around them, all

    wearing smirks on their faces.

    Not wanting to have this embarrassing conversation in the middle of the lobby, Rosemary quickly

    found a seat.

    Eager to return to her work, she grabbed the menu to order, reminding the waiter, "Please, make it

    quick."

    Watching her hurried actions, Maxwell frowned, "What, haven¡¯t eaten a meal in your lifetime?"

    She was just in unwilling to spend time with him.

    She kept her thoughts to herself, and while waiting for their meal, she brought up the terms of their

    agreement again, "I''ll pay you back the 300 million I owe."

    In the shadows, Maxwell''s eyes were still brooding, repeating the same question he had asked on

    the phone, "And why should I trust you?"

    Rosemary was on the verge of losing it! He was doing this on purpose. Despite her promise to

    repay the money, he kept dragging his feet.

    "Victoria''s back; aren''t you concerned?"

    Maxwell didn''t even look up, "Concerned, so hurry up and pay back the money."

    "I won''t dodge the debt just because we''re getting divorced." Rosemary tried to reason with him,

    "Besides, you''re not short of that money."

    What she implied was: Compared to his happiness, money was nothing.

    Maxwell''s eyes lifted to her agitated face, and finally, he smiled, "Mrs. Templeton, just because I''m

    not short of money, you act like a dead mouse not feeling any cold. Who gave you that audacity?

    Instead of wasting time here, you should be figuring out how to make that 300 million faster."

    Rosemary was seething at his remark, "Don''t you dare call me that!"

    Throughout their marriage, he had always addressed her with such formality, devoid of any

    affection. Now that they were about to divorce, he kept using ¡°Mrs. Templeton¡± - it was nothing short

    of mockery!

    Maxwell sneered, "Don''t want to be Mrs. Templeton, aiming to snag the title of Mrs. Ger instead?"

 Chapter 30

    He was bringing up Martin again!

    "Can we not drag unrted people into our business? Seriously."

    "When you mentioned Victoria, you didn''t seem to have that kind of awareness."

    Rosemary smirked sarcastically, "Oh, she''s unrted?"

    Maxwell didn''t say a word, but his look clearly screamed that she was being unreasonable.

    "An unrted person shing your supplementary card around, dropping hundreds of thousands in

    one go? Really?"

    Maxwell''s supplementary card had no spending limit. How could just anyone get their hands on that

    sort of privilege?

    Frowning, he asked, "Who told you that?"

    "Your little sweetheart spilled the beans."

    The term ¡°little sweetheart¡± tightened Maxwell''s frown as he gripped her chin with his long fingers,

    sizing her up as if she were an item for sale, "How have you managed to survive this long with such

    a birdbrain?"

    "Maxwell!"

    Before Rosemary could retort, the waiter started bringing dishes to the table one after another. She

    shook off his hand, maintaining a safe distance between them.

    Pearl had even specially selected a bottle of fine wine for the couple. Rosemary didn''t touch the

    wine, and just quietly ate her meal with her head down, staying silent the entire time.

    Midway through the meal, Maxwell''s phone rang, lighting up the table with the caller ID ¡°Victoria¡±

    shing on the screen. In front of the spread, Rosemary, catching a glimpse of the name, suddenly

    lost her appetite and began to aimlessly poke at the food on her te.

    After a nce at his phone, Maxwell put down his utensils, picked up the device, leaned back

    against the soft chair, and answered, "What''s up?"

    Secondster, his expression darkened visibly, "Got it."

    He stood up and said to Rosemary, "Something''se up with Victoria. I need to check it out."

    Rosemary had expected this. His tone didn''t faze her; wasn''t he always leaving her behind after a

    call from Victoria?

    She was used to it. Besides, she was so over him. If he couldn''t let go, why wouldn''t he just divorce

    her? Why not just stick by Victoria''s side openly?

    Their table was by the window, and through the ss, Rosemary watched him bend down to get

    into his car.

    "Rosemary?" Just then, a familiar voice sounded above her.

    Looking up, Rosemary was momentarily taken aback upon seeing Martin standing before her. She

    quickly regained herposure, "What a coincidence, you''re here for dinner?"

    They weren''t on bad terms; otherwise, she wouldn''t have thought of him first when she needed

    help.

    Asking for help was a favor; there was no obligation. She wasn''t petty enough to hold a grudge

    against Martin just because he had once refused her.

    As for that audio clip, it might have been a misunderstanding. Since he said it wasn''t him that day,

    she decided to believe him.

    "I''m friends with the owner of this restaurant. Came to discuss some business." Martin replied,

    noticing the second set of utensils on the table and ncing around, "You''re here with Maxwell?"

    Instinctively, Rosemary denied it, "No, I was with a friend. She just left."

    Subconsciously, she didn''t want others to know she had been left alone in the restaurant by her

    husband.

    Martin paused for a second but didn''t call her out, "I haven''t eaten either. Mind if I join you?"

    As he asked, he already sat down, leaving Rosemary no choice but to swallow her polite refusal,

    "Not at all."

    Martin called over a waiter, had the almost untouched meal cleared away, and ordered some fresh

    dishes, "Try the house specials."

    Rosemary had already had her fill earlier, but in this situation, she just nodded along. Meanwhile,

    downstairs Maxwell got into the car and instructed Jason, "To the BrightSky Building."

    Before starting the car, Jason nced through the windshield at the darkening sky, "Mr. Templeton,

    isn''t Mrs. Templetoning with you? The weather forecast mentioned a storm tonight. Looks like

    it''s about to start."

    "After you drop me off,e back to pick her up."

    Maxwell took out his phone, thinking to message Rosemary to wait at the restaurant, but

    considering her temper, she probably wouldn''tply. So he grabbed the umbre from the car and

    stepped back out.

    Back in the restaurant, Martin, seeing Rosemary distracted, casually inquired, "You look a bit off.

    Something wrong?"

    Rosemary didn''t think she looked troubled, but at Martin''s query, she reflexively touched her face.

    Seeing her subconsciously gesture, Martin gently smiled and ced a bowl of soup by her, "Need

    any help?"

    Rosemary knew he was just being polite; she didn''t seriously intend to ask Martin to help raise

    money. After all, 300 million wasn''t a small sum.

    But with the conversation headed this way, she rested her cheek on her hand and joked, "Help me?

    How about lending me 300 million, huh?"

    He looked at Rosemary, trying to gauge the seriousness of her words. After a few seconds, he

    asked, "Why not ask Maxwell? That sort of money''s nothing to him."

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.

    Rosemary''s gaze dropped, the dim light casting a soft shadow on her face, highlighting her pallor.

    Yeah, Maxwell wasn''t short on cash, but all his money was tied up pampering Victoria!

    Annoyed by the thought, she dropped the subject and started drinking. She nearly finished the

    bottle of wine Pearl had ordered, and with the alcohol kicking in, she let her guard down, her face

    flushed with a self-deprecating smile.

    Martin didn''t stop her from drinking; sometimes a bit of sorrow-drowning was a necessary release.

    When Rosemary noticed Martin''s empty ss as she reached for the bottle, she poured him a drink

    too.

    "Care for a drink?"

    She lifted her ss with a light smile, a look that would captivate any man.

    Martin was no exception. Realizing he was momentarily captivated, Martin was about to take a sip

    when a cold sneer from behind caught him off guard, "You dare drink what she pours?"

 Chapter 31

    Rosemary was a bit tipsy and slower on the uptake than usual. It wasn''t until Martin called out

    ¡°Maxwell¡± that she managed to match that mocking tone with the face behind it.

    She had no clue why Maxwell would make aeback out of the blue. But she knew what he was

    about to say and she didn''t want Martin to get wind of it.

    Almost on autopilot, Rosemary stood up from her seat and moved toward Maxwell, but her get-up

    was so hasty that her booze-soaked brain was numbed, causing her to stumble and fall right into

    the guy''s arms.

    Maxwell didn''t budge, letting her crash into him while his handsome face was nothing but frosty

    indifference.

    Rosemary''s legs were like jelly, forcing her to cling onto his arms to barely keep herself upright. She

    kinda regretted knocking back so much booze!

    She looked up at Maxwell and whispered so only they could hear, "Don''t you dare spill."

    Her voice had an unintended flirtatiousness and a tinge of vulnerability. Maxwell''s jaw was set, his

    features sharp and grim, "What''s the matter, scared he''ll find out you drugged him? Afraid to shatter

    the pure and innocent image you''ve painted in his eyes?"

    Rosemary frowned, her displeasure evident, which to Maxwell, felt like a tacit admission, stirring a

    tempest inside him.

    Yet, the drunken woman was oblivious to his anger and insteadined impatiently, "Didn''t you

    leave already? Why are you back?"

    Maxwell suddenly let out a half-smile, "My bad for intruding, huh?"

    Rosemary, irked by his sarcasm, scrunched her brows, "Think what you want."

    After steadying herself, she let go of his hand, turned to Martin, and said her goodbyes, "I''m taking

    off. Don''t sweat what I said earlier. I''ll treat you to a meal when I''m free next time."

    Clearly, it was just lip service, but it didn''t stop someone from taking it to heart.

    Martin nodded, "Be careful on your way."

    "See ya," Rosemary turned to leave, giving Maxwell the cold shoulder. As she passed by him, her

    brows furrowed ufortably, and her steps were a bit floaty from the alcohol.

    This was the second time Maxwell saw her drunk, her cheeks and lips flushed, her eyes a touch

    enticingly hazy.

    Maxwell watched her retreating figure, his thin lips tightening, a dark turbulence brewing in his eyes.

    Rosemary made her way downstairs and stood on the curb to hail a cab. It was peak taxi time, and

    this area was high-end, with hardly a cab in sight, let alone a vacant one.

    Rosemary, throwing image to the wind, plopped down on a curbstone and whipped out her ride-

    hailing app.

    Squinting, she leaned in to make out the disy, only for her arm to be yanked forcefully, lifting her

    right off the curbstone.

    No need to look to know who it was. The man''s presence was domineering and pervasive, with a

    strong hint of aggression.

    Rosemary''s arm hurt. She twisted her brow and struggled, "Let go."

    Before she could finish, Maxwell hauled her into the car with brute force.

    Jason, in the driver''s seat, was startled by themotion in the back. He turned to see his boss

    pinning Mrs. Templeton to the backseat like wrangling a chicken.

    Rosemary, resisting with no hint of frailty, drunk and more forceful than a bull, even less measured

    than when sober.

    Sober Rosemary would never dare to scratch Maxwell! She wed at his neck, leaving a ring

    red mark, a burning pain. He even thought if his hair weren''t so short for her to grab, she''d have

    acted like a total harridan.

    "Rosemary."

    Maxwell, face like ice, pinned her iling hands to the seat, kneeling beside her in amanding

    and somewhat forceful pose.

    To others, it was a steamy yet aggressive posture, but to Jason, the sole spectator, it was just hair-

    raising. He was terrified Mrs. Templeton would tick off the boss and end up ditched on a freeway to

    fend for herself.

    Rosemary bit her lip, her gaze on the face before her, and suddenly deted. They were getting

    divorced anyway, no need to make a scene. What could he possibly do to her?

    Maxwell sensed her struggle cease, his frosty face easing up as he let her go, "Head back to

    Meadork Retreat."

    He touched the scratch on his neck, his fingertiping away with a trace of blood. The man''s

    tongue touched his cheek, eliciting a faint ¡°tsk¡±.

    Rosemary shifted to the other side, curling up against the car door, her voice weary and faint,

    "Jason, just drop me off somewhere easy to catch a ride."

    She wanted to head back to her own ce, without troubling Jason to go out of his way for her.

    Jason didn''t dare respond; he nced at Maxwell in the rear-view mirror and saw his stony

    expression, silent.

    But after years with Maxwell, Jason could read him with just one look. Ignoring Rosemary''s request,

    he sped up, heading straight for Meadork Retreat.

    Rosemary frowned, not familiar with the roads here, reluctantly opening her phone''s navigation.

    Maxwell nced at her phone and then at her, his toneced with derision, "With that skinny frame

    of yours, you think I''d even bother to do something with you?"

    Rosemary shot back, "No worries there. After all, Mr. Templeton has an unusual taste."

    She might not be a 36D chest, but she was well-proportioned, with curves where needed and grace

    where expected. Victoria might have had a dancer''s figure and poise, but she didn''t have

    Rosemary''s curves.

    Clearly, Maxwell didn''t mind Victoria''sck of assets, yet heined about her being skinny.

    Was this the so-called difference between the first crush and other women?

    Rosemary couldn''t be bothered with him and spoke to the driver instead, "Jason, please, send me

    to my apartment."

    Jason gave her an apologetic nce through the rear-view mirror, continuing on his way. The

    robotic voice of the phone''s GPS chirped, "You have veered off course, recalcting route."

    Rosemary frowned, biting back words she wanted to say. As the off-course alerts piled up, and no

    alternative routes ahead, she finally toughened up, "Jason, just pull over here!"

    Maxwell shot her a cold nce, "Wanting to go back for Martin?"

    So not wanting to ride with him meant she was running back to someone else? What kind of wack

    logic was that!

    Seeing her silent, Maxwell looked at her displeased little face with a half-smirk, "You think it''s just

    coincidence you bumped into him tonight? He''s out on a blind date, at this hour."

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    He nced at his watch, "You''d probably have to track him down to a love hotel."

    Rosemary snorted; it was clear he was just picking a fight. She tilted her chin defiantly and shot

    back, "Then do me a favor and check which love hotel it is, given Martin''s build and physique."

    She leaned into Maxwell''s ear and whispered something she''d never dare say normally, "Handling

    two at once should be no sweat for him."

 Chapter 32

    Maxwell''s lips pressed into a thin line, veins popping on his forehead as he almost snarled her

    name, "Rosemary!"

    Rosemary froze, meeting his fierce gaze with a lurch in her heart.

    "Chill out, why the aggression?"

    He gritted his teeth, "You''re asking for it."

    No one spoke for the rest of the journey, the tension in the car so thick it could be cut with a knife,

    scaring Jason to the point he didn''t dare to press the gas pedal too hard.

    Rosemary leaned against the door, staring nkly at the night scenery whizzing by. The car finally

    stopped in the garden of Meadork Retreat, and Rosemary, looking at the familiar off-white vi in

    front of her, lethargically pushed the car door open and stepped out.

    This was her and Maxwell''s marital home, but also a cage that had imprisoned her for three years.

    She had tried and hoped to be a loving couple with him, but now, she was so disheartened that she

    just wanted a divorce.

    Taxis were a no-show in this ritzy part of town, she had been drinking and couldn¡¯t drive, and Jason

    wouldn''t take orders from her to drive her back.

    After weighing her options, it seemed like crashing here was the only one for tonight. At leastter

    on, Maxwell would probably go see Victoria, and she could pretend she was just staying at a hotel.

    Rosemary staggered inside, and as she bent over to change shoes, footsteps approached from

    behind.

    Maxwell stood there, watching the way her dress clung to her curves in that pose, sketching out a

    different kind of sex appeal.

    Today she wore an A-line skirt that revealed slender, eye-catching legs. Maxwell felt a surge of heat

    in his chest, a fire that had been smoldering since her words in the car.

    Over the years, he''d had no shortage of women throwing themselves at him, many more beautiful

    and sensual than Rosemary, some even bold enough to strip naked in front of him, but he never felt

    interested.

    The fire now seemed toe more from anger than desire. Even if he didn''t like the woman, he

    couldn''t stand the thought of herparing him to someone else.

    He fought to control the rage bubbling inside him, resisting the urge to drag her upstairs forcefully.

    Oblivious to the danger, Rosemary finished changing her shoes and half-closed her eyes as she

    headed to the living room.

    She didn''t go up to her room, nning to rough it on the couch for the night. She had picked out this

    sofa herself, wide andfy. She knew exactly where to find a light nket on the shelf below and

    lay down, covering herself.

    Maxwell strode over, looking down at her on the couch, "Get up."

    Rosemary turned over and buried her face in the cushion, toozy to deal with him. His

    expressionless face grew darker as he took off his watch and started unbuttoning his shirt, his gaze

    never leaving Rosemary in the entire process, his lips spouting a maddening proposition, "Or would

    you rather do it right here on the couch?"

    Rosemary''s temples throbbed with shock at his sudden words! She turned, ring furiously at him.

    How shameless could he be to say something like that so nonchntly!

    But her eyes dropped to his well-defined chest and tight abs. His muscles weren''t exaggerated, just

    a thinyer, like a sleek and powerful cheetah.

    Rosemary snapped back to reality. He was actually undressing! Her voice rose, "Isn¡¯t Victoria

    dying? Shouldn¡¯t you go see her instead of stripping here?"

    Maxwell frowned, ignoring her, bending over with a low chuckle. He pinched her chin, forcing her

    face toward his, "You seem to know a lot. So, have you seen it, or have you done it?" His eyes were

    filled with an uncontroble ze, every word dripping with cutting sarcasm.

    Rosemary had forgotten her words in the car, and rolled her eyes, "You''re nuts."

    Before she could finish, Maxwell¡¯s kiss descended like a storm, with a raw sense of possession, the

    skin he kissed throbbing painfully, clearly not just a kiss.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    It was all too sudden! Rosemary''s tipsy brain was slow to react, and by the time she woke up to

    what was happening, it was toote. The sound of fabric tearing rang out, her dress ripped open by

    Maxwell.

    Her eyes widened, she twisted and struggled, her voice almost a roar, "Maxwell, don''t touch me!

    Get off me."

    But her resistance was futile against the man whose eyshes half-closed, hiding the turbulence in

    his eyes but not the sternness in his face.

    Women were naturally weaker in strength, especially when the man showed no mercy. Curled up

    beneath him, she couldn''t break free.

    Realizing the more she struggled, the more he wanted to dominate, Rosemary bit her lip and forced

    herself to calm down.

    When Maxwell moved in for another kiss, she turned her head away from his lips, her voice cold, "2

    million for one time, deducted from those 300 million."

    Suddenly, his lips halted just inches from hers. The mes in Maxwell''s heart were instantly

    extinguished, reced by disdain and contempt, "2 million? There are women with that price tag,

    but they''re the ones with skills and know-how. Rosemary, what makes you think you''re worth that

    much for a night?"

    Rosemary harshly wiped her lips with the back of her hand, blood smearing whether from being

    rubbed raw or bitten by Maxwell.

    "Fancy yourself, with your lousy skills, not being a man and forcing yourself on a woman, medical

    bills,pensation for emotional distress." She angrily continued, thrusting her bloody hand in front

    of him, "Rabies vination fee, 2 million is already a discounted price for being married!"

    With each usation, Maxwell''s face grew darker. His brooding gaze fixed on her, as though he

    wished he could tear her apart.

 Chapter 33

    "Looks like someone didn''t learn their lesson and still has the nerve to talk tough."

    He called this a lesson? Rosemary rose from the couch in a huff, "Yeah, I can still talk tough, unlike

    some people who can''t get it up anywhere!"

    Knowing Maxwell for the past three years, she was certain he wouldn''ty a finger on her;

    otherwise, she wouldn''t have been ying the part of a wife in name only for thest three years!

    She had tried every trick in the book to hold onto their marriage, being soft and hard, provocative

    and seductive, only to be met with his disdainful sneers.

    He must have been pickled in booze earlier to have done what he did. Now he was back to his

    usual icy self, probably sobered up.

    "Get out if you''re going, and don''t expect me to see you off!"

    With that parting shot, Rosemary stormed upstairs to the guest room. The ordeal had sobered her

    up a bit, and despite feeling drained, she mustered the energy for a shower. When she came out,

    she heard the sound of a car pulling away from downstairs.

    She knew where Maxwell was headed; during their encounter, she had felt his phone vibrate in his

    pocket more than once.

    Rosemary pulled back the curtains, watching the rain snake its way down the windowpane,

    everything outside shrouded in a misty veil.

    Talk about true love - not even a downpour could stop him from rushing to his sweetheart.

    Victoria was staying at a hotel arranged by the dance regiment. When Maxwell arrived, Tracy was

    waiting for him in the lobby.

    "Mr. Templeton."

    Maxwell nodded and strode into the elevator, "What''s going on?"

    Tracy looked troubled and shook her head, "She''s been recovering from an injurytely, and I''ve

    been busy with follow-up work. I''m not too clear on the specifics; you should hear it from Victoria."

    When they got to Room 1709, Maxwell knocked, and shortly the door cracked open. Victoria

    peeked out cautiously, and upon seeing it was Maxwell, her lips pressed, and she threw herself into

    his arms!

    She was wrapped in the hotel''s bathrobe, her hair loose, her makeup-free face pale and tear-

    streaked - a recent cry was evident.

    She didn''t smell of any overpowering perfume, just a faint scent of shower gel. Maxwell frowned and

    grasped her shoulders, steadying her, "Victoria, stop it."

    She hadn''t expected him to push her away and looked up at him surprised, her eyes brimming with

    tears, making her look pitiful.

    "You wouldn''t push me away before."

    "I''m married now."

    Maxwell didn''t borate much, but Victoria got the message.

    "You''re only in a marriage of convenience with her, and besides, you''re getting a divorce," Victoria''s

    voice cracked, her pent-up fear and anxiety from his recent distance bursting forth as tears

    streamed uncontrobly down her face.

    Maxwell didn''t want to drag out the conversation, returning to the matter at hand, "What exactly

    happened?"

    Seeing him standing at the doorway with no intention of entering, Victoria let out a self-deprecating

    laugh, "So you want me to spill it out here, to avoid gossip?"

    Maxwell frowned and finally stepped into the room, while Tracy, who was still standing by the door,

    stepped back to give them space for a private talk.

    Men, always thinking with their lower half. Victoria was so gorgeous, and with their past, being alone

    together in a room - how could they not do something else?

    Once the deed was done, what was left for the so-called Mrs. Templeton? Victoria wouldn''t have to

    live in fear anymore!

    Before Tracy could leave, however, she heard Maxwell''s distant voice, "You don''t need to go. As her

    agent, you need to handle this properly."

    Victoria had finally gotten her chance to be alone with Maxwell, but he was so decisive.

    "Maxwell, she''s been busy with my business recently. She rushed over as soon as she heard about

    my ident. Maybe you should let her,"

    Let her get some rest.

    But she didn''t get the chance to finish her sentence, as Maxwell interrupted, his tone and

    expression growing colder, "You''re under her management. If this is the extent of her capabilities,

    then I''ll consider getting you a new agent."

    Victoria''s tears fell silently, and she managed a smile more painful than crying, "If that''s the case,

    why did you evene? Just go, I''ll handle my own issues. If I die, it''s my own doing."

    Tracy quickly tugged at her arm, "What nonsense are you talking? Mr. Templeton is here; he

    couldn''t possibly ignore you. Are you afraid of being photographed at the door and causing gossip,

    making things difficult for Mr. Templeton? Why can''t you just talk properly? Always so stubborn - I

    have no idea who you take after!"

    As speaking, she gestured to Victoria, clearly implying that times had changed, and this attitude

    would only push him further away, doing her no favors.

    Victoria bit her lip until it turned white and remained silent, conceding. After a few seconds of

    silence, Tracy also entered the room. As she turned to close the door, her hand barely touching the

    knob, Maxwell sensed something and his gaze turned frosty.

    "Leave the door open," he said.

    Tracy quickly withdrew her hand, "Okay."

    Victoria scoffed, her toneced with mockery.

    Maxwell scanned the room - all the curtains were drawn, blocking out any hint of light.

    "What''s the situation?"

    Victoria''s phone call had been full of sobs and shaky whispers; he had only caught snippets:

    stalking, footsteps, surveince.

    Victoria didn''t respond; even as Tracy made desperate eye signals, she didn''t budge. If it were the

    old days, Maxwell would have softened his approach to coax her. But now, all he had was

    impatience and more questions.

    Seeing the impasse approaching, Tracy interjected, "Victoria said someone''s been following her

    aroundtely. Sometimes they even knock on her door, and she often hears footstepste at night.

    There was this crazy fan who professed his love for Victoria, seemed off his rocker. After being

    rejected, he couldn''t let go and would often stake out Victoria''s performances, even harassing her

    backstage. That''s why she''s so scared now."

    Maxwell uttered, "I''ll have someone look into it."

    There was a faint rustling outside, and since he was close to the door, he pushed through the

    slightly ajar door and strode out,ing face to face with someone on the hallway snapping pics

    with a camera!

    The guy was caught off guard and spun around to bolt, but Maxwell nailed him in two shakes of a

    lamb''s tail.

    A squeal like a pig being butchered filled the air as the camera flew from his grasp! Maxwell had the

    guy''s arms in a twist and was kneeling on his back, pinning him to the floor, "Have you been tailing

    Victoriately?"

    The man''s face was ghost-white with pain, sweat beading on his forehead, "I was just...just

    snapping some photos; didn''t mean no harm to Ms. Temple."

    "A journalist?"

    Dancers were kinda like semi-celebs; it was no shocker to have paparazzi on their tail.

    "I doubt it''s that simple." Tracy flipped through the photos on the camera, "These are all shots of

    you and Victoria together, Mr. Templeton. If this was a journo, they wouldn''t just have these, and

    he''s not wearing a press badge either."

    Maxwell lifted the guy''s arm a notch, eliciting another pitiful howl. Amidst the struggle, a stack of

    business cards tumbled out of his pocket.

    The title read: Marriage Detective.

    Maxwell raised an eyebrow and picked up the cards, flipping them over, "Who sent you?"

    He slowly raised the man''s arm higher, all calm and collected, no rush at all. But this slow torture

    was nearly the end of the guy, who was huffing and groaning in agony, "It was Mrs. Templeton, she

    wanted me to catch you cheating, looking to slice off a bigger piece of the pie in the divorce battle."N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

 Chapter 34

    Maxwell''s eyes darkened at the mention of evidence of infidelity. Heh, quite the guts to dream that

    big!

    "I was just lying in wait at Ms. Temple''s; never meant her any harm."

    "Did you get the shot?"

    "Nope, Mrs. Templeton wanted a bed shot. Said she nned to leave you with nothing but the shirt

    on your back and smear Ms. Temple''s name by sting those photos online."

    Maxwell''s expression was unreadable, no telling what he was feeling, but one could feel a touch of

    hostility seeping out of him.

    Themotion caught hotel security''s attention. By the time they arrived, Maxwell had let go, "Take

    him down to the police station."

    Security whisked the guy away pronto.

    Maxwell rang Christ, gave him the lowdown, and told him to handle it. He turned to Victoria, his

    voice casual, "Caught the creep tailing you. You can breathe easy now."

    Victoria, chin up, wasn''t about to let it slide, "And what about Rosemary? She sent someone to stalk

    me; even tried to leak my private snaps online. That''s illegal."

    Maxwell, still poker-faced, said in a distant tone, "That''s just one side of the story. We need to dig

    deeper. It''ste; you should get some rest."

    With those words, he left, leaving Victoria standing there, lost in thought.

    In the days following, Rosemary was juggling her day job at the studio and her nights fixing

    Victoria''s painting, squeezing by on six hours of sleep, barely finding time to eat.

    One night she got a call from Ynda, and before she could even say hello, she had hit with a

    torrent of curses, "That scumbag''s dragging out your divorce while cozying up with his mistress;

    doesn''t he fear karma?"

    Rosemary, who''d been eyeballing fine details all day, looked up to a spinning ceiling and asked

    reflexively, "What''s up?"

    "You haven''t heard? The paps caught Maxwell heading into Victoria''s hotel! Didn''t stay the night,

    but was there for a good while. They seemed to have had a fight; Maxwell left the hotel looking all

    stormy. Tsk, Victoria, that drama queen, only a masochist like Maxwell would treat her like a

    princess."

    "Is that so?" Rosemary''s tone was neutral; she hadn''t had time for gossiptely.

    "The news got hushed up, but I got screenshots, sending ''em your way. We''ll use this in court

    against him!"

    Rosemary couldn''t help butugh at the mention of awsuit. No bed shots, no solid proof, and

    besides, what power did she have to sue Maxwell?

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    As she pondered, Mr. Holiday''s call came through. Seeing Harvey''s name made her frown

    involuntarily. She told Ynda she''d call back and switched lines, "Mr. Holiday."

    "Mrs. Templeton, sorry to disturb you at this hour." Probably due to his upation, Harvey''s voice

    was professionally detached, "Mr. Templeton would like you to repay that sum within this month."

    To Rosemary, it felt like a bolt from the blue. Mid-month already, she couldn''t scrape together 300

    million in half a month if she emptied herself.

    The man was doing this on purpose! Rosemary was almost amused by the absurdity, "What if I

    can''t pay up?"

    "Then consider it a loan to you, overdue interest calcted at bank rates."

    300 million, the monthly interest alone was a fortune for her! She didn''t linger on the call with

    Harvey; he was just the messenger. After hanging up, she called Maxwell directly, wanting to know

    what he was really up to.

    But the call was cut after two rings! Rosemary was so mad she could grind her teeth. She didn''t call

    Maxwell back but knew the debt wasn''t a joke.

    ncing at the calendar, her eyes clouded with worry, yet she noticed a special date; a thought

    struck her.

    The next day at noon, she invited Ynda out shopping, heading straight for the boutique dress

    shop.

    "Why did you buy dress out of blue?" Ynda was puzzled.

    Rosemary browsed a few styles, "It''s Mrs. Pearl Templeton''s birthday soon. A gift for her."

    Despite Pearl having everything, it was the thought that counted, and Rosemary had other things in

    mind.

    Hearing it was for Pearl, Ynda couldn''t help but sigh, "Maxwell sure got himself a fairy

    godmother. With all his misdeeds, he should¡¯ve been struck by lightning by now!"

    Yep, she couldn''t agree more.

    She picked up a dark green dress, "How about this one?"

    Pearl had fair skin and a great figure, not an ounce of extra weight, perfect for this waist-cinching

    style.

    Ynda took it over and examined it, "Pretty, suits your mother-inw."

    Before she could finish, a slender hand reached over and snatched the dress, "Please wrap this

    one up for me."

    "This one is what we¡¯ve picked. What''s with you?" Ynda traced the arm up to the face and burst

    intoughter, "No wonder you grab things, a homewrecker, huh? Getting a habit after snatching

    men?"

    The one who grabbed the dress was Tracy, but standing beside her was Victoria. Birds of a feather,

    these two.

    "Ms. Abbott, watch your mouth. Without proof, I could sue you for defamation." Victoria shot her a

    look, her cold, aloof face tinged with pride, "If it''s not paid for, it''s not stealing. Now I''ve bought it, it''s

    mine."

    Thosest words, loaded with implication, left one to wonder if Victoria was talking about the dress

    or the man.

    Rosemary was about to speak up when Ynda snatched the dress back unapologetically and

    handed it to the shopping guide, "Wrap this up; we''re taking it."

    Each dress in the store was a unique designer piece, one of a kind. The guide hesitated, caught in

    a bind.

    Victoria pulled out a Centurion ck card, "I''ll pay ten times the price."

    Ynda raised her chin, "I''ll pay twenty times."

    Victoria shed a sly grin, a hint of provocation in her smile, "Ms. Abbott, isn''t this something

    Rosemary was supposed to buy? You''re quoting a price twenty times higher right off the bat. Did

    you even stop to think that with her current situation, she couldn''t possibly cough up that kind of

    dough?"

    Rosemary furrowed her brows. How on earth did Victoria know about her situation? Could Maxwell

    have spilled the beans about that 300 million issue?

    This time, it was Rosemary who whipped out her card, with no other motive than the simple desire

    to gift the dress to Pearl.

    "Go ahead and swipe it."

    As Victoria saw that she was serious about paying, her expression lost itsposure, "You don''t

    have to burn a hole in your pocket just to spite me."

    Rosemary shot her a slight smile, "The one who has a beef with money isn''t me, is it?"

    Who was it that suddenly decided to snag the item, and who was it that jacked up the price out of

    the blue?

    Ynda wasn''t in the mood to waste words on a bitch. As she pulled Rosemary towards the

    checkout, she bumped into Victoria''s shoulder as a warning.

    But what she didn''t expect was.

    "Ah!"

    Victoria suddenly let out a cry of pain, stumbled, and fell to the ground. She clutched at her spine,

    biting her lip so hard it looked like she was in unbearable pain in an instant!

    Tracy''s face went pale, and she pped Ynda across the face, "Do you have any idea how

    important her body is? Who do you think you are, pushing her like that?"

    Victoria was her golden goose, and heaven knew how much Tracy had been babying Victoria''s

    body recently; fearing any mishap, she even put dance rehearsals on hold.

    And this woman had the nerve to bump into her, causing her to fall!

    Ynda was not one to take things lying down. She swung back with a p of her own, "Freakin''

    bitch! You think you can pin this on me? Well, I''m about to show everyone here what happens to

    homewreckers!"

    With that, another pnded on the pitiful face of the woman on the ground.

 Chapter 35

    At the police station.

    T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Four people were split into two groups, sitting on opposite sides of a long desk. The cop at the head

    of the table was taking statements, "Who threw the first punch?"

    He had already reviewed the CCTV footage, and this was just routine questioning.

    Each person sported injuries, but Victoria took the cake - her cheeks crisscrossed with a crazy

    number of p marks, red and swollen, her hair a total bird''s nest. If they hadn''t checked her ID,

    they''d never peg her as an international ballroom dancer.

    Tracy, pointing at Ynda who was still strutting around like a gamecock,ined, "Officer, she

    bumped into us first. You''ve gotta lock up extremists like her for a good eight or ten years. If you let

    her roam the streets, who knows when she''ll go nuts again!"

    Ynda, chin up, smirked at her, "I''m just taking out the trash. Back in the day, shameless

    mistresses would get dunked in a pig cage!"

    "Shameless?" Victoria eyed Rosemary, who was almost unscathed, protected by Ynda during the

    whole boutique brawl, "Why don''t you ask your BFF here who''s the real mistress? What dirty tricks

    did she use to snag Maxwell?"

    Rosemary stood her ground, defiant, her words crisp, "When I married him, you two were over.

    What, you think you''re a dog? Peed somewhere and it''s all yours?"

    No sooner had she said that than two men walked in - Maxwell leading, with Harvey and his

    briefcase in tow. Different vibes, but both radiating strong presence; the spacious station suddenly

    felt suffocating.

    Rosemary knew Maxwell had heard herment, his nce now icy enough to freeze someone

    solid.

    Harvey headed straight to Victoria, "Ms. Temple, the paperwork''s all set. You and your agent are

    free to go."

    Victoria didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she stood up, and approached Maxwell, tilting her head back to

    give him a clearer view of her battered face. Despite the ugly bruises, it was a look designed to tug

    at his heartstrings.

    She asked, "What about the troublemaker?"

    The cops wouldn''t hold Rosemary based on the footage; she hadn''tid a finger on anyone,

    shielded by Ynda the whole time. But Ynda couldn''t dodge the bullet.

    Maxwell''s indifferent gaze slid over Rosemary, who lookedpletely unfazed. His handsome face

    was cold as he ordered, "Charge her with assault, one year minimum. Harvey will handle it. You

    don''t need worry about it. Let''s go."

    With that, he left with Victoria, not looking back.

    Rosemary sensed Maxwell''s seriousness, panic setting in. She got up to follow, but Ynda held

    her back, "Don''t beg those two. I''ll figure something out."

    Frowning, Rosemary reminded, "That''s Harvey we''re talking about."

    Nothing he couldn''t handle. She couldn''t just watch Ynda go to jail. By the time Rosemary raced

    outside, Maxwell and Victoria were already in the car.

    "Maxwell," she hurried towards the vehicle.

    He gave her a cold look, his eyes void of warmth, his smirk chilling, "Drive."

    Jason, not daring to disobey,plied. As Jason was about to close the door, Rosemary grabbed

    the handle, looking in at Maxwell, "It was Victoria''s people who started it."

    He responded with a half-smile, "But I only see Victoria badly hurt. You do the crime, you do the

    time. Isn''t that simple enough?"

    "That''s just a fight then; Ynda''s hurt too." She chose her words carefully, "You can''t be so

    unreasonable."

    Maxwell narrowed his eyes at Rosemary, noticing a scratch on her neck, already scabbed. Not

    serious, but on her fair skin, it looked pretty shocking.

    Still, he was unmoved, "I am being unreasonable. What are you gonna do about it?"

    Rosemary was at a loss.

    She looked at his cold face, then at Victoria, who was smug by his side, and felt a suffocating

    frustration.

    Maxwell''s gaze remained steady, a hint of hoarseness in his voice from smoking, "Why go after

    Victoria?"

    He wanted to know the reason; was it really all about a dress? But Rosemary only heard

    usation. She was cold, firm, "You should be asking your Ms. Temple that! Maxwell, if you want to

    back her up,e at me directly. Don''t drag others into this."

    At that, he scoffed and looked away, "Jason, drive."

    Jason closed the door with an apologetic look at Rosemary, "Sorry, Mrs. Templeton."

    "Maxwell."

    Rosemary tried again, but Harvey stepped in, blocking her path.

    She could only watch the car drive away, Harvey''s ruthless words ringing in her ears, "Mrs.

    Templeton, instead of clinging on here, better think about how you''ve crossed Mr. Templeton."

    Rosemary''s frown deepened, her tone no sweeter, "Did beating up his sweetheart count as crossing

    him?"

    Harvey''s professional smile didn''t waver, "Yes, so your friend''s going in."

    He left it at that, not saying more.

    Rosemary turned back to the station. Louis arrived right then, going to arrange bail, but, as

    expected, it was a no-go - after all, they''d upset Maxwell.

    Louis, brow furrowed, looked serious, "Best to talk to the involved parties; settle this privately if

    possible."

    Rosemary had got a bit of a headache brewing. She massaged her temples, "If they''re dead set on

    suing us and we go head-to-head with Harvey, what are our odds?"

    Louis blinked, and then shook his head, "Sorry, but so far, Mr. Holiday''s never been on the losing

    end of a case."

    Rosemary and Yndapsed into a heavy silence. Finally, it was Rosemary who broke the ice,

    "Ynda, looks like you''re gonna have to rough it out here for a couple more days. I''ll go have a

    chat with Maxwell."

    Ynda got the drift, "If it''s a no-go, just let it be. Don''t let him push you around."

    "I won''t."

    Rosemary let out a deep sigh. Maxwell wasn''t entirely without his weak spots; she''d have to

    negotiate with him again.

    On the way back to the hotel, Maxwell''s face was clouded over, his furrowed brows and tight lips

    spelling out his irritation loud and clear.

    Victoria eyed his face; she was always bad at reading his thoughts, in the past and just as much

    now, "Are you ticked off at Rosemary, or at me?"

    The words that slipped from Maxwell''s thin lips were frosty, "I''ve told you before, don''t mess with

    her."

    Victoria was taken aback by his response and bit her lip. She had read him wrong again, but wasn''t

    she the victim here? And hadn''t he just been shielding her back at the police station?

 Chapter 36

    As dusk fell, Rosemary hailed a cab to Meadork Retreat. She had intended to hash things out

    with Maxwell over the phone, but for some reason, whether he genuinely didn''t hear it or was

    ying possum, he didn''t pick up.

    She wasn''t sure if Maxwell would return here since he''d been a rare sight these past few years. But

    after three years of marriage without ever fitting into his circle, hunting him down here was her only

    shot, like waiting for a rabbit to hit a tree stump - she had no other choice.

    After getting out of the cab, Rosemary hesitated in front of the vi swallowed by darkness, and

    then finally mustered the courage to go inside.

    She unlocked the door with her fingerprint and groped for the light switch on the wall. The bright

    lights flooded the living room, revealing Maxwell reclining on the sofa, resting with his head back.

    Brows furrowed, Maxwell raised his hand to shield his eyes andmanded in a very unpleasant

    tone, "Turn off the lights."

    Rosemary hadn''t expected him to be here. After the huge blow Victoria took today, she thought he''d

    stay by her side, offeringfort. She even braced herself for the possibility of a wasted night.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    But since he was home, why the heck was he sitting in the dark? Weirdo!

    She turned off the living room lights, leaving only the foyer light on for a little illumination, and then

    sat down on the sofa opposite Maxwell, cutting to the chase, "Maxwell, drop the case. If you''ve got

    beef with me, bring it on. But leave innocent people out of it."

    She wanted to wrap things up quickly and get Ynda out. Of course, Maxwell was well aware of

    her agenda.

    Maxwell dropped his hand, his stomachache so bad he could barely muster the energy to talk.

    Already in a foul mood, his temper was now ring even more, "Is this you asking for a favor or

    picking a fight?"

    Rosemary was momentarily speechless. It was neither a plea nor a provocation; she was seriously

    trying to negotiate!

    Before she could speak, he went on, "Last time you were dining with some unrted dude in a

    lover''s restaurant, and now you''re here for another unrted person. Should I call you Mother

    Teresa or just two-faced?"

    His lips curled into a slight, cold, mocking smile. Rosemary''s first instinct was to snap back, but

    thinking of Ynda locked up in the police station, she swallowed the anger rising in her throat. Let

    him say whatever; she just wanted results.

    "Spit it out, what will it take for you to let Ynda go?"

    Maxwell knew she''de to him. If he really wanted to throw Ynda behind bars, he wouldn''t

    have shown up tonight, nor would he have given her the chance to talk. ying hard to get, huh?

    He sure knew how to pull the strings.

    Maxwell nced at the disposable shoe covers on her feet and scoffed, "Already treating this ce

    like a hotel when we''re not even divorced? What''s next, not evening inside?"

    Rosemary didn''t want to get into these trivial matters with him. In the two years and nine months

    she lived here, when had he ever cared whether she changed her shoes or wore shoe covers?

    Bringing this up now was just to vent for Victoria, making excuses not to free Ynda. Taking a

    deep breath, Rosemary asked, "What''s it gonna take for you to actually talk?"

    "I haven''t eaten all day; my stomach hurts. I don''t want to talk," Maxwell closed his eyes like he was

    showing her the door.

    Rosemary felt a throbbing in her temples out of frustration. She pressed her lips resentfully and

    asked, "So if your stomach didn''t hurt, you''d talk?"

    Maxwell''s voice was indifferent, "Probably."

    Rosemary knew he was brushing her off. Probably? Who knew what excuse he''de up withter

    to make things difficult. But for now, she had to bet he''d be willing to talk after filling his belly. She

    had no other choice.

    Biting back her rage, Rosemary headed to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she found a few bottles

    of water, a pack of pasta, and some eggs - thetter two she had bought a while back.

    The pasta was fresh with an expiration date, which was today. The nearby convenience stores were

    closed at this hour, and the closest supermarket was a half-hour drive away. Rosemary couldn''t be

    bothered, so she settled for the pasta that was about to expire.

    But just as she cracked an egg into a bowl, she heard Maxwell''s chilly voice from the kitchen

    doorway, "I don''t want pasta."

    "There''s only pasta." Rosemary responded without turning around, "The stores are closed."

    "Then go to another store. It''s not like all the stores in Greenwood are closed, right?"

    At his words, Rosemary couldn''t hold back any longer. She mmed the cutlery into the sink,

    turned around, and snapped at him, "Take it or leave it!"

    In the past, she would have made all sorts of dishes for Maxwell, no matter howte he returned.

    But those meals either ended up in the trash or with the driver and bodyguard. Now, her making him

    a te of pasta was already charity, and he had no right to be picky.

    Maxwell watched her, his gaze heavy, "Don''t want to bail out Ynda anymore?"

    Rosemary mentally cursed. In the end, she threw in the towel and asked him, "What do you want to

    eat?"

    He listed a few dishes, ¡°braised prawns, crab, pork, salt and pepper ribs, and a vegetable soup.¡±

    These were all dishes she had made before that he had merely nced at and remembered.

    Rosemary''s brows furrowed - he sure knew how to order! But saying no would just lead him to use

    Ynda as leverage again. She quickly found a legitimate excuse, "It''ste, and you''re having

    stomach pains. You shouldn''t eat greasy foods."

    Maxwell''s gaze on her flickered, his voice suddenly softened, a picture of all kindness, "Then what

    should I eat?"

    Rosemary replied, "Porridge."

    "Huh," Maxwell chuckled, his features softening, giving off a suave, gentlemanly vibe.

    Was that a yes? Rosemary breathed a sigh of relief, but like a switch in an opera, his expression

    darkened, "Is this how you ask for a favor?"

    Oh well, some jerks never changed.

    On the way to the supermarket, Maxwell drove with a painful stomach, while the woman in the

    passenger seat looked furious, staring out the window, ignoring him since they got in the car.

    Arriving at the supermarket, Rosemary made a beeline for the fresh produce section. She used to

    shop here asionally and was fairly familiar with theyout.

    She was striding along at a brisk pace, the wheels of the cart ttering across the ground. Maxwell,

    with one hand casually in his pocket, strolled along behind her, his words slowly drifting forward

    laced with a mocking tone, "So eager to whip up something for me to eat, huh?"

    Rosemary shot a cold nce over her shoulder, "Vanity, that''s an incurable disease."

    The supermarket was pretty bare at this hour, with only a few shrimps left, listlessly lying at the

    murky bottom of the tank, unable to tell if they were dead or not.

    She scooped them up with a, didn''t even give them a nce, and dumped them all into her bag

    in one go. Maxwell, on the other hand, crinkled his nose in distaste, "Have you always been this

    pdash with grocery shopping? Didn''t you notice these shrimps are dead? Am I not paying you, or

    are you trying to get back at me on purpose?"

    Rosemary turned her head and retorted with full conviction, "If you darey a finger on Ynda,

    dead shrimp will be the least of your worries. I might just spike the dish with a little something extra."

 Chapter 37

    Maxwell red at Rosemary''s icy mug, utterly pissed off. She sure had some nerve threatening him

    like that. But before he could even say a peep, she turned on her heels and strutted off.

    At the self-checkout, Rosemary bent over to pick stuff out of the cart and ce it on the counter,

    one by one. Maxwell stood by with his nose in the air, acting all high and mighty, not lifting a finger

    to help.

    Rosemary couldn''t care less about him. Scanning items wasn''t exactly backbreaking work. She only

    shot him a nce when paying, and that was when she caught him eyeing the condoms on the

    shelf next to them.

    She spat out one word with a frosty voice, "Creep."

    Maxwell wasn''t thinking anything dirty, not at that moment anyway. His gaze just happened to

    wander there.

    "Creep?" He looked at her with a smirk that was halfugh, half sneer, "If getting curious about

    those things makes someone a creep, then who''s the bigger creep here? I just took a nce, but

    someone actually bought a whole bunch and stocked up at home."

    His words had heads turning their way from all around the checkout lines. Rosemary''s face flushed

    crimson in an instant. She was more than just embarrassed; she was livid.

    It was a moment from her past that she wished she could erase, a constant reminder of how cheap

    she felt when she delivered the goods only to be told to have some self-respect!

    Because of this, Rosemary sat herself in the backseat on the ride home, and the moment the car

    stopped, she grabbed the groceries and bee-lined it to the kitchen.

    Cooking was a piece of cake for her, but with her mood soured, the vors were bound to be half-

    assed.

    Maxwell, seeing only one set of utensils on the table, raised an eyebrow and asked, "You''re not

    eating?"

    Rosemary''s reply dripped with sarcasm, "After feasting your eyes, what''s left to eat?"

    Instead of getting mad like she expected, Maxwell pulled out a chair and sat down, ordering, "Go

    get another set of utensils."

    Rosemary frowned, totally annoyed, "I''m not hungry. Just eat up and let''s get down to brass tacks."

    "You expect me to believe you didn''t poison the food?"

    Poisoning him would be such a hassle. She''d rather twist his head off right now with her bare

    hands!

    In the end, Rosemary stormed into the kitchen and got the utensils, taste-testing each dish in front

    of him, "Your Majesty, are you satisfied now? Can you eat in peace?"

    Maxwell finally started eating, calm and collected. Annoying as he was, the guy had got grace,

    almost like he was acting in a movie.

    Rosemary really wasn''t hungry before, but once the food hit her stomach, she realized she was

    actually starving and ended up eating a bit.

    Maybe the food didn''t taste great because Maxwell stopped eating after a few bites. Seeing that,

    Rosemary put down her utensils too.

    "What''s it gonna take for you to cut Ynda some ck?"

    Maxwell shot her a nce but asked something else, "You really want a divorce that bad?"

    Rosemary didn''t see thating, but she didn''t hesitate about divorce, "Yeah."

    "Got the money together?" Maxwell''s sarcasm followed, "Or nning to drag this out until you catch

    me cheating so you can take me to the cleaners?"

    Rosemary frowned, "Who needs evidence of you cheating? You took Victoria to the hospital, drove

    her homete at night, and you were at her hotel just the other day. The whole world knows you''re

    an item."

    "That''s just the media spouting nonsense. Rosemary, you''ve been thedy of the house for three

    years. Think before you speak, and don''t y the fool."

    "Oh, what? You need an intimate photo of you two spread out to admit it?"

    The words ¡°intimate photo¡± darkened Maxwell''s mood instantly, and he demanded coldly, "Did you

    set that up?¡±

    Rosemary was clueless about what he meant, but this wasn''t the time to wonder. Ynda''s issue

    was pressing!

    "I''m talking about Ynda. Stick to the subject."

    But Maxwell drilled her with his stare, word by word, "I''m asking you, did you set that up? Following

    me and Victoria to gather evidence of my affair for a divorce case?"

    Rosemary was taken aback, and then it clicked. She answered straight up, "I never had anyone

    follow you, if you''d believe that."

    As she spoke, she caught on to something else he said. Divorce case, She''d like to file one, but

    who would dare take it?

    "But if I''d known there were folks who did that kind of work, I might have actually gone for it."

    Hearing her say that, the anger that had been eating at Maxwell these past days vanished in a

    sh. He knew it wasn''t her.

    He reached out to cup Rosemary''s chin, leaning in close, bridging the gap between them across the

    dining table. With that lean, his lips nearly brushed her nose.

    Maxwell chuckled lowly, "Why bother with all that? If you want money, just sweet-talk me, and all my

    assets could be yours."

    T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    His breath was warm and moist across her face. Rosemary tilted her head away, puzzled by his

    sudden mood swing.

    "Maxwell, did Victoria dump you again, so you''re here looking for a thrill?"

    Three years ago, that night at the hotel, the thing happened the next day after Victoria broke up with

    Maxwell. But he was sober enough to recognize her, and yet he still.

    Bottom line, the guy was scum!

    On one hand, he professed deep love, and on the other, he couldn''t wait three years. The moment

    Victoria left the country, he took advantage of her.

    Maxwell scoffed, "Looking for a thrill? Fair enough, those condoms you bought are about to expire.

    Why not use them all up tonight for a thrill?"

    Rosemary''s head buzzed. She felt Maxwell''s lips getting closer, and she couldn''t tell if he was joking

    or serious. She instinctively stepped back.

    But suddenly, he circled the table, scooped her up in his arms, and said, "Why run? Haven''t you

    been wanting this for the past three years?"

    Rosemary was in total shock, her limbs iling in protest, but she couldn''t break free from his

    embrace. She was truly panicking.

    Struggling to keep herposure, Rosemary looked at the man so close to her and with a mocking

    curve on her lips, she taunted, "Maxwell, you''re not getting cold feet about divorcing me, are you?"

 Chapter 38

    Maxwell frowned, "You''re overthinking it. The Templeton Group''s got a big deal under discussion,

    and the person in charge of the otherpany values family harmony. If I were to get divorced at

    this time, it would take me more effort to secure the deal. I can''t be bothered with that."

    Rosemary had asked the question to needle him, but his blunt reply still twisted her heart into knots.

    "We''re secretly married, and very few people know about our martial rtionship."

    "But it''s not like nobody knows. If something were to change in this regard, it would be too much of

    a loss."

    While talking, Maxwell had already carried her upstairs. From her angle, all she could see was the

    man''s stern jawline, as unapproachable, haughty, and irresistible as that night in the hotel bed.

    Upon entering the room, she was greeted by the all-too-familiaryout.

    To outsiders, this ce was a luxurious vi, too posh to put a price on, but for Rosemary, it was the

    gilded cage where she''d spent nearly three years of her youth, every corner shadowed by her

    solitary figure.

    The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, until it all morphed into resentment and

    rage. Rosemary turned her head, unwilling to give the room another nce, unintentionally burying

    her face into the man''s chest.

    This sudden closeness seemed to alleviate some of the irritation that had been lingering in

    Maxwell''s heart. To him, it was clear she was softening up to him.

    Her breath, warm and moist through his shirt, pressed against his skin, causing Maxwell''s body to

    stiffen suddenly, his voice carrying a slight, unobvious hoarseness: "Stop it, you''ll move back

    tomorrow..."

    But before he could finish the sentence, Maxwell abruptly cut himself off, a pained grunt escaping

    his throat. He raised his voice, incredulous: "Rosemary, what are you, a dog? Why biting people!"

    Rosemary released her bite, looking at the bite mark on his neck, then raised her head to look at

    Maxwell, her eyes still rimmed with the red of her grievances.

    She struggled out of his embrace. This time the man didn''t stop her, simply putting her down,

    though his face turned cold and sour, as if he was staring at an ungrateful stray dog!

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    "Maxwell, get off your high horse. If it weren''t for Ynda, I wouldn''t havee here tonight. And

    by the way, is force all you know when ites to women? Did I give you permission to hold me?"

    The old she would''ve killed for a moment of his tenderness, and now that he was willing to hold her,

    she actually disliked it? Refused it?

    Maxwell felt inexplicably irritated and rubbed the center of his forehead.

    Rosemary held back her emotions, remembering her purpose, and asked clearly, "Do you really

    need to let Ynda go to jail over the p mark on Victoria''s face that''s barely visible?"

    "She hurt someone, she''s got to pay the price."

    Grinding her teeth, Rosemary recalled his earlier words, realizing she had no choice but to make a

    deal.

    "You want that project, right? I can wait until you''ve clinched the project before divorcing you, but

    the condition is you have to release Ynda."

    The room fell silent instantly upon her words.

    After a few seconds of silence, Maxwell, frowning, finally unwillingly nodded his proud head.

    After "negotiating¡± over Ynda''s release, Rosemary couldn''t wait to get out of there and left within

    the minute.

    After leaving Meadork Retreat, she headed straight to the police station where Louis was still

    there. This time, following the formal procedures, she sessfully bailed Ynda out.

    Ynda asked worriedly, "Maxwell didn''t make any unreasonable demands in exchange, did he?"

    Rosemary shook her head, "No."

    He hadn''t asked for anything; it was she who had offered the condition, and he had just reluctantly

    agreed.

    Ynda didn''t buy it. Maxwell had been so unyielding when he arrived at the police station, leaving

    no room for negotiation, and now he suddenly gave in. He must have made Rosemary agree to

    some condition.

    "I''m sorry. It''s my fault for losing control and dragging you into this."

    "You didn''t drag me," Rosemary smiled at her, "If you hadn''t done something, I would have. So, in a

    way, you took the fall for me."

    The conversation ended there, but Ynda silently noted this event in her heart against that couple!

    After all had been settled, Rosemary fell back into her routine: restoring artifacts at work, repairing

    ancient paintings after work, without receiving any news from Maxwell again.

    One morning, as soon as Rosemary arrived at the studio, Oswald called her into his office.

    "Rose, here''s the thing. A TV crew contacted me about featuring our profession in an episode of

    their program. What do you think?"

    "That sounds great. The public doesn''t know much about our profession, and the number of people

    engaged in it is dwindling year by year. If more people learn about this industry, it would attract a lot

    of fresh talent in the future."

    Most people can''t stomach this line of work; facing a pile of damaged antiques every day without

    speaking much, the sedentary hours, heads down, dust, various chemicals leading to numerous

    upational diseases.

    Oswald thought the same, nodding, "Us old fellows won''t hog the limelight. You''ve got the best skills

    among the younger generation, so we thought of having you record this episode. Show theymen

    your expertise."

    "Me?" Rosemary seemed troubled. She didn''t want to be in front of the camera¡ªnot for that she

    want to be mysterious, but because she and Maxwell hadn''t divorced yet. If she became a public

    figure on the program, their eventual divorce would certainly cause a stir.

    "Don''t worry, I know you''d like to keep a low profile. We can talk to the producers about not showing

    your appearance. After all, our profession values skills over looks, right?"

    Rosemary got Oswald''s gist, but.

    Oswald added with a smile, "Being on the show would greatly boost both the studio''s and your

    personal reputation. Fame brings more money, and isn''t making money what life is all about?"

    Rosemary was startled; such words didn''t seem like something a venerable and incorruptible elder

    would say, but they struck a chord in her heart.

    Indeed, fame would allow her to take on challenging tasks, and with it, more money.

    And her current fame was limited to within the circle, not known much by outsiders.

    Moreover, she was burdened with a debt.

    Rosemary pondered for a moment, "I''ll think about it."

    As night fell, in the VIP booth of the Night Club.

    Maxwell furrowed his brow, asionally pinching the bridge of his nose.

    He was slouched in the corner of the booth, with the top two buttons of his shirt undone, exposing a

    large portion of his bare chest.

    Tonight, Archer had set up a shindig and invited him for drinks. The ce was packed, all from

    close circles, so Maxwell hadn''t held back and drank a few more sses than usual.

    The man took out his phone, squinting boozy eyes as he called Jason, his handsome features

    draped with a heavy drunken haze.

    After a few "beep¡± sounds, a woman''s indifferent voice came through: "What''s the matter?"

    Maxwell''s brow creased, thinking he must be hallucinating. He had clearly dialed Jason''s number,

    how on earth did the person on the other end turn out to be Rosemary?

    Ever since the Ynda incident, he hadn''t seen this woman again. They had no interactions, neither

    publicly nor privately, especially since she was no longer his personal assistant.

    Maxwell nced at his phone screen, which disyed Rosemary''s name.

    He had dialed the wrong number.

 Chapter 39

    Rosemary waited for a while without hearing a response. Looking at the mostly unrestored paintings

    on the table, she said impatiently, "What''s the matter? If you don''t speak, I''ll hang up.¡±

    Maxwell had the word "I dialed the wrong number" dancing on the tip of his tongue, but the woman''s

    obvious impatience provoked his anger, and he blurted out ast-minute change of n: "Come

    and pick me up at the Night Club."

    Rosemary frowned, "Are you out of your mind? You want me to pick you up?¡±

    It wasn''t that she''d never picked him up before. Back when she first started as his personal

    assistant, he got drunk once, and just then she had called him to ask when he would be back.

    Christ had answered the phone at that time. Knowing their rtionship, he told her that Mr.

    Templeton was stered and she needed toe get him.

    Back then, Maxwell was quite annoyed with her. When his bleary eyes cracked open, seeing it was

    her, he went ballistic. Christ was scolded as well, and even had his year-end bonus deducted over

    it. After that incident, no matter how drunk Maxwell was, Christ never asked her to pick him up

    again.

    Maxwell clearly forgot that episode, hearing her reluctance, he scoffed, "We''re not divorced yet,

    picking me up is your duty as Mrs. Templeton.¡±

    But his words made Rosemaryugh in anger, "You''re talking to me about duties? Have you ever

    fulfilled your duties as a husband?¡±

    Silence spread between them.

    Just as she was about to hang up, the man''s husky voice came through, low and maic, "I''m on

    speaker, and there are others here, Mrs. Templeton, don''t be so voracious.¡±

    That one sentence had Rosemary gritting her teeth, "You might as well drink yourself to death.¡±

    "If youe get me, I''ll forget about those interest.¡±

    After a brief struggle, Rosemary finally agreed.

    It was not that she didn''t want to stand her ground, but he was offering too much!

    Unless one was foolishly rich, no one would refuse such a tempting offer.

    Maxwell looked at the ended call and let out a self-deprecating chuckle in his heart: This woman is

    really materialistic.

    Archer, who noticed him staring at the phone with an unusual expression, couldn''t help but ask

    curiously, "Who were you calling? You looked totally lost.¡±

    Hearing this, Maxwell tossed the phone aside and rubbed his temples wearily, "The driver.¡±

    Archer raised an eyebrow; he didn''t buy that answer, but didn''t press it further. He had plenty

    problems of his owntely, and wasn''t in the mood for an idle chat.

    After a bit more drinking, Maxwell stood up, "Go for a smoke?¡±

    The two men headed out of the private room to the small balcony in the public area.

    Just then, Rosemary''s call came in, and she was unwilling to say any more than necessary, "I''ve

    arrived.¡±

    Maxwell checked the time out of habit, "Wait for me in the parking lot,¡± and hung up without further

    exnation.

    Little did he know that Rosemary had already entered the Night Club. Because of that past incident,

    the manager recognized her and knew she was there for Maxwell, so he led her straight to the floor

    where he was.

    She stared at her call log screen, cursing that damn man countless times in her heart.

    On the balcony, Maxwell ground out his cigarette in the fine white sand, straightened up against the

    railing, "Let''s go.¡±

    Archer put out his cigarette too, and they left the balcony together. On the way back, he teased,

    "So, this is your ¡®driver''?¡±

    Archer had seen the name on the screen when Maxwell took the call earlier.

    T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    The man gave a single grunt of acknowledgment, "Hmm.¡±

    "Aren''t you two getting a divorce? What, have you made up?¡±

    The word ''divorce'' made Maxwell''s brows furrow, his tone carrying a hint of irritation, "She''s just

    throwing a tantrum. When has she ever mentioned divorce without aiming for some goal?¡±

    Archer clearly didn''t agree, "But this time it seems like you two have been at it for a while. Maybe

    she''s serious.¡±

    "When did she ever look unserious when she talked about divorce?¡±

    "So, no need to go to the City Hall?¡±

    Once, over drinks, Maxwell had mentioned to him that Rosemary now asked him when they would

    handle the procedures as soon as she saw him, driving him up the wall.

    "For now, she''s temporarily quieted down.¡±

    Maxwell briefly outlined the deal between him and Rosemary.

    Archerughed after hearing it, "The cooperation between the Templeton Group and Horizon

    Technologies Ltd. is pretty much set in stone. You''re getting something for nothing here. If I were

    Rosemary, I''d ssh a drink in your face.¡±

    No sooner had he finished speaking than a loud "bang¡± sounded. It was the sound of the balcony

    door being pushed open.

    Maxwell and Archer turned to the source of the sound, only to see Rosemary standing there with a

    cold face, lips bearing a ring of white marks from biting, her fists clenched into a fist at her side.

    "Maxwell, to call you a dog would be an insult to dogs. You''re just an ass!¡±

    Maxwell''s expression froze.

    Rosemary took a deep breath, each word with venom, "And, I really do want to divorce you, I will

    definitely go to the court.¡±

    As she spoke, she turned around, stopped a waiter passing by with drinks, snatched a ss, and

    sshed it right at that handsome face of the man.

    For a moment, everyone present froze, holding their breath!

    The next second, Maxwell''s voice rang out in the hallway, sounding almost as if he was about to

    tear her to pieces, "Rosemary, you must be tired of living!¡±

 Chapter 40

    Droplets of wine trailed down Maxwell''s sharp brows and jawline, a rare moment of disarray for the

    always elegant and distinguished scion.

    His attractive lips tightened into a sharp curve, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

    Rosemary, fearless, tilted her chin up and gave him a disdainful nce before turning to leave.

    "Wow," Archer couldn''t help but exim. Rosemary was truly one of a kind, the first ever to ssh a

    drink on Maxwell!

    "I pray Ms. Chambers can run fast.¡±

    Maxwell nced at him, noting Archer remained clean and unaffected.

    He coldly interrupted, "I''d pray you mute."

    Without another word, Maxwell paid him no more attention and headed straight toward the direction

    Rosemary had left.

    Despite his tall frame and long legs, his walk was not hurried, almost leisurely, yet hismanding

    presence made everyone he passed unconsciously lower their heads, as if fearing they would be

    silenced for good.

    Rosemary stood waiting at the elevator entrance, but whether it was just her bad luck or all in her

    head, the lift was taking forever.

    Debating whether to take the nearby emergency exit, she heard footsteps approaching from behind.

    Before she could even see who it was, she was suddenly hoisted up!

    Hoisted for real¡ªher upper body hanging upside down, her stomach pressing against the man''s

    shoulder, she nearly threw up on the spot!

    "Ding¡±! Just then, the elevator arrived, the metal doors sliding open. Twisting in difort,

    Rosemary said, "Maxwell, put me down!"

    The position was unbearablyfortable, her head throbbing with a rush of blood, her stomach

    churning in protest!

    Maxwell remained silent, carrying her into the elevator.

    Rosemary felt that in one more second, she would pass out due to the immense pressure on her

    brain. She forcefully pped Maxwell''s back, "Put me down, I''m gonna vomit!"

    Maxwell answered, "You better hold it in."

    There were no specific threats, but both his tone and demeanor conveyed his fury at the moment.

    The rules of the Night Club were strict ¨C no rough treatment of guests were allowed, but now.

    She was carried by Maxwell from the sixth floor to the first, passing countless staff and cameras, but

    not a soul stepped in to stop him.

    In the end, Rosemary was practically tossed into the car!

    Before she could recover from the dizziness of being upside down, Maxwell grabbed her jaw, his tall

    frame looming over her.

    Kneeling on one knee on the leather seat, he looked down at her from above, "It seems I''ve

    indulged you too much these past three years, giving you the audacity to challenge me."

    Maxwell''s damp hair still reeked of whiskey, the scent spreading out the confined space of the car.

    Rosemary swallowed hard, leaning back as much as possible to avoid the smell, "Since we detest

    each other, let''s hasten the divorce. It''s just paperwork, won''t take up much of your time."

    "Detest each other?" Maxwell chuckled, a voice oozing with charisma.

    It was undeniable that this man''s lowered voice was very sexy, whether it was the way he spoke, or

    his husky tone.

    Maxwell ripped open his shirt, revealing his taut abs right before Rosemary''s eyes. The sleek lines

    of his muscles stretching from his abdomen to his waistband, utterly tempting.

    "You''re wrong. My interest in you is piqued. Lately, I''ve been thinking about you beneath me, in

    different positions and with different intensities."

    He gazed into her eyes, his lips barely moving, "the scenarios."

    Rosemary''s pupils contracted.

    Despite the tant indecency of his words, when spoken by him, they didn''t seem lewd but rather

    carried a raw sexual tension.

    The phrase ''a wolf in sheep''s clothing'' suddenly visualized in her mind.

    Regardless of the circumstances, Rosemary was unwavering in her decision to divorce him,

    impervious to his persuasive words. Her cheeks might have flushed, but not from shyness.

    Rather, from sheer infuriation!

    T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "Maxwell, I seriously wonder if Victoria denies you, making you this frustrated."

    Maxwell''s eyes narrowed, his hand gliding down her neck, across her corbone, then resting on

    her stomach.

    Sensing danger, Rosemary tensed up, fearing he might go further, she blurted out, "Isn''t she your

    precious darling? How can you justify this to her?"

    In the dimly lit underground parking, the man''s long fingers leisurely slipped under her clothes,

    tracing up her delicate waist.

    Despite the suggestive touch, his voice was with sarcasm, "Of course, the darling I hold in my palm

    should not be touched; she must be carefully cherished, but you, you''re different."

    In other words, she was not like Victoria; Victoria was the apple of his eye, she was just grass

    underfoot, to be trampled at will!

    Even though they were divorcing, Rosemary had to admit his words stung.

    Her red lips curved into a brazen challenge, "Well, I''m sorry, but even if I''m not cherished, I have no

    desire to be groped by a pig."

    The next second, she felt the man''s grip on her waist tighten abruptly ¨C seems like she had really hit

    his nerve.

    Seizing the moment, Rosemary pushed against his chest, and, unprepared, Maxwell actually

    staggered back.

    He fell back into the seat, and Rosemary turned to flee the car. But Maxwell wouldn''t let her get

    away that easily. With his long arms, he encircled her waist, pulling her back towards him.

    The car''s cabin was cramped and her bnce was already unsteady, his pull caused her to collide

    against him.

    "Oof!" Rosemary winced in pain and curled up. The sore spot was delicate, so she bit back a groan,

    "You''re so forceful."

    But before she could finish, a familiar, gentle voice came from outside, "Rosemary, are you in the

    car?"

    Hearing that voice, Rosemary stiffened instantly. It was Martin!

 Chapter 41

    Rosemary suddenly looked up. Though her movement was slight, Maxwell, whose hand still around

    her waist, he immediately sensed her stiffness.

    Martin stood not far outside the car, his gaze piercing through the half-open window.

    He wore a casual shirt paired with dress pants, looking sharp as ever. It was impossible to ignore

    him even in the dim shadows.

    Rosemary''s mind went nk for a moment, and instinctively, she called out his name as she used

    to call him before, "Martin."

    A sharp force came from her waist, almost making her cry out in pain, but with a third person

    present, she bit back the yelp.

    She wasn''t sure if Martin had seen Maxwell in the car. The dim lighting of the parking lot and his

    distance and angle suggested he probably hadn''t.

    Martin smiled slightly and walked toward her, "I just thought you looked familiar, didn''t expect it to

    actually be you."

    As he drew closer, Rosemary stiffened even more; her hands resting on Maxwell''s chest clenched

    into a fist, her voice trembling slightly, "Don''te any closer!"

    Because Maxwell was kissing her!

    His lipsnded on her wrist, pressing a bit forcefully, leaving a clear mark on her fair skin.

    Martin paused, puzzled but gentlemanly stopped in his tracks, not approaching any further.

    However, as the distance closed, he clearly saw the redness in Rosemary''s eyes and the hint of

    vulnerability within them.

    His frowned slightly, recalling thest time they''d met in a restaurant where she jokingly mentioned

    borrowing money¡ªwas she worrying about that?

    Martin''s lips thinned, and he spoke softly, "Are you worrying about the money thing you mentioned

    last time? I mean, it¡¯s a bit much, but if you''re in urgent need, I could."

    Rosemary was stunned, and before he could finish, she got his drift, feeling a warm rush in her

    heart.

    But her warmth didn''tst long before it was frozen by someone''sment.

    "Martin, since when did you start ying the generous benefactor?"

    The man''s mocking and flippant voice came through. Martin hesitated before asking uncertainly,

    "Maxwell?"

    Maxwell, with his arm around the woman, sat up from his position. Rosemary wanted to stop him,

    but how could she match a man''s strength?

    At times like this, any move would only make things worse!

    Maxwell''s shirt was only buttoned at the bottom two, and as he lounged back, his cor wide open,

    revealing his tight and smoothly contoured abdomen.

    His long hand traced up Rosemary''s waist and slid down just before reaching a sensitive spot,

    exuding a lustful intent.

    He looked toward Martin outside the car, his tone half-joking, "Or do you think I can''te up with

    that money, huh?"

    After a brief pause, Martin smiled gently, "Sorry, it looks like I interrupted something."

    He was definitely taking it the wrong way.

    Rosemary''s face turned beet red instantaneously, she couldn''t even bear to look at Martin. Why on

    earth did this have to happen now!

    Maxwell, that jerk, he was doing all this on purpose to make Martin misunderstand, absolutely

    despicable!

    But she still wanted to clear the air. Rosemary didn''t want Martin to only think of that thing when

    meeting her in the future!

    "Martin, you''ve got it wrong, he and I..."

    Maxwell raised an eyebrow and casually cut her off, "Mrs. Templeton, first, do up the buttons on

    your shirt."

    At his words, Rosemary looked down abruptly to find her blouse had popped open at some point,

    revealing a glimpse of her ckce undergarment.

    Damn it!

    She bowed her head, hurriedly fumbled with the buttons, and by the time she looked up again,

    Martin was already walking away.

    Now she''d never be able to clear things up!

    "Maxwell, you asshole!"

    His voice turned icy, "How exactly am I an asshole? By letting your old lover misunderstand, or by

    not letting you go down and pour your heart out to him?"

    Rosemary gritted her teeth, not wanting to deal with him any longer. She reached for the car door,

    but before her hand even touched it, she was yanked back.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Maxwell''s eyes were frosty, "Borrowing that much money, what for?"

    She frowned, struggling to free her hand from his grip, her rejection clear, "You know exactly the

    answer."

    Maxwell smirked, but his smile was cold and sharp.

    "You became Mrs. Templeton for three hundred million before. How about this time? If he gives you

    the same amount, what do you n to give him?"

    His gaze swept over her with contempt and disdain, "Apart from this body, what else can you offer?

    However, Martin is not interested in second-hand goods."

    Hearing the word "second-hand" made Rosemary frown, "Do you think everyone''s as sleazy as

    you?"

    "Sleazy? Don''t forget who was the one desperate to be Mrs. Templeton!" Maxwell''s smirk

    became colder, and Rosemary felt as though her wrist was about to be crushed by him!

    "Had it not been for your forcefulness, would I have had to be Mrs. Templeton? Whoever the

    hell wants this title can take it, I''d dly hand it over and even generously pay for the.candies!"

    It was the first time Rosemary had ever sworn. The Chambers family, although not as rich and

    powerful as the Templeton family, used to be affluent and valued decorum. If her deadbeat dad

    heard her swearing, she''d not escape a beating!

    Clearly, Maxwell was angered by her words, too. Veins throbbed on his forehead as he gritted his

    teeth, "The Chambers family used to be somewhat respectable, and this is the daughter they had

    raised?"

    Rosemary knew she couldn''t out-argue him, and that staying another second in this space felt

    suffocating. She struggled violently, "Maxwell, can you not be so annoying and just let me¡ªah!"

    Suddenly, she let out a terrible scream of pain, tears uncontrobly spilled from her eyes!

    It was during the struggle with Maxwell that her fingers identally mmed into the back of the

    front seat!

    The hit was solid, her fingers snapped with a loud ''crack''.

    That hurt like hell!

    Cold sweat broke out on Rosemary''s forehead, and she curled up, too pained to speak even half a

    word.

    Maxwell''s brow furrowed, and he reached out to grab her injured hand. Instinctively, Rosemary tried

    to dodge to the side, but the man''s long fingers assertively sped her wrist, touching the throbbing

    joint.

 Chapter 42

    "Get away," Rosemary''s voice was trembling, her words came out weak: "If you bother me again,

    I''m gonna post our marriage certificate online for the whole world to see that Victoria''s a

    homewrecking mistress."

    Maxwell just sneered at this "threat,¡± "Aren''t you the one who brought up divorce first?"

    "That''s because she got in between us first."

    The man''s expression remained unchanged, his tone indifferent. "Then forget about divorce."

    Her threat backfired, and Rosemary despised this man for being her bane. Ever since she got

    together with him, she never had a day of peace.

    Maxwell, examining her slender fingers after a gentle rub, diagnosed, "They''re not broken."

    "You''d probably be thrilled if they were."

    "Not really, but if you dare take Martin''s money, I wouldn''t just wish for them to break, I''d break them

    myself."

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    "You''re nuts!"

    She pushed him away, and this time Maxwell didn''t stop her, letting her get out of the car and stride

    away.

    After this unpleasant night, Rosemary and Maxwell never contacted each other again.

    Though she didn''t see him in real life, news about him kept popping up in the financial reports.

    She knew he went to Zion City and stayed there for half a month.

    In early October, when Victoria''s painting was restored, she called her up, all business: "Ms.

    Temple, your painting is restored. When can we meet?"

    "I''m in Zion City right now, and I''m not sure when I''ll return. I''ll let you know when I am back,"

    Victoria''s voice was gentle yet carried a hint of barely noticeable disdain¡ªnot directed towards

    Rosemary, but rather because her current status allowed her to be pampered everywhere she went,

    which led to this attitude.

    "Okay."

    After hanging up, her thoughts wandered. Maxwell was in Zion City, Victoria was there too¡ªit

    couldn''t be that much of a coincidence, could it?

    Why bother with a secret rendezvous in another ce? Why not just get divorced and openly move

    on to the next marriage?

    She nced at the calendar again. After Pearl''s birthday, there''d be less than a month left on their

    three-year contract. Maxwell should not dy their divorce any longer.

    Thinking this way, the fatigue from days of staying upte and working overtime lessened

    significantly. Although she had been both tired and sleepy, after taking a shower and lying in bed,

    she couldn''t feel even a bit of sleepiness.

    She opened Twitter and scrolled through. Seeing a picture of a dog, she quickly saved it and

    matched it with a cartoon poop emoji. Afterbing the two, she shared theposite image on

    Facebook: "A match made in heaven."

    No sooner had she posted on Facebook than she got ament.

    It was Ynda. [Please post someone''s name on the public screen, don''t hold it back.]

    Rosemary couldn''t help but snort withughter. Before she could finishughing, Ynda''s video

    call came through, "Is that dog Maxwell sniffing around Victoria again?"

    "Not sure, but Victoria''s in Zion City, and so is he. They are probably together."

    "You can''t teach an old dog new tricks. How stinky must Victoria be for Maxwell to be obsessing

    over her for so many years?"

    "Why do I feel like you''re also implying something about me?"

    "How could it be? You''re you, and a dog is a dog."

    They chatted a bit more, but since it waste and they both had to work the next day, they hung up.

    Rosemary slept very well that night, not having a single dream.

    The next day, she woke up and checked Facebook out of habit and saw new replies to her

    Facebook post from the night before.

    One of them was actually from Maxwell.

    [Rosemary, you''re looking for trouble.]

    Rosemary really hadn''t expected a busy CEO like Maxwell would actually browse Facebook, let

    alone replying. It was unlike his usual cold and aloof image.

    Her Facebook post was indeed about him and Victoria, but it was so vague. How did he deduce its

    intended meaning?

    It must be a guilty conscience that made him suspect it was about himself at the first hint of

    implication.

    He might have time to kill, but she didn''t. Considering they were about to divorce, there was no

    need toplicate things further, so she didn''t reply to thement.

    October 17th was Pearl''s birthday. Victoria had contacted her on October 13th, and they agreed to

    meet near the hotel where she was staying.

    Victoria was dressed in a vacation-style long dress made of soft chiffon fabric, with the entire back

    being openwork. Her makeup was delicate, and the sunsses resting on her nose nearly covered

    most of her face.

    "Rosemary, hope you don''t minding all this way? It''s just that I''ve just got back and I''m too tired

    to be running around."

    There was a suitcase beside her; likely she had contacted Rosemary right off the ne.

    Rosemary revealed no emotion, maintaining a professional attitude, "You''re our client; it''s up to you

    where we meet, especially since the travel expenses are included in your payment."

    Victoria''s face froze, annoyed at the thought of paying several times the market rate.

    If it weren''t for the time crunch and no one else willing to take the job, would she have been

    overcharged by someone called Rose?

    She even wondered if Rosemary might have bad-mouthed her to Rose, which is why she was

    charged such a high price.

    However, the painting was already restored, so there was no point in fussing over these details.

    Rosemary pushed the box with the antique painting toward Victoria, "Take a look, and if it''s all good,

    you can settle the final payment."

    Victoria yawned, looking exhausted, "No need to check, I trust you."

    She took out her phone and transferred the money to Rosemary efficiently.

    Rosemary seriously reminded her, "Once the painting is in your hands, whether you check it or not,

    we''ll assume you did. If there are any issues afterward, we will not be responsible. Antique paintings

    are delicate; they must be kept in a dry ce, must note in contact with moisture. I''ve included

    a note with preservation tips inside, please make sure to read it when you get back."

    Victoria''s painting had way too many marks, and Rosemary truly felt pity while restoring it. Such a

    piece of heritage was a pity¡ªalthough it had been restored, how could itpare to the original

    work?

    Hearing Rosemary''s words, Victoria was just about to open the box to check, but then her phone

    rang.

    She nced at the caller ID, then immediately withdrew her hand from the box and picked up the

    call, while simultaneously said to Rosemary, "Got it, thanks."

    Victoria picked up her stuff off the table and dragged her suitcase, ready to leave.

    Rosemary caught her tell the person over the phone, "I''ll head back to the room right now. I must

    have been in a rush packing and ended up putting your things with mine."

    That voice had lost its usual high-and-mighty tone and was all dolled up with a womanly, soft

    coyness.

    It was evident from the voice that the person on the other end and she had a close rtionship.

    Rosemary''s first thought was Maxwell.

 Chapter 43

    The birthday banquet coincidentally fell on a weekend. Rosemary was up at the crack of dawn on

    the day. After wrapping up Victoria''s order, she only took a two-day breather before diving into

    another gig.

    She had no choice. If she didn''t work her hardest, she''d never be able to pay off that humongous

    debt in this lifetime!

    The Templeton family held their birthday banquets with discretion, inviting only the Floris family and

    the Templeton family rtives. Every year without fail, Rosemary would show up at the Templeton

    family estate early in the morning to busy herself serving the guests.

    But this year, she wasn''t nning on heading over so soon. Sooner orter, she and Maxwell were

    going to get divorced, and starting now, she needed to gradually peel away from her old life, which

    was also a way to give Pearl some time to ept it.

    After all, she couldn''t spend her whole life ying a role with Maxwell; Pearl would find out

    eventually.

    Rosemary nced at the time and then busied herself with the task at hand. This time, she was

    repairing a bowl, which wasn''t severely damaged.

    When she was busy, she lost track of time. By the time she heard her phone ring, she realized it

    was already two in the afternoon, and her stomach was beginning to growl with hunger.

    It was Maxwell on the line. Rosemary moved her stiff neck, then answered the call. Without waiting

    for her to speak, the man''s deep voice came through, "Come down."

    They hadn''t been in touch for about a month, but today was special; he was here to take her to the

    Templeton family''s ce.

    Seeing it was about time, Rosemary said, "Wait a moment, I''ll put on some makeup."

    Although it was just a family banquet and formal attire wasn''t necessary, she couldn''t be too casual

    either. Lucky for her, he had brought a few high-end custom outfits with her when she moved out of

    Meadork Retreat.

    The voice on the other end was none too pleased, though: "Skip it, just get down here. You''ve got

    five minutes."

    He sounded like he was in a bad mood, and his impatience was evident even through the phone.

    Indeed, when had Mr. Templeton, who always had things his way, ever waited for anyone?

    Rosemary checked herself out in the mirror: her hair was casually tied up in a bun, she was bare-

    faced, and she was wearing a cotton T-shirt and sweatpants she had bought online for a few dozen

    dors.

    If he wasn''t embarrassed by her low-key getup, then there was no need for her to doll up for his

    sake.

    So, she changed her shoes and went downstairs, grabbing two slices of bread to tide her over on

    her way out.

    Maxwell''s car was parked outside the building. He was standing quietly by the car, smoking, d in

    a ck shirt that enveloped his upper body, with a bleak and silent aura.

    The outfit he was wearing was from a high-end brand, costing seven figures. The watch on his wrist

    was the epitome of luxury, his air of nobility starkly out of ce in this ordinary residential area.

    One could imagine how much Maxwell disdained her appearance; his frown was so deep it could

    trap a fly. Though he didn''t speak, the meaning in his eyes was clear

    "Look at the beggarly life you''re leading after leaving me!"

    Just as Rosemary was about to hop in the car, Maxwell''s sharp gaze swept over her, "Finish eating

    and clean off any crumbs before getting in the car."

    She really wanted to ask Maxwell if the person standing in front of the car with bread was Victoria,

    would he also be this harsh?

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    But bringing it up would sound like she was jealous, so she took a deep breath to hold back,

    finished the bread in two bites, and deliberately shook off her clothes with exaggerated motions in

    front of him, "Can I get in the car now, Fussy Maxwell?"

    Maxwell''s face turned sour as all get out, "Even if you were never truly a socialite, you were still a

    genuinedy of status. Knock it off with the Inte terms, lest you want to be a

    laughingstock."

    But Rosemary huffed, "What, can''t ady of a wealthy household use the Inte?"

    Maxwell fell silent, it seemed her life as ady these past three years has been quite interesting!

    The car left the neighborhood and merged into the congested traffic.

    Half an hourter, Rosemary frowned, "This isn''t the way to the Templeton family''s ce."

    Maxwell nced at her, dripping with disdain, "You n to show up like that? You might not be

    ashamed, but I sure am."

    Rosemary rolled her eyes. Who was it that said no need for makeup? A man whose words

    contradicted his feelings!

    Maxwell took her to a beauty studio, where she ended up not just with makeup but also changed

    into a formal dress. Looking at her delicately made-up reflection in the mirror, she frowned and

    commented that it was overdone, "Isn''t this a bit much for a family banquet?"

    It was just a meal with rtives from two families. Nobody wore formal dresses in the past couple of

    years. Thinking about how both families would stare at her like she was a panda made her feel

    utterly ufortable.

    Maxwell, legs crossed and flipping through a magazine on the couch, nced up at her, "Who told

    you it is just a family banquet?"

    "Huh?" Rosemary''s heart sank, getting a bad feeling, "What do you mean? Isn''t it a tradition for

    Mom to only invite close rtives from both families for a meal on her birthday?"

    "She''s decided to do it big this year, said she wants to ward off bad luck."

    Pearl had always been superstitious, often seeking blessings from gods and Jesus. Rosemary had

    no objections to doing it big; as long as she was happy, the scale didn''t matter, but she and Maxwell

    were secretly married.  If it was done on arge scale, they''d be swarmed by the media.

    "Then under what identity should I co-host the guests with you?"

    With Pearl around, Maxwell couldn''t pretend there was nothing between them, especially since the

    rtives from the Floris and Templeton families were clued into her identity. Their rtionship was

    bound to be exposed.

    But Maxwell didn''t seem to think it was an issue, "Whatever your identity is, that''s what it is."

    "Are you joking?" In her agitation, Rosemary nearly lost herposure, "We''re about to get a

    divorce!"

    After being married for so long without going public, and now they were about to blow it up just as

    they were calling it quits¡ªwas she crazy or was Maxwell?

    "I''m not going to the banquet. You can smooth things over with Mom, say I''m sick, in the hospital, on

    a trip, whatever. I''ll make it up to her with a separate celebrationter."

    That was about the only way now.

    Maxwell''s gaze turned cold as he looked at her, "Well, I guess I''ll just have to spill the beans about

    Mrs. Templeton''s absence at the party. Hopefully, everyone will get the picture about your

    ''difficulty''."

    His implication was clear; whether she went or not, their rtionship would be made public, and she

    would also earn the reputation of being disrespectful and unfilial!

    Rosemary gritted her teeth¡ªwhat a ruthless man!

    Seeing she was just ring at him without a word, Maxwell closed his magazine and got up. "Let''s

    go, you''re the hostess. Wouldn''t be a good look to arriveter than the guests, would it?"

    Unable to quell the anger in her heart, Rosemary asked sarcastically, "Victoria will be there tonight,

    won''t she?"

    She thought of the dress she bought for Pearlst time. Victoria had wanted to buy it too, probably

    for tonight.

    Maxwell nonchntly responded, "Nope."

    He had never given her an invite, though Victoria had openly and covertly asked him for one.

    Rosemary snorted withughter, "No wonder you''re so unbridled. It''s because Victoria isn''t here, so

    you don''t have to worry about your beloved''s feelings.¡±

    All she got in response was the sight of him turning his back and walking away. Clenching her fists,

    Rosemary had no choice but to follow.

    The birthday banquet was held at the Templeton family''s ce, and just from looking at the cars

    parked in the garden, one could tell how grand the asion was.

    As soon as the car stopped, instead of waiting for Maxwell to open the door for her, she pushed the

    door open herself and got out.

    Maxwell''s brow furrowed slightly in displeasure, but he didn''t say anything.

    He quickly caught up with her, bending his arm in a silent offer for her to take it.

    Rosemary hesitated for a moment, her mind momentarily adrift.

    She had never attended a significant event with Maxwell before; this was a first time he had offered

    his arm to her.

    Maxwell nced at his watch, impatiently reminding, "Do you want everyone to think our marriage

    is in discord?"

    That snapped Rosemary back to reality, cursing internally that they were already in discord, but she

    obediently took his arm.

    But as soon as she entered the living room, she saw the very person Maxwell had adamantly

    imed would not be at the party.

 Chapter 44

    In the living room, Victoria''s eyes widened in shock when she saw the woman who walked in with

    Maxwell.

    She had thought that Rosemary might show up tonight, given it was Pearl''s birthday, but she also

    felt that Maxwell would not publicly reveal Rosemary''s identity as Mrs. Templeton and definitely

    wouldn''t let her step foot into the event.

    But unexpectedly, not only did Rosemary make an appearance, but Maxwell brought her in arm in

    arm, making their entrance in a manner that dered their intimate rtionship.

    The gazes of quite a few people were already shifting between the two women. Before Rosemary

    showed up, everybody was only buzzing about the recent gossip and seeing Victoria there tonight,

    they all assumed her rtionship with Mr. Templeton was progressing to the point of meeting

    parents and discussing marriage!

    But now, the woman by Mr. Templeton''s side was someone else.

    Victoria felt the burning gazes of the people around her, who had just beenplimenting her,

    implying her that she was to be the future Mrs. Templeton.

    Then someone approached to toast Maxwell, ncing curiously at the person beside him and

    asked, "Mr. Templeton, who is this?"

    Maxwell didn''t speak, but the evening''s focus, Pearl, came over. She took Rosemary''s other hand

    and formally introduced her to the guests, "Let me introduce everyone to my daughter-inw,

    Rosemary."

    Upon hearing this, the room was shocked!

    "Mr. Templeton is married?!"

    "When did this happen? We never heard anything about it."

    The guests were all abuzz, and only Victoria''s face flushed with regret for havinge here tonight.

    Pearl chuckled, "The young people these days prefer to keep it low-key, not fond of our old-

    fashioned pomp. So, the wedding previously was just a simple dinner among our two families.

    Today is the perfect day to let everyone in on it."

    With Mrs. Templetonying it all out there, everyone understood the purpose of tonight''s birthday

    banquet, and their surprise turned into a mixture ofughter and chatter.

    "Mrs. Templeton is as beautiful as a fairy."

    "Such a figure, she could outshine any model."

    No matter how much praise was given, Rosemary couldn''t take it in. Although she was prepared for

    their rtionship toe to light, but never thought it would be in such a high-profile way.

    She had thought they''d keep their secret marriage, and if it ended in divorce, it wouldn''t affect their

    lives much. But now.

    Rosemary turned to Maxwell with a hushed, sharp tone, "Why didn''t you stop her?"

    "Stop her from what?"

    She said irritably, "Of course, from publicly announcing our rtionship."

    Maxwell gave her a look and snorted, "You think everyone''s as foolish as you? That I''d bring just

    any Tom, Dick, or Harry to an event like this?"

    Well, Rosemary had to admit he had a point this time. But still, she retorted unwillingly, "I thought

    we''d quietly get divorced and go our separate ways, but since it''s like this, it seems we''ll have to let

    everyone witness the moment Mr. Templeton gets dumped."

    "Heh," he scoffed, "And you think you''ve got the guts to think you can dump me?"

    While they bickered, Pearl had already moved on to greet other guests, and the guests shifted their

    chatter from praising Rosemary to her attire.

    "Mr. Templeton''s married, and all those trending searches before... who would''ve thought the

    renowned dancer wanted to be a mistress? Look at her dress today, it must be intentionally

    provocative towards Mrs. Templeton, right?"

    Hearing this, Rosemary finally noticed that Victoria was wearing a simr dress to hers today, both

    made of ck satin material and design; the only difference was Victoria''s had a V-neck backless

    style, while hers was a strapless version.

    The dresses were simr yet notpletely the same, but that minor differences couldn''t prevent

    people fromparing them.

    In terms of pure visual effect, even Victoria had to concede that Rosemary wore it better.

    She was naturally stunning, with fair skin that, contrasted with the ck satin gown, made her seem

    to radiate light.

    "Psst." Rosemary arched an eyebrow, her voice barely audible aside from to Maxwell who was right

    beside her, "What''s wrong?"

    "Looks like I''m twinning with your crush." There was no awkwardness in her tone; instead, it

    sounded almost like she was enjoying the drama.

    Maxwell nced at her, then at Victoria not too far off, and inly stated, "It''s different."

    Bearing the whispers of others, Victoria approached, holding an elegantly wrapped long box.

    Rosemary guessed it might contain the antique painting she had restored.

    "Maxwell, Rosemary."

    Maxwell humped in response, his demeanor and tone as indifferent as if she were aplete

    stranger.

    Rosemary gave him a look and snorted inwardly: What an actor, it''s a pity he''s not in the movies!

    She had zero interest in watching this pair of lovesick fools make goo-goo eyes at each other. Just

    as she was about to slip her hand out of Maxwell''s arm, Victoria turned her focus to her,

    "Rosemary, do you have another dress here? Could you maybe change?" She trailed off, but the

    message was clear, "I know this might be a bit presumptuous, but wearing simr outfits is just quite

    awkward."

    Rosemary gave her a fake smile that couldn''t be faker, "I couldn''t."

    Her refusal was direct and straightforward, not for any reason other than she had no other dress.

    Victoria, however, frowned, "Rosemary, there''s no need for you to be so hostile towards me. After

    all, we,"

    "Ms. Temple, you''re reading too much into it. I''ve got no hostility to you. As for the dress," she

    nced at Victoria''s deep V neckline, her tone loaded with implication, "Do you have difficulties to

    see things clearly?"

    Seeing Rosemary refuse to back down, Victoria could only turn her gaze to Maxwell, her lips

    reddening as she bit them, "Maxwell."

    Maxwell frowned; Rosemary''s earlier words had been too mean, and he didn''t like her talking with

    such an edge.

    But before he could even open his mouth, Rosemary tiptoed close and whispered into his ear,

    audible only to the two of them, "If you dare make me change my outfit, I''ll leave right now."

    So what if she was threatening him? She was done ying this scene, let him clean up the mess

    himself!

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Rosemary was already teetering on sky-high heels, and standing on tiptoe made her bnce

    unsteady. She swayed slightly, only to be steadied as Maxwell wrapped an arm around her waist

    and pulled her into his embrace.

    His next words were blunt, "Stand properly, don''t act coy."

    His tone was like reprimanding an employee.

    Rosemary: How this man heard that she was acting coy?

    "Let''s end this tedious topic. Mom''s calling you over."

    Rosemary turned and, sure enough, saw Pearl waving at her, signaling her toe over.

    The two headed toward Pearl, with Victoria trailing behind them, "Let''s go together, I''ve just arrived,

    and haven''t had the chance to give Pearl the gift yet."

    There, Pearl was affectionately holding her husband Norton Templeton''s arm and warmly said to the

    approaching Rosemary, "Rosemary, let me introduce you to some rtives; they are all good

    friends of mine. They''ve been eager to meet you as Maxwell''s wife."

    Rosemary shed a gentle smile, called out ''Dad'', and handed over the birthday gift she had

    prepared to Pearl, "Happy birthday, Mom."

    Pearl joyfully epted the gift, "I have the best daughter-inw!" Then she shot a cold nce at her

    short-sighted son, "Such a goods wife, you''d better cherish her twice as much. Otherwise,

    someone''s gonna regret it one day."

    That ''someone'' raised an eyebrow, his gaze fleetingly catching Rosemary''s still-smiling face; and in

    her eyes, he saw a warmth he had never noticed before.

 Chapter 45

    Victoria was standing close by, watching them all chummy and cheerful, wishing she could just

    disappear. Subconsciously, she looked up at Maxwell, only to see his gaze constantly on Rosemary,

    which spread an endless sourness in her heart.

    However, she quickly suppressed her emotions, smiling and inserting herself into the conversation,

    trying to get Pearl''s attention, "Happy birthday. This is just a little gift for you, hope you don''t mind."

    Pearl gave Victoria a once-over and nodded politely, "Thank you, you''re kind."

    After taking it, she casually set it on a nearby table without any intention of opening it right away.

    "The dining area is over there. Help yourself to anything you like."

    That was obviously meant to send her away, so she wouldn''t be a nuisance here!

    Victoria could tell, but pretended that she couldn''t. After all, she''d put a lot of effort into picking out

    that gift and she wasn''t about to let it go to waste.

    If she didn''t insist on Pearl opening it now, who knows where it would end up after the party!

    "Why don''t you open it and see? I''m not really up on this stuff, so if there''s anything off about it, we

    could get it fixed in time."

    With that said, and with so many eyes on them, Pearl couldn''t afford to brush her off anymore

    without making a scene.

    While mentally disliking Victoria''s behavior internally, she maintained a polite smile and opened the

    gift box, which contained another wooden box inside. She took a barely noticeable breath, thinking

    if there was another box inside this wooden box, she would send Victoria away!

    Inside the wooden box was a painting.

    Pearl unrolled the scroll with a perfunctory motion. She wasn''t into art, but when she saw what the

    painting was, her eyes flickered with interest, and even Norton raised an eyebrow, "Is this that

    antique painting from before?"

    "Yes," Victoria replied politely.

    Norton nodded with satisfaction, "You''ve worked hard. Let me know how much it cost and I''ll have

    Maxwell transfer the money to you."

    "It''s not about the money. It''s just that the restorer is hard to find. That person is elusive in the circle,

    only takes very a fewmissions. Otherwise, it wouldn''t have taken this long to restore."

    "If the restorer''s got the skills, it''s normal for them to be a bit entric. You''ve really put in the effort

    this time."

    Rosemary noticed that Pearl was still eyeing the scroll and realized from Norton''s words that this

    painting must belong to the Templeton family, and Victoria had taken it upon herself to have it

    restored.

    "Mom, do you like these things?"

    "I don''t, but Maxwell''s grandfather was. He bought this painting at an auction back in the day. Later

    on, your dad and I had a fierce argument, and the painting was identally destroyed. Ms. Temple

    offered to find someone to restore it, so I left it in her hands," Pearl said, unfolding the scroll

    completely.

    Norton interjected, "It was more than just a fierce argument. You nearly tore down the old man''s

    study, and the bruises on my leg took half a month to heal."

    "Wasn''t it your fault?" Pearl retorted, her tone shifting suddenly, "Ms. Temple, how much did you pay

    for this restoration?"

    Victoria was suddenly put on the spot and noticed Pearl''s change in expression, feeling confused,

    she named a figure, "What''s the matter?"

    "Then you got ripped off. This person couldn''t possibly be a master.¡±

    Rosemary frowned, not because of what Pearl said, but there was a noticeable stain in the corner of

    the painting. It was small but quite obvious.

    Victoria saw it too, and her first reaction was to look at Rosemary.

    "Isn''t Rose a big name in the circle? What''s this? How can she deliver something restored like this?"

    Rosemary, annoyed by the usatory tone, thought it should be her asking the questions. The

    painting she had worked so hard to restore was damaged again!

    "The painting was perfectly restored when it was handed over to you, and you confirmed it. Isn''t it

    inappropriate to say these things now?"

    Seeing this, Pearl asked in confusion, "What''s going on? Rosemary, did you restore this painting?"

    Before Rosemary could answer, Victoria cut in, "It was restored by this supposed expert I found in

    the circle. Rosemary just happens to be her assistant and helped deliver the painting." Victoria

    continued, her face filled with self-reproach, "It''s my fault for trusting the rumors too much. I never

    expected the so-called ''Master Rose'' to be nothing but a fraud with a big reputation!"

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Her words seemed to be ming Rose''sck of substance, but she was also implying something

    about Rosemary. Rose did the restoration, but Rosemary delivered the painting. Who knows what

    went wrong in between?

    Rosemary was certain that within half an hour, the gossip would spread throughout the entire circle

    about Mrs. Templeton designing a trap out of love turned hatred for her husband''s ex-girlfriend.

    "I''m sorry to disappoint you. I''ll take the painting back and find someone else to restore it."

    Rosemary couldn''t let Victoria do that. The guests today were all either rich or noble, and wealthy

    people liked to collect cultural relics, whether genuinely interested or just for showing off. They were

    potential clients for her.

    If this incident could not only ruin her reputation, but also Rose''s, the alias she had worked so hard

    to cultivate.

    Everyone would think Rose was a fraud!

    She spoke up to stop Victoria, "No need to trouble yourself. It''s just a minor issue. I''ve learned quite

    a bit these past few months studying with Master Rose. Let me do the restoration."

    Hearing this, Victoria frowned, her tone a bit helpless as if cating a petnt child, "Rosemary, I

    didn''t mean to target you.  It was just purely about Rose''s poor skills to warn everyone. Following

    her teaching, how much could you have possibly learned?"

    The implication was clear: what could she learn from a fraud?

    Victoria went on, "If my words just now made you ufortable, then I apologize. It''s Aunt''s

    birthday, and with so many people watching, there''s no need to let an insignificant person ruin the

    mood, nor to ruin this painting worth over hundreds of millions."

    Rosemary didn''t want to waste words with her. Turning to Pearl, she was 100% sure she could

    restore the painting, but Victoria had a point: The painting was worth a fortune. If Pearl didn''t trust

    her, then so be it. After all, the painting belonged to the Templeton family.

    Pearl shot Victoria a look and patted Rosemary''s hand affectionately. "Go for it if you want to. You''re

    thedy of the Templeton family, and the painting''s yours. Even if it gets further damaged, it''s not

    outsiders'' ce toment."

    Norton always indulged his wife, so if she said to let it be fixed, then so it shall be. But he felt

    somewhat regretful inside. If the old man were still alive, and he found out that his antique painting

    got wrecked in a fit of pique, it could very well kill him again!

    The entire hall fell dead silent for a moment.

    Victoria was biting her lip, standing off to the side without uttering a word.

    Pearl''s use of "outsiders¡± made it clear to anyone with ears whom she was referring to.

    Meanwhile, Rosemary instructed someone to prepare the tools, and during the wait, the living room

    buzzed with noise and excitement again.

    "That painting was auctioned off for two hundred million back in the day, and its value has only

    increased over the years. It''s such a pity it was destroyed like this!"

    "What if Mrs. Templeton can fix it?"

    "Do you actually think restoring antiques is that simple? All those big shots in the field, aren''t they of

    a certain age? It''s all about skills honed over the years. Look at Mrs. Templeton''s age: she''s

    practically an apprentice, and a con artist''s apprentice at that. Tsk, tsk, what a pity." As he person

    spoke, they started to sigh with regret again, obviously someone who truly appreciated antiques.

    Maxwell, who had been silent, was already looking stormy. He grasped Rosemary''s hand and, in

    front of everyone, whisked her upstairs without further ado.

    As soon as they were out of the guests'' view, Rosemary pulled her hand from the man''s grasp. "If

    you''ve got something to say, say it. Don''t get handsy."

    Maxwell pinched the bridge of his nose, looking quite agitated. "Just say you''re not feeling well, and

    I''ll take you out of here."

    Not feeling well? Rosemary was taken aback for a second but then caught on. "You don''t want me

    to touch that painting?"

 Chapter 46

    The man frowned, "There''s a time and ce for making a scene. Today is not the asion for your

    antics. Mom and the Templeton family can''t afford to lose face here."

    "Is it really Mom and the Templeton family who can''t lose face, or is it Victoria who can''t?"

    Rosemary snorted withughter, her words sharp as thorns. "If I leave now, everyone will say I''m

    guilty. By tomorrow, everyone in the circle will know,¡± She paused, "that my master''s skills are

    lacking, that the work I repaired is wed, that we''re frauds!"

    For some reason, she didn''t want Maxwell to know she was Rose, and he didn''t need to know

    either.

    "So what''s your n? Fix that painting yourself?" Maxwell, unfamiliar about the restoration circle

    and ignorant about Rose, assumed she was just another employee at Heritage Revive Studio. "You,

    a cleaner who observed for a few days, has made you an expert?"

    In his mind, Rosemary was just a cleaner at the restoration studio; Christ had confirmed it after

    digging around, and Maxwell trusted Christ''spetence¡ªno way was there a mistake about

    something so trivial.

    Maxwell took a deep breath, "Rosemary, what are you nning to fix it with? A broom?"

    He didn''t mean to look down on her; but professions could be worlds apart¡ªone can''t just watch

    and wish oneself skilled.

    Was he not doing this for her own good?

    He was nudging her to find an excuse to leave, to spare her the embarrassment and save face for

    the Templeton family. The Templeton family could brush off criticism, but Rosemary? Not so much.

    Although they were legally married, they hadn''t had a wedding, and only today had their marital

    status gone public. Who knows what stories people were scheming against her in secret?

    Especially if she ended up ruining a masterpiece.

    "If you have the time to worry about how I''m going to restore it, you might as well worry about

    Victoria. For someone so high and mighty, being publicly humiliated could have unimaginable

    effects on her.¡±

    Maxwell''s brow furrowed. He was trying to discuss the risks involved, yet she kept dragging Victoria

    into it.

    "Stop dragging others into this. If the painting isn''t restored well, it''s Rose''s fault. You don''t need to

    take the fall for her mistakes."

    Rosemary scoffed. Well, who knew Maxwell was such apdog, taking Victoria''s every word as

    gospel.

    Meeting her fierce gaze, Maxwell softened his tone, "Be reasonable. I''m doing this for your own

    good."

    Rosemary scoffed in response, "You really believe that yourself?"

    "Mrs. Templeton." Wendy''s voice came from downstairs, interrupting their argument, "I''ve prepared

    everything you asked for."

    Without another word to Maxwell, Rosemary replied to the voice downstairs, "Thanks, Wendy. I''ll be

    right down."

    In the living room downstairs, the painting wasid out on a table, with the items Rosemary had

    requested beside it.

    No one else had the mind for anything but to crowd around and watch the scene.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    The damage was just a small section in the bottom right corner, nothing too severe. Otherwise,

    Rosemary wouldn''t have been able to repair it in such a short time.

    The music in the living room had stopped, leaving only the whispers of onlookers.

    Maxwell stood on the periphery, his cool gaze fixed on Rosemary as she bent over her work, utterly

    absorbed in restoring the antique.

    He had never seen her so engrossed in her work before. Back at the Templeton Group, she had the

    title of assistant but was always running errands, using little brainpower, let alone being particrly

    earnest. Most of the time, she just seemed to be idly sitting around, daydreaming.

    This was a whole different side of her.

    "Who do you think is lying, Rosemary or Ms. Temple?" whispered a familiar voice at his side.

    Maxwell nced at Martin, who had shown up btedly; he hadn''t been there earlier, and Maxwell

    had thought he might not show up at all.

    Frowning, Maxwell declined the ss of wine Martin offered, "Rosemary? Since when were you two

    so familiar with her?"

    Martin detected an undertone of displeasure?

    He gave a resigned chuckle, "I''ve always called her that."

    "But you call Victoria ''Ms. Temple.''"

    After a pause, Martin carefully replied, "I''m really not close with Ms. Temple."

    He had known Rosemary for years. Due to her pursuit, he often saw her, and over time they grew

    familiar.

    As for Victoria, if not for Maxwell, Martin doubted he''d ever cross paths with a dancer in his life.

    Martin didn''t care for dancing.

    Maxwell''s mood didn''t lighten; he stopped talking, his gaze intense, watching the woman

    surrounded by the crowd.

    It was uncertain how much time passed before the restoration finally came to an end.

    Rosemary held up the painting and handed it to Pearl, "Mom, look, does it look exactly like it did

    before?"

    The painting belonged to the old man, and Pearl could barely nce at it, let alone distinguish the

    difference. But if her daughter-inw said it was the same, then it was!

    "It''s exactly the same. Our Rosemary is so talented, handling such aplex stuff, unlike some

    people who, apart from being scheming, have no good qualities."

    Victoria felt the thick disdain.

    She wondered if Rosemary had somehow bewitched Pearl!

    Turning to Victoria, Rosemary said, "Ms. Temple, even if an apprentice like me can fix this w, do

    you think a reputed expert like Master Rose couldn''t? Would she leave such an obvious error for

    you to pick out? This painting was just restored; it needs proper maintenance for a while. I''ve given

    you the maintenance instructions and precautions. Instead of ming others when things go wrong,

    maybe you should consider whether you failed in the follow-up care."

    All eyes in the room shifted to Victoria. Though not overtly explicit, the eagerness to watch the

    drama unfold was palpable.

    Even Victoria, no stranger to grand stages, was visibly rattled. Instinctively, she turned her head to

    look for Maxwell, hoping he''d step in and say something on her behalf. But when she caught his

    gaze fixed on Rosemary, her heart twisted with an unspeakable bitterness.

    But with the situation being so thorny, she couldn''t afford to lose herposure and forced herself

    to remain calm, "I apologize, like I said before, it may not necessarily be a fault of Master Rose, but

    ultimately, the me rests on me. I jumped to conclusions without getting my facts straight.

    Rosemary, I owe you an apology, and I''m ready topensate for any damage my words might

    have done to Ms. Rose''s reputation. I''lle by with a proper gift to apologize another day."

    Under normal circumstances, that would have been the end of it. After all, tonight''s supposed to be

    Pearl''s birthday banquet, and nobody wants to ruin the party. However, Victoria hadn''t anticipated

    that Rosemary had no intention of letting her off the hook!

    With a light chuckle, the woman said, "So, it''s not Master Rose''s fault, but mine? After all, the only

    other people who''ve handled this painting besides Master Rose are you and me."

    Suddenly, Victoria felt her heart skip a beat.

    Sure enough, Rosemary''s next words were, "I have evidence that proves the me wasn''t in my

    part of the process."

 Chapter 47

    Victoria frowned, "Rosemary, about this."

    But just then her phone rang, undoubtedly saving her from the urgent dilemma!

    She stepped away to answer the call and soon hurried back to Rosemary, "Rosemary, I''m sorry,

    today''s issue was my fault. There was indeed a problem with the painting on my end."

    Rosemary was wondering how Victoria changed her stance just by taking a call, when she saw

    Victoria put her phone on speaker, "Could you repeat what you just told me?"

    Tracy''s voice came through: "I''m so sorry, Victoria. I identally spilled water on it but dried it off

    immediately. I meant to let you know, but got caught up and it slipped my mind. Is the painting a big

    deal?"

    At that, Rosemary raised an eyebrow, "Well, what a coincidence? Ms. Temple and I were just

    discussing this, and then you ring up."

    The insinuation was clear to anyone listening.

    "Ms. Chambers, this screw-up was on me. If you''re gonna me someone, me me. It has

    nothing to do with Victoria."

    "Alright then, let''s leave it at that."

    Since Tracy took the me, there was no point in Rosemary pursuing it further. Victoria had already

    lost face today, pushing it might just flip the script and make her a victim, winning her some pity

    points.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Clearly, Victoria was still processing when Rosemary, linking arms with Pearl, left to join the guests.

    Thus, a drama that wasn''t quite a farce wrapped up.

    Maxwell watched the mother-daughter duo, all smiles andughter, about to join them when he

    caught a glimpse of Martin''s gaze seemingly fixated on Rosemary.

    He paused his steps, "What, got regrets?"

    Martin snapped back to reality, confused, "Regret what?"

    "Regret not taking her up on her offer when she came knocking."

    Martin caught the jealousy in Maxwell''s words and chuckled, a rare instance to hear Maxwell speak

    to him in such a tone.

    Feeling amused, Martin joked, "As you said, I might actually have some regrets. If I had thought it

    through, she could''ve been Mrs. Ger by now, huh?"

    Maxwell looked at him, noting Martin''s usual cool demeanor, yet something seemed different.

    His gaze fell to the watch half-hidden by Martin''s sleeve. Whatever he thought, Maxwell cracked a

    smile, "In that case, I owe it to that watch of yours."

    Martin nced at his watch, "What''s up with it?"

    He took it off, examined it closely. Apart from being pricey, there was nothing special about it.

    And just then, Rosemary, who was passing by, overheard their conversation, especially the word

    "watch," and herplexion changed in a sh!

    She let go of Pearl and walked quickly towards Maxwell, almost crashing into him in her haste and

    high heels.

    Unprepared, Maxwell instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist to keep her from falling.

    "It''s Mom''s birthday party, how could you let the two of us women handle the drinking and

    socializing?"

    Rosemary looked up, her alcoholced breath brushing against Maxwell''s jawline.

    He looked down slightly,, catching a glimpse of her moist, rosy lips, and the glint in her eyes, which

    were especially alluring under the lights.

    Before he could respond, she had taken his arm, dragging him away without another word.

    From others'' perspective, it seemed a wife was coquettishly indulging with her husband, who was

    spoiling her in return.

    But the reality was Rosemary was pinching Maxwell''s arm hard enough to leave a bruise!

    And that was through twoyers of clothing; indicating how much force she was using.

    "If you dare bring up that watch again, we''re done," she hissed under her breath, face turned away

    so no one could see.

    Maxwell narrowed his eyes, remaining silent.

    Seeing him not respond, Rosemary thought her threat had worked, bing more confident, "You

    hear me?"

    "Mrs. Templeton," his voice low and slightly raspy, "Your makeup has rubbed off on me."

    Rosemary stepped back, moving away from Maxwell''s embrace.

    She had fair skin and only needed a light touch of makeup, but Maxwell was in a ck suit, and the

    slightest white mark stood out.

    Rosemary fell silent for a few seconds before turning a threat into earnest advice, "If you ever want

    to get married again, you''d better keep quiet now. The one looking bad won''t be me; I''m not from a

    prestigious family."

    "I''ve got money; who dares to say a bad word about me?"

    Maxwell then said something Rosemary couldn''t refute, yet was extremely annoying, "As for

    remarrying, you should worry more about yourself. Poor, penniless, and perhaps even aging."

    In that moment, Rosemary felt like she was about to have a coronary, unable to utter a word for

    quite some time.

    Maxwell didn''t continue the topic, but nced at Martin, who was still chitchatting nearby, "You

    really don''t want me to mention that matter again?"

    "Yeah." She grumbled, squeezing out the word.

    "Then give me a kiss."

    Rosemary''s eyes widened in shock, looking up at him. Maxwell''s handsome face was highlighted by

    the lighting, his gaze fixed on her.

    Feeling a tad awkward under her stare, he pressed his lips together, "Don''t overthink it. Mom''s

    watching; we''ve got to put on a show."

    Rosemary turned and indeed met Pearl''s smiling gaze.

    Well, the man is a born actor, always mindful of the "camera.¡±

    After a few silent seconds, Rosemary tiptoed closer. Maxwell''s hand hovered at her waist, and as

    she stood on her toes, the soft fabric brushed his palm, sending a peculiar tingle to his heart.

    As she drew near, a gentle sweet fragrance filled his nostrils.

    Rosemary didn''t kiss his lips but brushed past his cheek, whispering provocatively into his ear,

    "You''re thinking about nonsense."

    Maxwell didn''t expect a seemingly well-mannered Rosemary in front of him to utter such vulgar,

    street talk. His face instantly darkened, about to preach, when Rosemary stepped back several

    paces.

    She looked as if disgusted. "I''ll go keep Mompany with the guests."

    She thought she could just y him and just leave?

    Maxwell couldn''t let her have her way; he extended his hand, pulled her back into his embrace, and

    without another word, lowered his head to kiss her lips.

    But since they were in public, he didn''t go all out¡ªjust a light peck. "I''m thinking about nonsense,

    huh?"

    What was there to even think about? He could do that effortlessly.

    Rosemary froze. She felt like she''d just been mocking her!

    "Maxwell."

    Victoria''s voice came crashing through the moment, sounding utterly shocked and incredulous.

    Everyone knew that Maxwell was all about self-control and propriety. Not to mention kissing in

    public, even a gesture as simple as holding hands was avoided, and he was gentlemanly and aloof

    in private.

    Thinking back on their two-year rtionship, the only close contact they ever had was linking arms,

    and that was it.

    Rosemary was was initially upset that Maxwell had taken advantage of her, but seeing Victoria

    instantly improved her mood. She even reached out, wrapped her arms around the man''s neck, and

    kissed him again!

    Her kiss was not a mere peck; her nimble tongue glided across his tightly closed lips, trying to pry

    them apart.

 Chapter 48

    The scent of a woman invaded Maxwell''s senses. He stiffened, furrowing his brows as he pushed

    the person away, "Keep it ssy, we''re in public."

    Weren''t it he who started the kiss? If it weren''t for ticking off Victoria, no way Rosemary would kiss

    him!

    Rosemary rolled her eyes, "Hypocrite."

    Victoria heard that insult. She thought Maxwell would get angry. After all, it seemed to her that

    Rosemary was pushing his buttons with everything she did, but.

    No, Maxwell didn''t get angry. Instead, with a stern face, he said, "After all, you''re Mrs. Templeton.

    Don''t go around acting like some shrew."

    Rosemary pretended not to hear that.

    Pearl, feeling under the weather and low on energy, had made her rounds and headed upstairs to

    rest. Although she left, the banquet didn''t wind down. Today''s crowd was here for the Templeton

    family, specifically for Maxwell, now in power.

    Not wanting to parade around hand-in-hand with him, Rosemary took her ss and sat down on a

    couch in the rest area.

    Others were there too, and they got up to greet her, "Mrs. Templeton, you look stunning tonight!"

    She nodded in acknowledgment, fully aware they were only praising Mrs. Templeton, not Rosemary

    herself.

    "Mrs. Templeton, are you an art restorer? I''ve got some family heirlooms at home that have seen

    better days. Would you mind taking a look?" The person asking likely didn''t have any real treasures;

    it was just a ploy to ingratiate themselves with Rosemary, thereby getting closer to Maxwell.

    After all, her intimate moment with Mr. Templeton was witnessed by everyone!

    Rosemary didn''t decline the offer to make money, "I only know the basics. I can''t guarantee a

    perfect repair."

    No matter how skilled she was, she wasn''t a magician. Something utterly shattered couldn''t be

    fixed.

    The person nodded eagerly, seeing Rosemary''s approachable attitude andcking the haughtiness

    of a typical aristocraticdy, and thought about befriending her.

    Pearl''s birthday banquet was held at home. Naturally, those who received an invitation were not of

    ordinary status.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    "Mrs. Templeton, you shouldn''t have let it go just now. It''s obvious that woman was trying to pin

    something on someone else. Why else would it be such a coincidence? You should''ve stood your

    ground and let everyone see her hypocritical nature."

    Someone else chimed in, "She definitely coordinated her testimony with someone else during the

    phone call. Some people have no shame these days!"

    Rosemary leaned into the sofa corner, feeling a bit tipsy. She really didn''t want to talk, but the

    people next to her wouldn''t stop yapping.

    To shut them up, nomittally responded with a "Hmm.¡±

    Soon enough, they mmed up. Just when Rosemary thought she might catch a break for some

    peace and quiet, the two stood up abruptly, "Mr. Templeton."

    Few could withstand Maxwell''s presence, especially when he was stone-faced. Seeing his gaze fall

    on Rosemary, the two wisely scurried away.

    Rosemary''s already bad mood turned to outright annoyance at the sight of Maxwell, as if the words

    "I dislike you¡± were written all over her face, "What are you doing here again?"

    The man had been around her more today than in the past year.

    Maxwell''s voice was deep, "If I didn''t show up, how can I know that my mother''s supposedly

    sensible and well-read daughter-inw is so good at gossiping behind people''s backs?"

    Rosemary caught the barb in his words, "What you heard?"

    Her words trailed off as her gaze swept the room. Not spotting Victoria, she got the picture, her

    expression dripping with sarcasm, "What? Is your sweetheart about to jump off a ledge because

    she got her feelings hurt? Is that why you''re in such a hurry toe and defend her?"

    Maxwell''s face turned a shade of thunder, his thin lips pressed tightly, brewing with anger,

    "Rosemary, when did you be so bitter?"

    "Bitter or not, what does it matter? We''re getting divorced anyway. Instead of trying to correct your

    ex-wife''s behavior here, you might want to keep an eye on your sweetheart. If she harms herself, it

    would shock the elders."

    Rosemary just wanted to get rid of him quickly. If not for fear of Pearl overthinking, she would have

    left for her rented apartment long ago. Why endure suffering here?

    Maxwell, seeing she wasn''t giving him not a shred of goodness, and recalling the idle chatter from

    earlier, he emphasized, "The painting incident has nothing to do with Victoria."

    Rosemary raised an eyebrow, "And how do you know that?"

    Maxwell wasn''t one for exnations, but after a few seconds of silence, he patiently said, "Tracy

    just said on the phone, it was her mistake."

    Rosemary scoffed, "Maybe Victoria felt guilty, and Tracy just timed her confession to take the

    me."

    Anything''s possible, after all, the timing of that call was too coincidental.

    "She didn''t."

    The certainty in his tone.

    It was clear his trust in Victoria was something else.

    Rosemary couldn''t identify the sour taste that shed in her heart, watching the man she liked show

    deep affection and trust for another woman. Wouldn''t it upset anyone?

    She closed her eyes, not wanting to hear more, leaning her head against the sofa, "Got it, I''m tired."

    The subtext was clear: Get away quickly!

    Maxwell watched her for a long while, seeing her eyes truly shut as she leaned back on the sofa

    cushion, a wave of nameless anger surged within him, but Rosemary hadn''t done anything

    outrageous, she simply didn''t want to engage with him.

    He suppressed his temper, speaking in a in voice, "Go sleep upstairs, don''t disgrace yourself

    here."

    Rosemary had been waiting for just that. Without a moment''s hesitation, she got up and bolted

    upstairs, moving so fast you''d think she had the wind at her heels.

    Back in her room, she took a quick shower and then went straight to bed.

    She had no idea when the birthday party ended, only that she woke up in the middle of the night

    feeling hot, something scorching pressed against her back, making her whole body ufortable.

    She wanted to struggle, but her arms and legs were pinned down, unable to move.

    Fortunately, that feeling faded away fast. It must have been just a nightmare.

    The next day, Rosemary was awakened by her rm. She was alone in her room with the sheets

    next to her smooth and untouched, showing no signs of anyone else having slept there.

    Maxwell didn''t sleep herest night.

    This realization momentarily stunned her, especially considering how he had wlessly assumed

    the role of the Perfect Husband at the party, only to then avoid returning to their room to sleep.

    It was as if men were masters of the Jekyll and Hyde act!

    She got dressed and stepped out of her room, and just then, the door next door swung open, and

    Martin walked out.

 Chapter 49

    Rosemary did a double-take, checking out Martin in front of her and then ncing over his shoulder

    at the room behind him. She blurted out in surprise, "Howe you are here?"

    Martin cracked a smile and casually exined, "I drank too much with Archerst night and ended

    up staying over here."

    "Oh." Facing Martin, Rosemary was at a loss for words. Maybe it was guilt, or maybe the three

    years had made them strangers to each other.

    She forced a smile and turned to head downstairs.

    "Rosemary." Martin called out to her, handing over a check, "I won''t be needing any money for the

    time being. There''s no rush to pay me back."

    Rosemary looked down and caught sight of the amount on the check ¨C not a penny more or less,

    exactly the three hundred million she''d joked about before. It was all signed and ready to go; she

    could just take it and head to the bank today to transfer the money to Maxwell.

    To be honest, she was tempted.

    Probably anyone would be tempted by such arge amount, especially since she urgently needed

    money.

    Martin saw her staring at the check in silence, unsure if she was feeling embarrassed. He added,

    "Aboutst time, I hope it didn''t cause you any trouble. Sorry, I didn''t know Maxwell was in the car

    too."

    He didn''t mean anything by it, just figured since she wasn''t willing to discuss borrowing money with

    Maxwell, there must be some unspeakable reason behind it.

    Rosemary was momentarily taken aback before she realized he was referring to that incident in the

    Night Club parking lot.

    Recalling that scene, she blushed instantly, feeling the check in front of her was a hot potato she

    couldn''t touch.

    She still remembered Maxwell''s warning: If she dared to take Martin''s money, he''d break her

    fingers!

    Breaking fingers ¨C she wasn''t sure if he would actually do such a violent act, but she knew that if

    she took the money and Maxwell found out where it came from, he would surely not divorce her;

    instead, their entanglement would deepen.

    Rosemary came to her senses and pushed the check back, "I''ve figured out the money issue,

    thanks for your kindness."

    She refused, and Martin didn''t insist, "Alright then."

    The drama wentte into the night, and at this time, Pearl was still resting. Rosemary sat at the

    dining table and nced at the time.

    Wendy served her a bowl of porridge and brought out a basket of breads, "Isn''t today the weekend?

    Why''s Mrs. Templeton up so early? Do you want to go back to bed after eating? The young master

    specifically instructed this morning not to disturb you, saying you were tiredst night."

    Rosemary almost choked on her porridge, what kind of bullshit was that? Maxwell did it on purpose!

    "It''s alright, Wendy, I have things to doter, so I''ll leave after eating. Let Mom know when she

    wakes up."

    "Sure," Wendy affectionately patted her back, helping her catch her breath, "Take your time eating,

    no rush."

    Rosemary found it hard to exin, ultimately just smiling and nodding, then quickly finished her

    meal and grabbed her bag to make a swift exit.

    After the birthday party, she threw herself into a relentless cycle of work and overtime, asionally

    calling Louis to check on the odds of winning thewsuit.

    She had to be ready for all eventualities; in case Maxwell reneged after getting the money, she

    needed to have a backup n. Who knew how long he intended to stay angry at Victoria?

    Just thinking about it was irritating. Wasn''t Victoria hailed by the media as the most beautiful dancer

    of the millennium?

    They said no man could resist her charm, so howe she''d been back in the country for so long

    and yet, why hadn''t she even managed to settle things with an ex-boyfriend who was sniffing

    around her?

    She was starting to question the credibility of those news!

    While Rosemary was busy, Maxwell was too, with the contract with Quintin about to be signed and

    heaps of groundwork needing attention.

    That evening, having finally dealt with all the urgent paperwork, Maxwell received a call from Archer

    .

    "Where are you?"

    "Pulling an all-nighter at thepany." Maxwell could hear the background music through the

    phone, and it was anything but serious, "Is the Archer Group going bust? Is that why you''re so idle

    every day?"

    Archer didn''t back down, "Then why are you making all that dough, throwing money around like it''s

    going out of style? Are you nning to be buried with it, or are you buying yourself a diamond

    coffin?"

    "I read a news story once, about a husband who was the boss of a bigpany, worked himself to

    death providing for the family, and died young, leaving behind a huge fortune. Six monthster, his

    wife walks down the aisle with his assistant, taking what he had fought for."

    A vein on Maxwell''s forehead twitched, unsure if it was due to excessivete nightstely, but he felt

    a momentary dizziness.

    He pinched the bridge of his nose, cutting Archer off, "Shut up."

    Just then, Christ knocked and entered, "Mr. Templeton, here are the documents you requested."

    He hadn''t finished speaking when he felt a chill run down his spine.

    Looking up, he met Maxwell''s icy and frost-covered gaze.

    Maxwell shifted his gaze away from Christ, lit a cigarette, and leaned back in his office chair

    exhaustively, and said to the person on the line with impatience, "If you have something to say, say

    it. Otherwise, hang up."

    Archer sensed the man''s irritation and, after a moment of thought, asked, "Are you running low on

    moneytely? You''re so irritable."

    Maxwell was in no mood to entertain such nonsense.

    Archer noted his silence, raising an eyebrow, "Did you actually run into some trouble?"

    "No."

    "Then why did your wife go to borrow money from Martin? I thought maybe you needed some

    liquidity."

    Archer had just happened to overhear Rosemary and Martin''s hallway conversation that day ¨C a

    trivial thing he''d forgotten, but now, with Maxwell sounding off, and all the overtime he''d been

    putting in, it suddenly came back to him.

    Maxwell''s hand paused as he smoked, his eyes narrowing, "Borrow money? For how much?"

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    On the other end, Archer sounded resigned, "How would I know? I''m not your wife."

    Maxwell''s gaze narrowed, his usually stern features now bore ayer of shadow, giving his strong

    contours a colder edge.

    It seemed that woman hadn''t taken his words to heart at all, daring to borrow money from Martin!

 Chapter 50

    At night, when Rosemary got the call from Maxwell, she had already finished her nightly routine and

    was ready to hit the sack.

    She had been pulling all-nighters for several days and was finally managing to get to bed early

    tonight, but this call totally messed that up. So she sounded none too pleased, "What''s up with the

    late-night call?"

    "Open the door."

    The man uttered just three words before abruptly ending the call, leaving Rosemary with her retort,

    "Are you out of your mind?¡± lingering unsaid, caught in her throat.

    Pfft, as if she was going to indulge him?

    Rosemary threw her phone away andy down to sleep, not knowing whether Maxwell had

    guessed her thoughts or simply ran out of patience. Just as she closed her eyes, she heard a

    thunderous noise from the security door!

    With a click, it was the neighbor''s door that swung open.

    The person next door was an elderlydy who didn''t seem the friendliest from the few times

    Rosemary had seen her.

    Sure enough, the olddyunched into a tirade the second she opened the door: "What''s with the

    banging in the middle of the night? You think people don''t need sleep? Have you no sense of public

    decency, as a grown man?!"

    Soundproofing in these ordinary apartments was mediocre at best, and with the olddy''s shrill

    voice, Rosemary could hear everything crystal clear from the innermost bedroom.

    She didn''t hear Maxwell speak; probably, this scion of fortune was experiencing such a scenario for

    the first time and was left dumbfounded?

    "Don''t you dare knock again, or I''m calling the cops for disturbance of peace!"

    Maxwell''s voice was calm but convincing: "My wife lives here. She struggles with severe

    depression, mania, and even schizophrenia. When she has an episode, she either wants to kill

    herself or others. Today, I made her mad, and she hasn''t been answering my calls for half an hour."

    He didn''t finish, but the olddy''s mind filled in the nks with a series of grisly scenes, pping

    her thigh, "Oh dear, she''s a lunatic? Well, you better bust the door down and drag her out, or I''ll call

    building management. We can''t have her dying in there."

    Before she could finish, Rosemary swung the door open, her face as dark as the bottom of a pan,

    "Come in."

    That damn Maxwell, now she had to live with the tags of being suicidal and homicidal¡ªhow was

    she supposed to keep staying here?

    The man''s lips curled into a faint smirk as he strolled in, not a hint of guilt on his face for ndering

    her.

    Rosemary frowned, irritation in her voice, "What on earth do you want?"

    The entryway was dark, lit only by the light from the living room. Maxwell''s gazended on her

    slender, well-proportioned fingers, "Don''t you have anything to confess to me?"

    "Do I have anything to confess to you?" Rosemary yawned, her eyes glossy with fatigue¡ªit was

    obvious she was dead tired, "If you have something to say, then say it. Stop speaking in riddles."

    His eyes cooled, and with a contained emotion, he reminded her, "The morning after the birthday

    banquet."

    As he spoke, his hand reached for hers, ignoring her wishes and forcibly seizing her fingers. They

    were beautiful¡ªlong and well-shaped, with a thin callus on the pads of her thumb and index finger.

    Rosemary couldn''t pull her hand back, her brow furrowed in displeasure. She thought back to the

    morning after the banquet...

    Suddenly, she realized it was about the check Martin had given her.

    Maxwell knew?

    At the same time, a vague pain emanated from the fingers the man held.

    Rosemary''s heart tightened, and she instinctively denied it: "I didn''t take his money."

    It wasn''t fear of Maxwell actually breaking her fingers; she feared it wouldplicate their divorce.

    Maxwell''s tone wasden with sarcasm: "Why should I believe you? If you didn''t ask him for it, why

    would he give it to you for no reason?¡±

    "Believe it or not, that''s up to you. And even if I did ask him, it was a loan, and I''ll pay it back."

    The difference between "taking¡± and "borrowing¡± was crucial; the ideas brewing in Maxwell''s head

    were undoubtedly more sordid, and if she didn''t object, he''d probably throw insults about selling

    herself next.

    Maxwell''s gaze settled on her face, dark and brooding.

    Rosemary couldn''t guess what was on his mind, but she felt an unusual and intense unease.

    She stepped back, pulling her hand free, "If I had taken Martin''s money, I''d have thrown it in your

    face and made you file the paperwork with me first thing in the morning."

    That was the strongest exnation she could offer, and she really had been wanting to do just that

    ¡ªif only she had the money.

    Maxwell''s temple twitched, clearly irked by herst remark. He took a deep breath to prevent

    himself from strangling her on the spot.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    "Stay away from Martin."

    Rosemary arched an eyebrow. Was he ordering her around?

    Whether to see Martin or not truly wasn''t her decision; these few times weren''t initiated by her

    wanting to see Martin. It was mere coincidence they always ended up in the same ce, but

    without Maxwell, such coincidences would be greatly reduced.

    "He''s from your circle. If you divorce me swiftly, I''ll bepletely cut off from his circle and won''t

    even have the chance to see him."

    In a ce as big as Greenwood, running into someone frequently wasn''t easy.

    "Heh," Maxwell chuckled darkly, leaning in and effortlessly trapping her between the wall and

    himself, "Setting a trap for me?"

    "I''m stating the facts," Rosemary, ufortable with his proximity, turned her head away with a

    frown, "I''m going to bed. If you have nothing else, then leave."

    His towering presence was intimidating, especially in such close quarters.

    She had a feeling that any second now, Maxwell would just lean in and kiss her.

    Although the thought seemed a bit self-asserting, it wasn''t as if he hadn''t done such things before!

    Maxwell saw her resistance and his expression darkened quickly. Annoyed, he switched topics,

    "About that business deal I mentionedst time, the person in charge from the otherpany has

    come to Greenwood. Come with me, and the three hundred million you owe will be settled."

    Rosemary pulled a cold smile, expressionless, "Do you think I''d still fall for your lies?"

    She had heard his conversation with Archer at the Night Clubst time. Securing this coboration

    was just a matter of a few words for Maxwell.

    With a frown, she tried to push him away, clearly repulsed by his closeness.

    His expression darkened rapidly, and the anger stoked by Martin''s three hundred million surfaced

    again, even more intensely than before.

    He had his long fingers gripped around a woman''s waist, his eyes dark as if sttered with ink,

    "The contract hasn''t been officially signed yet; changes can happen at any time."

    Rosemary rolled her eyes¡ªwhat did matter to her whether there were changes or not?

    Depending on splitting the assets yet being indebted by three billion, she would rather he went

    bankrupt!

    Maxwell squinted, her expression... she''s really pushing her luck!

    "You borrowed money from another man behind my back. I''m not in a good mood right now. I''ll give

    you one minute to agree to my proposal, to soothe my temper."

    Rosemary heard what seemed like the biggest joke ever, to soothe his temper?

    "Maxwell, do you need me to escort you to the neurologist to get your head checked?"

 Chapter 51

    ¡°Fine, but remember, you¡¯re still my wife, soter you¡¯ll join me at the psychiatric hospital.¡±

    Rosemary¡¯s brows knitted together ¨C the nerve of him!

    Though Maxwell¡¯s tone maintained a calm facade, the uneven breaths whispering past her ear told

    another story. It was clear to Rosemary that any further resistance from her end might provoke him

    into a more violent expression of his ire.

    A heavy silence draped over the room.

    Maxwell¡¯s eyes flicked to his watch, counting down the seconds, it seemed.

    Breaking the silence, Rosemary ventured, ¡°Ten million.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the price for mypany.  If this deal you¡¯re roping me into wipes out the three hundred

    million debt, so be it. Otherwise, you owe me ten million for thebor.¡±

    If the deal ultimately falls through, was she setting herself up for a bigger fall?

    No, Rosemary wouldn¡¯t make such a stupid mistake. Already, Maxwell had lost her trust. Every fiber

    of her being screamed that this was a trap!

    This kind of business socializing was a mere matter of hours, nothing more. Her job was simply to

    be present, a mere ornament on his arm.

    Whether it was offsetting the debt or getting ten million as ¡°hardship fees,¡± it was a win.

    Maxwell, with a sardonic snort, retorted, ¡°Ten million? You think you are coated in gold or what?¡±

    Undeterred by his mocking, Rosemary pressed on, ¡°In what capacity will I be going with you?¡±

    ¡°Their side is bringing a spouse, so naturally, you and I will go as a married couple.¡±

    Rosemary shrugged, ¡°There you have it, I have to y the part of a loving wife with you, be

    paraded around by you, probably have to drink, make small talk and cozy up to them ¨C it¡¯s

    exhausting. Besides, remarriage already affects one¡¯s prospects. If word gets out, it¡¯ll be even

    harder to find someone who can handle the pressure of marrying me. So not a penny less than ten

    million. If you don¡¯t agree, I¡¯ll save up the three hundred million myself.¡±

    Maxwell gritted his teeth, each word forced out, ¡°You¡¯re thinking of remarrying?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Rosemary replied nonchntly with a smile, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t think that just because

    you¡¯re a bad apple, I¡¯d lose faith in all men, right? You don¡¯t carry that much weight, ah.¡±

    She cried out in pain as Maxwell, the freak, nearly crushed her waist!

    Seeing her in pain made Maxwellugh, and the strength he applied to her waist lightened

    significantly, ¡°Your mouth sure is only good for crying out in pain.¡±

    Rosemary: ??? What the hell kind of remark is that!

    ¡°The other party¡¯s ne arrives at the airport at nine the day after tomorrow. We¡¯ll go pick them up

    together.¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    This meant he had agreed to her terms.

    Rosemary wasn¡¯t surprised. Compared to a cooperation worth over ten billion, ten million was mere

    peanuts.

    Seeing Maxwell not leaving but instead heading further into the room, she hurriedly pulled him back,

    ¡°We have finished talking. You can leave now.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m exhausted. I¡¯m staying here tonight.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Did he think this was his private retreat, where he could just show up and expect to be served tea

    and have a bed made for him as a matter of course?

    The natural physical difference between men and women was evident at that moment ¨C as even

    standing without exerting force, Maxwell couldn¡¯t be moved by her at all.

    Rosemary pursed her lips, her thoughts quickly shifting, then she rubbed her stomach, ¡°You can

    stay, but I¡¯m hungry now. I haven¡¯t had dinner yet.¡±

    ¡°So?¡± Maxwell raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a mocking smile, ¡°Do you expect me to go

    downstairs and buy you something to eat? Rosemary, are you dreaming to boss me around?¡±

    ¡°How dare I boss you around. I just wanted you to apany me. There¡¯s a snack stall downstairs.

    It¡¯s quite remote, and it¡¯s not safe for a woman to go out alone at midnight around here.¡±

    Maxwell eyed her palm-sized face; if she didn¡¯t eat, she would get even thinner. He snorted coldly,

    ¡°Knowing it isn¡¯t safe and still moving out. You¡¯re asking for trouble, and you deserve it.¡±

    Despite his words, he still opened the door and walked out, casting a nce at Rosemary still in her

    slippers, frowning as he urged, ¡°Hurry up, I¡¯ll give you a minute to change your shoes.¡±

    At this moment, Rosemary held the doorknob, turned towards him with a bright smile. Under

    Maxwell¡¯s warning gaze, she mmed the door shut with a ¡°bang¡°!

    The next second, she locked the door and went to bed!

    Maxwell, kicked out into the cold, wore a sullen expression on his face. Damn it.

    But he let it go, deciding not to stoop to her level. He was a man of great tolerance.

    The day the representative arrived; Rosemary took a day off to apany Maxwell to the airport to

    pick them up.

    After brief introductions, they each got into their cars.

    Soon, Rosemary saw the resort in the distance, her brows furrowed tightly. She finally understood

    why Maxwell had insisted she bring additional clothes, iming he was worried she¡¯d have none to

    change into if she got drunk and vomited. He was such a liar!

    ¡°How long are we staying here?¡±

    ¡°It depends on when the contract is signed.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s signed tonight, can I leave tonight?¡±

    She had only asked for one day off.

    Maxwell gave her a look, both his gaze and expression ice-cold, ¡°Mrs. Templeton, ten million isn¡¯t so

    easily earned. Do your job first, then we can negotiate terms.¡±

    As they spoke, the car carrying the representative pulled into the resort. Mr. and Mrs. Ferber, along

    with two assistants, stepped out.

    Mr. Ferber said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about the natural hot springs at this resort and always wanted to visit,

    but never had the time toe, but today¡¯s the day.¡±

    Mrs. Ferber, holding his arm, despite being well-preserved in her forties, had clear fine lines at her

    eyes and forehead, ¡°Then let¡¯s stay in Greenwood a few more days, take the chance to y here.¡±

    Mr. Ferber unenthusiastically responded, ¡°How old are you, always thinking about ying? Look at

    Mrs. Templeton, she¡¯s clearly a helper for Mr. Templeton.¡±

    Rosemary smiled politely, ¡°I love ying too, it¡¯s just that having grown up in Greenwood, nothing

    here feels new to me. If we were to go to Zion City, I¡¯m sure I¡¯d find everything fascinating. Mr. and

    Mrs. Ferber must be quite busy managing a bigpany. It¡¯s not often you get toe here, so

    you should definitely make the most of it.¡±

    Mr. Ferber¡¯s gaze lingered on Rosemary for a few more seconds before he smiled, ¡°Mrs. Templeton

    has a point. Once the contract is signed, we¡¯ll trouble you for a few more days.¡±

    Rosemary simply smiled. She left the small talk to Maxwell and continued to y her role as a

    decorative figure.

    She didn¡¯t like this Mr. Ferber and couldn¡¯t be bothered to make an effort to converse with him.

    It was now noon, and the group headed straight to the restaurant. The meals at this resort had been

    featured on a culinary show, but since it was so far from the city center, Rosemary had never had

    the chance toe by.

    The restaurant was on the second floor. It was crowded due to lunchtime, but even so, Rosemary¡¯s

    eyes immediately found Martin at a window booth.

    He was talking to someone, his hand holding a cigarette resting on the table, with swirls of smoke

    curling around his fingers.

    He and his group of good-looking and charismatic affluent youths were sitting together, easily the

    center of attention in the entire hall.

    Maxwell¡¯s voice, dripping with sarcasm, dropped down from above her head, ¡°Do you want to go sit

    with him?¡±

    Rosemary gave him a nonchnt look, suspecting Maxwell knew of her history with Martin here.

    Her smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes as she replied, ¡°Yes, you know me too well.¡±

    After saying this, she headed straight towards the window seat, but Maxwell¡¯s face turned cold as

    he yanked her back.

 Chapter 52

    Maxwell¡¯s lips were drawing into a tight line. ¡°Rosemary, you¡¯ve got some gall heading there!¡±

    Rosemary let out a light chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? It¡¯s just sharing a table.¡±

    It seemed to her that Maxwell was practically inviting scorn upon himself; she couldn¡¯t be bothered

    to exin.

    During their exchange, the upants at Martin¡¯s table noticed them. They were all familiar faces,

    and upon ncing over, Martin could tell Maxwell was discussing business, so he chose not to

    intrude.

    Maxwell stared at Rosemary emotionlessly, hismand resonating with a steely undertone, ¡°Hold

    my arm.¡±

    Rosemary, slightly annoyed, suppressed her voice, ¡°It¡¯s just a simple meal, not a banquet.  Is such

    formal arm-holding really necessary?¡±

    This constant disy felt like an orchestrated farce, overly theatrical for her taste.

    Maxwell returned her retort with an indifferent stare. ¡°You¡¯re paid to deal with trouble for me.

    Decisions on what should or shouldn¡¯t be done fall to me, your employer. Do you believe you have

    the right to refuse?¡±

    Alright, money dictated action; who hasn¡¯t encountered a harsh employer!

    With a silent acquiescence, Rosemaryplied, taking his arm. A waiter approached and led them

    to a secluded private room reserved for the dining.

    After they were seated, Mrs. Ferber, intending to be closer with Rosemary, stared at her face

    andplimented, ¡°Mrs. Templeton¡¯s skin is really something¡ªso fair and tender. Even from this

    close, your pores are invisible.¡±

    While her words were ttering, they weren¡¯t lies. Rosemary¡¯s skin was indeed good, fair with that

    healthy glow, and a fine texture, something many women could only dream of.

    Rosemary¡¯s hope of being a mere ornament falling through, and she had to tuck away her phone.

    Summoning her spirit, she responded with a gracious smile, ¡°Mrs. Ferber, you¡¯re too kind with your

    words. It¡¯s really not as extraordinary as you make it seem.¡±

    Seeing Rosemary¡¯s easy-going disposition andck of arrogance¡ªwhich she could well afford as

    Mrs. Templeton, Mrs. Ferber grew even fonder of her.

    ¡°Do you mind sharing how you take care of your skin?¡±

    Rosemary¡¯s routine involved basic skincare in the morning and at night, with maybe a beauty clinic

    visit twice a month. It must be natural, after all, her mother had great skin too.

    But saying that could probably make her sound narcissist, so she shared Ynda¡¯s skincare routine

    with Mrs. Ferber instead.

    As they were having an engaging conversation, a soft ¡°thud¡± abruptly interrupted the moment as an

    empty cup was set before her. She looked up, catching a glimpse of the man¡¯s retreating slender

    fingers.

    Rosemary turned to the culprit, Maxwell. After a brief survey of the table, she grasped his intent and

    leaned in to whisper, ¡°If you want tea, it¡¯s best to request it from the waiter.¡±

    The waiter was standing just outside, where a simple knock on the table would have readily called

    them over.

    Maxwell¡¯s voice was deep, ¡°Then why did I spend ten million to bring you here? I could have easily

    spent three thousand to employ a waiter with a keener eye than yours.¡±

    Leaning closer to Maxwell, she spoke through clenched teeth, ¡°My role in this deal is to be an

    ornamental vase, sitting here to elevate your image.¡±

    T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.

    It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t pour the tea, but she needed to make a stand, lest Maxwell, empowered

    by the ten million, push her boundaries.

    Maxwell said nothing, his eyes intensely scrutinizing the woman, ¡°A vase? You¡¯re selling yourself

    short.¡±

    Not a vase? Was that an indirectpliment to her abilities?

    Even though Maxwell often couldn¡¯t say anything nice, considering hispliment earlier,

    Rosemary thought it wouldn¡¯t hurt to pour water for him.

    Before she could trante her thoughts into action, the man beside her remarked with a tone of

    indifference, ¡°Ready for dinner or bed? skilled at foot massages?¡±

    Rosemary froze. She wasn¡¯t considering which criteria she met; her mind was consumed with the

    singr desire to make Maxwell¡¯s head explode!

    ¡°Making such a fuss over pouring water, if you wanna be ornamental, you might need a few more

    years of training. Want to get paid? The just do your job well. Even a six-year-old gets that; do you

    really need to be taught?¡±

    Despite seething with anger, Rosemary bit her tongue, acutely aware of the business partners

    watching and the potential fallout from a public altercation going viral. For the sake of her

    reputation, she maintained herposure.

    ¡°Maxwell, if you ever go bankrupt, you¡¯d better find a remote forest for your grave, or else your

    ashes will sooner orter be scattered by someone.¡±

    ¡°My ashes are none of your concern. Now, pour the water.¡±

    With visible irritation, Rosemary aggressively tilted the teapot, pouring his water.

    Mr. Ferber took in the scene, particrly Rosemary¡¯s impatience with Maxwell. His eyes flickered

    with thought.

    Rosemary ignored Maxwell for the rest of the meal.  Yet, undeterred and ever unabashed, he

    demanded, ¡°Pass the food.¡±

    She inhaled deeply, silently chanting ¡°three hundred million¡± three times in her mind, as ten million

    no longer enough to calm her.

    She deliberately chose a few dishes Maxwell disliked and served them to him. Catching his eye,

    she offered a feigned, sharine smile in response.

    Meanwhile, Mrs. Ferber watched them enviously. ¡°Rosemary, you and Mr. Templeton seem so

    close.¡±

    Rosemary thought, are you kidding me, Mrs. Ferber?

    Stockholm syndrome is a no-go¡ªit could literally be the death of someone.

    On the other hand, Maxwell and Mr. Ferber were deep in conversation, discussing business,

    policies, and future developments. Rosemary wasn¡¯t paying close attention, but she had to admit,

    despite Mr. Ferber¡¯s unappealing appearance and diforting presence, he was quite

    knowledgeable.

    After sitting idly by for a while, she decided to excuse herself to the restroom.

    Upon returning, she found Mr. Ferber waiting by the door.

    His beer belly seemed to be slightly more rotund post-meal. Having knocked back a few, he was

    stumbling around, and Rosemary thought he was about to keel over at any second.

    Mr. Ferber¡¯s eyes were practically glued to Rosemary. ¡°Mrs. Templeton, what a fortuitous

    encounter.¡±

    Offering a lukewarm smile, Rosemary replied, ¡°Mr. Ferber, you seem preupied, I¡¯ll leave you to

    it.¡±

    However, as she attempted to bypass him, Mr. Ferber blocked her way and, seizing her hand, he

    murmured, ¡°Mrs. Templeton, you have a lovely scent.¡±

 Chapter 53

    Mr. Ferber, whose overweight frame tended to sweat profusely, caused Rosemary to instantly recoil

    when she felt her hand encased in a moist and mmy grip. She yanked her hand back violently

    and stepped back a good few paces, her face so cold it could freeze someone. ¡°Mr. Ferber, please

    maintain a level of decorum.¡±

    Mr. Ferber¡¯s grasp was merely a test. Sure, he had a bit of a crush on Rosemary, but he knew

    better than to offend Maxwell over a woman.

    He quickly reined himself in, apologizing, ¡°Sorry, sorry, I meant nothing by it. I just wanted to know

    what perfume you¡¯re using, so I could buy a bottle for my wife.¡±

    After all, he¡¯d be here for a few days. There will be plenty of opportunities.

    Mr. Ferber, a seasoned yer in the business world and a master of deceit, was convincingly

    sincere, ¡°I tend to get handsy when I¡¯ve had too much drink. It was just a reflex, I¡¯m really sorry for

    stepping out of line with Mrs. Templeton. I will personally apologize to Mr. Templeton shortly.¡±

    Rosemary couldn¡¯t even be bothered with pretenses anymore. She went back to the sink and

    pumped out a ton of soap to wash her hands.

    Mr. Ferber watched from the side, a transient shadow of displeasure darkening his face.

    Noticing Mr. Ferber¡¯s gaze linger, Rosemary offered a tepid exnation, ¡°Apologies, Mr. Ferber. I

    have a bit of a concern with germs and generally prefer to avoid physical contact.¡±

    Mr. Ferber awkwardly rubbed his hands, ¡°No worries, truly, that was my bad.¡± With those words, he

    left in a hurry without even using the restroom.

    Rosemary scrubbed her hands red before finally turning off the faucet. She disliked Mr. Ferber,

    feeling ufortable with her hand having been touched by him.

    Even though his apology seemed heartfelt, something about the way he looked at her was

    unsettling.

    Thinking back on asking Maxwell for a mere ten million as a hardship fee, she felt shortchanged!

    She took a paper towel to dry her hands, guessing Mr. Ferber had probably returned to the foyer.

    Rosemary slowly made her way there, but soon she saw Martin.

    He was on the phone, probably hashing out business stuff, looking all serious with his brows

    furrowed and lips pursed. This was the first time she saw Martin in his work mode.

    ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll handle it when I¡¯m back,¡± he said. Whatever the person on the other end said,

    Martin hung up, not too pleased. He was about to light up a cigarette when he noticed Rosemary.

    He tilted his head slightly in her direction, raising an eyebrow, ¡°Rosemary?¡±

    Martin chucked the unlit cigarette in the nearby trash can ¨C a gesture ingrained from his elite

    upbringing. ¡°Are you here socializing with Maxwell?¡±

    Rosemary walked over, ¡°Yep, and you?¡±

    She and Martin got along well; they would chat upon meeting and given the matter of the loan from

    last time, she couldn¡¯t just ignore him and walk away.

    Three hundred million was not a small amount, and though she didn¡¯t take the money, she

    remembered his goodwill.

    Martin shared, ¡°A friend is celebrating his birthday here. I just came to hang out.¡±

    Rosemary nodded, ready to wrap up the chat. She barely parted her lips to say goodbye when she

    spotted Maxwell not too far off.

    The man looked like he had a cloud over his head, and who knows how long he¡¯d been standing

    there, staring her down like a husband who¡¯d just caught his wife cheating!

    Martin sensed her difort and looked where she was looking, smiling, ¡°Go on, Maxwell¡¯s

    probably worried about you since you¡¯ve been gone so long. He must havee out looking for

    you especially.¡±

    Rosemary scoffed inwardly. Who would believe that?

    She certainly wouldn¡¯t!

    Maxwell couldn¡¯t possibly be worried about her. He was probably afraid she¡¯d meet Martin, worrying

    about being cuckolded, and that¡¯s why he deigned toe looking for her.

    But she couldn¡¯t possibly mention such disharmony to Martin; given their rtionship, it would be

    inappropriate, almost like deliberate flirtation. ¡°Alright, then I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    She approached Maxwell, who sarcastically said, ¡°Not going to chat a bit more? It¡¯s not often you

    meet, and Mr. Ferber has gone back to his room for a rest. Why don¡¯t you go back to Martin¡¯s table

    for a catch-up?¡±

    Maxwell didn¡¯t lower his voice, and they were quite close to where Martin had been. Instinctively,

    Rosemary turned her head to look that way, thankfully relieved Martin had already left.

    ¡°What, can¡¯t bear to part?¡± Maxwell¡¯s voice came from above her, his voice dripping with tant

    scorn and a chilling hostility.

    Rosemary rolled her eyes and headed straight into the dining hall. ¡°Your mind¡¯s always in the

    gutter.¡±

    Thinking of Mr. Ferber, she felt like her freshly washed hands were dirty again. ¡°Indeed. Birds of a

    feather flock together.¡±

    Her business partners he found were just as low!

    Mr. and Mrs. Ferber had already left the dining hall, and Rosemary didn¡¯t stay either. The audience

    had left; there was no point in performing.

    Without looking back, she asked the person trailing her, ¡°Where am I staying?¡±

    ¡°As husband and wife, we naturally share a room.¡±

    She had checked earlier ¨C the resort had no presidential suite, just single and double rooms. But

    whatever the type was, she refused to share a room with Maxwell.

    ¡°No, I¡¯ll stay on my own.¡±

    Maxwell frowned, anger seething within him, an anger that had begun the moment he saw her

    chatting with Martin.

    He worried about her when she was gone for so long, fearing she had run into trouble, and went out

    specially to find her, and yet there she was, happily chatting with her old me in the hallway!

    He couldn¡¯t remember thest time Rosemary had smiled at him like that. Now, she was like a lit

    firecracker every time they met.

    So much for good intentions!

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    He reminded her curtly, ¡°You¡¯re here as Mrs. Templeton.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but who says married couple can¡¯t sleep in separate rooms?¡± Rosemary turned around,

    feigning surprise with wide-open eyes, ¡°Sleeping apart doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯re not a loving couple,

    right?¡±

    As if to prove her point, she took the initiative to link arms with Maxwell, ¡°Experts say that sleeping

    in separate rooms is the key to better sleep quality.¡±

    Maxwell snorted, ¡°Whatever that damn expert says, have him say it in front of me.¡±

    Rosemary didn¡¯t care about what Maxwell thought. She went to the lobby and smoothly checked

    herself into another room.

    However, just as she was about to swipe her key card, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.

 Chapter 54

    Maxwell seized Rosemary¡¯s hand, shouldered open the door she had unlocked, and strutted into

    her room under her murderous re.

    Rosemary frowned. ¡°This is my room. What do you mean by this?¡±

    Maxwell shed a sly grin. ¡°Take a shower and sleep.¡±

    His tone was casual, with a hint of amusement, but she could tell he was baiting her.

    Maxwell was doing this on purpose; he wanted to see her driven mad with rage but powerless to act

    against him.

    Rosemary had booked a room with a king-sized bed, with a sofa by the window but no other resting

    spots.

    Maxwell wouldn¡¯t demean himself by sleeping on the sofa, which meant she¡¯d either have to suck it

    up and share the bed with him or pitifully lie on the sofa, all while watching him loungefortably

    sprawled on therge bed she paid for.

    Rosemary pursed her lips, her tone displeased, ¡°Go back to your own room.¡±

    Though this hot spring hotel didn¡¯t have a presidential suite, it boasted VIP hot spring rooms

    complete with private soaking tubs.

    ¡°We¡¯re husband and wife. Wouldn¡¯t sleeping separately give everyone the wrong idea about our

    rtionship?¡± Maxwell spoke tant lies. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Ferber are deeply in love, and our business

    partners prefer to work with harmonious couples. Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯ve been paid.¡±

    His expression was a vivid billboard of disdain, as if it screamed, ¡°Don¡¯t act all high and mighty

    when you¡¯re selling yourself!¡±

    Moreover, if Mr. and Mrs. Ferber could be described with the words ¡°deeply in love,¡± she might as

    well livestream herself drinking poison. Whether Maxwell was blind or deliberately trying to disgust

    her, he was desecrating the term.

    Rosemary¡¯s eyes and brows smiled withplete fakeness. ¡°Our partners are interested in your

    company¡¯s and your personal prowess, not in how good our rtionship is.¡±

    Maxwell let out a humph and ignored her, heading straight for the bathroom.

    ncing at the closed ss door of the bathroom, Rosemary¡¯s expression darkened slightly. Her

    eyes swept over the bathrobe hanging in the closet. He seemed to have forgotten to change into

    the robe.

    Just as she was about to ignore the bathrobe, the frosted ss door of the bathroom was opened a

    crack, and a man¡¯s hand reached out.

    ¡°Hand me the bathrobe.¡±

    The arm that reached out was covered in tight, powerful muscle, sleek and freshly washed. Droplets

    of water, not yet dried, were trickling down his skin.

    Even so, Rosemary reminded herself not to be swayed by a pretty face. She held the reins now.

    ¡°You think I¡¯ll just hand it over because you say so? Come out and get it yourself.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t about to indulge his princely tantrums. She wasn¡¯t his ¡°personal nanny¡± anymore!

    A chuckle came from the bathroom, ¡°If you want to see me naked, just say it. It¡¯s not like you

    haven¡¯t seen it before.¡±

    Damn it, who¡¯d want to see him.

    In the end, she had no choice but to grab the bathrobe, shut her eyes, push open the bathroom

    door, throw it in for him, and then without turning back, walked straight to the bed andy down on it

    herself.

    She might not have won the battle for the bathroom, but she refused to believe she couldn¡¯t im

    the bed.

    A few minutester, Maxwell emerged from the bathroom in a white bathrobe, its belt tied loosely

    around his waist. With the robe hanging open, the smooth lines of his chest were partially visible.

    His hair was still dripping water, following the sharp contours of his face and disappearing into the

    cor of his robe.

    He looked at Rosemary, who was lying on the bed scrolling through her phone, and frowned. ¡°Get

    off.¡±

    Maxwell was a clean freak, unable to bear getting into bed without bathing and changing, something

    Rosemary was well aware of. She locked her phone, ced it on the nightstand. ¡°I¡¯m tired and want

    to take a nap. Do as you please.¡±

    After speaking, she pulled the covers over herself and rolled a few times on the bed, contentedly

    closing her eyes. ¡°A king-size room for over a thousand bucks, it sure isfy.¡±

    Maxwell¡¯s expression turned cold. He pressed his lips together and after a moment said, ¡°Don¡¯t you

    take a bath before sleeping?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Rosemary answered matter-of-factly. ¡°It¡¯s not hot enough to sweat, and daily showers dry out

    the skin. I usually bathe every three days.¡±

    She lied without batting an eyelid, even flipping her hair spread on the white pillow. ¡°I almost forgot,

    today¡¯s the third day. I¡¯ll bathe tonight when wee back. It¡¯s just a nap now, and we have to go

    outter. Too much hassle.¡±

    Maxwell stared at her; his gaze sharp enough to pin this sloppy woman to where shey!

    Rosemary boldly flipped back the covers, patting the space beside her. ¡°You have social

    engagements this afternoon. Why not make do with a nap first?¡±

    Maxwell withdrew his gaze and, with a stone-cold face, made his way to the sofa by the window.

    He wasn¡¯t used to taking afternoon naps. If he wasn¡¯t being considerate of Mr. Ferber¡¯s travel

    fatigue, he would be discussing the specifics of the cooperation right now.

    Rosemary watched him handle work affairs on the sofa, rolled her eyes without any unkindly,

    fearing she might lose control and show him a rude gesture. But knowing Maxwell¡¯s scoundrel

    tactics, he¡¯d surely have Harvey, his aplice, pin a crime on her and have her locked up for

    days.

    She must endure. Once she secures the cooperation, she could cut ties with this man for good!

    Two hourster, Mr. Ferber was all rested up, and Maxwell took Rosemary to meet up with them.

    This resort, Greenwood¡¯srgest, boasts a golf course, hot spring hotel, indoor and outdoor pools,

    fishing, flower viewing¡ªa full spread of leisure activities over a vast area, guaranteed to upy any

    visitor for days on end without a hint of ennui.

    Mr. Ferber was obviously not into exercise, huffing and puffing after just a few steps, so the group

    headed for thekeside ss greenhouse for afternoon tea.

    The afternoon sun shone through the ss, warm and cozy.

    Rosemary continued to y the ornament, keeping her mouth shut unless spoken to.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Soon after, Mrs. Ferber, under her husband¡¯s menacing gaze, asked, ¡°Rosemary, what perfume are

    you wearing? It smells nice.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Rosemary pulled out a slightly used perfume bottle from her bag. ¡°It¡¯s not a well-

    known brand. I bought it at a small shop. Mrs. Ferber, if you don¡¯t mind, this bottle is yours. If I have

    a chance to go there again, I¡¯ll buy a new one for you.¡±

    She instinctively felt Mrs. Ferber¡¯s bringing up the perfume out of the blue definitely had an ulterior

    motive. She had worn the same perfume that morning, yet no one had asked about it then.

 Chapter 55

    Mrs. Ferber epted it cheerfully. ¡°Thank you! How could I mind you giving this to me?¡±

    She took out a gift box from her bag, which contained a diamond bracelet. It wasn¡¯t exceptionally

    expensive or unique, ¡°This is something I bought while shopping around. It¡¯s not very valuable, just

    a token of my appreciation. Thanks for the perfume you gave me.¡±

    Rosemary definitely couldn¡¯t ept it. The idea of exchanging a diamond bracelet for a second-

    hand perfume, worth merely a fraction of the bracelet¡¯s value, seemed preposterous to her. The

    thought alone filled her with trepidation, fearing she might be overwhelmed by itsvishness!

    ¡°Mrs. Ferber, I can¡¯t ept it. That bottle of perfume only cost me three hundred. I can¡¯t let you take

    such a loss.¡±

    ¡°Rosemary, I¡¯m just trying to make amends for my husband¡¯s behavior earlier today. He was abrupt

    this morning, he loses his sense of propriety after drinking and didn¡¯t mean to offend you.¡±

    Rosemary raised an eyebrow, but Mrs. Ferber had already shoved the gift box into her hands.

    Since it was an apology, Rosemary didn¡¯t push back any further, though part of her wished thedy

    had just cut her a check instead!

    Having epted the gift, she casually responded, ¡°You and Mr. Ferber must be very close.¡±

    Mrs. Ferber cracked a bitter smile. Probably because they had just exchanged gifts, she began to

    open up, ¡°We were married due to familial arrangements and barely saw each other before getting

    married. There were a few options on the table, and I thought he looked honest and upright, but.¡±

    Rosemary could guess the rest from just the first half ¨C another tale as old as time.

    Sure enough, Mrs. Ferber¡¯s story confirmed her guess, ¡°Who knew he was just a wolf in sheep¡¯s

    clothing? The first couple of years were fine, but once the kids came, his true colors showed. Not

    only did he openly keep a mistress, but he also hardly ever came home.¡±

    Rosemary wasn¡¯t close with Mrs. Ferber, and hearing such personal woes didn¡¯t stir any sympathy

    in her, just awkwardness.

    ¡°Fortunately, he¡¯s generous with me. Whatever he spends on his mistresses, he gives me the same.

    Over the years, I¡¯vee to terms with it; we each live our own lives,¡± Mrs. Ferber said with a

    meaningful nce at Maxwell, ¡°I really envy you and Mr. Templeton, having such a good

    rtionship.¡±

    Rosemary fell silent, sensing that this wasn¡¯t genuine envy but more like fishing for information.

    She managed a small smile, ying her part to the hilt, ¡°Well, Maxwell does spoil me rotten.¡±

    Ew, she almost made herself sick with that line!

    After saying that, Rosemary turned and served Maxwell some broli, something he never

    touched.

    Maxwell, in the midst of discussing business with Mr. Ferber, noticed her move, nced at the

    broli, and then at the woman smiling sweetly at him.

    His expression remained unchanged, and he calmly ate the vegetable.

    Rosemary scoffed internally. Keep up the act, you dog of man!

    Mrs. Ferber caught the scene and nced at her husband with a flicker in her eyes.

    Halfway through, Mr. Ferber went to the restroom, and Mrs. Ferber followed.

    Once outside, Mrs. Ferber cut to the chase, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re nning. I¡¯d

    advise against any funny ideas. Mr. and Mrs. Templeton are close. Don¡¯t end up messing up the

    deal.¡±

    Mr. Ferber was irritated, ¡°Messing up the deal? That would be the Ferber family¡¯s concern, not

    yours. What¡¯s it to you?¡±

    He was wealthy and notcking in femalepany, with plenty of women throwing themselves at

    him. Although Rosemary was attractive, he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to offend Maxwell over a woman.

    But there was an irresistible itch. Closing his eyes, he recalled the touch of her smooth skin at noon,

    soft enough to melt in his palm, the mere thought of it sending his blood pumping.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Then, he turned to gaze upon his wife beside him, noting her dull and rough skin, unremarkable

    appearance, and spiritless demeanor, as unchanging and passionless as a pool of still water.

    Mr. Ferber¡¯s tone grew even more displeased, ¡°I told you to test their rtionship, not to tell me

    what to do.¡±

    After a dismissive nce at Mrs. Ferber, he added with disgust, ¡°An old, faded face like that brings

    nothing but bad luck!¡±

    Throughout the afternoon, Rosemary put on a show of devotion with Maxwell, ying the role of a

    model couple to perfection.

    After that, she had to apany Mrs. Ferber to admire the flowers, traipsing around the lush fields

    in high heels for over two hours. It was only after dinner that they finally returned to their respective

    rooms.

    She deliberatelygged behind, using an excuse to avoid sharing an elevator with Mr. Ferber and

    finally catching a breath.

    Leaning against the elevator¡¯s polished mirror-like wall, Rosemary texted Maxwell: Have someone

    send down my luggage.

    By the time she returned to her room, Maxwell had not replied. Had she known he was so

    unreliable, she would have left her luggage at the front desk.

    Her room was a standard double, without private hot spring. After changing into the hotel¡¯s

    disposable slippers, Rosemary nned to go to a rxing bath. She¡¯d walked over twenty thousand

    steps in those heels, and her legs no longer felt like her own.

    There was a clothing store downstairs she had noticed when she arrived. Although it didn¡¯t have

    everything, it met the basics.

    Leaving her room, she expected a nice, undisturbed bath. But in the elevator, she unexpectedly ran

    into Mr. Ferber. Cursing inwardly, she managed to put on a professional smile and greeted, ¡°Mr.

    Ferber, what a coincidence.¡±

    Mr. Ferber first checked the empty hallway behind her, then his gaze returned to her, and briefly

    flickered over her disposable slippers, ¡°Mrs. Templeton, you¡¯re not staying in the same room as Mr.

    Templeton?¡±

    Rosemary lied smoothly, without a change in expression, ¡°I¡¯ve got a friend staying on this floor. I

    came down to chat with her.¡±

    Mr. Ferber looked at her with an inscrutable expression.

    Maxwell¡¯s room was next to his, but he hadn¡¯t seen Rosemary go back with Maxwell, yet here she

    was in slippers.

    Perhaps her rtionship with Maxwell was simr to his own; each ying their own game,

    Rosemary had a room on this floor all to herself.

    It seemed this woman was not as favored by Maxwell as it appeared on the surface.

    ¡°Mrs. Templeton,¡± Mr. Ferber stepped forward, his belly almost pressing against Rosemary¡¯s lower

    back, ¡°are you heading down to soak in the hot spring?¡±

 Chapter 56

    Mr. Ferber was intentionally lowering his voice, probably to imbue it with a deeper, more maic

    quality.

    But Rosemary got frightened, shuddering from head to toe. She chucked her phone right at the

    source of the sound.

    With a ¡°thud,¡± Mr. Ferber let out a muffled groan of pain, his hands covering his face as blood crazily

    streamed from his nose, dripping onto the ground, dripping down to the floor.

    ¡°Mr. Ferber, are you okay?¡± Rosemary fumbled around for tissues in her purse, only to realize she

    didn¡¯t bring it. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I was stalked by a creep when I was young, and I lose control when

    someone gets close to me.¡±

    Mr. Ferber was in so much pain his brain was buzzing, barely able to make out what Rosemary was

    saying. If it weren¡¯t for thest shred of sanity reminding him of her identity and his limited chivalry,

    he would have pped her already!

    The nosebleed kept gushing out, and he suspected his nose might be broken.

    Damn, that was a harsh blow!

    Rosemary said: ¡°Hang in there, Mr. Ferber, I¡¯ll go find a towel.¡±

    Five minutester, when the severe pain in Mr. Ferber¡¯s nose finally eased up, he was about to exit

    the elevator when Rosemary came running back.

    The next second, all he saw was darkness as a towel was immediately covered over his face,

    followed by a hand, gripping his nose tightly like an iron w.

    The pain in his nose, which had just eased, surged again, making his teeth ache!

    He sweated from the pain, unable to utter a word, only able to forcefully scratch at Rosemary¡¯s

    hand.

    ¡°Mr. Ferber, don¡¯t move. You have to press down hard like this to stop the bleeding. See, isn¡¯t the

    bleeding slowing down?¡±

    Mr. Ferber, speechless under the pressure. Damn, the towel had absorbed all the blood. How could

    it still be flowing!

    Rosemary, still pressing down hard on his nose through the towel, said, ¡°When I was a kid and had

    nosebleeds, my mom did this to stop the blood, or else I¡¯d pass out from blood loss.¡±

    Mr. Ferber rolled his eyes from being smothered. The towel Rosemary found was big and thick. He

    had difficulty breathing and felt the world spinning around him.

    He might not die of blood loss but suffocation at the hands of this woman!

    The fear of suffocation snapped him out of his dizziness, pulling Rosemary¡¯s hand down forcefully.

    As the towel fell to the floor, Mr. Ferber was a bloody mess, his nose, mouth, and face smeared with

    blood, his nose red and swollen, making his already unattractive features even more distorted!

    He red furiously at the innocent-faced woman in front of him. ¡°Mrs. Templeton, I don¡¯t know what

    I did to deserve this treatment from you.¡±

    He yed dumb, and Rosemary followed suit, blinking innocently. ¡°What are you talking about, Mr.

    Ferber? Why would I mess with you? Aren¡¯t our families friendly business partners?¡±

    ¡°Stop ying innocent with me. You think I¡¯d believe it was unintentional?¡±

    Rosemary¡¯s voice was gentle but her tone ice cold: ¡°You misunderstood, Mr. Ferber. I didn¡¯t even

    n to pretend, or else with your pea-brain, wouldn¡¯t you have been easily fooled around by now?¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Since the facade was torn, there was no need to save face for him anymore. ¡°You should think

    about how you¡¯ll exin this to Maxwell.¡±

    Panic shed through Mr. Ferber¡¯s eyes, his teeth grinding as he spoke furiously. ¡°You think too

    highly of yourself! Any closer and you think it¡¯s harassment. Women like you throw themselves at

    me every day. Do you really think I have lecherous intentions towards you?¡±

    He kept jabbing the elevator button to open. ¡°I think you¡¯re not just paranoid, but sick. You better

    see a psychiatrist soon, so you can stop being paranoid all the time!¡±

    His confidence came from his observation today... The rtionship between the Templeton pair

    wasn¡¯t good at all. Those intimate gestures were clearly for show. Maybe Maxwell wouldn¡¯t care

    about what happened to her.

    ¡°Mr. Ferber.¡± Rosemary, however, called out to him.

    As Mr. Ferber turned around, he was met with the woman¡¯s radiant smile. Though his head still

    buzzed, his spirit was irresistibly stirred.

    Damn, she¡¯s hot. If he didn¡¯t get her into bed, he¡¯d regret it for life!

    Her voice soft, almost seductive: ¡°Be smarter next time. Pick a ce without cameras.¡±

    And then she¡¯d take down this perverted scumbag!

    But Mr. Ferber missed her point. A ce without cameras?

    What did she mean? No cameras, did that mean?

    As this thought emerged, Mr. Ferber felt his body heat up, wishing he could ask for more details.

    But then he thought better of it. She was obviously hinting at something!

    As he eyed her curvaceous figure, his malicious thoughts crept back.

    Just then, a cleaningdy rushed out of a nearby office with a walkie-talkie: ¡°Where¡¯s the towel I

    hung on my cart for mopping? Can you help me see if it¡¯s dropped somewhere?¡±

    Mr. Ferber stiffened, then nced at the blood-soaked, foul-smelling rag on the floor.

    The hotel¡¯s hot springs were natural, with various pools, both public and private reservable.

    After picking up some essentials from a department store, Rosemary reserved a private pool.

    It was set in a secluded indoor space with its own shower and changing room. She undressed and

    stepped in, the warm water enveloping her exhausted body, instantly dispelling the leaden

    heaviness from her legs.

    Rosemary applied a face mask, leaning back against the pool¡¯s wall.  The temperature was just

    right, the sound of flowing water and rxing light music by her ears. Her thoughts gradually sank

    into a drowsy haze.

    Just as she was about to drift off, she felt a sudden oppressive force bearing down on her¡ª

    Rosemary abruptly opened her eyes, finding, to her surprise, an intruder in her once solitary little

    pool!

    Startled, she instinctively tried to back away, forgetting she was at the edge. Her heel slipped on the

    slick rim, and she tumbled into the pool, gulping down several mouthfuls of water.

    The space in such a single-person pool was very limited; Maxwell simply reached out and pulled

    her up.

 Chapter 57

    Rosemary was awkwardly wrapped in his arms, her drenched hair dripping water incessantly, and it

    took her a good while to stop coughing. She finally looked up and red at the guy to me, ¡°What

    the heck are you doing here?¡±

    Her eyes were bloodshot from the hot spring water, and her long, curlyshes were dotted with

    droplets, making her look all kinds of pitiful at that moment.

    It made one really want to,

    Maxwell bit his lip, and after a moment, three words popped into his mind¡ªto tease you.

    Rosemary¡¯s eyes hurt, and her throat was sore. She had wanted to soak in the hot spring and chill

    out, but almost got choked to death instead. She was full of resentment and her voice was tinged

    with displeasure, ¡°How did you get in?¡±

    She remembered locking the door.

    Maxwell didn¡¯t say a word, only giving her a dismissive look, clearly mocking her for being naive, but

    he was reserved and didn¡¯t make it too obvious.

    Seeing that he remained silent, Rosemary¡¯s anger intensified, ¡°Why are you being such a creep,

    barging into someone else¡¯s private hot spring pool?¡±

    With the moment ruined, she said those words and turned to walk towards the shore, but after only

    a few steps, the man caught her wrist and pulled her back.

    ¡°Creep?¡±

    Maxwell leaned in close, his cool lips almost touching hers, his calloused hand caressing her skin,

    his voice a bit hoarse. ¡°We¡¯re husband and wife, what¡¯s so creepy about sharing one hot spring?¡±

    Rosemary¡¯s face turned crimson, and she stiffened up in his embrace.

    Their close proximity and scant clothing led to unavoidable touches, letting each other feel each

    other¡¯s reactions.

    Maxwell felt the waist he was holding tense up like a stick. He looked down and saw her pretty

    cheeks flushed with a rosy hue, softened by the steam, looking fresh and tempting, stirring up all

    kinds of wild thoughts.

    His gaze darkened, as if shrouded in shadow, fixed on her plump lips. He closed his eyes, his

    Adam¡¯s apple bobbing, and it took him a while to suppress the urge rising inside him.

    Rosemary didn¡¯t provoke him further at such a moment. After all, anyone who could remain

    composed under such circumstances was either a gentleman or had something wrong with their

    body.

    Clearly, Maxwell was neither.

    She quickly got back to the initial topic, frowning, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Taking a bath.¡±

    That damn liar!

    Rosemary cursed inwardly and bluntly called out Maxwell¡¯sme lie, ¡°You have your own private hot

    spring in your room.¡±

    The corners of his mouth curled up in an amused smile, ¡°I prefer the public ones, they¡¯re livelier.¡±

    ¡°Well, go next door then. It¡¯s full of people there, as lively as you want.¡±

    Rosemary seized the moment to push Maxwell away and walked over to the edge, wrapping herself

    tightly in a towel from the rack before pulling herself out of the water.

    She went to the changing room to get dressed, while Maxwell¡¯s gaze lingered on her until she was

    completely out of sight behind the changing room door. Then he leaned back and clicked his

    tongue.

    Dressed and out of the changing room, Rosemary didn¡¯t greet Maxwell; she just left with a cold

    face.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    When she got back to her floor, she saw Christ waiting at her door from a distance.

    ¡°Ms. Chambers, Mr. Templeton asked me to bring down your luggage.¡±

    ¡°Thanks.¡±

    Rosemary took the handle of the suitcase from Christ, ignored his hesitation to speak further, and

    entered her room with the keycard.

    The next morning, not even seven o¡¯clock, she was awakened by persistent knocking at the door.

    She was tempted to ignore it, but the knocker wouldn¡¯t give up, so she got out of bed grumpily and

    went to answer the door with a lot of noise.

    Outside stood Maxwell, looking sharp in a crisp ck shirt and impably ironed suit pants, looking

    immactely put together from head to toe.

    Rosemary propped the door open with no motion to invite him in, her hair a mess and her face

    showing clear signs of sleepiness, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    Maxwell: ¡°Let¡¯s go to breakfast.¡±

    She blinked, wondering if she was still half asleep and hallucinating, ¡°I¡¯ll call room serviceter.¡±

    Then she began to close the door.

    The man nced at her, pushed the door open further, and stormed inside withrge steps, clearly

    displeased, ¡°Mr. Ferber and others will be there too. You have ten minutes to get ready.¡±

    Rosemary understood; he wasn¡¯t inviting her to breakfast out of goodwill but calling her to put on an

    act.

    Though still feeling sleepy and reluctant, the thought of that ten million made her grab her clothes

    and head to the bathroom.

    Ten minutes was a rush, so she just applied some primer without bothering with makeup.

    By the time they got to the restaurant, Mr. and Mrs. Ferber were already there.

    After one night, the bruise on Mr. Ferber¡¯s nose, where Rosemary had hit him with her phone, had

    be more pronounced, swollen, and purple, drawing attention to it instantly.

    Maxwell paused, ¡°Mr. Ferber, what happened?¡±

    Mr. Ferber touched his nose awkwardly, wincing at the pain, ¡°I slipped in the bathroomst night and

    identally hit the bathtub.¡±

    He said it with a bit of gritted teeth. If he hadn¡¯t run into Rosemary in the elevatorst night and

    hadn¡¯t been emboldened by alcohol, he wouldn¡¯t haveid hands on her these days, even if he had

    the intention.

    But because ofst night, he was somewhat guilty and had his assistant specifically check;

    Rosemary and Maxwell were indeed sleeping in separate rooms, not even on the same floor.

    This didn¡¯t look like a normal couple at all!

    There was no media reports about Maxwell being married, and even the rumors had only started a

    while ago, without any solid evidence. So, it was still up in the air whether they were actually

    married.

    This gave Mr. Ferber some confidence, and his gaze on Rosemary was even bolder than the day

    before.

    Maxwell gave him a look, cryptic in its intent, as if scrutinizing him, ¡°You better be careful, Mr.

    Ferber. That¡¯s a nasty bump. Have you seen a doctor?¡±

    Mr. Ferberughed awkwardly, and the airflow over the injury immediately made him wince in pain,

    ¡°Yes, I have. It¡¯s nothing serious, just needs some time to heal.¡±

    Rosemary watched the show unfold while leisurely having her breakfast. Afterwards, the group

    agreed to go y golf.

    The golf course wasn¡¯t far away, and since they had just eaten breakfast, jumping into anything too

    intense right away wasn¡¯t a good idea. So they decided to walk there as a way to digest their meal.

    Rosemary wasn¡¯t in the mood for socializing, as she was too repulsed by that lewd man to even

    bear talking with him a bit longer!

    She deliberately slowed down her pace and before long, she was trailing behind, maintaining a

    distance that was neither too close forfort nor too far to notice.

    Her gaze was fixed on the scenic trees lining the path, her thoughts drifting, unaware of someone

    approaching beside her.

 Chapter 58

    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Mrs. Ferber¡¯s voice startled her from her thoughts. Rosemary had been a bit lost when

    the sudden sound made her jump. ¡°Are you feeling alright? You look somewhat pale.¡±

    Rosemary, who wasn¡¯t wearing any makeup, didn¡¯t look the least bit unwell.

    It seemed Mrs. Ferber was just trying to strike a conversation since she noticed Rosemary falling

    behind the group.

    The group was close enough to overhear her and halted in their tracks.

    When Rosemary looked up, she met the sleazy gaze with Mr. Ferber¡¯s small eyes. Noticing her

    stare, he gave her a cryptic smirk before promptly reverting back to his amicable and honest

    demeanor he had upon first meeting.

    He transitioned so quick that only she caught it.

    Maxwell frowned, ¡°Not feeling well?¡±

    Her irate appearance when she answered the door in the morning seemed quite energetic.

    Rosemary, preferring to avoid the spotlight, shook her head, ¡°No, it¡¯s just that I¡¯m not used to the

    bed here, didn¡¯t sleep well.¡±

    Maxwell looked at her with distinct disdain as he gged down one of the readily avable resort

    carts, saying neutrally, ¡°Well, that¡¯s enough of that. Let¡¯s take a ride.¡±

    Rosemary nced at the clubhouse only a few hundred meters away, ¡°No need.¡±

    Before her sentence was finished, Maxwell had already stepped in, forcibly grabbing her hand and

    leading her to the cart, ¡°Not used to the bed? You were quite content when you moved out of

    Meadork Retreat. Never mentioned this particr problem before.¡±

    His voice was heavy with sarcasm, clearly doubting her excuse.

    Rosemary responded with a sparkling smile, ¡°Even the mostfortable socks wear out over time.

    You can¡¯t keep something just because you like it forever, or it will be utterly disgusting.¡±

    Maxwell narrowed his eyes, his tone severe and frosty, ¡°Are you implying something about me?¡±

    There was a quiet pause after which Rosemary, changing the subject, remarked, ¡°You know, I just

    realized you have some redeemable qualities.¡±

    Having self-awareness and the acuity to read between the lines. A real brainiac for sure.

    While the two engaged in this verbal duel, Mrs. Ferber had already boarded the cart. She couldn¡¯t

    resist expressing her envy seeing Rosemary with Maxwell, ¡°Rosemary, you and Mr. Templeton

    seem quite close.¡±

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Mr. Ferber¡¯s gaze faltered somewhat.

    All Rosemary could offer was an awkwardugh, not knowing what else to say, especially with

    Maxwell¡¯s grip on her hand¡ªmaking them look like a model couple to onlookers.

    At the golf course, she immediately wore sunsses andfortably lounged in a chair to catch up

    on sleep, her erratic sleep schedule due to continuous night outs over the past few months

    combined with the evident struggle in adjusting to new ces has been keeping her up. Last night,

    she had a restless night until 3 am.

    ¡°Ms. Chambers,¡± Mr. Ferber¡¯s voice, deliberately lowered, oozing sleaze, ¡°You and Mr. Templeton

    aren¡¯t truly married, right? How much does he pay you to stay? I¡¯m willing to pay twice.¡±

    Rosemary turned her head to find Maxwell and Mrs. Ferber absent. She then removed her

    sunsses and tossed out a number nonchntly, ¡°Three hundred million.¡±

    Her marriage to Maxwell had been a secret, and though they revealed it at Pearl¡¯s birthday party a

    few days back, no reporters were around, so only the guests knew her true identity.

    It was not surprising that Mr. Ferber, residing in Zion City, was oblivious.

    Initially, Mr. Ferber was charmed by Rosemary¡¯s beauty, but her ¡°three hundred million¡± response

    left him agape, ¡°Three hundred million? Are you still not fully awaking from your dream? Even the

    most beautiful dancer I have doesn¡¯t charge that much. She¡¯s been training in dance from a young

    age, do you think you canpete with her?¡±

    Only a madman would speed three hundred million on a woman. He didn¡¯t even invest that much on

    his own wife.

    ¡°The most beautiful dancer?¡± Rosemary looked at him with a hint of surprise, ¡°Victoria?¡±

    Victoria was the only person known to her who was recognized as ¡°the most beautiful dancer¡± by

    media and public.

    Mr. Ferber arrogantly nodded, as if boasting, ¡°Exactly, her. Who else would fit the title?¡±

    ¡°Heh,¡± Rosemary scoffed sarcastically, ¡°You¡¯re really something.¡±

    With that, she dismissed him and looked away.

    She could tell if Maxwell came to know of Mr. Ferber bragging about Victoria, Mr. Ferber would face

    serious consequences. However, she wasn¡¯t gracious enough to warn him about it. It would be best

    if he boasted about it in front of Maxwell.

    When two dogs fight over a bone, a third runs away with it!

    Rosemary first found the golf course noises irritating, but she eventually gave in and dozed off.

    In her sleep, she felt a gentle nudge and a faint voice calling her name.

    Rosey?

    In a semi-sleepy state, Rosemary¡¯s eyes fluttered open to find a wlessly handsome face. Startled,

    her thoughts snapped back instantly, and she almost jumped out of her chair.

    Maxwell¡¯s face was stern with a fierce glint in his eyes. Seeing her sit up, he maintained his

    composure, ¡°Now that you¡¯re awake, let¡¯s go. What are you, a pig? Sleeping wherever you wish,

    aren¡¯t you afraid of being taken advantage of?¡±

    With his hand carelessly in his pocket, he sauntered off without waiting for Rosemary.

    She closed her eyes, rubbed her face, and leisurely got up from the chair.

    Well, it must have been a dream. How could that jerk Maxwell calling her ¡°Rosey¡±?

    After regaining herposure and following the group, Mr. and Mrs. Ferber were already changed

    and waiting outside. They had lunch nearby, and the afternoon was spent exploring the vast and

    scenic resort, treating the rare break from their busy schedules as a mini vacation.

    Dinner was at the restaurant, and it was only then that Rosemary found out the deal had been

    signed. Entertaining thoughts of leaving by tomorrow at thetest, she was overjoyed, so she stuck

    around for a few extra rounds of drinks with Mrs. Ferber.

    The fruit wine was sweet and velvety, not too strong, but had a surprising kick to it after a while.

    Mrs. Ferber affectionately held Rosemary¡¯s hand: ¡°Rosemary, I feel a strong connection to you, you

    know? It¡¯s a pity our stay has been this brief. We really haven¡¯t had the chance to really chat. When

    you and Mr. Templetone to Zion City, I¡¯ll make sure to give you a grand wee and show you

    around.¡±

    Feigning enthusiasm, Rosemary replied with a "Sure!" but, in reality, she had no intention of

    epting. Not only was she not that close with Mrs. Ferber, but even if they were besties, she didn¡¯t

    have the slightest desire to mingle with Maxwell again.

    After the meal, Mr. Ferber suggested going to the club upstairs. Rosemary, pretending to be drunk,

    mentioned she had to go back to her room to get some rest, and insisted they enjoy without her.

    The club and the hotel had separate elevators, and Rosemary apologetically said: ¡°I¡¯m really sorry,

    my alcohol tolerance seems off. I have to excuse myself, Mr. and Mrs. Feber. Enjoy the club, it has

    an acimed reputation in Greenwood for its world-ss service. It¡¯s definitely worth experiencing.¡±

    Maxwell shot her an icy re.

    Rosemary didn¡¯t pay any heed to his behavior; he¡¯d been wearing a poker face the entire night, as

    though everyone around had borrowed money from him.

    Frowning as if feeling unwell, she said, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Ferber, enjoy yourselves. I¡¯ll get back to my

    room.¡±

    Upon turning away, Maxwell snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her right back into his arms,

    ¡°I¡¯ll skip the club, my wife isn¡¯t feeling well. I¡¯ll apany her back to rest.¡±

    He then turned to Chris, who practically faded into the background these past two days, and

    ordered, ¡°Take good care of Mr. and Mrs. Ferber.¡±

    Once they were by themselves, Rosemary''s dramatized drunken demeanor abruptly dispersed. She

    pushed away from him despite the act she was putting on moments ago.

    ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine, and I don¡¯t need an escort. Return to your own room.¡±

    ¡°Not drunk? Great,¡± Maxwell said, his face clouded with displeasure, as he pulled her toward the

    direction of the room, ¡°I just so happen to have something to ask you.¡±

 Chapter 59

    What was meant to be an embrace felt more like being dragged along. Rosemary, already having

    consumed several drinks, felt her world starting to spin this time.

    The contract had been signed, her mission fulfilled. They were now on separate paths. She

    considered herself to be of good temperament; had she been a hothead, she could never have

    endured three years with Maxwell, a man she now thought of disdainfully.

    But even the best of temperaments could not withstand such senseless antics. ¡°Our cooperation is

    ended. Answering queries now would be just unpaid overtime, and I¡¯m not in the mood for that.¡±

    She shrugged off his grip, ¡°Keep your questions to yourself.¡±

    Rosemary then turned towards the fire exit, her room was located on the sixth floor, the restaurant

    on the second. She preferred to haul herself up four floors of stairs than tolerate another moment

    alone with him.

    Maxwell watched her retreating figure, an icy smirk settled on his lips. Just as she was about to

    cross his path, he lunged for her arm again, drawing her back towards him.

    ¡°Ding.¡±

    The elevator doors slid open simultaneously, and Maxwell, without faltering, secured his arm around

    Rosemary, staring intense daggers at the individual standing inside the elevator.

    Martin, witnessing the unmistakably charged atmosphere outside, was surprised, a rare expression

    from someone usuallyposed. He had known Maxwell for years and this was merely the second

    time he¡¯d seen such suppressed emotions darken his face - the brooding ambiance was palpable.

    And thest time.

    That memory alone caused a phantom pain to manifest in his wrist, a remnant ache from a past

    dislocation.

    But Martin quickly regained hisposure, nodding at them, ¡°Maxwell, Rosemary.¡±

    Rosemary acknowledged him with a smile and stepped inside, deciding not to avoid any further

    confrontation with Maxwell. She didn¡¯t want outsiders to witness their deeply troubled marriage.

    Moreover, this was the same friend who once cautioned her against marrying Maxwell. Reflecting

    on her past denials now felt like self-inflicted insults ¨C a sting, apanied by humiliation!

    After pressing the button for the sixth floor, she retreated to the corner, putting some distance from

    Maxwell.

    With the contract signed and the three hundred million debt no longer burdening her, all she needed

    was half a day to visit the governmental office to im her divorce certificate, and then she could

    entirely sever ties with him.

    Maxwell¡¯s forbidding eyes were fixed on her unabashedly, his expressionless face etched with a

    chilling hostility, ¡°You said earlier, the service of this club is world-ss?¡±

    The elevator was now filled with a quiet, awkward atmosphere as his voice shattered the silence!

    ¡°The esteemed Mrs. Templeton seems quite knowledgeable. Have you experienced its amenities

    yourself?¡±

    Such a conversation was utterly awkward. with a third party present. Rosemary didn¡¯t dare to look

    at Martin¡¯s face. . The services that made a club world-ss weren''t usually of the respectable

    variety.

    And indeed, this club was famous¡ªshe had heard Ynda raving about it.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Maxwell¡¯s words were calcted and pointed, grinding away at her already frayed nerves, ¡°What

    style did you look for?¡±

    Rosemary had intended to y dead, but at his words, she couldn¡¯t hold back and retorted,

    ¡°Definitely not your style, for certain.¡±

    Martin discreetly coughed, trying to suppress his awkwardness or maybe a chuckle. When

    Rosemary nced his way, it was a mere reflex without any personal feeling, but to Maxwell, whose

    mind was seemingly filled with unclean thoughts, it clearly meant something else.

    From his grim and malevolent expression, Rosemary could almost hear his next words: If Martin¡¯s

    style appeals more to your taste, do you need me to request the manager for a few more in that

    style?

    The thought was maddening!

    As Rosemary pondered how to shut him up, the elevator reached the sixth floor, and the doors

    opened with a ¡°ding.¡±

    She hastened out without a moment¡¯s dy, almost sprinting in her rush¡ªgrateful that Maxwell

    didn¡¯t follow.

    Once safely in her room, she inserted the room card into the power switch, tossed her bag and

    phone on the entrance console table and headed straight for the bathroom to freshen up.

    By the time she finished her bath and skincare, an hour had passed.

    She sat on the bed, rubbing on body lotion while video-chatting with Ynda. Her tone light and

    cheerful, ¡°The contract¡¯s been signed.¡±

    ¡°So you are free from the three hundred million debt?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rosemary¡¯s face beamed with rxation as she exhaled a sigh of relief, ¡°I¡¯m finally released

    from the relentlesste nights and overwork. I feared I¡¯d copse before I clearing that debt, even

    ending up buying my own grave.¡±

    ¡°When are you returning?¡± Ynda sounded more jubnt than her, ¡°I¡¯ll book a hotel now and

    arrange a big celebration to mark your escape from that swamp named Maxwell!¡±

    Rosemaryughed, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit too extravagant?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m actually toning it down. If I weren¡¯t running low on fundstely, I¡¯d rent an entire hotel for a

    grand soiree and invite all the eligible bachelors I know, just to have you pick from.¡±

    ¡°Your selection of eligible bachelors? Kevin, Bob, Jeff?¡±

    A burst ofughter echoed from both ends of the call. In the midst of their jovial exchange, the

    sound of the door lock reading a card came from outside, followed by the ¡°click¡± sound of the lock

    core unlocking after a sessful verification.

    Someone wasing in.

    Rosemary¡¯s mood abruptly dampened, ¡°I better hang up now, seems like Maxwell asked the staff for

    a keycard.¡±

    She grumbled while putting on her shoes, ¡°Can you believe how petty he is? A grown man, and he''s

    still picking a fight with me thiste.¡±

    Definitely because Martin was there. Maxwell didn''t want to make a scene in front of him. Men and

    their egos and now, here hees again.

    It was just a banter, was it really worth holding onto so stubbornly?

    Rosemary, in her pajamas, walked towards the door, but before she could reach it, someone

    pushed the door open from the outside.

    However, the person who entered wasn¡¯t Maxwell.

 Chapter 60

    Upon seeing who it was, her face fell, ¡°Mr. Ferber.¡±

    Mr. Ferber, flushed and staggering, was clearly intoxicated. He leered at her with a crude grin, ¡°Ms.

    Chambers.¡±

    Rosemary¡¯s gaze fell onto the keycard he held tightly, ¡°You better exin how you got a keycard to

    my room.¡±

    Though she didn¡¯t really need an exnation; it was evidently a money-grubbing employee who

    had handled it to him. Her question was just to confirm his intentions for being there.

    His gaze seemed to pin on her, ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask me to find a spot without cameras for our meeting?

    I¡¯m just following through on that invite!¡±

    He clumsily made his way in, even brazenly shut the door behind him, and licked his lips as he

    advanced upon Rosemary, ¡°What¡¯s a safer and morefortable ce than a room? I¡¯m starting to

    believe that rumor about Mr. Templeton spending a whopping three hundred million just to keep

    you.¡±

    Even in her old-fashioned nightgown and a face bare of any makeup, Rosemary was undeniably a

    breathtaking sight.

    ¡°I may not be able to give you three hundred million, but I assure you, I¡¯ll treat you better than Mr.

    Templeton ever could, and I¡¯ll be devoted only to you. My eyes would forsake all else.¡±

    He could muster the three hundred million, but he¡¯d be damned if he¡¯d spend that much simply for a

    woman¡¯spany.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Rosemary wanted to pummel his head open to search for brains. Gradually, she edged herself

    backward until she felt the table pressing against her lower back, ¡°If you''re not as young or

    attractive as Maxwell and if you can''t provide me with the funds, why would I think I¡¯d forsake him

    for you?¡±

    Listening to her question, Mr. Ferber believed there was a chance for him and eagerly moved

    closer, ¡°I can offer you Mrs. Ferber¡¯s title. Stay by my side, and as soon as I¡¯m back in Zion City, I¡¯ll

    divorce that old hag.¡±

    Rosemary was silent.

    And in those few seconds of silence, Mr. Ferber had already closed in on her, his heavyset hand

    reaching out.

    She asked, her voice frosty, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of invoking Mr. Templeton¡¯s anger? The cooperation

    you''re not as young or attractive as Maxwell and if you can''t provide me with the funds.¡±

    She hadn¡¯t paid much attention to their business talks, but she understood that Maxwell was the

    dominant.

    ¡°Mr. Templeton¡¯s too preupied to care about you right now; he¡¯s likely shacking up with some

    chick right now. As for our deal, it¡¯s well-sealed already. It¡¯s in the range tens, perhaps even

    hundreds of billions. Even the penalty fee for breaking such a contract would range in billions. Not

    even the legitimate Mrs. Templeton could botch it.¡±

    Backing his im, Mr. Ferber showed a photo on his phone. In it, Maxwell was surrounded by

    scantily d women, one of them leaning in with a drink, her fullness barely enclosed within her

    low-cut outfit. The logo of the nightclub downstairs was visible in the backdrop.

    ¡°Mr. Templeton might be young, affluent, and influential, but he can neither offer you recognition nor

    can he remainmitted to you indefinitely. I can provide all that.¡±

    Bang! The room resonated with Mr. Ferber¡¯s screams like a pig being butchered, followed by the

    sight of him cradling his head as bleeding head, his fingers stained with blood which fell freely onto

    the dark carpet.

    ¡°See why I needed a ce away from surveince cameras? Idiot.¡±

    Rosemary, wielding a tablemp, continued her onught.

    Several powerful blowster, Mr. Ferber finally got the hint. He seized themp base, ¡°You bitch.¡±

    She was insane!

    Men are naturally stronger than women, and even an overweight idiot like Mr. Ferber could pack a

    punch. Caught off guard by Rosemary¡¯s sudden attack, he now held themp she swung at him

    again, his re fixated upon her as if he would rip her apart.

    He violently tugged at her. Rosemary released her hold but was propelled forward due to the

    momentum.

    And that small step was enough for Mr. Ferber needed to catch her.

    ¡°You dead woman, dare to strike me!¡±

    His grip on Rosemary¡¯s wrist was iron-like as a stinging p contacted her face.

    That enraged p, brimming with fury and sheer power, was unlike any of Rosemary¡¯s retaliatory

    blows with themp. A potent metallic taste impregnated her mouth, her head filled with a dizzying

    sensation, and her ears rang so deafeningly that it induced nausea.

    Before he could stake again, Rosemary kicked Mr. Ferber right in the lower abdomen.

    The man turned pale from the pain, momentarily forgetting his pursuit of Rosemary.

    She sprinted for the door, relying purely on instinct to aim for the elevator. She had left her phone

    behind in the room, so her only option was to run to the lobby¡¯s front desk and get the staff to call

    the police.

    Mr. Ferber¡¯s thunderous footsteps and curses resonated behind her. She quickly nced back.

    His bloody visage was homing in on her, the gap between them closing fast.

    Rosemary pushed herself to run faster, but as she turned back, a sudden blur caught the edge of

    her vision. She was too slow to avoid it, and abruptly collided with someone.

    The collision caused her senses to reel into disarray, and she was unable to make out the person¡¯s

    face.

    Dizziness, an overwhelming urge to vomit.

    Rosemary felt the stranger¡¯s hands support her shoulders, propping up her weak frame with mere

    arm strength. A voice reached her ears, but it was lost amid the humming in her ears, rendering it

    impossible to determine the gender of the speaker.

    Given the sturdy grip, it had to be a man.

    Gradually, rity returned, overpowering the buzzing in her ears, ¡°Rosemary.¡±

    The voice sounded faintly recognizable, but she figured she must have been hit too hard to

    recognize it immediately. The face of the person came into view, and after a few seconds, she

    realized, ¡°Martin.¡±

    Martin¡¯s worry lines furrowed deeper as he eyed the reddened imprint on her cheek, then he shifted

    his gaze to the man barreling towards them.

    ¡°What¡¯s going down?¡±

    Before Rosemary could articte a response, Mr. Ferber was already on her, reaching out to

    violently yank her hair. But his hand was caught in a vice grip by Martin!

    Within a fraction of a moment, Mr. Ferber felt like his hand might break!

    He growled menacingly, ¡°Let go, she¡¯s my girlfriend, and I suggest you steer clear, or you¡¯ll cross a

    line you may regret!¡±

    ¡°Did you cause the injuries on her face?¡±

    Martin didn¡¯t know this so-called Mr. Ferber, assumed him to be another vacationer in the resort;

    after all, why else would anyone of importancepromise on such modest amodations?

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s just see who gets thestugh today.¡±

    Martin threw back a chilly chuckle while turning the pressure up on his grip. He might appear

    easygoing, but he was far from amodating. Born with the proverbial silver spoon and raised in

    prosperity, his aura didn¡¯t y second fiddle to anyone.

    Right then, the elevator doors behind them opened with a ¡°ding,¡± and Mr. Ferber, facing the

    elevator, went visibly pale at recognizing the man stepping out.

    ¡°Mr. Templeton.¡±

 Chapter 61

    Maxwell, with Christ in tow, strolled over to their side. A nce at his inscrutable expression

    revealed neither happiness nor anger.

    Halting in front of Rosemary, he extended his hand to cup her chin, and his intense gaze studying

    her face, marked by the evidence of a harsh p. Her face was swollen, her lip was cut and

    smeared in blood.

    Maxwell nced over at Mr. Ferber, who was too consumed with guilt to meet his gaze. Maxwell

    broke into a smile, and, with a voice as cool as a river oozing out of his throat, said, ¡°Mr. Ferber,

    you¡¯ve assaulted my woman. How do you intend to address this?¡±

    Was this a proposition to negotiate?

    Mr. Ferber¡¯s heart, which was thudding dangerously against his throat, found its way back to its

    spot. He grinned and said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you an additional twenty percent on the profits.¡±

    Upon studying Maxwell¡¯s face and finding no discernible reaction, he reluctantly aded after gritting

    his teeth, ¡°Thirty percent, I¡¯ll sacrifice thirty percent of the profits.¡±

    This was a significant loss¡ªthose thirty percent were equivalent to much more than three hundred

    million dors This loss was killing him!

    Maxwell ordered Christ, ¡°Fetch the contract.¡±

    At his words, Rosemary felt her heart sink.

    Although she never held him in high regard, hearing him exploit the situation still sent a shiver down

    her spine and left her feeling disappointed.

    She noticed Mr. Ferber¡¯s smirk¡ªan expression replete with disdain and devoid of any remorse.

    Was Rosemary let him escape the consequences that easily?

    ¡°Maxwell, Mr. Ferber was bragging that keeping your sweetheart Victoria,¡± she said. ¡°Given

    Victoria¡¯s cold and aloof nature, I bet she was coerced.¡±

    Since when did Victoria be Mr. Templeton¡¯s sweetheart?

    Before Mr. Ferber could wrap his heads around it, Maxwell delivered a kick that knocked him to the

    ground!

    Maxwell was no weakling; that kick sent the rotund man flying several feet in the air, probably

    striking his gut. The sudden attack made Mr. Ferber nauseous, vomiting on spot mixed with gushes

    of blood.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Maxwell ambled over, his shiny shoes barely making a sound on the plush carpet.

    But Mr. Ferber was trembling uncontrobly, kneeling in the mess, pleading for mercy!

    ¡°Mr. Templeton, it¡¯s a misunderstanding. I¡¯ve neverid a finger on Ms. Temple, I¡¯ve only glimpsed

    her from afar at a party. Had I known about your rtionship with her, I wouldn¡¯t have the audacity

    to joke about her, regardless of how ten times more courageous I would''ve been.¡±

    Moving closer, Maxwell took a final step, crushing Mr. Ferber¡¯s fingers that were pressed against the

    carpet in his path.

    The sharp pain made Mr. Ferber feel as though his fingers were about to break. Cold sweat

    broke on his forehead as he gasped, ¡°Maxwell, we¡¯ve just signed a deal, we¡¯re supposed to work

    together long-term. Why let a mere misunderstanding damage our partnership? And I really haven¡¯t

    touched Ms. Temple!¡±

    At that moment, Christ strode in with the contract, ¡°Mr. Templeton, the contract.¡±

    Maxwell peered down at the man kneeling before him, disying a mock smile, ¡°Partnership, you

    say?¡±

    Then, with a rip, the thick stack of contract papers was torn in half.

    Mr. Ferber couldn¡¯t believe his eyes as Maxwell casually tore apart a contract worth billions!

    In that instant, it felt as though the world had copsed. Hispany had strived several months to

    secure this deal!

    Enraged, he blurted out, ¡°Maxwell, you¡¯re viting the contract, you¡¯ll have to bear the penalty!¡±

    ¡°Penalty? I can afford it. Dare you ask for it?¡± Maxwell sneered. ¡°Our partnership ends here. The

    Templeton Group will abstain from all dealings with any firm that maintains ties with you. No

    company that associates with us will engage with any of yours.¡±

    This wasn¡¯t just about mary loss; this was a death sentence!

    With Maxwell¡¯s statement, who would dare risk offending the Templeton Group to associate with his

    firm?

    ¡°Mr. Templeton, I recognize my error. Please forgive me. We can renegotiate the shares; you can

    have any percentage you wish, consider it aspensation to Ms. Temple.¡±

    As he pleaded, he repeatedly pped his own face, ¡°It¡¯s my fault for speaking without thinking,

    please disregard my words as nothing more than tant lies and forgive my audacity. Henceforth,

    I¡¯ll mobilize my entire firm to support Ms. Temple¡¯s performances!¡±

    Maxwell¡¯s countenance morphed into an icy mask. He stood up, inclined himself slightly, and

    commanded Christ, ¡°Make him eat it.¡±

    Christ gestured toward Mr. Ferber, ¡°Please proceed.¡±

    Seeing him not moving, Christ added, ¡°Mr. Templeton has given an order. You¡¯re going to eat that

    contract one way or another. Whether you voluntarily eat it or we forcibly inserted into your belly, the

    choice is yours.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll eat it, I¡¯ll do it right away. Please, plead for mercy on my behalf. I¡¯m merely bragging, I never

    really did anything to Ms. Temple!¡±

    He grabbed the shredded contract and crammed it into his mouth, in such haste that saliva mixed

    with blood dripped down the corners of his mouth.

    Rosemary observed the scene unfolding before her eyes, a myriad of emotions washing over her.

    Never did she anticipate that a mere mention of ¡°Victoria¡± would invoke such a powerful reaction.

    Without verifying the authenticity, Maxwell was readily prepared to forgo billions for her. She thought

    about how she humbled herself for this contract, acting as an ornament for two days and enduring

    her disgust to chat with Mr. Ferber.

    She had bent over backward for a debt, controlled and manipted by Maxwell, while Victoria,

    without having to show her face, merely on a rumor¡ªtrue or false¡ªwas able to make him willingly

    sacrifice hundreds of billions for her.

    The stark contrast made her role as Mrs. Templeton seem utterly worthless!

    No longer Abel to watch, she turned to Martin, ¡°Martin, could you give me a lift back, or maybe lend

    me your car?¡±

    The resort was located in the suburbs; taxis were barely avable. She was unwilling to bother

    Ynda by seeking her help at suchte hours.

    Martin withdrew his gaze from the spectacle, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Noticing their departure, Maxwell swiftly stepped ahead, seizing her wrist in his grip, his voice

    strained, and gaze unwavering from her swollen face, he asserted, ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the hospital for

    that injury on your face.¡±

    Rosemary declined, her tone carefree, ¡°There¡¯s no necessity to trouble yourself, Mr. Templeton.¡±

    She wriggled her hand free from Maxwell¡¯s sp, but how could Maxwell let her walk away with

    Martin like that?

    He stated with a firm resolve, every word emphasized, ¡°I said I¡¯ll take you. There¡¯s no reason for

    involving outsiders in our personal affairs, right? Martin¡¯s here enjoying himself with friends. Do you

    consider it right for him to abandon his friends to take you home? Besides, he¡¯s not obliged to.¡±

    Martin frowned slightly, ¡°It¡¯s just a two-hour drive to Greenwood. I can drop her off and head back; it

    won¡¯t hinder my ns.¡±

    Maxwell turned to Martin, his brows gradually knitting together, as if he was holding back, or about

    to spew out his anger at any moment.

 Chapter 62

    ¡°Martin, this is a matter between my wife and me.¡±

    Maxwell¡¯s tone was tense, the message crystal clear¡ªit was not suitable for an outsider like him to

    intervene.

    The situation turned eerily tense, with an almost imperceptible scent of gunpowder in the air,

    mingling with the faint smell of blood, and Mr. Ferber¡¯s intermittent cries of pain. It felt like things

    could explode at any second.

    Yet Martin seemed unconcerned, casually saying, ¡°Maxwell, our emotions tonight aren''t conducive

    to further discussion. Handle your stuff here first, I¡¯ll take Rosemary home.¡±

    His gaze swept down the hallway, and Maxwell caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye¡ªmany

    doors were open all over, the earlier disturbance had rmed other guests, who were now peeking

    from behind their doors, some even sneakily filming with their phones.

    Maxwell, with a cold face, turned his gaze back to Rosemary. She had rushed out in such a hurry

    that she was only wearing her pajamas, conservative but still outlining her alluring curves.

    He took off his jacket and draped it over Rosemary without a word.

    Rosemary frowned, about to refuse, but then she heard the man¡¯s voice, icy to extreme, ¡°Do want to

    parade around like this?¡±

    She had been too caught up in the tension earlier to consider anything else. Now, hearing Maxwell¡¯s

    words, she immediately reacted, her instinct making her duck behind Martin.

    Maxwell¡¯s outstretched hand felt empty, his cool gaze fixed on her.

    But Rosemary didn¡¯t care whether he was angry or not, ¡°Keep your clothes for Victoria. There

    should be spare clothes in Martin¡¯s car.¡±

    Maxwell¡¯s voice grew heavier, ¡°Martin has a penchant for cleanliness. He wouldn¡¯t randomly lend his

    clothes to others.¡±

    Martin raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡­¡±

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Before he could profess ¡°don¡¯t have a penchant for cleanliness,¡± he met Maxwell¡¯s stern look.

    Though no words were exchanged, the message was clear.

    Martin pressed his lips together, amused inwardly¨C was his buddy treating him as a love rival?

    Not wanting Martin to misunderstand, he went along with it, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a clean freak, so just wear it,

    Rosemary. It¡¯s your stuff, after all. Even if you don''t want it, don¡¯t let it benefit others.¡±

    Who knew Martin, the ostensibly refined gentleman, could make such a veiled insult? But she had

    to admit, his words lightened her mood, and she stopped fussing about the clothes.

    Maxwell buttoned up the jacket for her and murmured to Rosemary, ¡°Call me when you get home.¡±

    Rosemary didn¡¯t respond.

    In the elevator, the tension finally eased from her, fatigue washing over her in waves. She slumped

    against the wall and said to Martin, ¡°t would be too much trouble for you to run back and forth. How

    about lending me your car?¡±

    Worried he might be concerned ¨C after all, people usually don''t lend their cars, she added, ¡°I¡¯m a

    very safe driver. I haven¡¯t had an ident or been fined since I got my license.¡±

    Martin chuckled, ¡°What¡¯s next, swear an oath to heaven?¡±

    Rosemary thought, she had never realized Martin could be funny.

    ¡°I promised Maxwell I¡¯d get you home safe. If I now give you the car and let you drive back alone, if

    nothing happens, great, but if there¡¯s an ident, considering how he kicked Mr. Ferber earlier, I

    bet I¡¯d end up doing rounds in the ICU.¡±

    Rosemary nced at him, not sure why he¡¯d think that. Maxwell¡¯s kick wasn¡¯t for her; it was

    because Mr. Ferber had besmirched Victoria¡¯s reputation.

    She smiled wryly, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. Just don¡¯t offend Victoria, or Maxwell might indeed do

    something drastic in a bid for her smile ¨C since scoundrels usually have no bottom line.¡±

    Martin, having witnessed everything, instantly understood her implications mentioning Victoria in the

    conversation.

    ¡°Maybe Maxwell was acting for you?¡±

    Rosemary looked up, her astonished eyes as if to say, ¡°What the heck are you talking about.¡±

    Martin¡¯s lips curved upwards lightly, his eyes warm, ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short; some things are not

    as they appear on the surface.¡±

    Rosemary didn¡¯t want to dwell on this topic, knowing Martin, being Maxwell¡¯s brother, would

    naturally y the peacemaker. She swiftly changed the subject.

    ¡°By the way, howe you were there?¡±

    She remembered Martin lived on the 15th floor.

    ¡°I wasing downstairs for something and took the emergency exit. I happened to hear your

    voice, and thought I¡¯d check it out.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s fortunate. Thank you.¡±

    Afterward, Rosemary was so tired she fell asleep on the way back, eventually awakened by Martin.

    She thanked him, got out of the car and totted into her apartment building. As for letting Maxwell

    knew she was safe, she definitely not.

    Right now, Maxwell, who knows, he might be on the phone with Victoria!

    Two days went by in calm, but Rosemary couldn¡¯t find peace.

    She had expected to receive notice that the three hundred million debt was cleared, yet two days

    had passed without a word from either Maxwell or Harvey.

    So, she took the initiative to call Maxwell.

    ¡°When will you return the promissory note to me?¡±

    There was a pause on the other end, then Rosemary heard him say, ¡°Meeting adjourned.¡±

    She didn¡¯t know he was in a meeting, but whatever.

    After a few seconds, Maxwell¡¯s cold voice emerged again, ¡°The deal didn¡¯t go through, so the

    agreement to offset the three hundred million is void.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?!¡±

    Maxwell didn¡¯t repeat himself, certain she had heard him clearly but was struggling to ept it.

    Rosemary took a full half minute to digest this before realizing¡­ this despicable man intended to

    default!

    ¡°ording to our agreement, signing the contract meant the three hundred million debt was to be

    settled. The contract was signed. Why are you going back on your words?¡±

    Although she had anticipated that things might not go smoothly, which is why she had insisted on

    the extra ten million hardship fee earlier, but she never expected the twist toe from Maxwell¡¯s

    end.

    In contrast to Rosemary¡¯s agitation, Maxwell¡¯s tone was calm, as if stating some sort of fact: ¡°The

    contract fell through because of you, and you¡¯ve got to take the responsibility.¡±

    ¡°Fuck you!¡± Rosemary exploded in anger, ¡°you unterally tore up the contract for Victoria, what has

    it got to do with me? My job was just to apany you and secure the contract,pletion was

    marked by the signature. Whether it was sessful or not afterwards is none of my business!¡±

 Chapter 63

    No one spoke further; both of them were breathing heavily, Rosemary out of sheer frustration.

    Rosemary couldn¡¯t see Maxwell¡¯s expression and didn¡¯t have the bandwidth to guess what he was

    feeling. It took a good half a minute before she managed to calm her turbulent emotions, ¡°The

    contract has been signed; you can¡¯t just back out now.¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    The response came in his calm and collected voice, ¡°A deal¡¯s not done until the follow-up¡¯s in ce.

    Why don¡¯t you check with Mr. Ferber, see if he¡¯s still keen on working with the Templeton Group?¡±

    Mr. Ferber would obviously agree; for him, thepany¡¯s future was more important than his face.

    But after what he¡¯d done to Rosemary, how could she possibly go ask him!

    Anger surged in Rosemary¡¯s chest again, ¡°Maxwell, have you no shame!¡±

    Maxwell, likely unused to such direct insults, replied with a chilling voice, ¡°Rosemary, where are

    your manners?¡±

    The woman retorted sharply with a coldugh, ¡°Might as well have been eaten by you.¡±

    Calling him a dog was an insult to the poor pups!

    After a few seconds of silence, Maxwell¡¯s voice seemed to be restraining something, ¡°Send your

    ount details to Christ. He¡¯ll transfer you ten million hardship fees, and I¡¯ll add an extra five million

    on the top of that aspensation.¡±

    Rosemary clenched her teeth, knowing full well Maxwell wouldn¡¯t budge on the three hundred

    million, ¡°I don¡¯t want the extra five million. First, go through the divorce proceedings with me. I¡¯ll pay

    back the three hundred million in installments.¡±

    ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re in any position to negotiate with me?¡±

    Rosemary¡¯s throat tightened, hit again by that same line¡ªthere was clearly no room for negotiation!

    Since there was no room for negotiation, she didn¡¯t want to waste another word on him and hung up

    the phone.

    She closed her eyes, tallying up her current finances, growing more agitated with each thought,

    wishing she could drive over and punch Maxwell to death.

    How could there be such an annoying and shameless man in the world?

    All his money must havee from swindling and deceit!

    Rosemary blocked all of Maxwell¡¯s contact details and calmed herself in the restroom for over ten

    minutes. Only when her emotions had eased did she open the door and walk out.

    She hadn¡¯t gone far when she ran into Hans, who was hurting over, seemingly looking for someone.

    His gaze swept around until he saw Rosemary and let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Rose, I¡¯ve been looking

    everywhere for you. The filming at the program team is almost done. The spotlight is now on you

    and me.¡±

    The artifact restoration show that Oswald had mentioned before - Rosemary had eventually agreed

    to participate, but on the condition that she wouldn¡¯t show her face. Yet, it was too good of a

    publicity opportunity for the studio to miss, so they decided to have Hans join her in the restoration

    segment, letting him be the face of the studio.

    ¡°Sorry, I just went to the restroom. Let¡¯s get going.¡±

    They entered the restoration room, and Rosemary¡¯s workstation was all set up with the artifact for

    this session - a vase with moderate damage. They nned to film over several sessions andter

    edited the footage together into a single video.

    The director came over to brief them, ¡°Just focus on the restoration work as you normally would.

    There¡¯s no need to pose specifically for the camera.¡±

    Rosemary nodded, ¡°Sure, thanks, Director Madden.¡±

    Director Madden¡¯s gaze lingered on the woman¡¯s face, unable to hide his regret, ¡°Rose, are you

    sure you don¡¯t want to show your face? This is a great opportunity. With your beauty, you might

    attract film and TV offers.¡±

    He began to sell her the dream. A young and beautiful girl like her could be a ratings ma. What

    a waste to just show her hands!

    Rosemary smiled politely, ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m an introvert by nature and don¡¯t really fit in with other

    circles. Just filming my hands is fine. Participating in this show is merely to raise awareness about

    our industry. Whether or not I show my face doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    Though Director Madden was disappointed, he didn¡¯t push further. He nodded and returned to his

    camera, ¡°Ready everyone. Let¡¯s start!¡±

    Filming a documentary is different from shooting a drama. There¡¯s no need for acting or a script;

    Rosemary just has to do her thing, and how to shoot and edit was the director¡¯s concern.

    She and Hans were working on the same piece of porcin but had different tasks. Since

    Rosemary didn¡¯t want her face on camera, they were mostly filmed separately, rarely together in the

    same shot.

    Midway through, she handed something to Hans, who was intently focused on his task. He

    identally grabbed her hand without looking.

    He paused for a moment, then quickly let go, ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s OK.¡± Since they were filming, Rosemary kept her voice very low.

    The filming went smoothly, and after Director Madden recorded an interview with Oswald. After

    everything was over, Oswald saw the crew out and invited them for a meal, but Rosemary didn¡¯t

    participate in any of these activities.

    Hans nced at Rosemary, who had seemed distracted since the shoot ended, and asked, ¡°Rose,

    you seem down. Did something happen?¡±

    Rosemary concealed the worries in her eyes; she and Hans weren¡¯t close enough for personal

    chats, ¡°No, just a bit tired.¡±

    ¡°Then don¡¯t overwork yourself,¡± Hans advised. ¡°We have so many artifacts in storage, we couldn¡¯t

    finish restoring them all even if we had eight hands each. When you can ck off a bit, take the

    chance.¡±

    Rosemary simply smiled but didn¡¯t continue the conversation.

    At that moment, Christ¡¯s call came through. The mere sight of his name made Rosemary think of

    Maxwell, and she answered the phone with a trace of annoyance, ¡°What is it?¡±

    Christ, unaware of what had happened, was taken aback by her aggressive tone, and paused for a

    few seconds before speaking, ¡°Ms. Chambers, could you send me your bank ount? Mr.

    Templeton asked me to transfer yourpensation for this engagement.¡±

    So, it was about the money. Rosemary provided an ount number. The three hundred million was

    a lost cause, but she was definitely going to take thepensation. She wasn¡¯t about to let Maxwell

    get off that easy!

    Over the next few days, Rosemary and Hans were all caught up in fixing that vase. The program

    team came twice more for additional shots. Unlike a drama series that requiresplex post-

    production, the documentary was broadcasted on an online tform within a week.

    That day, Christ came out of the president¡¯s office, heaving a big sigh.

    He had been having a tough timetely because he hadn¡¯t thoroughly investigated Rosemary¡¯s

    position at Heritage Revive Studio and had reported incorrect information to Mr. Templeton.

    Recently, every time Mr. Templeton nced his way, well, let¡¯s just say he looked at him like he was

    a total screw-up.

    No, he had to try hard to keep his job!

    Heading to the break room, Christ happened to overhear two secretaries whispering and giggling

    with their phones out.

    ¡°I can''t believe I''m fan-girling over a pair of hands!¡±

    ¡°But what if they belong to some ugly creature or a middle-aged auntie? You can¡¯t ship a pair of

    hands without seeing the face!¡±

    ¡°No way, with the dude¡¯s good looks, anyone who pairs up with him and has such gorgeous hands,

    the person definitely can''t be ugly.¡±

    They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn¡¯t notice Christ entering.

    Christ¡¯s gaze casually swept over the phone screen, and just as the camera zoomed in, he caught

    sight of a pair of slender hands.

    He paused momentarily, feeling a sense of familiarity with those hands. He couldn¡¯t help but ask,

    ¡°What show is this?¡±

 Chapter 64

    The folks who were heatedly gossiping got the fright of their lives when this voice popped up out of

    the blue. Spinning around on reflex, they quickly hid their phone behind them and muttered,

    "Christ."

    Although Christ wasn''t a scary dude, he''s Mr. Templeton''s right-hand man, which meant he''s Mr.

    Templeton''s eyes and ears. And it''smon knowledge that Mr. Templeton isn''t a fan of gossip in

    the office, even during breaks.

    "Christ, how about we just go to the finance department and take care of the fine ourselves? Could

    you turn a blind eye? It was an ident; I just clicked and peeked for a sec."

    Christ frowned, sticking to his guns, "What was that show called? Answer my question and save the

    rest of the chatter."

    The secretary rolled her eyes and called him a big lummox inwardly before she replied, "That

    Masterpiece Stuff."

    The documentary was all about the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, with the first episode

    featuring a restorer of cultural relics.

    But what piqued Christ''s interest in the show wasn''t the content; it was the person who remained

    faceless throughout the episode. The show only filmed their hands, leaving viewers to guess their

    gender based on their clothing and hand size.

    Having only nced briefly at the show earlier, Christ felt a sense of familiarity with those hands.

    And now, he was certain, those hands belonged to Ms. Chambers!

    Armed with his tablet, he knocked on the door to the boss'' office.

    "Mr. Templeton, Ms. Chambers is on TV!"

    Maxwell''s brows knitted together; his first thought was that his rtionship with Rosemary had been

    leaked to the media. Although reporters weren''t invited to Pearl''s birthday party, it can still be leaked

    by someone on site as there were so many people around back then; walls have ears, after all.

    "Just have the PR department handle it. No need to bother me with such trifles."

    Christ swallowed hard and bravely passed the tablet to his boss, "Mr. Templeton, you might want to

    see this."

    If it were just a typical exnation of artifact restoration, that''d be one thing. But there was a clip of

    two hands sping together, and for whatever reason, this generation ofizens loves to ship

    even the most bizarre couples. What was clearly a simple mistake sparked a myriad of wild

    fantasies.

    Now, there wereizens who had snipped this particr clip and posted it on a video-sharing

    website.

    The show wasn''t a smash hit, but this handshake video was catching fire, with the potential to trend.

    Thements section was a mix of a fewpliments on the guy''s looks, but mostly, people were

    begging the woman to show her face.

    You''ve got to hand it to the director¡ªthey knew how to hook viewers'' curiosity. A documentary

    about professions was shot like a romance drama, with one character''s face shown and the other''s

    hidden, which was driving people nuts.

    This was the clip Christ showed to Maxwell.

    The man watched the video coldly; there was the idental touch of hands and the quick

    separation. And the woman''s distorted and deep voice of saying "no problem" echoed in his ears.

    The emotion in his eyes was tumultuous; something was churning inside him, but he kept a tight lid

    on it.

    Maxwell had a good memory; he recognized the man in the video instantly, he was the one who had

    sat next to Rosemary at the food stall.

    Maxwell looked up, his prating gaze falling lightly on Christ, "You recognized Rosemary just

    from a pair of hands?"

    Christ''s heart skipped a beat, sensing something off in his boss'' tone, but he was clueless as to

    what he''d done to upset the unpredictable man.

    He answered honestly, "Ms. Chambers has a mole on the back of her hand."

    It wasn''t a particrly distinctive feature, but not many people shared the same mark on the same

    spot.

    Maxwell''s gaze returned to the tablet, which repeatedly yed the clip of hands being sped

    together.

    Then he said in a low voice, "You can go now."

    Christ hesitated, unable to gauge his boss'' mood, but he left the tablet and quickly exited the the

    office pervaded by increasingly suffocating atmosphere.

    Maxwell paused the video with a stoic look, and his eyes darkened at the sight of that slender, fair

    hand being touched by another man; even if it was brief, he found it irritating.

    He dialed Rosemary''s number from his call history; they hadn''t been in touch since theirst

    argument, almost half a month ago.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    "Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavable."

    Maxwell was speechless.

    Ten minutester, he tried again, still no answer.

    The man scoffed; he donned his coat and left the office. Walking past Christ''s desk, he suddenly

    found himself driven by an inexplicable urge, and he snatched Christ''s phone to call Rosemary.

    After a brief silence, the busy tone came through the earpiece.

    So, she had actually blocked him!

    His expression turned even colder. Without waiting for the call to connect, Maxwell hung up.

    Heritage Revive Studio.

    Rosemary was about to wash her hands and take the call, but it ended before she could pick up.

    She nced at the caller ID and didn''t bother to call back.

    If Christ was looking for her, it meant Maxwell was, and it was never good news.

    She returned to her work, and the phone rang again¡ªthis time it was Ynda.

    She didn''t need to guess why her best friend was calling; she''d seen the video too. With the added

    fan-made filters, it did seem to have a certain romantic tension.

    Stepping out into the hallway and answering the call, she was immediately greeted by her friend''s

    excited voice: "Rosemary, you move fast! Already got a new guy, and this Hans is quite a looker,

    huh?"

    "Zip it with the fantasies, okay? All thosements online are fake. Hans and I are just colleagues,

    nothing more."

    "But for now, just colleagues, right? Give it a little effort, and who knows? Hans is a big deal in the

    circles, a professor-level expert in artifact appraisal, thanks to his dad. His mom used to be a

    university professor before starting herpany; they''re rolling in dough now. His grandparents on

    both sides are all academics."

    Rosemary said nothing.

    Seeing Rosemary unfazed, Ynda felt frustrated as hell and continued, "Sure, he might not be

    rolling in dough or have some high-flying social status like Maxwell, but the guyes from a family

    of schrs and his character is top-notch. If you guys hit it off, he''ll be a rocket booster for your

    career! You''ve got the home-court advantage since you''re working on the same show. Seize the

    moment, girl! Why not invite him out for dinner and drinks? With your looks, smarts, and talent,

    you''ll have him wrapped around your finger in no time."

    Rosemary couldn''t help but chuckle. "Given how your love life''s been going, maybe you should

    keep those pearls of wisdom to yourself."

    "That''s all just a bunch of misunderstandings. Alright, I''ve got to run. But seriously, don''t let this

    chance slip through your fingers, decent guys are rare these days!"

    With that, Ynda hung up in a hurry, and Rosemary stood in the hallway for a moment before

    heading back to her workspace.

    Except for Hans, the ce was deserted.

    Rosemary blinked in surprise, "Where is everyone?"

    "They''ve gone to grab a bite," Hans said, gliding over on his chair with his phone in hand and

    scrolling through some apps. "What do you feel like eating tonight? I''ll order us some takeout."

    Rosemary shook her head, "No, I''ll eat something after I finish up here."

    The studio had been swampedtely with a rush order to restore a batch of ceramics. A trust fund

    baby was throwing a vase exhibition, all the ticket proceeds of which were to help kids in

    impoverished mountain areas get an education. Time was tight, and everyone was working

    overtime.

    "You don''t know howte we''ll be here. Have something to pad your stomach now; you''ll be too

    wiped to bother once you get home."

    As Hans said this, Rosemary actually started to feel a bit peckish, "Alright then."

    She walked over to join him in picking out some food. As Rosemary drew closer, a gentle and

    soothing fragrance wafted towards him, nothing like the overpowering scent of generic perfumes¡ªit

    was more like a subtle hint of shower gel.

    Hans tilted his head slightly, admiring her profile. Her skin was fair, herplexion smooth, and he

    could see the soft fuzz on her cheeks.

    Just then, with a "click," the door to the workspace was twisted open from the outside.

    Standing at the entrance with a poker face, Maxwell coolly observed the two who were standing a

    bit too close forfort.

 Chapter 65

    Maxwell barged in with a bit of a ruckus, causing Rosemary and Hans to look up at the same time.

    The guy was so tall that he blocked most of the daylight at the doorway; his sharp and handsome

    features were hard and cold, and his gaze at Rosemary could freeze one solid!

    Rosemary was totally taken aback; she stood up and, with her brows furrowed, asked, "What are

    you doing here?"

    Her impatient tone, along with her unmasked expression, was a sight to behold.

    Hans let out a sigh without changing his expression. In that moment, his heartbeat had gone

    haywire, and even now he could still catch the faint, delicate scent of the woman that somehow

    made his heart yearn for more.

    He was embarrassed, fearing that someone might hear his erratic heartbeat, and he swallowed

    awkwardly.

    Maxwell, looked at Hans and immediately knew what was exactly going through his mind, as he had

    run the Templeton Group for years and had seen all sorts of people. With a smirk tugged at his lips,

    he sneered, "Didn''t want me toe?"

    Rosemary picked up on the barb in his words. She thought the guy was nuts, and not just a little¡ªa

    pro at getting on herst nerve!

    But as the colleagues were to return from lunch soon, she thought it wasn''t going to fly with him

    standing there like a door god. "I''ve got to workte, and I''ll call you when I''m done."

    In less polite terms: Buzz off, you''re not wee here!

    But Maxwell just strode over to her, grabbed her hand, and dragged her out without a second

    thought to the fact that she was a woman, in heels no less.

    Rosemary stumbled and nearly fell, protesting, "Let go."

    Hans snapped back to reality and coldly grabbed Maxwell''s hand¡ªnot too hard, but enough to stop

    him in his tracks. "Sir, Rose isn''t willing to go with you; please let her go."

    "Rose?" Maxwell heard Hans call her that for the second time; the first time was at a street stall

    when the guy had the audacity to knock on his car window.

    Maxwell turned to Rosemary, "Seems like the lessonst time wasn''t enough; you still haven''t

    learned to keep your distance from other men."

    At those words, both Rosemary and Hans were reminded ofst time in the car, when Maxwell had

    her pinned down for a kiss.

    Hans frowned, and said in an icy voice, "Keep your hands off her or I''m calling security!"

    "Go ahead, make the call," Maxwell stepped closer, exuding a cocky confidence.

    In terms of physique or height, Hans, the delicate schr type, couldn''t hold a candle to Maxwell

    and was utterly outssed in presence.

    But facing the domineering Maxwell, Hans didn''t back down a bit; he confronted Maxwell with no

    sign of fear in his eyes. "No matter what your rtionship is with her, this is a studio, not a ce for

    personal matters. If she doesn''t want to talk and you drag her away, that''s kidnapping."

    "Kidnapping?" There was nothing but contemptuous coldness in the man''s brow.

    Rosemary, seeing Maxwell like this, feared he mightsh out at any second!

    He had a notoriously short fuse, and until now, no one had been foolish enough to provoke him like

    this.

    Hans wouldn''tst two punches against him.

    She quickly intervened, "Let''s talk outside."

    As Maxwell saw Rosemary''s worried and agitated face, his expression darkened further. He huffed

    and stalked off with long strides.

    Rosemary nced apologetically at Hans and followed Maxwell out.

    To avoid being seen by colleagues, Rosemary hurried ahead until they reached the parking lot and

    spotted Maxwell''s car instantly.

    As soon as she got in the car, before she could speak, Maxwell cut her off: "Quit your job. That guy

    has ulterior motives for you."

    Rosemary''s eyes widened with anger, "Maxwell, do you think everyone''s as sleazy as you? He was

    just ordering takeout with me. Which eye of yours saw him having ulterior motives?"

    Silence fell in the car.

    His face as cold as ice, Maxwell pressed, "He''s not sleazy for touching your hand?"

    "That was an ident," Rosemary huffed, then she turned to him with a mocking smile, "An

    idental touch while ordering food is sleazy? Then what you and Victoria did must be downright

    shameless."

    Clearly, that struck a nerve. Rosemary could see his already severe expression turn stormy.

    He leaned in close, and she instinctively leaned back.

    Before she could react, he grabbed the back of her head.

    Rosemary saw something unusual in his eyes as they were inches apart; she did not understand

    what it meant, but with her instinct to avoid harm kicking in, she tried to leave the car in desperation.

    Maxwell straightened her up and got right in her face, "Quit. If you don''t quit, I''ll deal with that guy. If

    ites to me stepping in, it won''t be pretty."

    He softened his voice, not to soothe, but to threaten, "I have a hundred ways to make him avoid you

    for life."

    Rosemary bit her lip, and remained silent.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Just as Maxwell thought she was giving in, she suddenly looked up, with her eyes zing and her

    whole being bristling with spikes, "If you touch him, I''ll go after Victoria! I don''t have a hundred

    ways, but I can ruin everything she has right now! If you''re not afraid of me going after her daily and

    making a scene, then go ahead and use your methods on Hans!"

    Gritting her teeth with fury, she wished she could rip Maxwell apart.

    His face was equally grim, "Rosemary, can''t you understand in English? I''ve told you, there''s

    nothing between me and Victoria like what you''re thinking."

    But Rosemary just scoffed, "Does that have anything to do with me? From now on, if Hans has a

    hard time, so will Victoria. Let''s see who has the upper hand!"

    After dropping her bombshell, she pushed him away forcefully, ignoring his icy look, got out of the

    car, and left without looking back.

    Maxwell was left alone in the car, seething with rage and close to smashing the steering wheel!

 Chapter 66

    The next day was Saturday; Rosemary had no work, so she slept in until eleven before she hit up

    Ynda for some grub.

    Last night, Maxwell got her so riled up that she almost burst a blood vessel, and today she''s still

    feeling all kinds of choked up. It just goes to show that staying clear of douchebags is the secret to

    a long life!

    They decided to go for some cuisine at a spot owned by one of Ynda¡¯s clients ¨C she wanted to

    show some support.

    Standing at the grand entrance of the restaurant, Ynda clutched her wallet and grumbled, ¡°This is

    gonna cost me an arm and a leg. Their food costs an absolute bomb. If it wasn¡¯t for showing my

    face, I¡¯d give this ce a wide berth from fifty meters out.¡±

    Rosemary chuckled lightly, "Otherwise, how¡¯s he gonna splurge on antiques?"

    "That¡¯s true," Ynda agreed, linking arms with her. "Come on, let¡¯s strut in and show off my

    ¡®money''s no object¡¯ moment."

    The restaurant boasted a 360-degree panoramic ss design, offering a clear view from the

    outside. They were about to walk in when Rosemary stopped dead in her tracks; her eyebrows

    knitted together tightly as she saw someone sitting at a window seat.

    Ynda¡¯s expression soured too, and her voice dripped with disdain, "When did she get back in

    town?"

    Rosemary shook her head, clueless.

    The person at the seat was none other than her half-sister, Stacey Chambers. After her mother died

    in a car ident, her father remarried in a heartbeat, bringing in a stepmom with a daughter two

    years younger than Rosemary.

    Ynda made a face like she''d just tasted something foul, "Let''s go. Hopefully, she won¡¯te over

    to make an unwanted scene."

    She deliberately chose a spot far from Stacey, but someone just had no shame nor ability to read

    the room. They had barely ordered when the woman approached, feigning surprise, "Rosemary, is

    that really you?"

    Rosemary couldn¡¯t be bothered to engage. There was never any sisterly love between them, and

    things had gotten downright nasty three years ago, almost to the point of no return. Now, seeing her

    only brought on a wave of disgust.

    With a fiery temper, Ynda couldn¡¯t stand Stacey''s scheming and social-climbing ways. Without

    mincing words, she shot back, "Don¡¯te over here trying to y the family card. Even if you¡¯ve

    got a thick skin, you should at least have the decency to notice that you¡¯re not wee."

    "ying the family card?" Stacey looked down on Rosemary with a scoff, "Her entire wardrobe isn¡¯t

    worth as much as my coat. Why would I need to climb up to her?"

    Since her fallout with Maxwell, Rosemary hardly ever splurged on luxury brands. There was no

    need, and it wasn¡¯t practical for work. But Stacey always had a thing for the high life, even dressing

    to the nines for a trip to the farmers market. Back when the Chambers were flying high, Stacey

    owned a bag collection that took up two whole walls.

    When they went bankrupt, and creditors were hounding them, Stacey refused to part with her

    treasures to pay off debts. Eventually, things got so bad that their deadbeat dad whisked them

    abroad, leaving Rosemary alone to deal with the aggressive creditors.

    Now, seeing Stacey decked out in luxury, Rosemary had aplex emotion welling up in her. It

    wasn''t jealousy, just a reflection on their starkly different circumstances. As daughters of the

    Chambers family, she had to sacrifice her marriage to pay off debts while Stacey lived carefree

    under their father''s wing.

    Rosemary¡¯s gaze finallynded on the employee badge that Stacey wore ¨C Vice President of Ster

    Group.

    So she was not only back in the country but also sitting pretty as thepany''s second in

    command.

    Ynda stared at Stacey with a contemptuous look, as if she was viewing a pile of stinking trash,

    "Of course you don¡¯t need to climb up to anyone when you¡¯ve got a shameless, vile father who ran

    his ownpany into the ground and then took out loans in his own daughter¡¯s name. So low; it¡¯s a

    wonder he hasn¡¯t been struck by lightning."

    Their loud exchange drew shocked stares from around the restaurant; people started to whisper

    and look their way.

    Stacey, dying of embarrassment, retorted, "Ynda, have you no ss? Making a scene like some

    fishwife in this kind of establishment."

    "You¡¯re talking about ss? Showing off here like a dog in heat? You think I¡¯m gonna let you y

    that game? You think you''re special because you''ve got two dads?"

    Stacey was fuming!

    But with so many eyes on her, she couldn¡¯t just let it go without losing face. Just then, a waiter

    approached, addressing Ynda with due respect, "Miss, this is a fine dining restaurant; please

    keep your voice down."

    "Fine dining? You let a dog disrupt our meal and now you want me to pipe down? We were sitting

    here peacefully before she came over barking at us. Instead of shooing her away, you¡¯re telling me

    to be quiet? Is this how you treat your customers?"

    The waiter, caught off-guard by the scolding, looked helplessly at Stacey, whose face was now the

    color of a beet, "Madam, what do you think we should do?"

    Stacey, with a belly full of rage, snapped, "Who are you calling ''madam''?"

    With that, Stacey threw a final venomous nce at Rosemary and stormed off.

    Ynda snorted coldly, "Don¡¯t let her off the hook. p back every time you see her, and she¡¯ll be

    as meek as a mouse around you in no time."

    She huffed again, "What a piece of work; after living off your blood, how could she still act all high

    and mighty. She must take after your dad, the scumbag!"

    Rosemary couldn¡¯t help butugh, "Sounds like you¡¯re dissing me too."

    She and Stacey had been at each other¡¯s throats since they were kids, but she never came out on

    the losing side. The real losses were always at the hands of their biased, lousy dad.

    Realizing her slip, Yndaughed awkwardly, "My bad, my bad!"

    The charity exhibition was on Friday, showcasing recently unearthed porcin. The organizer was a

    serious fan of pottery, and the venue was set up in Greenwood''s biggest cultural center, with

    separate areas for sales and disy.

    Heritage Revive Studio, tasked with temporarily storing the porcin, had to have someone on-site

    to keep watch.

    With just a handful of people in the studio and the senior members excused, the rest, including

    Rosemary, were drafted for exhibition duty.

    Rosemary was strolling down the hall at a snail''s pace. She had already checked out everything in

    the exhibition area, so she made a beeline for the sales section.

    The sales section was a mixed bag, with a bit of everything from modern calligraphy and paintings,

    to luxury items and jewels. The price tags weren''t exactly peanuts ¨C all these goods were consigned

    by others, and a cool 10 percent of the selling price had to be forked over for charity.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Rosemary was just browsing without much thought when suddenly her steps froze. Her gaze locked

    onto a painting.

    It was a modern piece, with a riot of colors smeared across the background. At first nce, it looked

    all over the ce, yet somehow it had an artistic vibe. If you looked closely, you could spot the

    figure of a girl wearing a red hat and a ck velvet gown, with her back to the viewer, holding a

    rabbit balloon.

    In that moment, ayer of moisture uncontrobly welled up in Rosemary''s eyes.

 Chapter 67

    "Miss, what do you think you''re doing? You can''t just touch the painting if you''re not buying it!" The

    security guard at the area shouted, "Put the painting down now, or I''m treating you as a thief!"

    Rosemary, startled by the bellow that echoed through the floor, came back to her senses and

    realized that, somehow, she had taken the painting off the hook without noticing.

    Bing aware of her gaffe, she quickly reined in her emotions nd said in a hoarse voice, "Sorry, I

    just got carried away. I''ll take the painting, could you please get in touch with the seller for me?"

    The guard called the manager, while he was half believing and half doubting.

    The manager arrived promptly; after learning she wanted to purchase the painting, he contacted the

    provider.

    Learning that the person was also present at the exhibition, the manager said, "Ms. Chambers,

    there''s a buyer who is interested in your painting. Would it be possible for you toe over and

    discuss the price in person?"

    Rosemary frowned, a suspicion forming in her mind. ''Chambers'' might be amon surname, but

    there was only one person with the surname Chambers who could have this painting, Stacey.

    Her fingertips gently touched the balloon in the shape of a rabbit that the girl in the painting was

    holding.

    The painting was the work of her mother, and the little girl in it was her.

    When her mother passed away, she was only eight and couldn''t deal with her mother''s belongings.

    Later, Larry Chambers took Stacey and her mother abroad, and by the time Rosemary got the news

    and rushed back, the Chambers'' mansion had already changed hands and everything inside was

    gone.

    She had called Larry to ask about her mother''s belongings, but he was annoyed and all he had said

    was, "Why keep the stuff of the dead? Isn''t that bad luck?"

    Before long, Rosemary saw Stacey enter the hall.

    The woman was wearing a delicate makeup, dressed in a white knit top and a grey A-line skirt that

    came halfway down her thighs, which vaguely exposed her straight and slender legs.

    This carefully chosen outfit was clearly more than meets the eye.

    She approached and greeted the manager, "She''s the one who wants to buy my painting?"

    The manager nodded, "Yes, you two can discuss the details."

    Stacey crossed her arms and lifted her chin, "Fixed price, fifty million."

    This was clearly an attempt to make things difficult. Fifty million could buy a very famous piece of

    art, and Rosemary''s mother wasn''t a professional artist nor was she known in the art world. Without

    considering other factors, the painting would normally sell for at most a few hundred thousand.

    Rosemary knew it wouldn''t be easy the moment she saw Stacey. Given Stacey''s character, she was

    bound to exploit this opportunity to make things as hard as possible for her.

    Seeing Rosemary silent, Stacey became more brazen, "What, can''t afford it? Ha, even if you¡¯re

    married to Maxwell, you''re still a pauper who can''t cough up fifty million if you can''t win his favor!"

    Back when she learned that Rosemary was going to marry Maxwell, she had suggested to her

    father that she should take Rosemary''s ce, but it hadn''t worked out, and Stacey had held a

    grudge over it ever since.

    Fortunately, since she came back to the country, she had heard plenty about Maxwell and Victoria,

    and one could imagine that Rosemary had been living the life of an abandoned wife these past few

    years!

    Stacey lowered her voice, continuing to provoke her, "Actually, your mom left quite a lot of stuff

    behind, probably because of her profession, lots of valuable items. Dad had moved them elsewhere

    before he dered bankruptcy."

    As she spoke, she lifted her hand, "See this bag I''m carrying? I should thank her, cause I sold just

    one of her pieces and got this bag in exchange."

    "p."

    Before Stacey could finish her sentence, she got a solid p across the face!

    Just the sound of it was enough to tell how hard Rosemary had hit her, and a handprint immediately

    appeared on Stacey''s face.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    A hiss went through the crowd!

    Stacey was so stunned by the p that she couldn''t regain herposure for a long time.

    "Rosemary, you dare hit me?"

    She hadn''t expected Rosemary to resort to such action here. Wasn''t this woman Mrs. Templeton?

    Wasn''t she afraid that such a vulgar act would tarnish the Templeton family''s reputation?

    "Why not? I''m not afraid of losing face!" Rosemary''s icy gaze was piercing as she stepped forward

    and raised her hand.

    Stacey thought she was going to be hit again, so she quickly backed away, covering her head and

    shouting, "Security, this person can''t afford the price and is trying to force a sale, kick her out!"

    Rosemary, however, just scoffed and opened her hand, "I''ll ask you one more time, how much for

    the painting?"

    She didn''t want to give Stacey a dime, but since her mother was legally married to Larry before she

    died, that jerk was entitled to half of the inheritance. If things got too ugly, with the nature of those

    dogs, they''d probably destroy the painting rather than give it to her!

    Knowing that Rosemary was pleading her, Stacey regained her arrogance, "I''m not selling. No

    matter how much you offer, I won''t sell!"

    And in this tense moment, a calm male voice suddenly interjected.

    "Excuse me, could I buy this painting?"

    Both turned their heads to see Martin, dressed casually, emerging from the crowd.

    He had gathered an understanding of the situation from the whispers among the bystanders. He

    didn''t look at Rosemary but instead focused his smiling gaze on Stacey, "May I ask how much

    you''re nning to sell this painting for?"

    You can tell a person''s background by their demeanor, and it''s something you can''t fake. So when

    Stacey saw Martin for the first time, her eyes lit up!

    She was here to find a wealthy husband, and Martin was undoubtedly the best candidate she had

    seen today.

    She tossed her hair to partly hide her swollen cheek, and looked at him with a mix of reproach and

    coquettishness, "This isn''t a professional artist''s work, and the craftsmanship isn''t top-notch. A

    hundred thousand will do."

    Martin nodded and called over the staff to handle the paperwork; after receiving the painting, he

    handed it directly to Rosemary in front of Stacey, "For you."

    Faced with the painting handed to her, Rosemary didn''t y coy, "I''ll transfer the money to you

    later."

    The man smiled, "Sure."

    Stacey was left gaping at the scene unfolding before her, "You two!?"

    Martin might appear gentle on the surface, but he wasn''t someone easy to deal with, and...

    Maxwell and Archer were waiting for him upstairs; he just stumbled upon the situation and lent a

    hand. After dealing with it, he didn''t give Stacey the time of day; instead, he just shot Rosemary a

    quick hello and split.

    Rosemary was about to hit the road too, but Stacey came hustling after her.

    "That guy was Martin, right? Look, Rosemary, hook me up with an intro to him, and I''ll talk my dad

    into giving back the rest of your mom''s stuff!"

    The Chambers family and the Ger family had some business dealings back in the day, but

    Stacey''s circle didn''t ovep with Rosemary''s, so she didn''t know Martin from a bar of soap.

    But not knowing him personally didn''t mean she hadn''t seen him making headlines.

    She floated the offer, pretty sure Rosemary would bite, ''cause it was just a meet and greet, not

    asking her to do anything sketchy.

    But Rosemary just stopped dead in her tracks, her delicate brows and eyes arching with a touch of

    disdainful chill, "He''s out of your league."

    She barely got the words out when she turned to find two dudes standing a few meters away,

    Maxwell and Archer!

    Rosemary''s brows knitted¡ªwhen did they show up?

    Maxwell gave her the cold shoulder, not losing his cool, but his words were pretty biting, "She''s out

    of his league, so who''s in it? You?"

 Chapter 68

    Rosemary figured Maxwell was having one of his episodes again, so she just rolled her eyes and

    kept walking ahead.

    Possessiveness is like a man''s Achilles heel ¨C anything or anyone in their territory is off-limits to

    others, and they certainly don''t take kindly to their possessions eyeing someone else.

    Once she got that straight in her head, Rosemary would remain unfazed even if Maxwell looked like

    he was green with jealousy.

    But she had barely taken a few steps when her arm was yanked.

    The guy was so strong that Rosemary felt like her wrist was about to snap from his grip!

    She hissed in pain, with her brows furrowing deeply, and her voice changed pitch when she said,

    "Let go."

    It was only then that Maxwell seemed to snap back to reality and loosen his grip slightly, but he was

    notpletely letting go.

    His face was still frosty as he said, sparing his words, "Let''s go."

    "I''m working."

    But Maxwell wasn''t having any of it; he just dragged her outside without giving her a chance to

    refuse.

    "Brother-inw! My sister married you, and aren''t you gonna let her splurge a bit?" Stacey''s

    usatory words followed from behind. To an outsider, it might have sounded like a sister was

    helping her take down a scumbag.

    Maxwell paused and nced over his shoulder.

    Stacey was actually a bit scared of him, but to make Rosemary''s life difficult, she plucked up the

    courage to continue, "My sister can''t even cough up a hundred grand for a painting, and has to

    have another man foot the bill ¨C if that''s not treating her poorly, what is?"

    Rosemary shot a cold nce her way, thinking Stacey was just like a cockroach that never goes

    away.

    With his gazending on the painting in her hand, he spoke up indifferently, "Martin paid the bill?"

    It wasn''t rocket science; just piecing together their conversation made it easy to guess.

    "It''s my own purchase," Rosemary didn''t want to drag Martin into this, so she patiently exined,

    "Martin just helped me out. If you don''t believe me."

    Maxwell must have been expecting her to suggest asking someone else, but Rosemary, with a cold

    face, yanked her hand from his grasp, "Then there''s nothing I can do."

    Turning back to the exhibition area, she found her phone rang. She took it out, utterly unaware of

    the man following her, or perhaps she was just ignoring him.

    She was wearing a pair of soft, t shoes today. Maxwell was a good half-head taller than her, so

    with a simple nce down, he saw the caller ID on the screen.

    "One Martin, one Hans, Mrs. Templeton''s private life sure is eventful," Maxwell''s tone was dripping

    with sarcasm, and his anger was palpable. He knew men all too well, that look Hans gave her, it

    screamed of ulterior motives.

    Rosemary got along with Hans just fine at work, but they didn''t mix outside of that, so she figured

    his call must be work-rted.

    She had intended to dodge Maxwell before taking the call, but with him shadowing her every move,

    she lost her patience, "I''m working, stop following me."

    Maxwell snorted, "What, am I interrupting your date with him?"

    Holding back her temper, Rosemary decided to ignore him and answered the call, "Hans, what''s

    up?"

    Before she could finish, her phone was snatched away by a hand reaching over her head.

    Turning around, she saw Maxwell, whose face turned dark as night; he hung up the call and even

    turned off the phone before gripping her hand and marching her outside.

    She frowned, trying to push back, but it was futile; she was still dragged away from the sales area

    by this man.

    Rosemary clenched her teeth and insisted, "I''m still working, I can''t leave."

    "What, the trust fund baby who run the show can''t afford to hire a janitor? Has to call in

    reinforcements?"

    He knew damn well she wasn''t a janitor; he was just ticked off and taking a jab at her.

    As they passed the stairway, Martin wasing down and noticed the clearly tense pair; he said

    with his eyebrows raising, "Didn''t you say you''d wait for me on the second floor?"

    "You were taking forever, so I came down to check."

    In the midst of speaking, he handed Rosemary a nk check.

    Rosemary was stunned. Was this supposed to be some kind of breakup fee for her to fill in any

    amount?

    Maxwell caught on to her thoughts instantly and scoffed, "You think you''re entitled to a breakup fee

    when you owe me billions? How high is your pillow propped at night? Give the money back to

    Martin."

    With a few internal expletives to maintain herposure, Rosemary didn''t ept the check he

    offered, "I can pay him back myself."

    His gaze turned icy as he stared her down, "Seems like you''re rolling in dough then. Guess you

    won''t miss the three billion in interest. I''ll have Harvey."

    As that name was brought up, Rosemary felt her scalp tingled with dread; she snatched the nk

    check from Maxwell''s hand and quickly filled in the numbers, all the while spitefully considering

    adding a few extra zeros to make him bleed a bit!

    But it was just a fleeting thought. No matter how much she filled in, the debt would eventuallynd

    back on her.

    Handing thepleted check to Martin, she said, "Thanks for earlier, Martin."

    Her said it with a soft voice while carrying a gentle smile.

    This demeanor was pr opposite to the hedgehog-like attitude she had towards Maxwell!

    Maxwell stood by, seemingly unruffled, but his eyes were filled with a cold chill.

    Martin didn''t refuse; he took the check and before he could speak, Rosemary was whisked away by

    the man.

    Martin was speechless.

    Outside the venue, the weather was bleak and cold.

    It had been drizzling since the morning, and now the rain wasing down harder.

    Maxwell''s car wasn''t far, but even so, Rosemary''s clothes got soaked through.

    After getting in the car, she couldn''t help but shiver, so she took some tissues to wipe her face, "Spit

    it out, I need to get back to work. Give me my phone back."

    Who knows if Hans had something important to tell her.

    The man narrowed his eyes at her...

    Because of the rain, her face turned pale, and her lips were slightly blue; apparently her impatience

    was even more pronounced.

    He was momentarily lost in thought, recalling her smile towards Martin. It seemed like forever since

    he had seen a smile on her face.

    The woman who once had stars in her eyes at the mere sight of him can''t even be bothered to have

    a proper conversation with him now. She''s either throwing shade at him or itching to draw a line in

    the sand.

    Maxwell pursed his lips, fired up the car, and cranked the AC up to max. But since the engine hadn''t

    warmed up yet, the st was nothing but cold.

    Rosemary shivered like crazy; when she was about to blow her top, Maxwell turned the fan down to

    a whisper and shifted the vents to the other direction.

    After a while, he spoke up, with a deep and distant voice: "If you''re strapped for cash, why not hit

    me up?"N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

 Chapter 69

    Rosemary shot him a look that screamed "are you for real?": "We¡¯re about to get divorced and you

    want me to call my soon-to-be ex to make a show of it? Do I look like I''ve lost my marbles?"

    And let''s be real, a heartless businessman like Maxwell wouldn''t y the human shield for free.

    Even if he did, he''d skin her for it.

    She sure as heck didn''t want to add another dime to that monstrous debt of three billion.

    While they were talking, Maxwell pulled out of the parking spot, with cigarette dangling from his lips.

    He nced at Rosemary with a smirk that was neither here nor there, "So, you¡¯d rather have Martin

    show up than me?"

    Rosemary took a deep breath, knowing that this was the bit he couldn''t get over.

    "Maxwell, our marriage has always been a transaction. You know, we¡¯d better y house when

    we''re together, mind our own business behind closed doors, and split when the contract''s up."

    "So?"

    "So," She shed an impudent smile but it quickly disappeared as if she had just pulled off a face-

    changing act, "Whoever I ask to back me up is none of your beeswax. You didn''t see me stopping

    you when you were off yingpdog."

    Thatst line seemed to hit a nerve. Maxwell''s gaze turned fierce, as if he was ready to tear her

    apart; probably he felt that the crude term pdog'' was beneath his posh and polished image.

    "So, you want to be Martin''spdog, is that why you don''t want Stacey to meet him?"

    When Stacey came up, Rosemary''s response was the same: "She''s not good enough for Martin."

    "Not good enough, or you just can''t bear to part with him?"

    Mid-sentence, the car jerked to a halt.

    Maxwell turned to look at her, with a mocking smile curving his lips. Recalling the past, he shot back

    with a sneer, "If it wasn''t for that watch, and your mistaking me for Martin, would you have ever

    ended up in my bed?"

    This time, Rosemary''s gaze was unflinching as she replied, "Yes."

    Back then, she hardly knew Maxwell; their paths crossed only because of Martin. Given such a

    distant rtionship, she would''ve never approached him for help, much less slept with him!

    And a guy with Maxwell''s stature isn''t someone you can just scheme against and take down easily.

    That night, she''d heard that Martin was at a bar drinking, and she wanted to ask him how he felt

    about the arranged marriage, although they have talked about it that morning. She was too

    impatient to wait.

    Those vicious debt collectors were ready to snatch her up and sell her abroad for cash at any

    moment.

    So Rosemary had the bartender do her a solid by sending over a drink to Martin and leading him to

    the room she had prepared.

    But since it was her first time pulling a stunt like this, she could only muster courage through booze,

    and she ended up getting drunk before Martin even showed up.

    Later, someone helped her, and in her daze, she saw the watch on his wrist ¨C the one Martin always

    wore.

    His watch was one of a kind, custom-made, and that''s how the night unfolded.

    "I clearly rejected you then, why did you still."

    After realizing it was Maxwell, she immediately made it clear she had mistaken him for someone

    else, but he still.

    Had he not forced himself on her, none of what followed would have happened, and she wouldn''t

    have be his wife!

    She red at Maxwell, feeling he was utterly despicable!

    But Maxwell mockingly pressed, "Why did I still what? Sleep with you? Rosemary, you clearly don''t

    get men. A freebie? You don''t turn that down."

    "Maxwell!"

    "Though I had no interest in you then, but they way you lied under me and called out another man''s

    name kindled my desire to conquer."

    With that, he suddenly leaned in and nted a fierce kiss on her lips.

    The kiss was harsh and forceful; his strong hand gripped the back of her head and kept her from

    pulling away, as if he wanted to devour her whole!

    Rosemary hadn''t expected the sudden kiss and was stunned for a few seconds before she began to

    resist.

    His breath was heavy with tobo, making Rosemary want to cough but she was unable to make a

    sound.

    Her struggle only made Maxwell kiss her more savagely. In her panic, she looked into his eyes and

    saw an undisguised lust.

    The small car seemed to be aze, and the heat was enough to make anyone go weak.

    Rosemary, determined, bit down hard!

    "Ouch."

    Maxwell paused, then abruptly let go of her.

    He brushed his wounded lip with the back of his hand; his every move was exuding a devilish

    charm, tinged with a hint of danger.

    A faint trace of blood showed where she had bitten him.

    Across from him, Rosemary was vigorously wiping her lips with a tissue, clearly disgusted by his

    uninvited advance.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    From the start of their marriage till now, there had never been a moment of deep affection, and such

    behavior now seemed utterly ludicrous to Rosemary!

    "Maxwell, you''re clinging to me like a bad rash, what the heck do you want?"

    "A bad rash? Clinging to you?"

    "With the way you''re dragging your feet on the divorce and pestering me even at work, if that''s not

    being a bad rash, what is?"

    "Have you lost your mind or are you just delusional? To even entertain such ridiculous thoughts." He

    snorted disdainfully at her, then he licked his lip, "After all, you''re the wife I bought for three billion.

    Why can''t I get some use out of you?"

    That three billion was just the tip of the iceberg; the Chambers family owed way more than that back

    in the day.

    "If you entered into a transaction, you should show some advantage that others don''t have.

    Otherwise, I feel like I''ve been robbed blind."

    Rosemary knew he was up to no good, just like a dog could ever spit out ivory!

    Sure enough, the next second Maxwell said with ease, "Like, to please me."

    Rosemary was breathless with irritation.

    Her gaze drifted down, finding that he had absolutely no physical reaction while talking like that, she

    figured that either he''s impotent, or she just can''t arouse him. Either way, he''s only saying it to

    humiliate her.

    Rosemary leaned towards thetter, since she had witnessed Maxwell¡¯s capabilities at the old

    mansion; that night left her lower back sore.

    Of course, it''s possible that he had some ''assistance'' that time.

    Now, she enunciated each word with her brows arched, "Pleasing you? I''d rather please a dog. At

    least it''ll wag its tail in gratitude."

    In a sh, you could literally see the temperature drop in Maxwell''s eyes; there was an icy chill in his

    eyes that screamed he wanted to grind her to dust. "So you''re into dogs, huh? Alright then, I''ll get

    you one. Let''s see you make it hum a tune for me, right in front of my face, shall we?"

 Chapter 70

    Rosemary burst into a snarkyugh, "Sure, just remember to pick a mastiff. At least they look tough

    and strong."

    She paused, then added with a hint of sarcasm, "But these days, there are plenty that look the part

    but can''t do the job, and this applies not only to humans but also to animals."

    Maxwell''s temples were throbbing; he pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly annoyed, "Get out."

    Rosemary shrugged, "Give me my phone back."

    The man looked down to see her pale hand outstretched, "Are you missing the phone, or the guy

    who''s been calling you?"

    "Maxwell, would it kill you not to be so snide? You dragged me out of the cultural center without

    even letting me grab my coat. I don''t have a dime on me, and you''re kicking me out of the car.

    What, am I supposed to hoof it from here?"

    The center was a bit far from the city center, and even farther from her apartment.

    Maxwell''s expression softened a bit after her exnation, and he tossed her the phone from his

    coat pocket, "If you just."

    Bite the bullet, and you won''t have to get out of the car.

    But before he could finish his sentence, Rosemary pushed the car door open and left without

    another word. The whole car shuddered when she mmed the door shut.

    As soon as Rosemary stepped out, she got drenched by droplets falling from the leaves; thete

    autumn rain already carried the bone-chilling cold of winter. The wet clothes stuck to her, making

    her shiver uncontrobly.

    Maxwell didn''t leave, nor did he get out of the car. His gaze was fixed on the rear-view mirror, on the

    drenched figure of Rosemary; with his lips in a straight line, he was clearly pissed off.

    It''s tough to hail a cab in the rain, especially in this cold, and Rosemary was hardly dressed for it.

    He was waiting for her toe back and beg him!

    This thought smoothed out the annoyance in his heart a little.

    Meanwhile, Rosemary was on the phone with Hans while trying to g down a ride. The call

    connected quickly, and Hans was just checking in on her since he hadn''t seen her for a while and

    was worried something might have happened.

    "I''m fine, just bumped into an acquaintance. Can you keep an eye on the exhibition for me? I''m

    feeling a bit under the weather and need to rest."

    "Don''t worry about the exhibition, we''ve got security on site," Hans wasn''t suspicious, "The

    weather''s been all over the cetely, and lots of people are catching colds. If you''re really feeling

    that bad, go get a shot at the hospital, and you''ll recover faster."

    "Okay, thanks."

    As soon as she hung up, a taxi with a passenger inside pulled up. It was lucky to share a cab in this

    weather, and she didn''t mind it when she found out they were heading in the same direction. She

    hopped in without looking back at the Bentley she left behind, though she could imagine the sour

    look on the man''s face inside.

    Back home, Rosemary headed straight for the shower.

    Even with the taxi''s heater on, her clothes were still soaked through; the warmth did nothing.

    When she used her keys to open the door, her hands were so cold that she could barely feel them.

    It was only when the hot water hit her that she felt alive again.

    She had initially used feeling unwell as an excuse when she informed Hans, but before long,

    Rosemary realized she was actually running a fever!

    She felt like a furnace, yet she was shivering from the cold,pletely drained and with a splitting

    headache.

    She rarely got sick, and since moving here, she''d been too busy to even have medicine at home ¨C

    not even basic stuff like fever patches or cold remedies.

    After her mom passed away, Larry had be like a stepdad to her, so the few times she did get

    sick, she just toughed it out with her own immune system.

    ording to her experience, she knew she''d probably break the fever after some sleep.

    In a daze, she heard her phone ring. Without opening her eyes, she reached out instinctively for the

    phone on her nightstand, "Hello."

    On the other end was Martin. Noticing something was off in her voice, he paused for a few seconds

    before speaking, "Rosemary?"

    "Mhm." Rosemary, still semi-conscious, recognized it was Martin. She mustered some energy,

    "What''s up?"

    "Just a small favor. My grandpa acquired something from someone, and I was wondering if you

    knew anyone who could help verify its authenticity?"

    The fever made Rosemary¡¯s thoughts sluggish, and it took her a moment to reply, "I''ll check it out

    for you tomorrow. Have someone bring it to the cultural center."

    The charity exhibition was on for three days, and she''d be there throughout.

    "Alright."

    The two weren''t chatty with each other, and as soon as the matter was discussed, silence fell

    between them.

    In that silence, Rosemary''sbored breathing sounded all the more loud and clear.

    Martin didn''t hear her speak, but the call wasn''t disconnected. This was unprecedented, so he

    asked with concern, "Are you feeling okay?"

    "Just a cold," she mumbled vaguely, seemingly about to drift into deep sleep.

    "Have you taken any medicine? Where''s Maxwell?"

    There was so sound on the other end,

    Martin waited a long time, but there was no reply. Recalling a recent chat with Archer where he

    mentioned unintentionally that Rosemary had moved out of Meadork Retreat after a falling out

    with Maxwell, Martin furrowed his brows in worry, "Where are you right now?"

    Rosemary reported her address reflexively, a delirious act without conscious thought.

    Unaware of when Martin hung up the call or even that she had told him her address, she fell into a

    deep, heavy sleep.

    At ten o''clock at night, the Night Club was all glitz and mour.

    Archer looked expressionlessly at the man who was silently drinking on the sofa, "Did Rosemary

    dump you? Coming here to drown your sorrows instead of sleeping at night?"

    Holding a ss of amber liquid, Maxwell nced at Archer after a moment, with a look almost

    condescending, "Are you brain-dead or blind? Her, dump me? You think that''s possible?"

    Archer''s lips curled into a cold, humorless smile, "Look at you, the picture of a man dumped and

    dejected. To an onlooker, it looks like you''re nning to get wasted on purpose, maybe with the

    hope of ''identally'' sleeping with her in a drunken haze."

    Maxwell got irritated and frowned, "Why so sleazy? No wonder you''ve got no woman around.

    Seems like you''ve pent up so much that it''s twisted your mind."

    Archer was livid.

    "Just leave me alone."

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    "Ha!" Archer stood up with a scoff, "Calling you a dog would be an insult to dogs. No wonder

    Rosemary left you; youck the tongue to woo ady andck the decency to utter a single

    respectable word!."

    Archer''s been on a pretty regr schedule these past couple of years; he got used to hitting the hay

    by ten unless something special''s going on. And now, not only has Maxwell dragged him out for

    drinks, but he also got an earful of crazy talk and was even called a freak and all.

    Just as the private room door swung open, someone happened to be passing by; with all the rain

    marks on him, it looked like he just got caught in a downpour. He was hustling by, shaking off the

    droplets and cursing, "Damn, it''s freezing! Probably gonna spend the whole night burning up after

    getting drenched like this!"

    Not paying much attention to the guy, Archer was about to take a step out when suddenly, there

    was this rush of footsteps from behind.

    Before he can even look back, he caught a glimpse of Maxwell, who''d just said he wanted to be

    alone, but was now zipping past him in a hurry.

    Archer frowned, thinking, "What the hell''s the rush now? Where''s he off to in such a ze?"

 Chapter 71

    Rosemary was yanked out of her slumber by a persistent knocking that was ying tag with her

    ears ¨C it felt both far and near, as she lived in a block with six ts on the floor, and it was anybody''s

    guess whose door was being beaten down.

    She peeled her eyes open with effort, feeling like her temperature had spiked yet again. Even her

    breath felt scorching and dry on her face. Exhausted and drained, she soon slipped back into the

    arms of Morpheus.

    Outside, Maxwell had been knocking for ages without any sign of life, and calling her was a bust

    too. If it wasn''t for the faint ringtone he could hear inside, he''d have thought Rosemary wasn''t home.

    The man''s brows were knitted tight, and the vibe he was giving off was more aloof than usual. He

    dialed Christ''s number: "Get a locksmith over to Apartment 603, Building 3 in the 7thplex."

    Half an hourter, the door swung open.

    Maxwell strode towards the bedroom without bothering with the lights; his steps were so brisk that it

    almost seemed like he was in a panic.

    As soon as he pushed the door open, he felt the heat in the room pped a sheen of sweat on his

    skin. He squinted, and in the hazy light seeping through the window, he made out the shape on the

    bed.

    It was a small lump, curled up and lying on her side under the covers.

    Rosemary was turned away from the door, deep in dreand.

    Maxwell''s heart, which had been suspended in mid-air, dropped back into ce, but the feeling of

    relief was soon reced by a re of anger. She''d made such a fuss about moving out on her own,

    and now here she was, with zero sense of caution. He''d been knocking and unlocking the door, and

    he was standing right in her bedroom, yet she was out like a light.

    The lock on the door was a basic model, crap quality, probably only good for pretending it''s locked.

    Forget about burr-proof; any beefy guy could probably yank it off with a good tug.

    The condo''s security was a joke; he''d waltzed in twice without so much as a by-your-leave, and the

    neighbors were a mix of the old and sick people.

    Rosemary was a single woman living in a ce like this; if someone with bad intentions came

    along, she''d be long gone before anyone noticed the stench.

    The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Maxwell strode over and looked down at her with

    a scowl, "Rosemary."

    No response.

    But Maxwell saw her bury her face deeper into the pillow, probably sick of his nagging.

    He let out a snort and bent over her: "If you can hear me, get up. Stop faking."

    It was only when he got closer that he noticed the unnatural flush on the half of her face that was

    visible; her breathing was heavy, and her lips were parched.

    Maxwell''s Adam''s apple bobbed, and he reached out to touch her forehead.

    It was burning up. She had a fever.

    Maybe it was because he''d juste from outside. But his palm felt cool against her forehead, and

    Rosemary, in her delirium, snuggled towards thefort and pressed her face right against his

    hand.

    Maxwell couldn''t recall thest time they''d been so closely intertwined in such intimate dependence.

    He remembered that just after they got married, she''d snuggled up to him at a night due to her

    menstrual cramps, hinting for him to warm his hands and ce them on her stomach.

    Mr. Templeton was always pampered by others; since when had he ever pampered anyone else?

    He didn''t warm her belly; instead, he called a doctor with a cold face.

    After that, Rosemary never showed her vulnerable side in front of him again.

    Now, as she leaned into him, Maxwell froze for a moment; he felt his heartbeat uncontrobly

    speeding up even though he knew she wasn''t aware.

    His palm rested on her feverishly hot and delicate face, feeling like he was touching a me; the

    heat raced up his arm and spread through his body.

    Rosemary licked her cracked lips and murmured, "Water."

    Maxwell''s face darkened; if it wasn''t for the undeniable touch, he''d have thought she was faking it.

    "Get up and drink it yourself."

    Despite his words, he turned to pour her a ss of water and rummaged through the drawers for

    medicine.

    If she kept having such intense fever and ended up bing a dimwit, he''d have to hire a nurse to

    look after her round the clock.

    What a hassle!

    But after a thorough search, not even a pill box was found. She obviously hadn''t taken any medicine

    before ¨C was she nning to tough it out like a warrior?

    Maxwell''s temples throbbed, and his anger bubbled up again.

    In the room, Rosemary was getting restless; not getting her water, she started to whine, "I''m thirsty,

    I want water. I feel awful, my head hurts, it''s unbearable."

    Her voice was soft, but it was enough for Maxwell to hear her mantra on repeat.

    Maxwell said nothing.

    He massaged his temples, trying to fight down the urge to drag her out of bed and chuck her

    outside.

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    With a stern face, he brought the water into the bedroom and set the ss on the nightstand,

    "Drink."

    Rosemary was bundled up in the covers, twisting and turning with no intention of getting up,

    "Thirsty, I want water."

    Maxwell, losing his patience, propped her up and shoved the ss to her lips; the whole scene

    looked like he was force-feeding cattle.

    Rosemary was already weak as a kitten, and being handled like a sack of potatoes by him, how

    could she drink any water?

    She looked up; her eyes were red and misty from the fever.

    Seeing her pitiful state, Maxwell huffed, showing little change on his face, but it was clear the rage

    inside him had dissipated a bit.

    He sat on the edge of the bed, letting her lean into his embrace.

    As he fed her water, he said coldly, "You know how to back down now? Next time you go around

    pricking people like a porcupine, I might as well let you die of illness."

    Rosemary drank most of the water, and the dryness in her throat was eased a lot. She was still

    groggy from the fever, and it was a struggle even to keep her eyes open.

    Havingy back down, she felt the memory of Martin asking for her address over the phoneing

    to her mind, so she mumbled unclearly, "Martin, thank you."

    Maxwell froze!

    He watched her drift back to sleep silently for a long time, with no overt sign of anger, but the

    tension in the room spread like a storm cloud.

    "Martin? Martin?"

    He spoke slowly, with each word drawn out, and his voice was hoarse beyond recognition.

    In the next instant, he grabbed Rosemary''s chin without any tenderness and pulled her out of the

    pillow to face him, "Guess you can''t tell people apart when you''re drunk, as well as when you''re

    sick, or is it that,"

    His fingertips were grazed her neck, and his gaze was as if it could shred someone into pieces, "Do

    you love him that much, even in your dreams?"

 Chapter 72

    The patch of skin that was being rubbed soon flushed arge red, and Rosemary, in her deep sleep,

    felt the pain and slightly opened her eyes to nce at the person before her. Then, with a frown,

    she shuffled back a bit and muttered unhappily, "Maxwell, don''t touch me."

    With those words, the room fell into a deadly silence, leaving only the heavy breathing of the two.

    If Maxwell had been holding back his emotions just now, at this moment he was absolutely livid!

    Every line of his body radiated an aggressive vibe as he scooped her back in and leaned over her,

    "So you won''t let me touch you, but Martin can? Rosemary, should I call you clever for knowing how

    to stir up a man''s desire to conquer, or should I call you foolish? Out of all the guys in Greenwood,

    you had to choose my brother?"

    "Or do you think a woman would be more important to me than a brother?"

    Rosemary didn''t reply; her whole body was pinned beneath him in a restraining grip, yet without any

    response ¡ª as if she had fallen asleep again.

    Maxwell''s gaze fell on her rosy cheeks; with his Adam''s apple bobbed, he irritably undid the top

    three buttons of his shirt.

    "Knock, knock."

    Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, apanied by a man''s deep voice: "Rosemary, are you

    there?"

    It was Martin!

    Maxwell''s face darkened to the extreme. If the woman before him had been lucid, he might have

    made her cry!

    After waiting a few minutes, he went to answer the door. The person outside seemed quite anxious.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    When Maxwell opened the door, Martin was still in the knocking pose. Seeing who it was, he

    paused, "Maxwell?"

    He noticed the violently torn open cor on Maxwell''s shirt, realizing he might have interrupted

    something.

    "Since you''re here, I assume Rosemary is alright, so we won''t disturb you anymore."

    He didn''te alone; he was apanied by a doctor.

    Maxwell stepped aside, "Come in. She''s sick, running a high fever. Please have the doctor

    prescribe some medicine."

    Martin didn''t decline, as he had meant to bring the doctor to check on Rosemary after hearing

    something was off in her voice over the phone.

    To avoid any appearance of impropriety, he didn''t follow the doctor into Rosemary''s bedroom but

    stayed with Maxwell in the living room.

    During that time, Maxwell offered him a cigarette, and the two stepped by the window, "She called

    you to say she was sick?"

    Martin shook his head, "No, I just called to ask her to do me a favor and noticed it in her voice."

    Maxwell stared at him for a few seconds, then let out a casualugh; his features were obscured by

    the smoke, "What, you''re that concerned about her? Regret not helping her back then?"

    Martin not only knew she was ill but also knew she had moved here from Meadork Retreat. The

    fact that he came over with a doctor just because her voice sounded off seemed like he had an

    ulterior motive.

    To this, Martin candidly replied, "Can''t say I regret it, but I do feel a bit sorry. The sum she borrowed

    back then wasn''t small; I just didn''t expect her to be in such a hurry."

    And he certainly didn''t expect that she would turn to Maxwell after she didn¡¯t get a clear answer

    from him.

    "So you''re nning to woo her again? To make up for this regret in your heart?"

    Martin frowned slightly, not sure if Maxwell was joking or serious.

    He lightly curled his lips, "Didn''t know you were the overthinking type."

    In the room, Rosemary gradually came to her consciousness. Shey quietly, waiting for the doctor

    to give her the injection. The bedroom door wasn''t closed, and she heard the conversation outside.

    She wasn''t interested in their topic; that was all in the past.

    The dizziness and pain brought on by her cold had sapped much of her energy, and soon she was

    drowsy again; she barely noticed the slight sensation as the needle entered her vein.

    Just as Rosemary was about to drift off again, Martin''s voice rang out, "The audio from back then,

    did you release it?"

    That question instantly wiped away Rosemary''s sleepiness.

    The audio? She forced herself to wake up; recalling how much impact the audio leak had made on

    her life, she felt her heart aching.

    The mental blow and the cyber-bullying she faced could almost drive a person to death; she had to

    take medication for a long time to control her emotions.

    But she had always thought it was Martin who had leaked the audio, so she didn''t investigate the

    cause.

    By the window, Maxwell''s tone was unhurried, "Who told you that?"

    "No one. I did some digging afterward but didn''t find anything useful. Just thought of it today, so I''m

    asking you since you were there at the time."

    The day Rosemary approached him, he was discussing business with Maxwell; he thought she

    needed help, so he let Maxwell rest behind the screen in the lounge area.

    Time ticked by without an answer from Maxwell, which to Rosemary, was as good as an admission.

    She bit her lip hard. How could Maxwell stoop to such dirty tricks and leak the audio to the media.

    He really was a dog!

    The medication flowing into her body took effect, and a heavy drowsiness swept over her.

    Rosemary closed her eyes, thinking that if she could get up, she would beat this jerk until he was

    picking his teeth off the floor!

    What a piece of trash!

    Rosemary''s condition improved, and when she woke up, it was the next day.

    The day was bright, and she reached up to touch her forehead. The fever had gone, and her head

    no longer ached, though her body still felt weak.

    She stared at the ceiling, her mind wandering aimlessly for a bit before settling on the conversation

    between Maxwell and Martin fromst night.

    Footsteps sounded in the living room; they were approaching from afar until they stopped at the

    bedroom door.

    The intense feeling of being watched made Rosemary turn her head, only yo meet the man''s eyes.

    At that moment, Maxwell was looking at her emotionlessly; his eyes were tired fromck of sleep,

    and there was a light stubble on his chin.

    He was still wearing yesterday''s clothes, the shirt and trousers all wrinkled.

    Rosemary was taken aback; she hadn''t expected Maxwell to still be here.

    Maxwell, however, frowned and said in a hoarse voice, "Get up if you''re awake. Don''t lie there like

    you''re about to kick the bucket; no one''s here to y undertaker for you."

    He knew these words might be a tough pill to swallow, but there''s no malice behind them ¨C it''s more

    like a tsundere throwing a temper tantrum.

    But Rosemary just kept staring at him,pletely unfazed.

    Gotta admit, Maxwell''s got a face that could make a girl''s heart race ¨C drop-dead gorgeous, with an

    air of effortless grace and ss. His nasty attitude is a shame though.

    As he saw her lying there, not budging an inch, the guy''s face turned a shade darker. He strode

    over, "What''s the deal, you think you''re some kind of princess that needs to be waited on hand and

    foot? After taking care of you all night, don''t you think a little ''thank you'' is in order?"

    He bent down, looking like he''s about to scoop her up, but before his hands can even graze her

    waist, a pnded fiercely across his face.

 Chapter 73

    With a crisp "snap", the whole world went silent.

    Rosemary looked like she was putting her back into it, but in reality, she had no energy at all. As

    she hadn''t eaten anything since yesterday, and after running a fever for most of the night, her p

    was more like a tickle than a punch ¨C Maxwell didn''t even flinch.

    But the thing about pping someone isn''t about the pain; it''s about the deep humiliation it brings!

    When has Mr. Templeton, always the apple of everyone''s eye, ever been pped across the face?

    He narrowed his eyes menacingly, hoisted Rosemary straight off the bed, and locked gazes with

    her, "Getting bolder, are you? Daring toy hands on me now?"

    His tone wasn''t particrly fierce, but every word, every syble, even every note, was seething

    with anger.

    He looked so fierce that Rosemary even braced herself to be hit back. She thought that if heid a

    finger on her, she''d give it right back and then march to the police station, with bruises all over her

    body, to report domestic abuse and file for divorce by force.

    But Maxwell didn''t hit back. He just stared at her, with a gaze as cold as death.

    The woman, barely recovered from a serious illness, had a face as pale as paper, small and drained

    of energy. Yet, this fragile creature that he could crush with one hand was now looking at him with

    defiance, not showing any sign of backing down.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    She was looking up at him, but it felt like she was looking down on him with contempt. Her eyes

    were bright and clear, with not an ounce of regret.

    "Maxwell, you''re such a shameless jerk."

    Maxwell let out a coldugh, "You p me and then have the nerve to call me shameless? What do

    you want me to do, offer up the other cheek to show I''ve got some shame?"

    Rosemary red at him, "Someone with any decency wouldn''t sneak around exposing private

    conversations like some petty thief."

    Hearing this, Maxwell realized why she had gotten physical.

    He suddenly smiled; with his thin lips curling into a smirk, he released his grip on her.

    Rosemary, already weak, copsed back onto the bed the moment his force vanished.

    The man stood up, but then, with a sudden movement, kicked the trash can beside him, sending it

    flying.

    "Rosemary, you''ve got half an hour to think about how you''re going to make this up to me, or you''re

    going to pay for that p."

    Maxwell dropped that bomb and stormed out, mming the door so hard the walls trembled.

    Only when the room fellpletely silent did Rosemary let out a long sigh. She felt like she just

    walked through hell; struggling to breathe under the oppressive atmosphere Maxwell left behind,

    she felt her body breaking out in a cold sweat.

    As for Maxwell''s demand that she sweet-talk him, Rosemary snorted coldly and tossed the thought

    aside.

    Why should she appease him when he''s the one in the wrong? Because he''s a few fries short of a

    Happy Meal?

    It was still early. As she felt much better, she got out of bed to get ready for the exhibition.

    It was almost eleven and no one had called to rush her; only Hans had sent a text to ask if she was

    feeling better.

    Half an hourter, as Rosemary arrived at the entrance of the exhibition, there stood Stacey.

    She was dressed even more borately than the day before, in a warm-colored long dress that

    didn''t suit her age at all, topped with a light coat.

    It had rained the day before, and the temperature had dropped a few degrees. The wind made

    Rosemary feel cold, while Stacey, in her thin dress, looked like a flower blooming in the wind.

    Of course, if she wasn''t shivering, she''d make a decent vase.

    "Rosemary."

    Stacey was standing by the ss entrance doors. As soon as Rosemary approached, she came up

    close.

    Ignoring her, Rosemary just dug out a temporary pass from her bag to swipe and enter.

    But Stacey grabbed her arm, "I''m talking to you, are you deaf?"

    Back when they were with the Chambers family, she was used to bossing Rosemary around, and

    although it never ended well for her, her parents doted on her. If sheined, Rosemary would

    get a beating.

    After her family''s troubles, they quickly fled overseas and lost contact with Rosemary. So in Stacey''s

    eyes, Rosemary was still the Cindere she could bully, not the unattainable Mrs. Templeton she

    could barely reach on her tiptoes.

    Rosemary lowered her eyes to the wrinkled sleeve in Stacey''s grip and said coolly, "Those high-

    and-mighty gentlemen aren''t interested in a shrew. With your quick temper, you might as well give

    up on your gold-digging dreams."

    Stacey immediately let go and nced around like a thief before shemanded, "I''ve booked a

    restaurant. Send a message to Martin now and ask him out for dinner tonight."

    She wouldn''t have swallowed her pride to ask Rosemary if she wasn''t desperate.

    Martin had just returned to the country and hadn''t taken up his formal position or joined the Ger

    Group, so his information wasn''t avable online.

    She had called her fatherst night to pull some strings, but they were all in debt and had fled

    overseas; their connections in the country were long gone. Only Rosemary knew Martin.

    Rosemary cut her off decisively, "Not happening."

    "You don''t want your mother''s keepsakes anymore?" Seeing Rosemary''s swipe card hand pause

    mid-air, Stacey lifted her chin smugly, "Just get him toe out."

    "Can you make that decision?" Rosemary interrupted impatiently, "Stacey, don''t let me hear you

    mention anything rted to my mother again, or I''ll make sure you''ll never climb your way into high

    society for the rest of your life."

    Destroying a woman''s reputation in high society is all too easy, and it won¡¯t take much effort.

    Stacey was fuming; she had secretly been convinced that Rosemary didn''t want to introduce Martin

    to her because she still had feelings for him!

    She sneered, "Does Maxwell know how much you care about another man behind his back?"

    "He doesn''t, so why don''t you run off and tell him? Now get lost, and don''t bother me."

    "You!" Seeing Rosemary unfazed, Stacey resorted to being a nuisance, "If you don''t agree, I''ll follow

    you around. Dad already knows about this, so just wait for him to rip you a new one!"

    Without bothering with her furthermore, Rosemary went to swipe her card. After all, Stacey couldn''t

    enter without a ticket, and if she bought one, she was just making a donation, which Rosemary

    couldn''t stop.

    "Beep beep¡ª" The card reader blinked red, "Error in information, please swipe your card again."

    Rosemary thought she goofed up using the card, so she swiped it again, but no dice, same old

    story.

    Stacey, seeing the whole thing, folded her arms and started to mock, "Ha, don''t tell me you got the

    boot for screwing up at work? cking on the job and picking fights with clients? If I were you."

    Before Stacey could yammer on, Rosemary cut to the chase and went straight to security with her

    pass. The guard said, "Hang tight," and made a call.

    A few minutester, the guard came back without returning the card and said, "Sorry, the big shot in

    charge of the exhibition said you don''t need toe in for the next couple of days."

    Rosemary furrowed her brows; she wasn¡¯t an exhibition staffer and didn¡¯t take orders from them.

    She whipped out her phone and dialed Oswald at the studio.

    The line was busy, and she couldn''t get through after several tries. During the not-so-long wait, she

    braced herself for the worst until Oswald''s call finally came through.

    "Oswald, I can''t get into the exhibition."

    "Rose." Oswald''s voice sounded worn and hoarse, like he had been talking for ages, "You''ve been

    working hardtely. Take some time off and rest at home. The studio''s not bustling with work right

    now; it''s a good time for you to take a break."

    Rosemary had been clocking in at Heritage Revive Studio for a while. That ancient tomb were still

    being dug up, which meant that there was a steady stream of broken relicsing in daily. Plus,

    given the nature of the gig, they were always short-staffed, never short on work.

    Without ying dumb, she asked point-nk, "Oswald, is someone putting the screws on you?"

 Chapter 74

    Oswald let out a couple of awkward chuckles, "Nah, you''re just trippin''. What''s got into you? Just

    seen you busting your butt recently, shooting documentaries and hustling at expos, pulling all-

    nighters one after another. Thought of giving you some time off to recharge your batteries. You

    young folks shouldn''t go too hard, gotta take care of yourself."

    Hearing that, Rosemary didn''t press on. Even without Oswald spelling it out for her, she could read

    between the lines.

    With two incidents back to back, in addition to what Maxwell had said before he stormed off this

    morning, she''d be a total dunce if she still didn''t get the hint!

    After hanging up the phone, Rosemary puffed her cheeks and let out a long sigh. So annoying!

    Stacey, ever the snarky presence, couldn''t help but chime in, "Whoa, got the boot, did ya? Serves

    you right!"

    Rosemary frowned, turned her head, and gave her an annoyed look, "Why are you still here?"

    "This is a public ce, can I not be here,"

    Unless you say so?

    But without sticking around to hear her finish, Rosemary just walked off. To Stacey, it felt like

    throwing a punch into a pillow - harsh words were said, but it left her feeling even more frustrated!

    Once in the cab, Rosemary tried calling Maxwell. It rang for over a minute with no answer.

    She didn''t bother calling again. The guy had left in such a huff this morning, and it''d be a wonder if

    he picked up!

    Screw it, a break''s a break. She could use the time to go car shopping; getting around without one

    was a hassle.

    She should''ve taken her usual ride when she moved outst time, which would''ve saved her the

    trouble.

    She nned to hit the dealership the next day, but things took a turn that evening.

    Rosemary had just ordered some takeout when she heard a knock at the door, along with the

    landlord''s voice, "Rosemary, you in there? Open up if you are, got something to discuss."

    A wave of unease washed over her as she went to open the door, "What''s up, ma''am?"

    It wasn''t just thendlord standing there, but two men as well.

    Thendlord had an apologetic grin, "The thing is, Rosemary, I ran into some financial trouble and

    gotta sell the ce. Can''t rent it to you anymore."

    Her confidence waned as she spoke while avoiding Rosemary''s gaze - they had a two-year lease,

    after all.

    Rosemary kept her cool, "When do you n to sell it?"

    Thendlord pointed to one of the middle-aged men, "Just showing the ce to a potential buyer. If

    he likes it, we could close the deal tonight."

    So they were pushing her out?

    With a cold face, Rosemary refused, "Sorry, but it''s not cool for me to let strange men into my ce.

    Knock again and I''ll call the cops."

    Then she mmed the door shut.

    Back in the living room, she quickly grabbed the phone off the couch and dialed Maxwell.

    This time someone picked up but didn''t speak; it seemed he was waiting for her to break the

    silence.

    Rosemary didn''t mince her words, and let loose, "Maxwell, you call yourself a man? Just ''cause I

    pped you this morning, you gotta sabotage my job and now you''re stirring the pot with my

    landlord to sell the ce? I used to just think you were a sleazebag who juggled one girl in your

    heart and another on your family registry, but it turned out you''re not just trash in character but also

    a backstabbing pro, you bloody bastard!"

    She went off without pausing, and finally couldn''t help let out a curse.

    Thendlord, who was shut out outside, knocked a few more times. When Rosemary stood her

    ground, thendlord started spewing all sorts of filth.

    In an average neighborhood, raising your voice could alert the neighbors, let alone hurling insults

    like a fishwife.

    Rosemary directed all her rage at Maxwell, "Push me any further, and I''ll just cheat with some

    random guy, making sure the whole world knows Mr. Templeton''s got a green, green grasnd on

    his head!"

    She was so pissed that her words came out in a jumble, "Bothered by me fancying your brother,

    huh? You make my life miserable, and I''ll go seduce Archer and parade around with him right in

    front of you."

    That must''ve hit a nerve with Maxwell, who''d been silently listening to her, and he suddenly spoke

    coldly, "Archer wouldn''t even nce at you."

    "Pfft! You didn''t react this much when I mentioned Victoria; you must be bent, actually pining for

    your brother!"

    After venting herst bit of anger, Rosemary mmed the phone down.

    On the other end, at the Templeton Group CEO''s office.

    When had the untouchable Maxwell ever been cussed out like that?

    Christ didn''t need to look up to feel the chilling aura enveloping Mr. Templeton, which spread

    through the deathly quiet office and sent shivers down his spine.

    pped, sleazebag, rotten character, cheating, green grasnd.

    None of these were words should have been heard by him, a mere assistant; he felt as if his life

    were hanging by a thread!

    Luckily, the office wasn''t just upied by him and Mr. Templeton.

    But also the woman curled up on the couch, coiled like a quail.

    She was the waitress from the tearoom where Rosemary and Martin had their conversation, the one

    whose audio had gone viral online and sparked a frenzy amongizens; her personal info had also

    been posted online.

    Afraid of getting dragged into the mess, she quit her job, and with nothing happening for three

    years, she''d almost forgotten about it. Then out of the blue, someone came looking to get the scoop

    on that incident, and next thing she knew, she was brought here.

    The news from back then had been huge; even though she hadn''t met Maxwell in real life, she

    recognized him with just one look at his face - the other male lead of that fiasco.

    "Speak," said Maxwell, his handsome, w-free face showing nothing but indifference, as if the

    earful from that recent call hadn''t fazed him one bit.

    The woman took a moment to realize that he was addressing her.

    She met his gaze, which felt as if he was staring at a dead person; it caused her scalp to tingle, and

    she instinctively denied, "I don''t know anything. I was just a server, and I was responsible for the

    first floor that day. I had no idea what was happening in the private rooms."

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Without needing a prompt from Maxwell, Christ dumped a stack of printed documents in front of her.

    Having nced down, the woman had her face changed; beads of cold sweat kept breaking out on

    her forehead, and her body shook uncontrobly.

    Maxwell said coolly, "Think it through before you speak."

    She was like a chicken getting its neck wrung, feeling all those words of defense stuck in her throat.

    "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean for this to happen, and I didn''t realize things would get so out of hand."

    The stack of documents disyed her chat history with a few friends.

    Back then, she happened to peek at the store''s surveince when she was board, and caught

    Rosemary on her knees proposing to Martin. At that moment, she thought, how can a woman be so

    subservient? It''s such a face-losing act for the sisterhood. So, she recorded a clip to vent with her

    besties, not expecting it to get out and eventually wind up online.

    Now, she was gauging Maxwell''s expression; seeing his stern gaze not softening one bit, she

    hurriedly exined, "I swear I didn''t leak it to the media. I just sent it to a few friends, and you can

    check if you don''t believe me."

    Maxwell''s gaze was dark as ink, "A few friends?"

    The woman kept nodding, and she nearly cried from the fear of the menacing man before her.

    Without bothering with her anymore, the man turned to look out the window at the sky shifting from

    sunny to cloudy, and he got lost in thought.

 Chapter 75

    After hanging up the phone, Rosemary called the cops, and sure enough, the boys in blue showed

    up in ten. They got the scoop and shooed thendlord and her posse away.

    As the grumbling faded into the distance, so did Rosemary¡¯s sleepiness. She plopped down cross-

    legged on the couch and fired up a website to hunt for a new pad.

    Tonight''s face-off made it crystal clear ¨C she was done living here.

    Just as she spotted a decent ce and was about to dive into the details, her phone buzzed ¨C it

    was an unknown number from overseas.

    Rosemary didn¡¯t have pals abroad, and in the past, she might have written it off as a scam and

    hung up. But this time.

    She stared at the digits and got deep in thought until the call was nearly dropped. Then she slid to

    answer, "Hello?"

    Larry''s voice came through, familiar yet foreign, "Rosemary, it¡¯s Dad."

    She¡¯d had a hunch. Irritated, she cut to the chase, "What do you want?"

    "If it wasn¡¯t for getting Mom¡¯s stuff back, I wouldn¡¯t have even bothered picking up!"

    Steaming, Larry had to take a few deep breaths to keep his cool, "Your sister called me yesterday,

    and it seems she¡¯s got a thing for Martin. Find a good time to set up a dinner, and get them to

    meet."

    Rosemary stayed silent; she had figured it was something like this.

    Thinking he had a shot, Larry started to work his angle, "Look, I know you¡¯ve been through a lot, but

    you and Stacey are blood sisters after all. You might have married into the Templeton family, but for

    that Mr. Templeton, you¡¯re just a rag ¨C easy to toss aside, right? But with your sister marrying

    Martin, she could have your back and make sure you¡¯re set for life even if Mr. Templeton is hell-bent

    on divorcing you."

    Rosemary cut to the chase, "Give me Mom¡¯s things."

    "I¡¯ve brought all that stuff to Mystoria. International shipping¡¯s a pain, what if it gets lost?"

    What stuff? The seble bits were sold, and the rest were trashed!

    "Then we¡¯ve got nothing to talk about."

    Click. She hung up. But Larry was on the line again in a heartbeat.

    "I¡¯ll send it. Get on with the introductions; your sister can¡¯t wait."

    This time his voice was cold,ced with disgust, not even pretending to be nice.

    After a pause, Rosemary asked, "Where were you the night Mom had the ident?"

    "I¡¯ve told you a million times, your grandma felt sick, so I went to see her."

    "You left at eight but didn¡¯t get to the old house until eleven."

    The Chambers'' ce was just a half-hour drive from the old house. Rosemary remembered clearly

    that her mom¡¯s ident happened after nine; she was in a speeding taxi that crashed into a parked

    truck.

    Lights were half off because of the roadworks, which made the visibility poor. The truck was illegally

    parked without lights on, so both drivers were at fault.

    But Mom usually drove herself. Around that time, Larry had a project near her workce, so he

    always drove there and offered to pick her up.

    Except that night ¨C and Mom had the ident!

    Larry, furious, spat out, "The cops said it was an ident, and you still won¡¯t let it go. What, you

    think I killed your mom? If you hadn¡¯t upset your grandma that day, would she have felt sick? If she

    hadn¡¯t, wouldn¡¯t I have picked up your mom? If anyone¡¯s to me for your mom¡¯s death, it¡¯s you!¡±

    He hung up, and Rosemary, fighting back emotions, bit her lip.

    She spent the whole night awake, with Mom¡¯s smile haunting her thoughts.

    The next morning, Rosemary headed straight to the real estate agency to check out listings; she

    picked one nearby, and thendlord coulde sign the lease after work.

    After sorting the house stuff, she went to pack up, but right out the elevator, she spotted a guy who

    looked shady standing by her door and messing with the lock.

    She grabbed a fire extinguisher, "What the heck are you doing at my door?"

    The guy, who had been focusing on the lock, jumped at her voice and spun around to face her.

    In a hurry, he exined, "Don¡¯t get it twisted, I¡¯m here to pick the lock for yourndy; she is your

    mom, right? She was just here, and went to take a call."

    Rosemary¡¯s face went cold, "I¡¯m the tenant, and the lease ain¡¯t up; she has no right to have

    someone break in."

    Before she could finish, thendy popped out from the stairwell, "It''s my house, I¡¯ll do what I want

    with it, I¡¯m not renting to you anymore, get out!"N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    "You wanna spend a few nights at the police station again?"

    The mere mention of the station took the wind out of thendy¡¯s sails.

    "Look, I¡¯ve got urgent business to sell the house; you can¡¯t be unreasonable! How about this, I¡¯ll

    give you back all your rent and deposit, considering the time you stayed on the house!"

    "No need for freebies, I¡¯ll move when the lease is up."

    "Please, I¡¯m begging you!" thendy wailed, snotty and teary-eyed.

    Thanks to that drama, Rosemary showed up to sign the lease that evening with luggage in tow.

    Bold as brass, thendy wanted to break in by day; who knows what she would do at night. It

    was time to bail.

    When Rosemary arrived, the newndlord hadn¡¯t shown up yet. After a short wait, the agent

    approached with an apologetic face, "Sorry Ms. Chambers, thendlord¡¯s not renting anymore."

    Rosemary frowned; it was so sudden, so like someone she knew!

    That damn Maxwell!

    Cursing him in her head, she asked the agent, "What if I rent another ce?"

    "Sorry Ms. Chambers, we don¡¯t have anything suitable for you right now."

    From pick of the litter in the morning to nothing by evening, Rosemary saw iting; without

    bothering fighting, she just left with her suitcase.

    On her way out, she shot Maxwell a message.

    "I¡¯d rather sleep under a bridge than let you get your way!"

    "If you''re such a hotshot, go ahead and corner the market on all the houses in the world. Otherwise,

    you''re nothing in my eyes."

    "You jerk, you scumbag, I hope you prematurely shoot the gun in Victoria''s bed!"

    She sent three messages in a row, each one dancing on Maxwell''sst nerve.

 Chapter 76

    After firing off the message, Rosemary didn''t even wait for Maxwell to reply. She blocked his

    number straight-up and, dragging her suitcase behind her, left the real estate agency.

    At a rush hour, it was a real pain to hail a cab. She decided to crash at a nearby hotel for the night,

    as she was totally beat from moving and house hunting all day.

    "Beep beep."

    Just then, a ck SUV pulled up to the curb right by her.

    Rosemary turned her head. The passenger window rolled down, revealing Martin''s warm and

    handsome face.

    "Rosemary, what''s up with you?"

    "Moving. Had a deal to sign a lease around 6, but thendlord bailedst minute." She didn''t mind

    spilling her messy situation to Martin, "And you? What brings you here?"

    The street was home to a hospital, a bunch of no-star diners, and with its age and narrownes, it

    looked pretty rundown, a stark contrast to Martin''s whole vibe.

    Martin: "Went hiking with some friends today, just got back. Hop in, can''t park here."

    Before Rosemary could object, the trunk popped open.

    He hopped out, took her suitcase, and stashed it in the back, "Where to? I''ll give you a lift."

    Rosemary had just checked on her app; the nearest hotel was three kilometers away, way too much

    of a drag with her luggage. She obediently got into the car, "Any decent hotel will do."

    As Martin drove, he asked, "Wasn''t the old ce good enough? What made you wanna move outta

    the blue?"

    "It was fine, but Maxwell is a nitpicker. Who knows what underhanded trick he pulled to force the

    landlord into selling."

    Just the mention of that guy made Rosemary grit her teeth in anger, "I found another ce, but just

    as I was about to seal the deal, that jerk messed it all up. He''s such a shit-stirrer."

    Martin remained silent.

    Probably no one would dare link Mr. Templeton, a man who could pull strings everywhere, with the

    term ''shit-stirrer.''

    He chuckled, "Maxwell''s just being assertive. He''s doing all this just to make you cave a bit."

    He sounded sure of himself. Being friends with Maxwell for years, he knew him well. Even with his

    hardball tactics in business, Maxwell wouldn''t stoop to hassling a woman.

    Rosemary didn''t care what Maxwell was thinking; all she knew was that he had left her homeless.

    "He wants me to cave? As if! I''m not his mom to coddle him at every turn."

    Besides, that whole mess was on him from the get-go.

    Martin nced at Rosemary, whose gaze was fixed ahead, with her lips pursed, rendering her

    naturally radiant face even more animated.

    He pursed his lips and looked ahead; after a moment of hesitation, he said, "I''ve got an apartment

    not too far from here. If you don''t mind, you can stay there for now, and move out when you find

    something that suits you better."

    Rosemary thought it over; it was impossible to rent a new ce in short order. If she went to a hotel,

    not only would it be expensive, but she also risked being kicked out by Maxwell; it was not like he

    hadn''t done such a mean thing before.

    She didn''t want to bother Martin, but under the circumstances, it seemed like the best option.

    In Maxwell''s eyes, she was just an essory, while Martin was practically a brother. He would

    never hassle his buddy over her.

    "Thanks, I''ll pay you rent."

    Martin wasn''t bothered about the money, but since Rosemary insisted on paying, he didn''t refuse.

    They pulled up in front of the apartmentplex, and Martin pointed down the street, "That road''s

    lined with restaurants, and there''s a mall at the end, pretty convenient. There¡¯s no cooking in the

    apartment."

    Rosemary didn''t mind; she was usually swamped with delicate work, and too exhausted by day''s

    end to even think about cooking.

    Martin took her up to the 27th floor; as this is a high-end apartment, there¡¯s just a few units per

    level. Though he didn''t live there, cleaners came by weekly to keep it spotless.

    "There''s fresh bedding in the closet, washed and ready to use."

    Rosemary: "Thanks."

    It was awkward for Rosemary to be alone with a man, given her marital status, so Martin didn''t

    linger, "Settle in. If you need anything, just give me a call, and I''ll text you the cleaner''s number. If

    you don''t want strangers in your room, just tell them to skip the cleaning."

    "Martin." Rosemary stopped him, "You''ve been a huge help. Let me treat you to dinner as a thank

    you. If you''ve already eaten, we can reschedule for another day."

    Martin''s smile lingered, "Let''s go, I''m starving after a day of hiking."

    Since it was her treat, Rosemary picked a seafood buffet that matched his status.

    They just reached the cashier when a cheery female voice called from behind¡ª "Sis!"

    Rosemary recognized that voice instantly, and her mood soured on the spot.

    Before she could turn around, Stacey had cozied up and grabbed her hand, "Sis, what a

    coincidence!"

    Her words were directed towards Rosemary, but her gaze lingered on Martin, fluttering like stars, as

    she softly uttered his name, "Martin."

    She had been waiting for Rosemary for days, not even scoring a chance to ask Martin out for

    dinner, let alone getting his contact.

    But fate seemed to think she and Martin were destined, so they ran into each other in the vast

    Greenwood of all ces!

    If this wasn''t a match made in heaven, what was?

    Martin turned to Rosemary, "Who''s this?"

    Rosemary introduced Stacey with indifference, "This is my dad''s daughter from his new wife, Bitch

    Stacey."

    Martin said nothing.

    And there Rosemary stood, all nonchnt, with no hint of joking.

    Stacey forced a smile, "Martin, pay no mind to her nonsense. She loves to joke around. I''m Stacey,

    just got back to the country recently; we met at the exhibition."

    She then turned, ring daggers at Rosemary with a venomous whisper, "You still want your mom''s

    keepsakes?"

    After that, she turned back to Martin, "Although my sister and I have different moms, we''ve always

    been close. Today, my treat."

    Finding Rosemary not saying a word, Martin whipped out his phone, ready to settle the bill.

    But Rosemary tugged at his sleeve and said to Stacey, "Then it''s on you."

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Martin insisted, "Rosemary, c''mon, I''m the guy here. Since when does the guy let thedy foot the

    bill?"

    "If you''re rolling in dough, donate it to the kids in the poor mountain areas. She said she''d treat, so

    naturally, it''s her turn to pay."

    In the end, Stacey forked over the cash with gritted teeth!

    "Martin, this one''s on me, you can get the next one."

    It''s a good chunk of change, after all. If it can¡¯t buy her a one-on-one dinner, talk about a bad deal!

    Stacey looked at Martin with sparkling eyes, full of a young girl''s pouty charm and innocence. When

    she''s serious about someone, her eyes are all about him; such look can really stroke a man''s ego.

    "Martin, I saw youst time at the expo. My sister said she''d introduce us, and I thought she was

    just pulling my leg. Who knew she''d actually get you toe out today!"

 Chapter 77

    Martin was checking out the menu when he heard thement. Looking up at Rosemary, who was

    quietly sipping her lemon water, he didn''t hesitate to say, ¡°Rosemary wouldn''t pull a stunt like that. If

    she¡¯s gonna introduce someone to me, she¡¯d ask for my two cents first. Miss Stacey, if you get a

    kick out of stirring the pot, do me a solid and find another table, will ya?¡±

    Rosemary looked up in surprise.

    Her bond with Martin wasn¡¯t tight to the point where he¡¯d trust her with no questions asked. If it had

    been back in the day, he would¡¯ve brushed it off with some nomittal chitchat that spared both

    their blushes.

    She¡¯d seen him handle women way more troublesome than Stacey without losing his cool like this.

    Stacey¡¯s face turned beet red; she was mortified enough to wish she could just disappear into a

    hole in the ground.

    Though Martin¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud and the tables weren¡¯t close, the ce was packed, and she felt

    like all eyes were on her. Even the whispers she couldn¡¯t make out seemed to be mocking her.

    Biting her lip, she whispered on the verge of tears, ¡°Martin, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. I didn¡¯t. My sister

    really did say she¡¯d introduce us.¡±

    Martin replied, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not into the whole strangers calling me Martin. You can call me ¡®Mr.

    Ger¡¯.¡±

    Rosemary couldn¡¯t help but snort withughter.

    Guys are just natural BS detectors, aren¡¯t they? It¡¯s not like they can¡¯t tell a conniving little bitch from

    someone in sheep¡¯s clothing; it¡¯s just a matter of whether they¡¯re down to be yed.

    Maxwell, on the other hand, was all about being yed, and happy about it, too.

    This time, Stacey couldn¡¯t keep her cool. She hadn¡¯t expected a seemingly sophisticated dude like

    Martin to diss a girl like that, especially in front of Rosemary.

    It was like he¡¯d ripped off her face and stomped on it.

    She couldn¡¯t keep up the facade anymore. Standing up abruptly, she red at the two of them with

    eyes red with rage and said, ¡°You guys are way out of line.¡± Then she spun on her heel and bolted.

    But as soon as she was out of the restaurant, she regretted it¡ªshe¡¯d footed the bill, after all. Why

    should she skip out on the meal?

    Stacey turned back and picked a spot that was hidden yet offered a view of Rosemary, before she

    started snapping photos with her phone.

    She was determined to make that couple pay.

    Rosemary gave Martin the cliff notes version of the whole mess. ¡°Sorry, I was actually nning to

    ask you out for a meal and talk about it then. I didn¡¯t expect to bump into this drama today.¡±

    Martin chuckled helplessly, ¡°You should¡¯ve told me sooner. Is she going to use your mother¡¯s

    keepsakes to ckmail you now?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s probably nothing left of my mom¡¯s stuff,¡± Rosemary brushed off the topic, ¡°I just didn¡¯t

    expect you to be so blunt.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the kind of guy who stands up for my friends. Can¡¯t stand to see them being pushed around by

    nobodies.¡±

    That''s not exactly what ''standing up for friends'' means, but she can''t really fault him there.

    After they finished eating, Martin dropped Rosemary off at her apartment building, ¡°Get some rest

    early.¡±

    ¡°Sure, thanks again for the ce. I¡¯ve transferred the rent to you, make sure you check.¡±

    She¡¯d checked the local rental prices earlier and paid him a grand more than market rate¡ªit was

    only fair since his ce was really move-in ready and spotlessly clean, even the bedding was

    provided.

    Maxwell had been back-to-back meetings all day, which kept him super busy. By the time he saw

    Rosemary¡¯s messages, several hours had passed.

    As he stared at his phone screen, the coarse words made his temples throb with anger.

    He dialed Rosemary¡¯s number, ¡°I''m sorry, the number you have dialed is currently busy.¡±

    Fifteen minutester, he tried again, still the same.

    Looking at Rosemary¡¯s name on the screen, he was so livid that he almostughed; his eyes were

    chilling enough to turn everything to ice.

    Just then, Christ walked in with some documents for him to review. Maxwell said, ¡°Send Rosemary

    a message. Tell her if she doesn¡¯t move back to Meadork Retreat, she might as well sleep on

    the streets.¡±

    Christ said nothing.

    As he had been dealing with Ms. Chambers¡¯ndlord these past few days to pressure her, and he

    had just spoiled her new rental deal today. His conscience was taking a beating. He figured if Mr.

    Templeton kept this up, he was going to end up wifeless. The atmosphere in the CEO''s office of the

    Templeton Group had been so tense that it was like walking on eggshells: ¡°Mr. Templeton, with Ms.

    Chambers¡¯s temper, she¡¯d rather sleep on the streets than move back because of your threats.¡±

    Otherwise, how would she note back until now?

    Seeing Maxwell unfazed, Christ tentatively added, ¡°Maybe you should buy her a gift to smooth

    things over? Women usually prefer a softer approach.¡±

    Maxwell gave him a dark look, ¡°She pped me and I should buy her presents? You think I¡¯m like

    you, a dignity-freepdog?¡±

    Christ¡¯s college love saga was an open book to him. After getting dumped, he had shamelessly

    chased after the same girl, who now had a new beau and gave him zero attention.

    Christ: Way to hit where it hurts, man!

    ¡°Mr. Templeton ain¡¯t nopdog, he¡¯s the boss. I''ll send the message to Ms. Chambers right away,

    word for word, making sure your message gets through.¡±

    Rosemary got Christ¡¯s text right when she was lying on the soft bed of her apartment after a shower.

    After reading it, she scoffed,pletely ignoring it.

    The next day, Rosemary hit up an art supply store to replenish some tools. She hadn¡¯t bothered with

    the suspension from the studio¡ªafter all, she had agreed it was a temporary gig, like a favor. She

    had a few frence jobs on hand and this was the perfect time to get them done.

    Maxwell, being unaware that she was Rose, wouldn¡¯t interfere with her side gigs.

    Thinking about it, Rosemary couldn''t help but chuckle at herself. With Maxwell''s clout, it would be a

    piece of cake for him to dig up the dirt if he really wanted to. It''s just that, since he couldn''t care

    less, his underlings didn''t put their backs into it.

    If they had put in just a smidge more effort, they wouldn''t have ended up with the ridiculous mix-up

    about her scrubbing floors at Heritage Revive Studio.

    So, aside from a change of address, her life hadn''t been rocked all that much.

    In stark contrast to Rosemary''s chill vibes, the atmosphere at the Templeton Group was a total

    dumpster fire. After watching yet another exec get torn by Mr. Templeton and emerged from the

    office with a face like he''d been through the wringer, Christ took a deep breath and step into the

    office.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    "Mr. Templeton."

    Maxwell stared nkly at the document in front of him. "Where did she crashst night?"

    With no chance of renting a ce or checking in a hotel, and without hitting up Ynda''s, where

    else could she go but back to the Templeton family mansion?

    Christ, feeling like every hair on his body was standing on end, replied with a quivering voice: "Ms.

    Chambers spent the night at Mr. Ger''s apartment."

 Chapter 78

    When Maxwell rocked up to the Night Club, the gang was already there.

    Archer nced at his crisp suit and the tie still around his neck and quipped, "You didn''t juste

    straight from the office, did you?"

    "Yeah."

    "Man, your missus is about to bail on you, and you''re hustling for cash like there''s no tomorrow.

    What''s the deal, gonna stuff your coffin with stacks of bills forpany?"

    "Any of your business?"

    Maxwell took a seat next to him, with Martin on the other side.

    He picked up the drink the waiter had poured for him and gave a casual toast to Martin; as he did it,

    the amber liquid swirled under the dim lights: ¡°Get Rosemary to move out of your apartment.¡±

    Martin wasn''t surprised that Maxwell would know it, and he had no intention to hide it, "Maxwell,

    don''t you think you''re going a bit overboard with this? She''s still a girl; lugging her suitcase around

    in the middle of the night was not safe."

    Maxwell''s features were hidden in shadow; wearing an expression frighteningly nk, he retorted

    coolly, "That''s between me and my wife, Martin. It''s none of your business."

    His tone was light, but the underlying warning was palpable.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Martin frowned, and his usual easy smile was gone, "Exactly because it''s your private matter, you

    shouldn''t be using your cutthroat business tactics on her."

    Maxwell''s face turned into a mask of cold fury, "And what right do you have to tell me how to treat

    her?"

    The tension became almost visible around them; it seemed like a showdown was about to happen.

    Martin met his gaze with calmness, ¡°The Ger family and the Chambers family go way back, and

    I''ve known Rosemary for ages. She''s like a sister to me."

    Maxwell''s expression was frosty as he let out a scoff, "You sure about that? You''re just seeing her

    as a sister?"

    As the atmosphere got rigid to a point where it seemed they were on the verge of throwing punches,

    Archer suddenly stood up and pped Martin on the shoulder, "Come on, help me grab a pack of

    smokes."

    This excuse was hardly convincing. There were a few unopened packs of cigarettes right on the

    table, and they could''ve easily asked a waiter to bring some more. There was no need for a

    personal run.

    But Archer''s interruption did cool things down a bit.

    Martin got up and followed Archer out to the terrace next to the restroom. Archer handed him a

    cigarette, "What''s got you poking your nose into Maxwell''s marital issues?"

    Although he didn''t know the details, Archer could guess from their exchange what was up.

    Martin replied in an even tone, "I''m not interfering. I just lent my apartment to Rosemary for a while."

    Archer looked at him knowingly, "So you let Maxwell y his games? Even if you didn''t step in, he

    wouldn''t really leave Rosemary out to sleep on the streets."

    Martin took a drag; the smoke blurred his features and the emotions in his eyes.

    He didn''t avert his gaze from Archer''s, but he didn''t respond either.

    "You know Maxwell is touchy about your rtionship with Rosemary. If you keep meddling in their

    business, you might not even stay brothers."

    Archer left it at that, "Maxwell''s been in a foul moodtely. Don''t take it to heart."

    After dealing with the fragments of a vase, Rosemary felt a bit peckish and decided to head

    downstairs for somete-night grub.

    Cooking wasn''t allowed in the apartment, which was a bit inconvenient.

    As she was leaving, she texted Martin. He had asked her to check out something Grandpa Nelson

    collected, and he hadn''t mentioned it since. She wasn''t sure if he had forgotten about it, so she

    decided to ask.

    The moment she opened the door, a figure blocked her path.

    Rosemary, who had been typing with head down, immediately backed up a few steps and reached

    for the rm on the wall as the shadow approached. The person followed her inside, mming the

    door shut behind them.

    Before she could even look up, her phone was snatched away!

    Then, a familiar voice came from above her, "Trying to text someone toe save you?"

    Rosemary let out an internal sigh of relief and rolled her eyes at the intruder, "Maxwell, are you sick

    in the head?"

    Ambushing her in the dead of night, she thought he was a mugger and nearly reached for a knife!

    Starving and eager to ditch him for some food, she reached for her phone he had snatched away.

    Just as her fingertips brushed the case, he flicked his wrist, and the phone smashed against the

    door.

    Maxwell gripped her hand and leaned in close; the scent of alcohol was strong on him; with his eyes

    red-rimmed from drinking, he said, "So dependent on Martin? He''s the first one you think of when

    you''re in danger?"

    Before Rosemary could respond, his fiery kiss descended, which overwhelmed her and left her no

    room for breath. He was no gentleman to begin with, and now his eyes were filled with nothing but a

    fierce desire to conquer and possess.

    Maxwell''s grip was strong, pinning her shoulders against the wall. Rosemary struggled with all her

    might but couldn''t break free, so she was forced to endure his plundering kiss.

    She parted her lips to bite him, but before she could, Maxwell, with remarkable foresight, let her go.

    He looked at her face, seething with anger, and sneered, "Why do you think I could find this ce?"

    Rosemary''s eyes widened slightly, and she foresaw what he was going to say that Martin had told

    him the location.

    But she didn''t hesitate to assert, "Martin wouldn''t have told you."

    Rosemary trusted Martin''s character; as soon as she finished speaking, Maxwell''s gaze turned icier

    than ever.

    Silence engulfed the room.

    After a moment, he cracked a smile, and his tone was as casual as if making small talk, but

    Rosemary felt like her shoulders were about to be crushed by his pressure.

    His eyes were steely as he said, "You really trust him to the core, don''t you?"

    Then his lips descended once more, and his breath on her face grew heavier: "It seems you still

    haven''t realized who you really are."

    "Click."

    That''s when Rosemary heard the sound of a belt buckle being undone.

 Chapter 79

    Totally freaking out, Rosemary propped her hand against Maxwell''s shoulder, "Maxwell, chill out, will

    ya?"

    On any other day, she would never think Maxwell could do anything to her, but the dude was

    stered, and you can''t reason with a drunk.

    Sure enough, her resistance only led to a more aggressive approach from him.

    The apartment wasn''t huge. From the front door to the bed, it was less than ten meters.

    But without bothering to walk that short distance, he just went for another deep dive into kissing her;

    the edge of the shoe cab jabbed into her back, which wasn''t exactly painful, but was damn

    ufortable.

    Rosemary was pushing him away, trying to dodge his touch, "Don''t touch me."

    She wanted to shove him off, but the guy was so freakin'' strong; no matter how hard she tried, she

    couldn''t break free from his grip around her waist.

    Maxwell''s lips missed their mark but he didn''t rush to go back for more. Instead, he just hung there,

    half-lowering his gaze at her.

    Rosemary''s fair face was full of disgust. If her hands weren''t trapped and twisted behind her by him,

    and if she could actually get away, Maxwell figured she would''ve pped him again without a

    second thought.

    He nudged his cheek, and a weird chuckle spilled from his throat, with a voice husky with desire;

    then he forced her face back towards him.

    His smothering kissesnded on her cheek, and rolled down from her jawline to her neck, leaving a

    trail of flushed marks on her fair skin.

    Rosemary had just popped downstairs for a snack, so she was wearing a base shirt and cardigan

    under her ankle-length down coat, which made it all too easy for Maxwell to y the brute.

    She was about ready to scream. All of her rejections and struggles were useless, and even the

    insults she hurled at him were like water off a duck''s back.

    With one hand restraining her, and the other growing more rough, he left his breath on her skin and

    taunted, "So, he''s back and you''re ying the virtuous martyr now?"

    Even while talking, his lips never fully left her body.

    Rosemary''s mind went nk as Maxwell''s overpowering invasion forced her to retreat. Her hands

    fumbled on the shoe cab until her fingertips found something. She grabbed it and mmed it

    into him.

    "Thud!" The breath-stealing kiss halted!

    Rosemary stared in shock at the blood suddenly trickling from Maxwell''s forehead. Her grip

    loosened, and the object fell to the floor.

    It was an aromatherapy decoration from the shoe cab.

    Maxwell didn''t move, and the blood trickled down her face like a tiny stream, but he showed no sign

    of pain.

    He looked down at Rosemary; the hallway light was somehow shut off, leaving only a sliver of light

    seeping in from the window.

    His blood-stained face looked kinda spooky in the dim light.

    Rosemary panicked, "Sorry, I''ll call an ambnce."

    Although Maxwell seemed fine and was still coherent, a head injury needed a thorough check-up at

    the hospital, not to mention his forehead needed some bandaging.

    She wanted a divorce, sure, but she didn''t want the guy dead.

    He might not like her, but he hadn''t treated her badly in other respects. She was given an unlimited

    ck card to splurge with and there was no wifey duties like serving tea or waiting on people. If it

    wasn''t for the tangled emotions, it would be a dream life for many.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    But once you start expecting more, it''s a torture every second of every day.

    It''s hard for any girl not to fall for a guy like Maxwell,

    If it weren''t for that three-million debt, the money she was making would be more than enough for a

    comfortable life, and she could have not to force herself to endure such mental anguish.

    Life''s too short for unhappiness!

    Rosemary was going to grab the first-aid kit, but then it urred to her that she had just moved in

    yesterday and hadn''t had the chance to get all that sorted.

    Maxwell closed his eyes, looking a bit dizzy, and scoffed, "Afraid I''ll kick the bucket?"

    He said with a faint smile, "If I die, no one will bother you anymore. Though the Ger family

    probably won''t let Martin marry a widow. But hey, if he really loves you, he might be willing to take

    you begging on the streets."

    Rosemary grabbed some tissue and pressed it roughly against his wound, "Even a hole in your

    head can''t stop your mouth from running."

    Even if Martin were to leave his fortune, he wouldn''t be begging on the streets. Does this guy ever

    stop badmouthing people?

    She rolled her eyes, "I''m not about to waste my prime years in jail making paper boxes. If I can find

    a hot, young guy to date, who''d want ate-in-life romance?"

    Rosemary bent down to pick up her bag; as she reached for her phone to dial 120, Maxwell stopped

    her, "Jason''s downstairs."

    His condition wasn''t serious, no need for emergency rescue, and the bleeding on his forehead had

    stopped with the tissue. No point in wasting emergency services.

    Downstairs, Jason was having a smoke. When he saw Rosemary helping a blood-faced Maxwell

    down, he nearly lost it, and he hurriedly ditched his cigarette to help, "Mrs. Templeton, how''d the

    young master get so badly hurt?"

    That was a tough question for Rosemary.

    She wasn''t afraid of Jason, but if word got to Pearl, heaven knows what she''d imagine.

    Normal couples don''t have wives who would put holes in their husbands'' heads!

    Maxwell just watched her, not lifting a finger to help her out of the jam.

    Rosemary lied without batting an eye, "He fell. Next time he gets wasted, Jason, just send him

    back. Don''t let him run wild. If I hadn''t been quick to catch him today, he would''ve been hurt even

    worse."

    Maxwell was speechless.

    He just watched how Rosemary spun the story, and turned her from an aggressor into a heroine.

    Jason looked troubled, "Mrs. Templeton, maybe you should move back. I''m just a servant, and I

    can''t really handle the young master''s stuff."

    There was a private hospital nearby, just a ten-minute drive away.

    After bandaging up Maxwell''s wound, the doc said, "Shouldn''t be a big deal, but if you''re really

    worried, we could do a head CT. Or just y it by ear for now, and if you start feeling dizzy, wanna

    hurl, or get super sleepy, then we can run the scan."

    Maxwell nced at the woman by his side who hadn''t made a peep, "Doc, I live solo."

    "That''s a no-go. You need someone to keep an eye on you. Some concussion signs don''t show up

    early on. Either crash here for the night or let''s get that brain scan done now."

    Rosemary chimed in, "Doc, just write up the order for the CT."

    Maxwell shot it down, "No CT."

    She was losing her patience: "Then admit yourself."

    He was nonchnt: "Not staying."

    Rosemary was starting to see red. After all this hassle, her stomach was doing backflips from

    hunger: "No doing this, no doing that, what on earth do you wanna do then? Go crash at your

    mom''s?"

    Maxwell fired back, "You''re the one who hit me, and you''re asking me what I wanna do?"

 Chapter 80

    Rosemary''s swagger was cut in half in an instant, but she still stood her ground, "Like it or not,

    you''re staying. Doc, write up that admission slip."

    I fully expected Maxwell, with his usual antics, to stir up some trouble, but he just sat there in

    silence, not saying a word.

    The billing department was practically empty, so Rosemary was back with the paperwork in no time.

    The inpatient ward was in the building out back, and he got a private room.

    Rosemary: "Should I find you a caregiver?"

    "I''m not down with being watched by a stranger while I snooze."

    "How about I station them outside the door? Holler if you need anything," Rosemary said, while

    suppressing a yawn.

    Maxwell gave her a cool look, "You think after a concussion I''d have the strength to shout?"

    Rosemary retorted, slightly peeved, "Having a concussion doesn''t mean you''ve lost your voice."

    She was cut off mid-sentence by a voice from outside.

    "Maxwell."

    It was Pearl.

    Seeing the bandage on Maxwell''s forehead and confirming that, as Jason said, he had no other

    injuries, she frowned and scolded, "You''re not a kid anymore, how can you still take a tumble

    walking? Can''t you watch where you''re going?"

    Maxwell: "Jason told you I was in the hospital?"

    Usually, Pearl would''ve been asleep at this clock.

    "You have the nerve to ask? I called you a dozen times and got no answer, and I was nearly scared

    to death. If it wasn''t for a friend of mine working at this hospital who happened to see you, I''d still be

    in the dark about your hospital stay. I bumped into Jason downstairs. You didn''t even bother to tell

    me about such a big deal. There goes your bonus for the month."

    Once Pearl saw Maxwell was okay, she said, "Rosemary, I''m counting on you to take care of him

    tonight."

    The way Pearl treated Rosemary and the way she treated him were a stark contrast,, like the

    attitude of a birth mother versus a stepmother.

    Rosemary couldn''t say no, or Pearl would definitely catch on to the tension between them, "Alright,

    Mom, I''ll walk you downstairs. It''ste, and you need your rest."

    The two walked arm in arm like mother and daughter, leaving Maxwell, the patient, alone in the

    room.

    "Rosemary, when are you and Maxwell nning on having a kid? It''s about time." Pearl quickly

    added, not wanting Rosemary to think she was pressuring her, "It''s tougher for women to recover

    from childbirth as they get older, andplications can linger."

    Rosemary: "Mom, Maxwell and I."

    She hesitated, trying to find a gentle way to remind Pearl that she and Maxwell were nning to

    divorce.

    But Pearl switched topics, "How did thatst medication work out? If you''re out, I''ll ask the doctor to

    prescribe some more."

    Rosemary remained silent.

    She really couldn''t fathom discussing Viagra''s effectiveness with an elder so candidly.

    The elevator arrived, and Pearl smiled, "Alright, go back now. I can manage on my own."

    Before, Rosemary would have insisted on walking her down, but now, she was afraid Pearl would

    continue on the topic. She told her to be careful and then hightailed it back to the room.

    Maxwell was sitting on the hospital bed, browsing his phone, and probably handling work stuff.

    Rosemary went to freshen up in the bathroom and then plopped straight onto the family cot, ying

    her role as the dutiful tool.

    At this hour, except for the night nurse, everyone was asleep, and the room sank into silence.

    As Rosemary drifted off, Maxwell''s voice cut through, "I need water."

    Rosemary, with her back to him, didn''t budge, "It''s your forehead that''s hurt, not your hands."

    The man behind her fell silent; he was likely miffed by her words. Thinking he had calmed down,

    Rosemary was about to close her eyes to sleep again when Maxwell spoke up once more, "My

    chest feels tight, go open a window."

    That got her moving.

    She turned around, propped herself up, and looked at him with a ferocious expression; a sense of

    sarcasm was shining bright in her eyes, "It''s got nothing to do with the window being open or

    closed; that''s your conscience trying to break through."

    This time, Maxwell mmed uppletely.

    He didn''t make another peep until Rosemary fell asleep. Probably because she was toote to bed,

    plus the night''s events had been quite a shock, and her mood was foul, she had a nightmare.

    In her dream, she was chased by a monster that could find her no matter where she hid. It stared

    her down with its arms like fortified walls, and squeezed the air out of her until she could barely

    breathe. As the creature''s grotesque face drew near and it bit her neck, it transformed into Maxwell!

    Rosemary gasped and woke up in terror!

    Opening her eyes, she met his perfectly wless, handsome face. He was still asleep, and his usual

    sharp features was softened by slumber.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    The daylight was already bright outside; Maxwell turned away from the window, the light streaming

    in and casting faint shadows from his eyshes on his eyelids.

    Rosemary realized it had been a long time since she''d looked at that face up close. Just as an

    admirer, it was indeed a face that could make one''s heart skip a beat.

    She got a little lost in thought.

    Then the man opened his eyes, and all that sharpness and edge returned to his face.

    Rosemary snapped back to reality, and the unpleasant memories of the night flooded back. She

    pushed Maxwell away, and her face was full of anger, "When did you sneak onto my bed?"

    She got up and then, to her shock, realized it wasn''t Maxwell who had moved to her bed, but she

    had ended up in his!

    Rosemary''s eyes widened in surprise, "You actually carried me to your bed while I was asleep,

    Maxwell, how sleazy can you be? Don''t tell me you''ve been lusting after me?"

    Thest part was just to gross him out; she wasn''t that self-absorbed.

    The man gave her a nce and scoffed with a coldugh.

    As Rosemary sat up, she flung the covers aside, and there was Maxwell lying t with his shirt

    sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his toned and muscr forearms lined with a bloody bite

    mark.

    Rosemary didn''t get it. Was this guy nuts? Biting himself, and so viciously at that?

    Maxwell caught her staring at his arm and shoved the wound in her face, "What''s up, you wanna

    get up close and personal with your masterpiece? Rosemary, are you off your rocker?

    Sleepwalking''s one thing, but biting? I told you to hit the road, and you glue yourself to my bed

    instead."

    Rosemary had no recollection of what he was talking about. All she remembered was that she was

    chased by a monster in her dream, and she kept running all night long.

    Plus, she didn''t have a sleepwalking issue, to begin with, let alone crashing his bed and sticking to

    him like a burr.

    But seeing Maxwell so confidently using her, along with the fresh bite marks that hadn''t even

    scabbed over on his arm, she started to doubt herself.

    Noticing her hesitation, he sneered, "Got amnesia, have you? Or just figuring out how to dodge the

    bullet? Want me to get the doc to pull up the surveince footage and show you how you were

    shamelessly clinging on, trying to crawl into my armsst night?"

 Chapter 81

    Has she gone bonkers because of Maxwell? Now she''s sleepwalking or what?

    After freshening up, she made a beeline for the doc''s office, just to make sure Maxwell was all

    good; then she zipped through the discharge process. "Are you heading home on your own, or

    should I give Jason a ring to pick you up?"

    Propped up against the bed, Maxwell had his lips curved into a smile. "The doc gave me the green

    light to check out?"

    ¡®That little scratch on your forehead already received far more attention than it deserved, with you

    having stayed overnight at the hospital.¡¯

    But in order to speed up the troublemaker''s exit, Rosemary bit her tongue on the snarkyeback,

    by rying the doc''s orders verbatim: "Yep, keep the wound dry,y off booze and spicy food."

    It''s winter, so not washing hair for four or five days won''t turn him into a stink bomb, but for a clean

    freak like Maxwell, it''s a real test of willpower.

    Maxwell, allzy-like, says, "But I''m still feeling a bit woozy upstairs."

    "So, what''s your brilliant idea?" Rosemary frowned, eyeing him like a hawk and sensing Maxwell

    was up to no good with his sneaky ways.

    "Move back to Meadork Retreat."

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    "Not happening," she shot back without a second thought.

    Maxwell yed the sympathy card. "No staff at home, no one to even pour me a ss of water.

    Surely you don''t want me to go back to the old manor with this and have Wendy look after me, do

    you?"

    Rosemary was merciless. "I''m not pouring water for you, and do not count on any other kind of help.

    As for going back to the manor." She shed Maxwell a wickedly insincere grin. "Be my guest.

    She''s your mom. If you''re not worried about giving her a heart attack, why should I care? I didn''t

    build the Divine Grace Chapel, after all."

    She had been craving somete-night grubst night, and now she was starving, like her stomach

    was stuck to her spine. She didn''t have the energy to waste on him anymore.

    "If you wanna stay put here, that''s cool. I''ll hire a nurse for you. Man, I''m such a good Samaritan."

    Thatst bit was just her patting herself on the back.

    This ce is a private hospital, with more beds than patients. As long as you''ve got the cash, you

    could stay till the cowse home.

    Maxwell was fuming. "Rosemary, where do you think you''re going? I''m starving!"

    "Did I kidnap the chef or blow up the hospital cafeteria? If you''re hungry, go downstairs and eat.

    Look at the bad habits I''ve let you get into."

    For three years, whether it was ordering takeout or cooking herself, Rosemary had always served it

    up to him on a silver tter. Now they were talking divorce, and he still expected her to wait on him

    hand and foot like an ancestor?

    Men ¨C give ''em an inch, and they''ll take a mile!

    Stepping out of the hospital, Rosemary hailed a cab straight home.

    As she''s a bit peculiar about her sleeping space, she had a rough night. Therefore, she grabbed

    sandwich at the supermarket, nning to just slurp something down and catch up on sleep.

    She didn''t expect to step out of the elevator and see Maxwell standing right at her door.

    Wasn''t this guy supposed to be heading home or back to the Templeton Group to work?

    "What are you doing here?"

    "If you''re here, why wouldn''t I be? I''m injured and need care. You''re my wife; it''s your duty to look

    after me."

    Was he here for a nanny service?

    Rosemary couldn''t help butugh at the absurdity. "Now you remember you have a wife. When you

    were busy stuffing money and resources into Your Sweetheart''s hands, you didn''t think of that, did

    you?"

    She unlocked her door, and turned around with a fierce re. "You¡¯re leaving or not? If not, I''m

    about to get physical."

    Maxwell''s expression darkened; he''d been looking worse for wear sincest night. "Sweetheart?"

    Rosemary rolled her eyes. "Your dear Miss Victoria."

    He frowned. "I never gave her money."

    "Oh."

    Whether he did or didn''t, Rosemary couldn''t care less. But given Ms. Temple''s pride, if she was

    willing to take Maxwell''s money, she wouldn''t have rejected the easy path with him, and insisted

    instead on going abroad to build her own status, to earn Pearl''s approval, and to stand proudly by

    his side.

    But all that was none of Rosemary''s concern now. She just wanted to eat and catch some Z''s.

    Maxwell wedged his hand to stop the closing door and strode in.

    His eyes scanned the apartment.

    Though Martin never lived here, the decor was all his taste; even the knick-knacks on the table

    were somewhat reminiscent of him.

    The ornament Rosemary used to whack Maxwell''s head withst night was still on the floor, one of

    Martin''s old favorites; the dried blood on it turned dark red, but still visibly there.

    Maxwell nced at it coldly and kicked it over to the trash can.

    "When are you nning to move out from Martin''s ce?"

    Rosemary was changing her shoes, oblivious to the gesture. "I paid rent, and why should I move?"

    Then she just ignored Maxwell.

    If he insisted on staying, she couldn''t stop him. Better save her energy.

    "You think your little rent impresses Martin?"

    Rosemary didn''t respond, but just sat down spacing out while waiting for her food.

    Maxwell''s tone was stiff. "I''m a patient, and you''re just gonna fob me off with noodles?"

    "Nope," he seemed pleased with her answer until she continued, "These are for me. You want

    some, make your own."

    Maxwell was speechless.

    He remembered back at Meadork Retreat, even though he never ate what she cooked,

    Rosemary would still whip up a full meal. Now she wouldn''t even spare an extra cup of noodles ¨C

    talk about a downgrade.

    Maxwell clenched his teeth and sarcastically asked, "You treat Martin like this?"

    "He''s not as shameless as you, and he doesn''te begging for food."

    Rosemary lifted the lid and started chowing down on her noodles. Maxwell, who always turned his

    nose up at such fare, was now actually feeling peckish. But she just kept on eating, ignoring him

    completely.

    After finishing her noodles, Rosemary hit the sack for a nap, leaving Maxwell to fend for himself.

    She slept like a log, only to be woken up in the afternoon by a call from Martin: "Rosemary,

    remember I mentioned needing your help to appraise a family heirloom for my granddad? You free

    tonight?"

    "Yeah, sure."

    After setting the meeting spot, Rosemary got out of bed and started to freshen up.

    Maxwell was no longer in the living room. She didn''t pay it any mind though; it would''ve been

    weirder if he''d been parked there for hours on end.

    When she headed out with her toolbox in hand, she reached for her keys and nada. Zilch.

    Damn it, that bastard Maxwell made off with the front door key!

 Chapter 82

    They agreed to meet around mealtime, so they chose a fancy restaurant for the rendezvous.

    Rosemary hopped out of the cab and instantly spotted the guy waiting for her outside the

    restaurant.

    Martin smoothly took the toolbox from her hands, "How''s the new ce treating you? Settling in

    okay?"

    "Yep, all good."

    As Martin led her in, he seemed to hesitate before saying, "Oh, by the way, my grandpa''s kind of a

    party animal, so don''t take it personallyter on, okay?"

    Rosemary was puzzled, but once they reached the private room, she got what Martin meant. She

    thought it would just be Nelson, but to her surprise, the room was packed to the rafters.

    Martin cleared his throat, "All these folks are my grandpa''s buddies. They had a golf game this

    afternoon and they''re kinda into the whole antique appraisal thing, so they tagged along. If it bugs

    you."

    It seemed like he only just found out about the crowd himself. Rosemary shook her head, "No

    worries, but just so you know, appraising artifacts isn''t exactly my forte, so there might be some

    margin for error."

    Despite saying that, she knew she was likely on the money. She didn''t graduate in the field, but her

    grandpa and mom were pros in the biz and had passed down everything they knew to her.

    When Nelson saw her, he waved her over, "Rosemary,e sit by me."

    The families went way back, yet as time passed, they got estranged; the Chambers family, well,

    they weren''t exactly in the same league anymore.

    Rosemary approached, "Nelson."

    The old man nodded with a smile, "You''ve grown up to be quite the stunner. Martin tells me you''re

    working at Heritage Revive Studio now? A hotshot artifact restorer?"

    Rosemary didn''t want to blow her cover as Rose just yet, so she just gave a modest smile, "He''s

    just singing my praises. I''m just an assistant, nothing more."

    "Nonsense, being at Heritage Revive Studio is a big deal in itself, especially at your age. Keep it up,

    and who knows, you might be taking over the Oswald legacy someday."

    Someone else chimed in, teasing, "Nelson, is Martin getting hitched soon?"

    A young and pretty girl, personally picked up by Martin himself, supposedly for an antique appraisal

    - but no one really believed she had the chops for that. With the Ger family connections, if they

    wanted an appraisal, they''d go for a bigwig.

    So naturally, everyone figured Martin was just looking for an excuse to introduce his girlfriend to his

    grandpa.

    At thatment, the usually genial old man''s face turned stormy, "Don''t go spreading rumors.

    Rosemary''s already hitched."

    The Ger family knew about Rosemary''s marriage to Maxwell; although there was no wedding, the

    families were close enough to bump into each other now and then.

    Seeing Nelson''s serious look, everyone mmed up, realizing it wasn''t a joke.

    The old man had snagged an ancient porcin cup, something Rosemary had seen before in a

    museum. This one wasn''t in as good condition, but it was remarkably well-preserved.

    She opened her toolbox, took out her gear, and started examining the cup closely. The process was

    lengthy, and even as dinner was served, she was still engrossed in the cup''s base.

    Martin spoke up, "Rosemary, why don''t we eat first? The appraisal can wait."

    She set down her tools and carefully boxed the cup, "Sure."

    The others didn''t really have high hopes for her verdict; they were just putting on a polite front for

    Nelson''s sake. At the moment, they already turned to their own conversations. As their attention

    was caught by something else, Martin leaned in and whispered, "Got a verdict yet?"

    "Yeah, how much did Nelson fork out for this cup?"

    Martin gestured an eye-popping figure.

    Seeing her silence, Martin got the picture, "A fake?"

    "Not exactly, more like a patch job. Judging by the material, it seems to be pieced together in the

    later period, so it''s still an antique, just not the real McCoy. Definitely not worth what was paid."

    Nelson didn''t make a scene upon learning the truth, contrary to what Rosemary had expected.

    Observing his calm demeanor, she couldn''t help but think: Well, money sure did what it wanted!

    The onlookers who were there for the show had their expressions flicker. After the meal, Rosemary

    didn''t let Martin give her a lift; instead, she hailed a cab home.

    Turning to his grandfather, Martin offered, "Grandpa Nelson, shall I take you home?"

    With no one else at the restaurant entrance, the old man who had been calm moments ago

    suddenly turned fierce, staring daggers at Martin, "Who asked you to bring in an appraiser? You

    ungrateful brat, can''t stand to see me happy for few days, had to rain on my parade. Get lost, I''d

    probably kick the bucket from anger before reaching home if you drove me!"

    After that, he even clutched his chest, gasping for air. Martin was left speechless.

    Half an hourter, Rosemary got home and the first thing she wanted was to strip down and shower.

    But just as she was undoing her blouse, she heard a noise from the room.

    A burr? She tiptoed towards the sound, grabbing something for self-defense from the living room

    along the way.

    The bedroom door creaked open before she could reach it. Maxwell stood there, eyeing the object

    clutched in her hand coldly, "What? You want a repeat ofst night''s action?"

    Rosemary was totally bbergasted but quickly regained herposure, hissing furiously,

    "Maxwell, you..."

    He had just showered, his hair still damp with droplets tracing down his chiseled face, his upper

    body bare, and a not-sorge towel wrapped around his waist, barely covering halfway down his

    thighs.

    And that towel was hers! She''d always been a bit rough, using it to wipe her face after showers, and

    now Maxwell had it slung around his waist. Just thinking about it...

    Rosemary was on the verge of a meltdown!

    "Maxwell, who said you could touch my stuff? Take that off right now!"

    Maxwell gave her a look, hand casually resting on the towel, and asked back with a half-smile, "You

    really want me to take it off?"

    Judging by his roguish demeanor, he was definitely goingmando under that towel!

    Before he could make a move, she quickly intervened, "No need, just get dressed and get the hell

    out of my ce - and take that towel with you!"

    The amusement in Maxwell''s eyes faded into a dark shadow as he coldly regarded her, "Your

    ce?"

    "I know your head isn''t exactly crammed with saintly thoughts, but don''t you dare sully me with

    those filthy ideas of yours."

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Rolling her eyes, Rosemary walked back to the sofa in the living room and sat down, "Hurry up,

    you''ve got five minutes."

    She turned on the TV and started peeling an orange, taking her time to enjoy it. Five minutester,

    Maxwell emerged from the room, now in casual home wear, his hair half-dried and hanging messily.

    A sense of foreboding crept up in Rosemary, and she instinctively scooted back with caution,

    "What''s this all about?"

    The clothes fitted him too well; they had to be his own. She certainly didn''t stock any men''s clothing

    here. Was he nning on moving in?

 Chapter 83

    Maxwell mmed up, shooting her a look that screamed she was "ying dumb".

    Rosemary, "No way!"

    Like hell she''d let him stay here!

    "10 grand for one night."

    "No dice, who knows what you''re scheming."

    "Where do you get the nerve to think I have designs on you?"

    Rosemary couldn''t help but think back on some sour memories, and with pouting lips, she said, "No

    can do."

    She was already mulling over taking this to court, thinking about splitting for two years and then

    getting an automatic divorce decree.

    Maxwell, with a stone-cold face, grumbled, "Mom''s caught wind of our separation."

    "That''s still a no-go."

    "100 grand."

    "Cash up front every night, no checks, wire transfer only."

    Rosemary flipped her stance faster than a weathervane in a tornado, gritting her teeth as she

    agreed. She couldn''t help it; the offer was just too good to pass up.

    In the few seconds he was speechless, Rosemary had already whipped out her bank card and

    thrust it at him.

    He nced at it and looked away, "Can''t be bothered; just text me the details."

    Half in doubt, Rosemary unblocked then sent him her ount info, and minutester, she got a text

    confirming 100 grand had been deposited.

    Maxwell''s eyesnded on her finger, which was poised to block him again, and he growled a

    warning, "If I find out you''ve blocked me again, you can kiss the rest of the money goodbye."

    Rosemary sheepishly retracted her hand and stood up, "Goodnight."

    By the time Maxwell caught the hint, the bedroom door had mmed shut and was locked from the

    inside!

    She had thought Maxwell would make a fuss about moving in, but surprisingly, the night passed

    without incident.

    The next day, off he went on a business trip. Rosemary didn''t care how long he''d be gone; she was

    just focused on that daily 100 grand hitting her ount.

    Soon enough, the word about her helping Nelson with the appraisal spread like wildfire in their

    circles.

    That day, she hit the Night Club, gave the server the room number, and got whisked up to the fifth

    floor.

    Somebody had rung her up the day before, said his dad was there during the appraisal and was

    super impressed with Rosemary''s skills. They wanted her to take a look at something they had.

    Rosemary initially refused; appraisals weren''t really her gig, but they named a price she couldn''t

    turn down.

    The room was crowded, but the lights were normal, nothing shady about the atmosphere or the

    crowd''s behavior.

    Scanning the room, she recognized a few faces. The middle-aged man in the center stood up

    immediately when he saw her, bowing slightly, "Ms. Chambers."

    That level of reverence almost unbelievable.

    "Darren?"

    Darren nodded eagerly, clearing the prime spot for Rosemary, "After hearing from my dad about

    how Ms. Chambers helped Mr. Ger with his appraisal, I wanted to ask for your help too. I just

    didn''t want to impose, so I waited untilst night to contact you."

    Being pals with Nelson meant they were loaded, always looking down from the clouds. His respect

    for Rosemary wasrgely because he''d heard she was Mrs. Templeton and was trying to cozy up to

    the Templeton family.

    Rosemary didn''t bother with Darren''s motives and simply said, "Let''s see the item."

    Darren carefully presented a rosewood carved box; inside were a pair of jadeite earrings, "A debtor

    gave them to me; imed they''re a family heirloom."

    Rosemary inspected them - the jadeite was clear, valuable for sure, but hardly an antique. She put

    the earrings back, "Darren, the jadeite''s top-notch. Keep it in good shape, and who knows, it might

    be an antique someday."

    Darren didn''t really care about their antiquity; the earrings were just his way of getting a foot in the

    door with Rosemary. Now he had to feign disappointment, "Looks like I''ve been had."

    After getting paid for the appraisal, Rosemary was ready to bounce, but Darren tried to keep her

    there, "Ms. Chambers, since you''re here, why not stay a bit longer? My daughter''s been studying art

    since she was young and admires your field."

    After that, he tossed a look at a youngdy nearby. He''d been trying to get chummy with Rosemary,

    but she wasn''t biting, and he couldn''t just throw money at her like he would with others, so he

    switched tactics.

    The girl was all friendly smiles, dimples and all, "Rosemary, stay a bit longer; let''s go pick some

    songs. I''m a junior at Greenwood University''s art department. Can I join your line of work after I

    graduate?"

    Rosemary replied, "You could try applying at a museum."

    Talent was scarce in their field; if someone wanted in, she was happy to point them in the right

    direction.

    "Any special requirements? Like, do I have to know antiques?" Before Rosemary could respond,

    she found herself being dragged to the karaoke console, "What song do you want, Rosemary? I can

    pick for you."

    "No, I''m good."

    She was about to decline when the door opened. Rosemary raised an eyebrow at the two people

    who walked in. Talked about a small world - she knew them both, quite well at that.

    Victoria and her agent - clearly, they were here for Darren. Tracy shed a sickly sweet smile, none

    of her usual arrogance in front of Rosemary, "Darren, I thought I saw you, and sure enough, it was

    you."

    While talking, she was busy pitching Victoria, "Victoria is hands down the best dancer in the country.

    You investing in our dance troupe is a sure bet."

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    "The best dancer?" Darren''s eyes flickered. He''d heard that Rosemary and Victoria weren''t exactly

    chums, so he saw a chance to score some points with Rosemary, "Well, we''ve gotta see her dance

    to know for sure."

    Tracy uttered, "Victoria¡¯s show is on the 9th of this month, and I''ll have someone hook you up with

    VIP."

    Darren cut her off, "Everyone''s already here; why bother chasing rainbows? Let''s just see some

    moves right here. If she''s really got the moves, then I might think about forking over some

    investment cash."

    Before Tracy could say a word, Victoria firmly rejected, "No way, I''ll never dance in a ce like this."

    Dancing in a nightclub? What did that make her? Some kind of private room princess just to please

    the guys?

    Darren''s face darkened, "What''s the matter, you got a nail in your foot here? People dance on the

    streets; you think you''re too good or you got one leg up on them?"

    Rosemary had never seen a guy who could dish it out like this; she couldn''t help but take a couple

    more nces at Darren.

    Feeling her admiring gaze, Darren was convinced he was on the right track, about to hit the big

    time, so he looked at Victoria with growing impatience, "Dance or get lost; I''m not here to throw my

    money away, sponsoring some high and mighty act!"

    Victoria, with her high standards, certainly couldn''t take this kind of insult. She was about to storm

    off but Tracy quickly grabbed her, "Victoria."

    She pulled Victoria aside and whispered, "Just pretend this ce is the Grand Theater or the

    Havenbrook Dance Theater. Without new investment, our fledgling dance troupe is gonna fall

    apart."

    As speaking, Tracy sighed wearily; if only Victoria hadn''t insisted on returning to her home country,

    or if she could havended Maxwell, they wouldn''t be in such a tight spot.

    This was undoubtedly the most humiliating dance for Victoria. Not only was the venue a dump, but

    the audience was a bunch of philistines who didn''t know art from a hole in the ground.

    And to top it off, in the middle of a spin, she caught sight of Rosemary seated in a corner. Rosemary

    was watching her dance with a detached gaze, as if she was just looking at a street performer.

    Victoria stiffened, abruptly stopping her motion, and then called out to the woman in the corner,

    "Rosemary, we''ve known each other for a while; are you just going to stand by and watch me get

    humiliated?"

    Rosemary''s response was indifferent, "If that''s how you see it, I actually feel sorry for Darren. You

    shop around even for one-buck pair of flip-flops, and you''re calling it humiliation to show a little of

    your craft for an investment worth hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions? Maybe you should

    just quit chasing investments and get out of the scene altogether. And don''t try to guilt-trip me,

    whether you''re humiliated or not is none of my business. I''m not your mom to care whether you''re

    being bullied or not."

    Tracy noticed Darren''s changing expression and jumped in, "Ms. Chambers, if you''re being so

    harsh because Mr. Templeton has got Victoria''s back, there''s really no need. If Victoria was looking

    to ride on Mr. Templeton''s coattails, she wouldn''t be here seeking investment herself."

    With this, Tracy not only tried to drive a wedge between Rosemary and Maxwell but also hinted to

    Darren that Victoria was Mr. Templeton''s woman, and he better get his head straight about who to

    suck up to!

    Just then, the closed door of the private room swung open again, and in walked Maxwell, cool as a

    cucumber. His eyes swept over everyone before finally resting on Rosemary.

 Chapter 84

    Victoria had finally leveled out emotionally and looked up at Maxwell, "Maxwell, I''m fine; don''t worry

    about me."

    Before they arrived, Tracy had given Maxwell a call, hinting at her ns for the evening in a

    roundabout way.

    The VIP room was dead silent, even the music had stopped, and everyone could feel the chilly vibe

    rolling off Maxwell.

    Rosemary sneered and looked away, thinking how shameless these two were, unting their love in

    front of the wife, and who knew what they did behind closed doors, probably no holds barred!

    Thinking this, she was even more convinced that divorcing Maxwell was the best decision of her

    life. Maxwell noticed her expression, his eyes filled with an icy chill that was hard to miss. No one

    spoke, and a heavy atmosphere spread out from him, nketing the room.

    Darren, as the host, stood up under pressure to break the ice, "Mr. Templeton, please, take a seat."

    He had set up this whole event to cozy up to Maxwell''s good graces. Although things hadn''t gone

    as nned, he had achieved his goal, sort of. He just wasn''t sure if Maxwell was here for Rosemary

    or Victoria.

    Earlier, he had bad-mouthed Victoria pretty harshly to win Rosemary over, and now he was worrying

    he might have backed the wrong horse. Just the thought made him break out in a cold sweat. He

    couldn''t help but nce at Rosemary, only to catch an ¡°Oh boy, you''re done for¡± look from her.

    Darren felt dizzy, wondering if he had not only backed the wrong horse but also misjudged

    Rosemary''s status. He was screwed!

    Victoria noticed that Maxwell''s gaze was fixed on Rosemary and softly called out, "Maxwell."

    Maxwell looked away, "Did the investment talks go well?"

    A hurt look shed across Victoria''s face, her lips bitten with two clear marks. She shook her head,

    "I guess Rosemary doesn''t want Darren to invest in our dance troupe."

    Rosemary, who had nned to just watch the drama unfold, couldn''t help but burst intoughter

    because of anger when she was suddenly med for everything.

    She took a moment to recall that she hadn''t said a word since Victoria arrived, nor had she

    interacted with Darren at all.

    "Ms. Temple, you can''t just be thick-skinned like that. Even national treasures have to perform some

    talent or act cute to get money. You think just by showing up, people should fall over themselves to

    hand you cash? They hesitate and they''re targeting you? Did you dance your brains away?"

    The first few remarks were just snarky, but thest one was a straight-up insult! Victoria''s face

    turned red, but she prided herself on being above such things and couldn''tsh out in public like

    Rosemary.

    "Rosemary, there''s no need for this. I''m not trying to steal Maxwell from you. He and I are just

    friends. Surely, just because he married you, he doesn''t have to cut off all his female friends?"

    Rosemary gave a cynical smile, "You could give that a try."

    It was like a loud, humiliating p across Victoria''s face, making her already paleplexion turn

    completely white.

    She turned to look at Maxwell. If this man had any bit of intention towards her, he wouldn''t have

    stayed uninvolved with her for so long after her return.

    Maxwell''s eyes narrowed as he watched Rosemary pushing him away, anger bubbling up inside

    him. He managed to restrain himself and said coldly, "How much investment do you need? I''ll

    handle the negotiations for you."

    A smile appeared on Victoria''s face, "Great."

    Darren was already ashen; seeing Maxwell escort Victoria over, he made room like a walking

    corpse. He tried to suck up and ended up shooting himself in the foot.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    The atmosphere in the room quickly livened up. Darren hade with the intention of getting on

    good terms with Rosemary, so the people he brought were naturally good at socializing.

    The girl who had been talking to Rosemary whispered, "That woman reeks of desperation. Can¡¯t Mr.

    Templeton sniff it out?"

    Rosemary sighed, resting her chin on her hand, "He can smell it. He''s just lovesick."

    Men were experts at calling out fakes, but they always fell for that type.

    With Maxwell there, no one dared to raise their voice, so even though Rosemary was sitting on the

    sidelines, she could still clearly hear the conversation on the other side.

    Maxwell casually yed with his ss, asking nonchntly, "Darren, you think Victoria''s dance isn''t

    worth your investment?"

    Previously, he had casually mentioned investing in the dance troupe, not really interested in such

    refinement, but faced with Maxwell''s question, Darren could only tough it out, "Ms. Temple''s dance

    is heavenly. It''s an honor for me to invest. I''ll have my secretary discuss the details with Tracy

    tomorrow and sign the contract!"

    Although Maxwell was talking to Darren, his gaze was fixed on Rosemary, who was chatting idly

    with someone next to her, not sparing a nce in his direction, seemingly unbothered by him

    showing up to support Victoria.

    Darren, anxious for Maxwell''s response, saw the man''s face turning stormy in the blink of an eye,

    the temperature around them plummeting.

    He said coldly, "In that case, let¡¯s sign now."

    It was almost like the unspoken words ¡°I don''t believe you¡± were written all over his face, and this

    was in front of everyone.

    Victoria was inwardly pleased but didn''t show it. She gently shook Maxwell''s arm, "Maxwell, maybe

    tomorrow? I think Darren''s here for a family gathering, and the contract needs to go through the

    legal department, so it can''t be rushed."

    Maxwell, dressed casually in a light sweater and a dark coat, didn''t lose any of his tough, dominant

    aura, especially when Victoria mentioned a ¡°family gathering¡±, Darren distinctly felt Mr. Templeton''s

    icy re.

    He''d got confused. Did he seriously tick off Mr. Templeton by just throwing a family shindig?

    Maxwell said, "I''ll have Harvey handle it. It won''t take much time at all, right?"

    Darren forced a smile, "No need to bother Mr. Holiday with such a small contract. I''ll get someone

    from legal on it right away."

    Yeah right, had Harvey deal with it? He''d probably end up losing his shirt! Darren whipped out his

    phone to call thepany''s legal department. Maxwell nced over to where Rosemary had been,

    but she was gone.

    Victoria followed his gaze, "I just saw Rosemary step out to take a call. You wanna go look for her?"

    Before Maxwell could respond, Tracy, exasperated and right in front of him, said, "Victoria, you''re

    too kind-hearted. Have you already forgotten how Rosemary treated you just now?"

 Chapter 85

    "Darren only embarrassed you because he was following her orders. If Mr. Templeton bails, today''s

    investment is going down the drain, and your little dance would''ve been for nothing!"

    Tracy thought those words, if not turning Maxwell against Rosemary, would at least earn Victoria

    some extra sympathy. But there was dead silence after she spoke, not a peep in response.

    Frowning, Tracy looked over and saw Maxwell zoning out, not catching a word she said.

    After Darren hung up the phone, he cautiously sought the man''s approval, "Mr. Templeton, drafting

    the contract will take a while; how about we grab a drink first?"

    "No need, give the contract to Tracy when it''s ready. I''ve got to run."

    That was some ninja-level flip-flopping. If Mr. Templeton hadn''t been in his sight the whole time,

    Darren would''ve sworn it was someone else who had been so eager to draft the contract just

    moments ago.

    Seeing Maxwell about to leave, Victoria also stood up, "Shouldn''t be long now. Let''s head out

    together with Tracy; we can drop her off on the way."

    Tracy''s ce was on the way to Meadork Retreat, but Victoria''s was in the opposite direction,

    one north and one south.

    Maxwell seemed to totally miss the hint in her words, "Have Tracy take you backter."

    Victoria didn''t expect this oue. She thought even if Maxwell didn''t want to wait for Tracy, he''d

    still offer her a ride, "What about you?"

    Maxwell nced at his watch, a telltale sign of his impatience, "I came with Archer''s car."

    Though it was Archer''s car, it wasn''t like he couldn''t take someone else along - it all depended on

    whether he wanted to or not.

    Before she could figure out what to say to get Maxwell to give her a ride, the man had already left

    the private room.

    Archer''s car was parked right by the elevator exit. Seeing Maxwelling down alone, he raised an

    eyebrow, "Weren''t you supposed to pick up your wife? Why the solo exit? Got the boot?"

    Maxwell shot him a nk look and got into the car, "Who told you I came here to pick her up?"

    "You''re all fired up; what happened to you?" Archer nced at him through the rearview mirror,

    "Weren''t you the one who rushed over from the airport after hearing that Rosemary was invited here

    by Darren?"

    Maxwell''s brow furrowed, his face contouring with displeasure.

    Archer clicked his tongue, "Look at you, ying the martyr. If you really like her, just keep her

    close."

    "She''s still wearing Mrs. Templeton''s title, and Darren is known in the circle for being a sleaze. I''m

    not crazy enough to enjoy being cheated on." Maxwell''s impatience was clear as he shut down the

    conversation, "Zip it; watch the road."

    Darren''s reputation as a ¡°sleaze¡± was somewhat undeserved. At worst, he was a lecher who liked

    young women, but it was always consensual.

    Upon leaving the Night Club, Rosemary took a cab straight back to her apartment. Passing by

    Maxwell''s suitcase while getting clothes from the wardrobe, she paused while untying her hair, and

    then decided to toss the six-figure luggage out into the hallway.

    The weather had taken a nosedive, and after being outside, Rosemary''s hands and feet had gone

    numb. She filled the bathtub with water and added a few drops of sleep-inducing essential oil.

    After a soothing bath, drying her hair, and applying moisturizing lotion, Rosemary slipped into her

    fuzzy pajamas and stepped out.

    As soon as she opened the door, there was a knock. The only people who knew she lived here

    were Martin and Maxwell, and she hadn''t even told Ynda to avoid worrying her.

    Martin would definitely call beforeing over, and as for Maxwell, he was probably too busy

    canoodling with Victoria to bothering here.

    Rosemary tiptoed to the door, grabbing the shoe horn from behind it, "Who''s there?"

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    After a few seconds of silence, a cold male voice came through the door, "Open up."

    Rosemary froze for a moment, and then said, "Your luggage is outside, grab it and go."

    "Open the door."

    "No."

    The man chuckled coldly, showing no regard for her refusal, "Unless you want to wake the whole

    floor up."

    Before Maxwell could finish, the tightly locked door was yanked open from the inside, with

    Rosemary, d in pajamas, standing behind it, "Spit it out quick."

    "Bring it inside," Maxwell kicked the luggage at his feet.

    Rosemary lifted her chin, "You think that''s happening?"

    The standoff was almost palpable. Maxwell narrowed his eyes, his indifferent voiceced with

    mockery, "Rosemary, are you ying hard to get because deep down you don''t want a divorce?"

    She looked at him as if he had lost his mind, her grip tightening on the shoe horn.

    "100 grand a night, and you''re passing up the chance to cash in. If that''s not reluctance to divorce,

    what is? Or do you think you can save up 30 million with your meager sry in this lifetime to pay

    me back?"

    His ability to twist reality was truly breathtaking. Rosemary felt like her lungs were about to burst

    from frustration. It was a wonder how a fully grown man could be so infuriating.

    "Victoria was wise to dump you. I can''t stand you for two days, let alone two years. No wonder

    you''re reduced to chasing after her like a whipped puppy, and you still can''t win her back."

    As the words left her mouth, her arm was seized. He used about 60 percent strength, causing her

    hand to ache sharply. Rosemary gasped for air.

    Maxwell''s lips curled into a mocking smile, his eyes cold and detached, "Too bad you''ve endured

    three years with this ''whipped puppy'' and now you''re stuck with me."

    "I endured three years because I mistook a pitcher nt for a red rose," Rosemary sneered, her

    words sharp as knives, aiming straight for his heart.

    She spun around and yanked a bank card from her wallet, shoving it into his pocket with zero chill,

    "Here''s 600 grand, payback for now. As for divorce, I''ve had an epiphany. I haven''t met a guy who''s

    made me desperate to ditch this marriage, so that piece of paper means squat to me. If by chance I

    stumble upon someone who makes me head over heels, madly in love, you bet I''ll make you a

    cuckold."

    Maxwell''s gaze turned as frosty as if he''d been iced, "Say that again."

    Rosemary scoffed with disdain, "What, are you a masochist or something? Dragging yourself here

    in the middle of the night for a verbal beatdown, and then asking for an encore?"

    She went to m the door shut, but Maxwell was quicker, stopping her in her tracks, "Don''t you

    wanna know who leaked that audio to the media back in the day?"

    Rosemary''s expression flipped in an instant, "You know it?"

    It was the second time he''d brought it up. Even though it was all water under the bridge, back then,

    the rumors had really done a number on her. She was dying to find out who had stabbed her in the

    back!

 Chapter 86

    "Yep," Maxwell was stingy with words.

    Rosemary waited for a good while but got nothing more out of him, impatiently blurting out, "Spit it

    out already, or get away."

    Maxwell stared at her, lips tight pressed, clearly not a fan of the scowl and undisguised annoyance

    stered on her face.

    Back at Meadork Retreat, no matter how cold he acted, this woman always managed to keep

    her cool with a smile. But now.

    He frowned slightly, "Let''s go."

    Rosemary was puzzled; where were they gonna go? Maxwell was really something else, always

    coming up with new antics.

    Seeing her stand still, looking guarded and taking a step back as if he was some creepy guy trying

    to kidnap a decent woman, Maxwell felt a tightness in his chest out of annoyance, his voiceced

    with icy sarcasm, "If you wanna know who that person is, y nice and follow me."

    "Just tell me the name; it''s the dead of night, not safe for a lone man and woman."

    Maxwell''s face was beyond ugly now, his grip on the doorknob so tight the veins on the back of his

    hand stood out, a clear sign of his fury. He gritted his teeth, "Rosemary, what exactly do you think I''d

    do to you?"

    "Who knows?" Rosemary tilted her chin up, standing half a head shorter but not losing an inch of

    her defiant stance. The disdain in her eyes couldn''t be more obvious, "You''ve been sticking to me

    like a bad smelltely, and aside from Victoria, there''s no other woman around for you to get your

    kicks. It''s not unusual for a guy to get a screw loose when he''s frustrated."

    "Me? With you?" Maxwell''s frosty gaze ran over her, "Seems like you''re not just brainless but also

    way too full of yourself. A woman who couldn''t spark an ounce of interest in me even after three

    years of marriage is bound to be just as dull if another three years passed."

    This guy was really a piece of work! Losing her cool, Rosemary grabbed a shoehorn and swung it at

    him, only to have her wrist caught swiftly by Maxwell, "All prickly and quick to throw punches, what

    are you, a porcupine in human form?"

    He dragged her out, pinning her hands behind her back with one hand, and tossed the shoehorn on

    the ground, almost embracing her as he led her towards the elevator.

    Rosemary stiffened against his chest, her mind racing not with anger but with the sudden

    realization: She wasn''t wearing a bra!

    Although it was winter and the pajamas were thick, not showing much at a nce, the close contact

    made the irregrity unmistakable.

    She tensed up her voice, "Let go; I can walk on my own."

    Maxwell looked down at her, "You think I''d trust you?"

    "Then let me go change into something more appropriate, at least to face confrontation with some

    dignity," Rosemary was not sure if Maxwell had noticed anything amiss. She nced up at him, but

    his expression was as cold as ever, showing no signs of change.

    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    She couldn''t tell if it was theck of a bra making her more self-conscious, but she felt every bit of

    friction with acute difort while they moved.

    Embarrassed and annoyed, she felt like her head was going to explode, and yet Maxwell seemed

    unfazed. There was no outlet for her frustration.

    Out of the blue, Maxwell added, "Even if you dressed in king''s robe, you couldn''t intimidate anyone."

    Damn him, she thought, may he never get Victoria in this lifetime!

    Eventually, she found herself in the elevator, with Maxwell''s car waiting downstairs. Once in the car,

    he tossed his jacket at her, "Put it on; your clothes are an eyesore."

    "An eyesore and you won''t let me change?" Rosemary was fuming but still pulled the jacket over

    her head and buttoned it up, even though she was angry.

    Maxwell¡¯s lips were pressed tight, his gaze sweeping over her briefly before returning to the road

    ahead.

    Despite his nonchnt demeanor, she had the nagging suspicion that his gaze had lingered on her

    chest.

    The drive to their destination was brief, just half an hour. Rosemary eyed the upscale residential

    complex, her brow arched in confusion, "Here?"

    "Yeah."

    Suchplexes usually required an owner''s permission to enter, and even for visitors, there was a

    need for visual confirmation calls. But the security guard merely nced at Maxwell''s license te

    and respectfully opened the gate.

    Rosemary clicked her tongue twice, such capitalist ir!

    At suite 2302 in building A, Maxwell pushed open the ajar door and entered. Rosemary hesitated for

    a split second before following.

    Inside, the scene was nothing like Rosemary had expected. The living room was filled with a dozen

    of people; besides a trembling Stacey in the corner of the sofa and a woman Rosemary didn''t

    recognize, the rest were bulky men in ck suits, obviously Maxwell''s bodyguards.

    Rosemary was taken aback for a second, "Stacey?"

    Stacey, already on the verge of tears when Maxwell entered, didn''t get a chance to well up before

    spotting Rosemary.

    Her pitiful demeanor instantly changed to a towering rebuke, "Rosemary, did you call these people?

    What are you trying to pull? If you dare do anything to me, I¡¯ll tell Dad and he¡¯ll deal with you!"

    She had always turned to Larry for backup whenever Rosemary bullied her, leading to Rosemary

    getting a beating every time. This time was no exception.

    But Rosemary just sneered, "Fine by me, I¡¯ll call him. Comin all you want, but no false

    usations; these guys are obviously not within my pay grade."

    Before Stacey could respond, Maxwell''s indifferent voice echoed, "Is that everything?"

    He was addressing the bodyguards. They nodded, "Yes."

    "Have them repeat what they just confessed," Maxwell raised his hand to check the time, a sign of

    his growing impatience.

    Stacey, though fearful of the man, refused to show any weakness in front of Rosemary. She huffed

    and turned her head away.

    But before she could fully turn, a bodyguard grabbed her chin, twisting it back forcefully, "Spill it if

    you don''t want it to get ugly!"

 Chapter 87

    Stacey still wanted to put up a fight. The thought of having to eat humble pie in front of Rosemary

    just didn''t sit right with her. But the woman next to her jumped in first - she was the waitress from

    the teahouse.

    "Alright, alright! Ms. Chambers,¡± she got up, aiming to approach Rosemary but was promptly

    shoved back into her seat by a bodyguard.

    "Back in the day, I foolishly shared the audio with a friend, and then.¡± She red daggers at Stacey,

    ¡°This one cornered me, wouldn''t take no for an answer, and insisted I sell her the private room''s

    surveince footage. She imed she was your sister and that the video did a number on your rep.

    She seemed legit, so I sold it to her. But little did I know she''d be so venomous as to leak it to the

    media!"

    Her story was a mix of truth and lies, but Stacey didn''t bother to argue. She looked up at Rosemary

    with her nose in the air, "I gave it to the media, so what? Rosemary, were those things not true? I

    exposed more than just the audio. If it weren''t for me sting those photos of you and Mr.

    Templeton out there, how could someone like you even dream of marrying Mr. Templeton?"

    Right after she leaked the audio, the photos of Rosemary and Maxwell leaving the hotel hit the

    trending topic in a hot second.

    Stacey scoffed with disdain, "You''re ying the field with Mr. Ger while hopping into bed with Mr.

    Templeton - ying the saint but acting the sinner."

    Rosemary stepped up to her, "You leaked the audio to the media?"

    "Yes."

    "And you took the photos of me and Maxwell leaving the hotel?"

    Rosemary remembered that night at the hotel. Larry had already whisked Stacey and her mom out

    of the country. How could Stacey have taken the photos?

    Stacey admitted without batting an eysh, "Yes."

    Rosemary nodded slightly and, in the next second, delivered a p to Stacey''s face! The p was

    so fierce that Stacey was left dazed, her ears ringing and stars dancing before her eyes. It took her

    a good ten seconds toe back to reality, and she lunged at Rosemary like a fishwife.

    "Rosemary, how dare you hit me!"

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    But before she could reach Rosemary, she was restrained by the bodyguard. Stacey red at her,

    wishing she could tear her apart limb by limb!

    Rosemary sneered, "Did you think you didn''t deserve it?"

    She looked at her own reddened palm with disgust and rubbed it against Maxwell''s clothes, "You

    got my hand dirty."

    Killing two birds with one stone, Rosemary finally felt a bit better after stewing all night. She huffed

    at Maxwell and stormed off.

    Once in the car, Maxwell asked her nonchntly, "Just gonna let it go?"

    "What else can I do, murder her?"

    She surely wouldn¡¯t let go, but considering Stacey''s thick skin, trying to blow off steam by hitting her

    would just be shooting herself in the foot.

    Maxwell''s gaze fell on her reddened palm, "Does it hurt?"

    Rosemary quickly hid her hand behind her back as if jolted by electricity. This guy must be up to no

    good, suddenly asking about her hand. It couldn''t possibly be a sudden bout of conscience, could

    it?

    "What are you up to?"

    Maxwell gave her a contemptuous look, "Just fear you may extort something from me."

    The nerve of this guy, it was maddening - if he wasn''t dumb, then the universe had no justice!

    Maxwell dropped Rosemary off at her apartment, and she was still figuring out how to stop him from

    following her up when he impatiently said, "Aren''t you getting out? Or do you expect me to escort

    you to your room? Rosemary, you''re obviously ying hard to get."

    Rosemary unbuckled her seat belt in a huff, grabbed the lumbar pillow, and threw it at his face,

    "ying hard to get? My ass; not even the most delusional guy imagines stuff like you!"

    Maxwell, caught off guard, took a pillow to the face. He gritted his teeth, ¡°Rosemary!¡± But before he

    could finish, the car door mmed shut.

    Rosemary walked away without a backward nce, her steps so brisk it was as if she was being

    chased by ghosts!

    The next day, news about Maxwell protecting Victoria the night before spread like wildfire. Everyone

    in the VIP room knew Ms. Temple was untouchable and a darling to Mr. Templeton. And soon

    enough, Pearl got wind of it.

    That afternoon, Rosemary got a call from Pearl, summoning her and Maxwell back to the house for

    dinner.

    Rosemary wanted to refuse, but before she coulde up with a good excuse, Pearl set it in stone,

    "It''s decided. I''ve had the servants prepare your favorite dishes. Maxwell will pick you upter."

    "Pearl, there''s no need." she could go back on her own.

    Before she could utter her refusal, the call was cut. Seeing no way out, Rosemary decided to drive

    herself. She had gotten her car back a few days ago.

    Just as she picked up her keys to leave, Maxwell called, "Come downstairs."

    Rosemary found it so annoying! As soon as she stepped out of the building, she saw the ck

    Bentley parked curbside. The window was halfway down, revealing Maxwell''s chiseled profile, "Get

    in."

    "No thanks, I''ll drive myself to the house."

    "Mom asked me to pick you up." Maxwell''s gazended on the car keys in her hand, implying

    something deeper, "You got money to buy a car?"

    Rosemary frowned - what was it to him? But Maxwell had lost his patience to chat and simply got

    out, grabbed her hand, and forced her into the car.

    The car started up, leaving the neighborhood and heading towards the Templeton vi.

    Maxwell looked straight ahead, speaking indifferently, "Pearl''s probably upset aboutst night. If she

    asks, you know what to say."

    Rosemary snorted sarcastically. No wonder he was so eager to pick her up - he needed her to

    cover for him. She nced at Maxwell. His jawline was sharp, his Adam''s apple prominent, and

    below that, the open cor of his shirt, chaste yet sensual.

    Rosemary had always known Maxwell was a looker, the kind that would stand out even in a crowd

    of pretty boys in showbiz. Not just handsome, but also a hopeless romantic - a real bonus. It was a

    real shame that such a great guy had fallen for someone other than her.

    Rosemary said nonchntly, "Don''t sweat it. I won''t say a bad word about Victoria to her."

    She''d got her heart set on getting a divorce now, and if she broke up him and Victoria, knowing

    Maxwell''s vengeful streak, he''d definitely not give her what she wanted.

    Instead of dealing with that mess, it was better to let those two losers stay together and stop

    bugging her!

    The man turned his head to look at her, his gaze a bit frosty, as if he was shooting daggers that

    could freeze someone to death.

    Feeling Maxwell''s icy stare, Rosemary thought he didn''t believe her and raised her hand to swear, "I

    promise, I''ll sing Ms. Temple''s praises to the skies in front of Pearl, make her root for you lovebirds,

    and help you two tie the knot."

    Once Maxwell and Victoria were a done deal, getting that divorce would be a piece of cake. The

    more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, so Rosemary got really curious, "By the

    way, why doesn''t Pearl approve of you and Victoria being together?"

 Chapter 88

    Maxwell''s lips were pressed into a straight line, his eyes coldly fixated on Rosemary as he spoke

    with a nonchnt tone, "Are you that interested?"

    "I was just," Rosemary began, but halfway through her sentence, her face suddenly changed color.

    She grabbed the handrail tightly and cried out to him in a frantic panic, "Maxwell, watch the road,

    not me! You''re driving, for heaven¡¯s sake - look ahead!"

    Her voice was so loud it almost cracked.

    Though this road wasn''t bustling with traffic, there were still cars around. Maxwell, the madman,

    was only looking at her and not slowing down one bit. It looked like they were about to rear-end the

    car ahead.

    Rosemary shut her eyes tight and screamed, "Ah, we''re gonna crash!"

    A piercing brake sound filled the air, but the expected collision never came. Aside from a bit of

    shoulder pain from the seatbelt''s sudden tug, there was no other hurt.

    Rosemary opened her eyes to find the Bentley''s nose just inches away from the car in front. If he''d

    hit the brakes even a secondter.

    She was fuming, her voice taking on a shrill edge, "Maxwell, if you''ve got a death wish, go find

    somece where you''re the only casualty. Don''t drag others into it, especially not me. I don''t want

    people to think we died in some tragic love pact!"

    "Shouldn''t you be thrilled to die alongside me?" A smirk yed on Maxwell¡¯s lips as he leaned in

    close to her.

    Their proximity suddenly closed to the point where they could clearly see their own reflections in

    each other''s eyes.

    Maxwell''s gazended on her face. She wasn''t wearing makeup today, just a thinyer of lip gloss

    on her lips. He stared at her lips, his Adam''s apple bobbing slightly, his eyes growing deeper.

    Rosemary''s lips tightened, "How much must you hate me to do this? Think I''d be happy to die with

    you? You think I''d be thrilled by that kind of bad luck?"

    As soon as she finished speaking, she unceremoniously pushed Maxwell away and scolded with a

    cold face, "Drive properly. Cut out the sickly-sweet act; it''s making me want to smack you."

    The man hit the back of the seat, his eyes clouding over with darkness, "Then don''t worry about

    what you shouldn''t."

    Knowing he was referring to the mess with Victoria, Rosemary opened her mouth to speak, only to

    be met with a cold nce from Maxwell, "Shut it."

    Due to this little episode, it was past six when they got back to the vi. Pearl, hearing the engine,

    came out of the vi, "Why are you back sote? I tried calling, but no one answered. I was worried

    sick."

    Rosemary pulled out her phone and indeed saw two missed calls. She had it on silent and hadn''t

    heard them.

    "I had Wendy make your favorite dishes. You must be starving. Let''s eat once you''ve washed your

    hands." Pearl hooked her arm with Rosemary''s and walked towards the vi, "Wendy, Mrs.

    Rosemary is back; get the dishes out."

    Maxwell watched the two walk away and was speechless. Huh, wondered who was the real kin

    here.

    By the time he went in, Pearl and Rosemary were already seated at the dining table, ready to eat.

    His ce setting was notably absent.

    Maxwell washed his hands and sat down, "Wendy, fetch me some cutlery."

    Wendy looked hesitantly at Pearl who was serving Rosemary, reminding, "Mr. Templeton, Mrs. Pearl

    Templeton''s not in a good mood."

    Pearl huffed without looking up, "Why eat at all? A man as fickle as you doesn''t deserve a meal in

    our house. It''s just a waste anyway."

    Rosemary let out a snort ofughter, a sentiment she wholeheartedly agreed with.

    The man looked emotionlessly at her, and just as she looked up to meet his gaze, recalling the

    alliance they had struck in the car, she swallowed her food, "Pearl."

    Maxwell interrupted with a cold tone, "Mom, who''s been spouting nonsense and stirring trouble

    behind my back?"

    Pearl knew her son well; if he found out who it was, that person would be done for. She mmed

    the table with a stern face.

    "If you hadn''t done anything, there''d be no rumors to spread. But you did and now you won''t even

    let others talk? Is this what we Templetons taught you, to bully others with your power?"

    A deathly silence fell over the dining room. Pearl pressed her lips, silent for a moment before

    commanding, "Send her abroad. I don''t want to see her again."

    Everyone knew who ¡°she¡± referred to.

    Maxwell furrowed his brow, "No way."

    This was the first time Rosemary saw him so adamantly defend someone. Maxwell was usually

    unemotional, rarely showing his feelings, and it was rare to see him so protective of another.

    Under the quiet lighting, the man sat straight on the dining chair, his handsome features shrouded in

    ayer of unresolved gloom, and that determination, no one could ignore.

    Pearl hadn''t expected her son to openly defy her for Victoria; that woman truly was a cmity. She

    should never have been allowed back in the country!

    "So what do you n to do? Keep her as a mistress? Or divorce Rosemary and marry her?"

    These things shouldn''t have been said in front of Rosemary. Watching her husband defend another

    woman must be excruciatingly painful!

    But Pearl truly loved Rosemary as her own daughter, preferring her to suffer now than be kept in the

    dark and stuck in such a terrible marriage. Pearl looked at Rosemary, taking her hand and patting it

    reassuringly.

    Maxwell''s gaze followed,nding on the woman sitting quietly, her delicate features radiant and

    beautiful, as lovely as a porcin doll without makeup. Her silent demeanor seemed to convey

    sadness, or perhaps she was lost in thought.

    His lips parted slightly, "I."

    This time, Rosemary interrupted, "Pearl, don''t me him."

    Maxwell''s brows instantly drew together, his lips pressed into a thin line, his knuckles turning white

    as his face darkened to a stormy shade.

    Before he could speak, Rosemary continued, "Maxwell and I have decided to divorce. There''s a

    long life ahead, and he''s got to find you a daughter-inw, right?"

    Pearl hadn''t expected things between them to have reached the point of divorce. Shocked, she

    looked between Maxwell and Rosemary, "Is it because of Victoria?"Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Rosemary let out a resigned chuckle, hugging her arms and pouting, "No, it''s something we decided

    on a long time ago, just got postponed because of some other stuff. Pearl, even if Maxwell and I get

    divorced, I''m still forever your daughter. And actually, Victoria is pretty awesome. She was the

    campus belle back in college, and now she''s this internationally acimed dancer, super dedicated

    and hardworking, and totally head over heels for Maxwell."

    Back in the day, she and Victoria couldn''t stand each other, and now here she was, singing her

    praises. Talked about a p in the face. And boy, did it sting!

    She nced at Maxwell, but the guy was just staring at her, stone-cold, not even a hint of jumping

    into the conversation when their eyes met. So she just gave him a little suggestive eyebrow wiggle,

    like, "Right?"

 Chapter 89

    Pearl clutched her chest as she stood up, feeling like she had been hit with more shocks tonight

    than in the past few decadesbined. Dinner was definitely off the table for her. Seeing her state,

    Rosemary moved to help, but was brushed off, "I need some air. You guys finish up and get outta

    here too. My poor heart, it¡¯s been through the wringer, I tell ya."

    She waved at Wendy, "Hand them the invite."

    Wendy picked up an engagement party invitation from the coffee table and handed it to Rosemary

    before heading to the kitchen. Although Maxwell was the one who hired her, with the two of them at

    each other''s throats, heading towards divorce, it made more sense, logically and emotionally, to

    give it to him. But the way he sat there, silently smirking, it was downright creepy.

    Rosemary unfolded the invite and raised an eyebrow when she saw the bride-to-be''s name. Turned

    out to be a college ssmate, from the same department no less.

    Maxwell, who had been watching her like a hawk, asked, "Bad blood?"

    "Not really, just not the best of friends."

    First and second in ss, natural-born archenemies.

    "Mrs. Templeton, you sure have enemies in everywhere. Seems like you can''t even snag an invite

    without bumping into someone who''s got beef with you." Maxwell spoke with thick sarcasm, "But

    with your fiery temper, only a thick-skinned tomboy like Ynda could probably handle you."

    Rosemary figured he was taking a jab at her as payback for the earlier humiliation her mom dished

    out to Victoria. He couldn''tsh out at his elders, so he dumped his anger on her.

    She scoffed dismissively. The guy was not just a jerk, he was petty to the core. She had already

    decided to let him be with Victoria and wasn¡¯t about to waste her time on such trivial spats, "No

    need for secrecy about Pearl¡¯s situation now. Find some time, and let''s just get the paperwork

    done."

    Maxwell¡¯s lips curled into a half-smile, a hint ofughter in his voice, "Didn¡¯t catch what I said in the

    car earlier? I brought you back to clear the air with mom, not to get her riled up. You didn¡¯t do what I

    asked, and now you''reying down conditions?"

    "You expect me to clean up your mess?" Rosemary trembled with anger, her finger shaking as she

    pointed at him, "Maxwell, are you even a man?"

    Maxwell leaned back, looking at her with a sneer, and said nonchntly, "Why don¡¯t you reach

    down and find out?"

    Rosemary nced at the teacup in front of her, then back at Maxwell''s sanctimonious face, "I''d

    rather not stoop to your level."

    The next second, she threw the tea right in his face. The warm droplets trickled down hisshes,

    nose, chin, and cheeks, leaving the usually suave Mr. Templeton in a sorry state. But his face

    remained impassive, still holding the pose from before, not even blinking.

    Rosemary turned away, "Wendy, call the driver. Get the car ready."

    This was infuriating; what a douchebag! She had barely taken two steps when she heard the grating

    sound of a chair moving behind her. Then she was forcefully spun around as someone grabbed her

    wrist.

    The man''s face was still wet as he wrapped his other arm around her waist, leaning in close enough

    for his breath to fan her face, "Clean it up."

    Rosemary stood her ground, her defiance slow and enunciated, "Dream on."

    She expected Maxwell to lose it - anyone would after getting sshed in the face - but he just

    chuckled, "Wendy, go downstairs."

    With a ¡°yes¡±, Wendy didn''t bother tidying up the mess on the table and hurried back to her room.

    Maxwell repeated, "I said, wipe it off."

    Rosemary stood firm, "And I''ll say it again - no, freaking, way!"

    She turned her head to avoid his gaze, "Don''t get so close. I might not be able to resist pping

    you."

    "Be my guest."

    Rosemary didn''t hold back and went for it. Their rtionship was already in the gutter; one more

    p wouldn''t make a difference!

    Her hand was halfway there when Maxwell caught it, pulling her in for a forceful kiss despite her

    struggles.

    Things took such a surreal turn that Rosemary''s eyes widened in shock, and it took her a few

    seconds to react. She bit down hard on Maxwell''s lip, the bite fierce and deep, tasting blood almost

    immediately.

    "Ouch." Maxwell reflexively released her, his fingers brushing his lip, now stained with a trace of

    blood, "Are you a dog?"

    Rosemary spat disdainfully, "Better than being a beast like you."

    "I can''t hit a woman, no matter how mad I am, so I guess I''ll just have to bully you this way." He let

    go of her, the air conditioning in the vi already drying his face, "If you don''t want this, be more

    obedient next time."

    Rosemary was speechless. This guy was seriously asking for it!

    She stormed out of the vi. This time, Maxwell didn''t stop her, nor did he follow. Everything had

    happened so fast that Wendy probably hadn''t even called Jason yet. Rosemary didn''t want to go

    back and have to see Maxwell''s face again.

    ¡°Forget it.¡± She thought to herself, ¡°I¡¯ll just walk out.¡± There was a bus stop two kilometers away, and

    if she hurried, she could catch thest one.

    Rosemary hadn''t gone far when a ck Bentley pulled up beside her. The car door opened, and the

    driver got out, quickly circling the front of the car to open the door for her. It was the family driver.

    "Mrs. Templeton, Mr. Templeton sent me to take you back."

    Rosemary didn¡¯t hesitate and got in. Thanks to Maxwell''s drama, she hadn''t even had a chance to

    eat, and now she was both tired and hungry. Since there was a ride, why not take it?

    The engagement party was on Saturday, and Rosemary didn''t go with Maxwell. She had received

    her own invite the day after seeing it at the Templeton vi.

    She hadn¡¯t kept in touch with her ssmates much since graduation, and with Crystal, who she

    didn¡¯t get along with, she didn¡¯t even have contact information. The invite was brought to her by

    someone else.

    The person who delivered the invite said Crystal had invited the whole ss. Only when Rosemary

    arrived at the venue did she realize it wasn¡¯t just the whole ss - it seemed like a third of the entire

    department was there.

    Crystal and the groom were standing at the entrance ying hosts when she saw her, so full of

    herself that her nostrils seemed about to reach for the skies!

    "Rosemary, I thought you wouldn''t have the guts to show up!"

    "If you had the nerve to invite me, why wouldn''t I have the nerve toe?"

    Back in the day on the school forum, it was Crystal who used her of staging a whole drama to

    sell her graduation project for a hefty sum, just to get famous. Although no solid evidence ever

    came up and Crystal publicly apologized, the damage was done.

    Crystal said, "Didn''t the word on the street say you got hitched? So, where''s your hubby today?

    Could it be he''s had enough of you being a slut and hopping from one bed to another, and is ready

    to ditch you after getting cuckolded?"

    There were hardly any onlookers at the entrance as the engagement party was about to kick off, so

    she didn''t hold back with her words.

    Rosemary''s lips curled into a defiant smile, "Speaking of being cuckolded, how about I list off all

    your exes for your future husband? Let''s see who actually deserves that title, his or my husband''s?"Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 90

    Crystal''s hubby was the second son of the Sullivan family. Now, the Sullivans weren''t exactly what

    one would call old money, but they were loaded for sure. It was not every day someone got the

    nerve to jab ''em in the backbone, especially with something as humiliating as being cuckolded.

    His face darkened a tad, "You''re Crystal''s ssmate, right? If you''re here to genuinely celebrate

    with us, we''re all for it, but if you''re aiming to rain on our parade."

    Mid-sentence, he scoped out the garden entrance with the corner of his eye and then froze in his

    tracks.

    Heposed himself, couldn''t afford to waste more time yapping with Rosemary, and hustled over

    to the parked car, "Mr. Templeton."

    He''d been loitering outside, even as the engagement bash was kicking off, all because he was

    waiting for Maxwell.

    Maxwell stepped out of the car and caught sight of the groom waiting by his side, giving him a slight

    nod, "No need for formalities, Bernard."

    Bernard didn''t switch gears just because of his response, and gestured towards the hall''s entrance,

    "Please, after you."

    On a day like today, one would think the dude in the snazzy suit, the groom, would be the star of the

    show, but standing next to Maxwell, he looked more like a sidekick.

    Crystal caught Rosemary staring that way and let out a snort of disdain, "Get real, as if you could

    ever match up. That guy there is the one and only heir to the Templeton family, the big cheese of

    the Templeton Group. Just a heads-up, since we''re old schoolmates and all, don''t get your hopes

    up, Ah!"

    She pped her hand over her mouth, feigning surprise, "Oops, almost slipped my mind. You''ve

    been in Mr. Templeton''s bed, but even that steamy fling didn''t snag you a Mrs. Templeton title."

    Rosemary and Maxwell''s marriage was on the DL. Though they went public at Pearl''s birthday

    bash, the circle who knew was still small.

    "Crystal." Rosemary closed in, her rosy lips arched upwards, "I heard the Sullivan family''s second

    son is someone you put an effort to get.¡±

    Crystal eyed her raised hand and recoiled, "What do you want? This is Sullivan turf; youy a finger

    on me and."

    "What are you talking about? Who said anything about hitting you?" Rosemary''s handnded on

    her shoulder; she didn¡¯t give it much juice, "The bride''s gotta look drop-dead gorgeous, not sport a

    p mark, right?"

    Crystal pressed her lips, trying to regain herposure and her body rxed, "Good, you know

    your ce."

    "I won''t smack you, but you owe me an apology for that little tirade of yours. How ''bout up there, on

    that stage, in front of everyone?"

    "In your dreams! I''m Mrs. Sullivan, for crying out loud. Who are you to demand an apology from

    me?"

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Back in school, Rosemary always had the upper hand, and now that Crystal finally had a leg up, an

    apology was out of the question!

    Rosemary shed her phone, "Then I guess the highlight reel with your exes will be the talk of the

    town. You don''t think I''d just show up to be your punching bag, do you?"

    She wasn''t keen oning, but Pearl rang her upst night, insisting she drop by for Wendy.

    Rosemary figured it was just a pretext; if it was that important, Pearl could''ve shown up herself. Still,

    she didn''t want to let her down.

    Crystal lunged to snatch the phone, "I dare you."

    Just then Bernard walked in on the scene, "Crystal, what''s going on?"

    Hearing his voice, Crystal dropped her hands in a fluster, turning back with a smile, "Oh, it''s nothing,

    just remembered some unpleasant stuff from before."

    "If you guys don''t get along, why not have security show her the door?"

    Crystal wasn''t about to let Rosemary slip away, especially with that video in her possession, so she

    clung to Bernard''s arm and chuckled, "You''ve got it all wrong. We''re tight, always horsing around

    like this. Speaking of which, Rosemary, why are you flying solo? Heard you tied the knot. Why didn''t

    you bring your hubby along? Did you split up?"

    She nced at Maxwell out of the corner of her eye. Who would''ve thought that the usually haughty

    and dignified Mr. Templeton would show interest in this kind of gossip, even sticking around to

    watch the drama unfold.

    "No, he," Rosemary''s response was coy and teasing, as she looked Crystal''s way, but really, she

    was eyeing Maxwell. Their gazes met, and she provocatively arched an eyebrow, "kicked the

    bucket."

    Maxwell''s eyes narrowed, his voice ice-cold, "With such a grim reaper vibe, Ms. Chambers, you

    think you''re fit to attend someone else''s engagement party?"

    "Mr. Templeton, that''s a bit harsh. Isn''t it my poor, dearly departed husband who''s the unlucky one?

    Who knows how many sins he racked up to bite the dust so young."

    As the engagement partymenced, the butler arrived to usher guests in. Bernard, with Crystal in

    tow, whispered just loud enough for both to hear, "I don''t care what you had in mind inviting that Ms.

    Chambers."

    He wasn''t dumb; it was clear as day there was bad blood, "But mark my words, don''t you dare

    touch her."

    Crystal turned, startled, "Is Rosemary the one you''re smitten with?"

    Their engagement was nothing more than a mutually beneficial arrangement; she knew Bernard

    had someone he pined for.

    Bernard nced at her, probably thinking she was too daft to even waste the emotion of contempt

    on, "Something''s fishy between her and Mr. Templeton."

    Crystal looked back to see Rosemary and Maxwell parting ways, looking no more familiar than

    strangers. She refused to believe there was anything real between them. If there was, it had to be

    finished, or else Rosemary would''ve unted Maxwell''s support long ago.

    She inwardly seethed, determined to get that video back!

    After fulfilling Pearl''s request and visiting Wendy, Rosemary grabbed a few pastries and found a

    quiet corner to chill.

    The engagement party wasn''t exactly that grand, but Crystal was stuck to Bernard like glue, making

    the rounds and thanking everyone. But man, she felt prickly all over, like she was constantly being

    watched. And sure enough, every time she looked up, she locked eyes with Rosemary.

    It was a stare-down, and Rosemary gave her phone a little wave, her threat as clear as day.

    That freaking snake! While Bernard was busy ying host, Crystal sneaked in a few words to her

    BFF.

    Of course, Rosemary didn''t miss that exchange either.

    "Don¡¯t have the ability and yet you''ve got some nerve, strutting around here like you own the ce,

    Rosemary. Should I call you a fool or just in gutsy? Bernard might not have the hots for your

    ssmate, but you stirring up trouble at his engagement bash? Do you really think he''s going to

    stand by and let you wreck his party?" The mocking voice came from behind her.

    Rosemary turned around to see Maxwell, who had been the center of attention until moments ago,

    standing right behind her, looking down at her with disdain in his eyes.

    Rosemary cracked a smile, her chin-up, devil-may-care attitude as cold and dismissive as ever,

    "What can I do? I don''t have Ms. Temple''s charm to make a lovesick puppy fight my battles. So, I

    guess I have to get my hands dirty."

 Chapter 91

    Rosemary''sment was initially just a dig at Maxwell, but the guy didn''t get all riled up like she

    imagined. He just looked at her and said coolly, "How do you know no one''s got your back if you

    never try?¡±

    ?? Was this dude off his rocker again?

    She grinned and warily edged back a few steps, thinking, "Help, there''s a creep in the house."

    As Maxwell saw her like that, his face darkened in an instant, "What do you mean?"

    Rosemary chucked the te she was holding onto the table, ¡°I''m staying away from you before your

    crazy is contagious and I start jabbering like a lunatic too.¡±

    She spun around and headed for the restroom. Just as she stepped out of a stall, she was blocked

    by a group of people.

    "Rosemary, we''re old ssmates. Howe you don''t hang out with us anymore?" The ringleader

    was Crystal''s BFF and a college mate, as were the others following her.

    But not from the same department, not tight. Rosemary raised an eyebrow and smirked coldly,

    "What, you guys here to help Crystal get the video back?"

    Shirley crossed her arms and looked down on her arrogantly, "Crystal kindly invited you to the party,

    and you repay her by spreading these wild usations. Hand over the video."

    "Calling me a liar on one hand and asking for the video on the other, you can''t hide the truth just by

    covering your ears. Tell Crystal, if I don''t see her publicly apologize in ten minutes, I''m gonna have a

    chat with Bernard."

    She yawned. If it weren''t for Pearl''s request, she wouldn''t have even bothered showing up. Sticking

    around this long was the most respect she could muster for an old ssmate.

    On her way out of the restroom, as Rosemary walked past Shirley, she was suddenly blocked,

    "Since you refused to do it the easy way, guess I have no choice but to be sorry about this."

    She gestured to the others, "Tie her up and toss her in the stall."

    The group slowly closed in on Rosemary.

    Shirley continued, "Back in college, your recklessness could be chalked up to naivety, but after

    battling it out in the real world for this long, still not knowing your ce, I can only call you stupid.

    You think you can threaten Crystal just by pping your gums?"

    She leaned in close to Rosemary, oozing disdain, "It''s bad enough being dumb, but vain too? Can¡¯t

    believe you orchestrated a scheme to sell your own graduation project at a high price and then

    donated the money to the school. If I were you, I''d be too ashamed to show my face after being

    exposed like that in public. And we have Victoria to thank for broadcasting this whole fiasco."

    Back when Rosemary''s grad project was disyed at Greenwood University, it sold for a record

    price. Everyone was shocked, even more so when she donated all the money to help poor students.

    She never meant to make it public, but Rosemary went around trumpeting the news and even

    convinced the university administration to hang a banner at the school entrance, supposedly to

    honor her.

    Before long, the truth came out that it was all staged by herself. One could imagine the fall from

    grace, from the pinnacle to being the target of everyone''s scorn!

    Now, Rosemary was encircled by the group. She cracked her knuckles. It looked like she''d have to

    throw some punches to get out today.

    Shirley added, "Snatch her phone. Without it, let''s see how she,"

    Before she could finish, Rosemary''s foot sent her flying back a few steps! Shirley instantly went

    pale, doubled over clutching her stomach, "Rosemary, you dare hit me!"

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    "I hit you, so what? What are you, a cactus that can''t be touched?"

    "This is the Sullivan family''s ce. You dare to cause trouble here; Bernard will definitely kick you

    out."

    This was the Sullivan family''s turf, and Bernard and Crystal''s engagement party to boot. Shirley

    wouldn''t be pulling this big of a stunt on Rosemary without being prepared. At least until this group

    was gone, nobody would interfere.

    Rosemary approached Shirley with a mocking smile, "Even if I leave you lot crippled today,

    nobody''s gonna..." Nobody was gonnae in.

    Before she could finish, there were knocks on the door.

    Damn, life''s ps came at her from everywhere!

    Shirley, the dimwit, couldn''t even clear the room before starting trouble? As the others were about to

    jump in, the knocking stopped them, "Shirley, what do we do?"

    They were all high-societydies; getting caught bullying someone in a restroom would be

    disastrous for their reputations.

    Outnumbering and with the upper hand, Shirley refused to let it go. She red menacingly at the

    defiant Rosemary, "Scared of what? The door''s locked, no one can get in. Today, I''m going to make

    that bitch kneel and apologize!"

    With a loud bang, the restroom door, which was bolted from the inside, was violently kicked open.

    A tall, impable man stood at the door, his face stern, radiating a chilling aura. His gaze swept

    over the group, finally resting on Rosemary, his brow furrowed, "What''s going on?"

    Shirley, who had just been ferociously threatening to make Rosemary beg for mercy, instantly

    changed her tune, tears welling up, "Mr. Templeton, she hit me; my stomach hurts so much. Could

    you please take me to the hospital? I might be bleeding internally!"

    The footprint on her clothing was proof, leaving no room for Rosemary to deny.

    Maxwell stared at Rosemary, who didn''t even bother to offer an exnation and even rolled her

    eyes at him, not hiding her displeasure in the least.

    Shirley, her voice rising in anger and frustration, kept on, "Mr. Templeton, look at her. She''s clearly

    showing you no respect."

    The woman''s nagging voice was especially grating in the quiet restroom. Maxwell frowned in

    distaste, "Shut up."

    Shirley''s face turned beet red; never before had someone rebuked her so rudely.

    With peace restored to his ears, Maxwell extended his hand toward Rosemary, "Come here."

    Rosemary was in a foul mood, old memories stirred up again by Shirley''s words. She despised

    Victoria and even more so Maxwell, who had supported her.

    Back in the day, Victoria was the queen bee in school, and like 98% of that credit went to Maxwell.

    All those folks were tripping over themselves to rub elbows with Mr. Templeton, treating Victoria like

    she was the next big thing.

    Rosemary wasn''t green-eyed about the attention Victoria got, but damn, those people sucked up to

    her by dumping on Rosemary who didn''t jive with her.

    So, her college life was pretty much a dumpster fire, and Maxwell had his fingerprints all over that

    mess. Right now, she''d give anything to pin him down and give him a taste of his own medicine,

    payback time.

    Rosemary didn''t want to stick around here, but Maxwell was blocking the gate, right by the door. If

    she wanted to bounce, she had to squeeze past him, "Mr. Templeton, I know you''ve got no shame,

    bute on, at least pretend to care about decorum. This is thedies'' room, and you''re lurking

    here like some creep. Anyone would think you''re up to no good."

    Talked about no shame; he was shameless and thick-skinned!

 Chapter 92

    Maxwell watched Rosemary with evident interest, "So spill the beans, what am I supposedly up to?"

    She rolled her eyes; hell she knew what he was scheming. After a standoff, Rosemary started to

    walk away. As she passed by Maxwell, he murmured so faintly it was almost a whisper, "You want

    that woman to apologize, no need to make such a song and dance about it."

    She nced back at him, and there he was, all high and mighty with a e on, beg me¡± look

    stered on his face.

    She tilted her head defiantly, "In your dreams, buddy."

    "Rosemary." Maxwell''s gaze sliced through her like a knife, a vein throbbing uncontrobly on his

    forehead, "Where is your fricking manners?"

    Maxwell was dressed in dark hues today, his features and contours appearing more cutting. Shirley

    and her entourage had already shrunk back to the walls, with only Rosemary bold enough to face

    him head-on, "I don¡¯t need them when facing you."

    With that, she stopped paying him any attention and headed straight for the hall.

    Shirley, still standing there, didn''t get Maxwell''s drift. Was he nning to settle scores for

    Rosemary? But she was the one who got hit!

    She had intended to make that wretched woman kneel and beg for mercy, but before she could act,

    Maxwell had kicked the door in.

    Shirley edged closer cautiously, her face oozing ttery, tentatively asking, "Mr. Templeton, do you

    know Rosemary?"

    From the looks of it, anyone could tell their connection was deep. She thought Maxwell wouldn''t

    give her the time of day, but after giving her a cursory nce, he condescended to say, "She''s my

    wife."

    Shirley was stunned. His wife? Rosemary was Maxwell''s wife?! How could that be!

    If she really was Mrs. Templeton, wouldn''t she have unted that fact already? Let¡¯s not talk about

    making Crystal apologize in front of everyone, she could call off the Sullivan family engagement with

    just a word. Since she hadn''t, Maxwell must be fibbing.

    Yeah, that had to be it. But for someone of Mr. Templeton''s status to lie for Rosemary already spoke

    volumes. Even if she wasn''t Mrs. Templeton, she was still his number one gal.

    Shirley''s knees buckled, and she crumpled to the floor, her face ashen. It was a while before

    someone helped her up, "Shirley, you okay?"

    "I''ve been screwed over by Crystal!" Her voice was shrill with regret. When she looked up, the

    restroom entrance was empty, and she was still in a daze, "Where''s Mr. Templeton?"

    "He left."

    Otherwise, they wouldn''t have dared to help her up!

    After leaving the restroom, Rosemary went to the foyer. She didn''t mingle with the crowd, and just

    sat on the sofa in the lounge area, resting her chin on her hands, staring at Crystal, who was

    basking in the limelight with Bernard, thanking the guests, her face radiating the triumph of

    snagging a wealthy husband-to-be.

    Crystal managed to keep a smile stered on her face for a while, but soon Rosemary''s stare

    made her ufortable. She whispered something to Bernard and started heading towards the

    lounge area.

    "What on earth are you up to?"

    Her face still wore a mask-like smile, but her eyes were about to spit fire with rage!

    "Don''t you know what I want?" Rosemary frowned with impatience, "You''ve got five minutes. If you

    don''t do as I say, I''ll just have to share the juicy story with everyone here."

    Crystal red at her, "I dare you!"

    "Let''s see if I dare or not." Rosemary''s expression was frosty, "Crystal, I was actually nning to let

    bygones be bygones with you, but you just had to remind me over and over of those unhappy

    memories. If I''m not happy, do you think you can just prance around engaged and merry? Dream

    on."

    Crystal nced towards the restroom, no sign of Shirley yet. Hadn''t she told her to destroy the

    video? She couldn''t even handle this simple task, utterly useless!

    "I''ll pay for the video in your hands." Crystal clenched her teeth with resentment, "You name the

    price."

    She couldn''t apologize; that would be pping her own face, as well as the Sullivan family''s. The

    engagement would be ruined.

    She had worked so hard to get to this point; she couldn''t let it fall apart now! She wished she had

    known earlier that Rosemary was a nutcase; she would''ve just sucked it up.

    "Four minutes left."

    While the standoff was tense, the emcee started speaking with fervor, spewing blessings left and

    right, "And now, let''s wee our lovely couple to the floor for their first dance."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Bernard approached Crystal, extending his hand, "Let''s go."

    Crystal''s emotions were still in turmoil, but she managed a smile, "Okay."

    She decided to take a gamble, betting that Rosemary was just bluffing. Herst boyfriend was from

    her college days, and though she and Rosemary were at each other''s throats back then, they had

    gone their separate ways after graduation and hadn''t kept in touch. Who would keep an enemy''s

    steamy video for three years?

    Rosemary stepped closer with a smile, "Bernard, there''s something I want to show you."

    Her voice was calm, her lips slightly curved, and her stunning looks paired with that poised

    confidence made it easy to be entranced. Bernard was momentarily dazzled, so he didn''t refuse

    right away.

    The dance music had started; with the spotlight and everyone''s eyes on them, they also noticed the

    odd trio. This looked like a wedding heist?

    In this face-off, Rosemary was clearly holding the upper hand. Crystal, in a panic, clung to her

    fianc¨¦''s hand, "Bernard, don''t listen to her."

    Bernard''s voice joined hers, "What is it?"

    Rosemary pulled out her phone, and to give a better view, she had to step even closer.

    Crystal tensed up, her voice barely above a whisper, "Okay."

    If it weren''t for fear of arousing Bernard''s suspicion, she would''ve snatched the phone right then and

    there.

    Before Rosemary could even blink, a hand swooped in and yanked her away from Bernard.

    Everyone was gobsmacked by this sudden twist, their heads snapping around to stare at Maxwell,

    who just popped up behind Rosemary.

    The guy had this chilly vibe oozing off him, and with his high-and-mighty status, nobody dared to

    give him the cold shoulder.

    Nobody had a clue what he was up to, and not a soul was gutsy enough to pipe up in the middle of

    this showdown.

    Rosemary wasn''t digging all the attention and frowned, trying to y it cool as she attempted to slip

    her hand out from Maxwell''s grip.

    But just as she made her move, Maxwell mped down on her fingers in a rough and ready way,

    interlocking their fingers and grabbing hold of her hand again.

 Chapter 93

    Crystal grabbed the mic from the emcee''s hand, her face flushed with shame and mortification as if

    every nerve in her body was singed with embarrassment. She clenched her teeth, her fingers

    tightening around the mic so much that her knuckles bulged.

    Publicly apologizing at an event like this was like trampling on the Sullivan family''s reputation. She

    nced at Bernard''s expressionless face and could already imagine the storm that would hit her

    after the guests left. But if she didn''t apologize.

    She closed her eyes briefly, bracing herself for an even worse oue.

    "I''m Crystal, and I''d like to apologize to my ssmate Rosemary right here."

    Rosemary, clearly bored by the drama, took the opportunity when Maxwell was off guard to slip her

    hand away. Without a word, she turned and headed towards the parking lot.

    She had driven herself over here tonight, and she could hear footsteps trailing behind her at a

    steady pace. She knew it was Maxwell but paid him no mind.

    After that fiasco, anyone with a bit of social savvy started making excuses to leave. The Sullivan

    family only had one parking lot, so it wasn''t strange to be heading the same way. But the fact that

    he followed her all the way to her car was another story.

    Rosemary raised an eyebrow sarcastically, "Mr. Templeton''s car is parked here too?"

    "I''ve been drinking; I can''t drive."

    Maxwell nced at her modest Volkswagen, worth only tens of thousands, and though he said

    nothing, the disdain in his eyes was painfully obvious.

    It was as if he was saying, "Look at you, what have youe to without me!"

    Rosemary shrugged nonchntly, "That''s too bad. Since the Meadork Retreat isn''t far from

    here, why don''t you hoof it back?"

    After saying that, she didn''t bother with him anymore and got into her car. Just as she started the

    car, Maxwell opened the passenger door and sat down, his eyes half-closed as hemanded,

    "Drive to Meadork Retreat."

    His tone was entitled, not the slightest bit embarrassed. Rosemary''s eyes widened. She thought

    that a rich yboy like Maxwell might have a sliver of shame, but clearly, she was mistaken.

    She frowned, clearly annoyed, "Get someone from the Sullivan family to drive you back."

    Maxwell lifted his gaze, his eyes visibly bloodshot. She had already noticed the faint smell of alcohol

    on him when they passed each other in the restroom, and now in the confined space of the car, the

    scent was even stronger, his voice roughened by alcohol, "I don''t ride with strangers."

    Rosemary had forgotten he was somebody; he was a ma for unwanted attention. Pearl had

    mentioned he was stalked as a kid.

    But even then, she didn''t want to drive him. Meadork Retreat was in the opposite direction from

    her apartment; the only convenient route was from here to the entrance.

    "You could have Jasone to drive."

    "Jason''s kid is sick; he''s been in the hospital taking care of him."

    With the engagement party guests gone and cars gradually leaving, Rosemary, tapping the brake

    pedal, said impatiently, "You could call Victoria to pick you up."

    "You are my rightful wife; driving me is your duty."

    Rosemary shot back, "I''m handing that duty over to her now. I''m sure both she and you would be

    thrilled."

    Her words seemed to be about passing on the driving duty to Victoria, but the underlying meaning

    was clear: she was ready to give up her position as Mrs. Templeton.

    "You want a divorce that badly?"

    "Yes."

    "You really want to push me towards Victoria?"

    Each of his questions was followed by a long pause, a suffocating silence spreading between them.

    Rosemary, observing his white-knuckled grip on his phone, had an eerie feeling: it wasn''t the phone

    he wanted to crush, but rather her throat.

    "I''m being selfless for your happiness; you should thank me for my generosity. Otherwise, Victoria

    could only ever skulk around as a mistress in the shadows."

    The word ¡°selfless¡± seemed to appease Maxwell, his expression softening slightly, but his response

    was still harsh, "I don''t need your charity."

    "Of course not, Mr. Templeton, you snap your fingers and the world jumps. Even with thebel of a

    married man, you can still pamper Victoria with no issues," Every word, every syble, wasced

    with sarcasm, though it was unclear if she was mocking Maxwell or herself.

    The man''s face darkened, and his cold tone was unmistakably unkind, "Rosemary, speak inly

    and leave irrelevant people out of it."

    He was angry now. Was it because he couldn''t stand his sweetheart being insulted?

    Rosemary wasn''t angry; instead, she smiled and said, "Fine. Then call Darren right now, cancel

    Victoria''s funding, and I''ll believe she truly means nothing to you."

    Maxwell''s prating gaze fixed on her, his lips pressed tight, the atmosphere visibly tenser. He

    didn''t respond, but his silence was as good as affirmation.

    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Even though she had expected it, as the one discarded, she couldn''t help but feel a bitter emotion.

    It had nothing to do with love; it was just the realization that her three years of efforts were for

    naught.

    Comparing him to a dog was an insult to the animal; even the fiercest, most untamed stray would

    wag its tail like a propeller after being pampered for three years.

    "Maxwell, do you have any idea how much I loathe you and Victoria? Parading around like decent

    folk but doing despicable things behind closed doors, each of you a bunch of sanctimonious

    hypocrites," Rosemary''s tone was calm, even cheerful, but her words hit home with precision.

    She didn''t believe for a second that the scandal about the overpriced painting would have blown up

    without Victoria''s meddling. If it was all orchestrated by her, so be it, but the problem was she still

    didn''t know who actually bought the painting in the end.

    Maxwell didn''t interrupt her. His expression was also seemingly calm, but if one looked closely, his

    eyes resembled a lightless abyss, chilling to the bone.

    "I can call Darren to pull the funding, but there''s a condition."

    Rosemary had this bad feeling in her gut. Knowing Maxwell''s temperament, there was no way he''d

    let it slide after she had dissed him like that just moments ago.

    "Call Martin and tell him you don''t love him anymore."

    Rosemary was totally baffled! That Maxwell, sure enough, didn''t have anything nice up his sleeve!

    Her rtionship with Martin was as tonic as theye; neither had any romantic feelings for the

    other. If she suddenly hit him up with that kind of talk out of the blue, he would probably think she''d

    gone cuckoo, full of herself!

    This was clearly a ploy to burn bridges! Just thinking about all the times Martin had helped her out,

    no strings attached, she couldn''t bring herself to do such a thing. That would make her a real jerk.

    Rosemary waved her hand dismissively, bored to death, "Maxwell, if you don''t want to pull your

    funding, then don''t. I''m not forcing your hand. You don''t need to y these games to get a rise out

    of me."

 Chapter 94

    Maxwell''s gazended on Rosemary''s face, utterly expressionless, "No need for me to call Victoria

    now, huh? For Martin''s sake, you really are willing to swallow any bitterness."

    He reached out towards her, and as Rosemary caught sight of his cold, angry eyes, she couldn''t

    shake off the feeling that he might be reaching to choke the life out of her.

    She leaned back slightly, dodging Maxwell''s touch. His hand paused mid-air, and then clenched into

    a fist, "About the divorce."

    He left his sentence hanging there, as if he was deliberately keeping her on tenterhooks. Rosemary

    watched him, her lips slowly pressed.

    With a casual look, the man''s polite, indifferent face twisted into a nasty smirk, "Not gonna happen."

    Rosemary clenched her teeth in silent fury. Fricking douchebag!

    She was already a powder keg of pent-up emotions, and his teasing just lit the fuse. She exploded!

    "Get out."

    Maxwell nonchntly closed his eyes, "Drive. Don''t forget you still owe me money. Even without

    marital obligations, it''s only fair you work off your debt as a driver. A debtor snarling more than the

    creditor - who''d lend you money after this?"

    Rosemary lifted her chin and sneered, got out, pulled open the door, and without a sliver of

    courtesy, yanked Maxwell out of the car.

    Logically, with a man''s strength and natural weight advantage, he shouldn''t have been pulled out so

    easily, but somehow, Rosemary managed just that!

    She mmed the car door shut with a thud, slid back into the driver''s seat, and drove towards the

    exit.

    It was an engagement party today, and everyone was dressed lightly. The night air was as biting as

    a knife, stinging the skin. Just the few minutes of getting out, dragging a person, and getting back

    in, her fingers were already numb with cold. She warmed them up by the aircon vent before they

    regained feeling.

    She nced at the rearview mirror. Maxwell was still standing there, his eyes, narrow and deep,

    staring intently in her direction.

    Was he going to freeze to death? The thought had barely crossed Rosemary''s mind when she

    squashed it. The Sullivan family wouldn''t just ignore Maxwell standing out there; their vi was one

    of the early purchases in an area that had since been developed, so it wasn''t isted.

    The roads were busy. As Rosemary drove off, she saw plenty of empty taxis, so shepletely let

    go of her worry.

    Once home, Rosemary headed straight to the bathroom to remove her makeup, shower, and put on

    a face mask. By the time she finished, it was almost eleven o''clock.

    She crawled into bed, nning to scroll through her phone before sleeping. Just as she opened a

    video app, Maxwell''s call came in.

    She stared at the name on the screen, hesitating for a few seconds before answering, "What''s up?"

    "Spring Hospital. Come and sign."

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    It wasn''t Maxwell on the other end. She froze for a few seconds before recognizing the voice,

    "Archer?"

    She wasn''t close with Archer, having met him just a few times and heard him speak. The voice

    through the phone sounded different than in person, so she wasn''t sure.

    His tone was t and cold as he briefly exined, "Maxwell had a car ident on the way back.

    The doctor needs a next-of-kin to sign the critical condition notice. If you can''t make it in twenty

    minutes, I''ll just get the doctor to prepare the DNR."

    Rosemary''s brain buzzed, and she reflexively sat up in bed, "How did he get in a car ident?"

    "Surprised by a car ident? People are getting into them every minute around the world. You

    leave a drunk man there, he drives drunk, and not dying on the spot is just good luck!"

    Archer gave her the floor number and hung up. Frantically changing, Rosemary rushed out the

    door.

    Family consent was needed for resuscitation, and she couldn''t tell Pearl, so it was up to her. Even

    after she got in the car and gripped the steering wheel, she was still in a daze.

    Maxwell did smell of alcohol, but he waspletely coherent during their argument, and his body

    didn''t seem out of control. The road from the Sullivan family to Meadork Retreat was wide with

    few cars. Even drunk driving shouldn''t have led to a critical condition notice!

    Rosemary drove like a bat out of hell, making right turns, U-turns, and running red lights. The

    steering wheel slipped in her hands, and she realized they were slick with cold sweat.

    A trip that usually took over half an hour was done in fifteen minutes. Archer''s given room number

    was on the fifth floor. She sprinted to the elevator, pressed the button, and finally had a moment to

    catch her breath.

    Leaning against the elevator''s metal wall, Rosemary panted heavily, ncing at the floor directory

    above.

    Fifth floor - Gastroenterology.

    The elevator stopped on the fifth floor, and when the doors opened, she saw Archer waiting outside.

    He was casually dressed with a shirt and a light-grey overcoat, ck trousers; the hospital''s ghastly

    light cast upon him, giving him a filtered aura.

    Indeed, the good-looking flocked together, and the nasty ones yed in their own league.

    Still, since they weren''t close, even with the anger bubbling inside her, she managed to hold back

    from blowing his head off right there. Rosemary stepped out of the elevator with a frosty face,

    "What''s going on?"

    Only now did she feel her legs go weak, her whole body drained.

    Archer drawledzily, "He''s in room 507. I''m going back to sleep."

    "You said he was in a car ident?"

    The man raised an eyebrow, a taunting smile ying on his lips, "Ms. Chambers, so cold-hearted. If

    I hadn''t said it was a car ident and he was dying, would you havee?"

    No way. Not only would she not havee, but she would have turned off her phone and gone to

    sleep!

    "He''s got a stomachache. There''s a 24-hour diner downstairs; you can buy him some porridgeter.

    Lean meat porridge, no green onions."

    Rosemary, still holding back her fury, couldn''t help but sneer mockingly for the realization of being

    clearly instructed, "Since you''re so concerned about him, why don''t you stay and take care of him

    yourself? Aren''t you afraid I''ll take care of him so badly he''ll get worse?"

    Archer gazed down at her, seeing nothing but fury in her eyes, which made those sharp ones pop

    even more. Her face was flushed, probably from racing over here, still catching her breath. "If it

    weren''t for Maxwell, Ms. Chambers, you''d probably be busting your back in some godforsaken coal

    mine, right? Been living the high life all these years, haven''t you?" He was sugarcoating it, only out

    of respect for Maxwell.

    The sold woman wasn''t nearly lucky enough to strike coal! He went on, "Back in the day, even if

    Maxwell got a little frisky after a few drinks and pushed himself on you, he didn''t have to marry you.

    No offense, but you ain''t exactly worth your weight in gold. When someone throws you a bone, you

    gotta show a little gratitude, right?"

 Chapter 95

    In the hospital room, Maxwell was propped up in bed on the phone. Hearing a noise, he looked up

    and his gaze quickly swept over Rosemary, his brows suddenly furrowing, "Archer called you?"

    Rosemary rolled her eyes in exasperation, "He said you were kicking the bucket and wanted me to

    come sign a DNR so we could get you cremated."

    She walked in and sat down on the stool next to his bed. She had asked the doctor on her way

    through and learned that his stomach spasms were caused by drinking on an empty stomach. Once

    they subsided, he''d be good to go.

    Maxwell tossed his now silent phone onto the nightstand, "I''m starving."

    Rosemary stared at him for a few seconds, and then resignedly whipped out her phone to order

    takeout. She just wanted to get this lord and master fed ASAP so they could both go their separate

    ways. She did not want Archer calling her back after she got home.

    She still had some pride left.

    Maxwell''s gaze fell on her, his tone indifferent, "By the time the delivery gets here, I might be back in

    the ER for another round of resuscitation. Is this really how you take care of the sick?"

    The medicine had eased the feeling in his stomach, like two hands tearing at him, but it hadn''t

    completely gone away. It still throbbed now and then.

    Rosemary red at him fiercely before standing up abruptly and heading for the door without a

    word.

    Maxwell frowned, "Wait, where are you off to?"

    "Buying dog food." She bit out spitefully, her voice heavy with resentment, "Gotta feed the dog."

    Behind her, it seemed like the man chuckled, but Rosemary was already out the door and didn''t

    catch it clearly.

    Following Archer''s instructions, she went downstairs and bought a bowl of lean meat porridge

    without green onions, handing it over and urging, "Eat up and then head back."

    Maxwell on the bed didn''t react, looking like he had fallen asleep. His back was to her, so Rosemary

    couldn''t see his face. After hesitating for a few seconds, she leaned in to check.

    Brows furrowed tight, his forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his lips andplexion were

    pale with a hint of blue.

    He wasn''t asleep; he was in severe pain! Rosemary hesitated for a few seconds, her voice tense

    and unintentionally anxious, "Maxwell, is your stomach hurting again? I''ll call the doctor."

    There was a call button for the doctor''s office right above the bed, which she pressed, and the

    doctor arrived quickly.

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    After the check-up, he pressed down on a spot just above the kneecap on the outer front side of

    Maxwell''s thigh, three fingers'' breadth from the bone, and told Rosemary, "Massage this acupoint, it

    can help relieve stomach pain. He just had his meds, so it''s not good for him to take more right now.

    You could press here or rub his stomach to help ease the pain a bit."

    So now she had to y masseuse after getting him food?

    The doctor saw her unmoved and apparently indifferent, his voice even sterner, "Are you his family?

    The patient is in agony, and you''re just standing there watching?"

    Rosemary snapped back to reality, apologizing seriously, "Sorry, I''m his wife, but usually it''s his

    mistress who do this kind of thing. I''m not familiar with it. Where should I press again? Doctor, could

    you show me one more time?"

    The doctor had only meant to scold her out of professional obligation, never expecting to unearth

    such a scandal. For a moment, his gaze towards Maxwell changed.

    He coughed awkwardly, straightened up, and withdrew his hand, "Actually, you don''t have to press;

    the medicine should take effect soon, and the pain will ease off."

    After the doctor left, Maxwell gritted his teeth and asked, "You did that on purpose, didn''t you?"

    Rosemary raised an eyebrow at him, "Can''t let Victoria have all the fun."

    Maxwell''s stomach ache subsided in the wee hours, and although Rosemary was dead tired, she

    still managed toplete the discharge procedures.

    Public hospitals couldn''tpare to private ones in terms offort: the beds were small, the

    curtains thin, and she was particr about her sleeping arrangements. Having stayed up most of

    the night and wanting to sleep in the next day was a no-go in the hospital.

    This time she didn''t dare abandon Maxwell halfway. Who knew what trouble he might stir up next!

    The next day, as Rosemary was just waking up, she was startled by Ynda''s magnified face

    looming over her. She scrambled backward before recognizing the intruder and slumping back onto

    the bed with a scowl, "What are you doing? You nearly scared the living daylights out of me this

    early in the morning."

    Ynda, sitting on the bed''s edge, sneered at her, "You''ve got some nerve! Who scared whom? I

    called you a million times and you didn''t pick up. I thought you''d gone off to be with him in the

    afterlife or something! Look at the time, will you? ''Early in the morning''? More like ghost o''clock for

    you."

    Still groggy, Rosemary instinctively reached for her phone, asking, "What afterlife?"

    She had set her phone to silent the night before. The screen showed a couple of missed calls from

    Ynda, and checking the time, it was almost 4 p.m.

    Ynda scornfully continued, "Maxwell must''ve been such a jerk that even God couldn''t stand it. He

    ended up in the hospitalst night, and as soon as the news broke this morning, Victoria swooped in

    with her nutritional goodies to y theforting angel. Not only did Maxwell let her in, but they

    also spent hours alone together. Who knows what they got up to in there; probably made a baby!"

    Although a tad exaggerated, it seemed about right. Still not satisfied, Ynda warned, "If you even

    think of going back to him, I''ll find ways to grind any trace of lovesickness out of you."

    Rosemary worried Ynda might sprain her eyelids from all the eye-rolling. Speechless, Rosemary

    changed the subject, "How did you know I live here?"

    She hadn''t told anyone about her move.

    "I ran into Martin at an auction a while back. He told me." Ynda got angry just mentioning

    Victoria, poking Rosemary, "You had nowhere to stay and didn''t think to reach out to me? If I hadn''t

    bumped into Martin by chance, were you nning on bunking under a bridge?"

    Martin only mentioned that Rosemary was homeless, not why, but Ynda could guess - it was

    surely some devilry by that boundless scoundrel Maxwell.

    "Good thing I met him, or else I wouldn''t have known where to find you with you suddenly off the

    grid."

    Rosemary got up to freshen herself up, "How''d you get in here?"

    "Oh, these swanky apartments? Thendlords always got a master key." Arms crossed, Ynda

    leaned casually against the bathroom doorframe, "Anyway, I dug up some dirt on Stacey. She''s not

    just some bigwig at Ster Group; she''s also a shareholder, and she''s got a pretty fat slice of the

    pie. Think about it. Your dad bolted with nothing but debt up to his eyeballs, didn''t strike gold abroad

    or anything. So where do you think Stacey''s getting the cash for this investment, huh?"

 Chapter 96

    Rosemary, with her mouth full of toothpaste suds, looked over at Ynda, who didn''t keep her in

    suspense and justid it out straight, "It was from Maxwell."

    But Maxwell wasn''t trying to keep it hush-hush, which was why she could dig it up so easily. Still, it

    really proved that the guy was a real piece of work. While most couples were tight as thieves,

    presenting a united front, he was busy funding the very people his wife couldn¡¯t stand.

    Rosemary was clueless about the whole thing, "How much did he give?"

    Ynda held out her hand and shed a number that was out of this world, "Without this cash,

    Stacey wouldn¡¯t just be dreaming about buying into Starlight Group; she¡¯d be pinching pennies just

    to have a decent meal."

    Rosemary nodded, "Got it, thanks for the heads-up."

    She originally just wanted to get Stacey kicked to the curb by Starlight Group as payback for the

    time she yed her for a fool in the media. Now that Stacey was a stakeholder in Ster Group, it

    was time for n B.

    She was determined to make them cough up every penny they made by selling off her mother¡¯s

    belongings.

    Ynda waved it off, "No biggie, just lending a hand. If you need anything else, just holler."

    After Ynda finished freshening up and dropped her hands, she stood up straight, "Let''s grab a

    bite. I''ve got things to doter and we''re running out of time."

    Both not keen on a long walk, they hit up a nearby snack street and found a random restaurant.

    Rosemary opened the trending searches on her phone, only to find the news about Victoria going to

    Meadork Retreat to see Maxwell had disappeared. Someone had clearly mped down on it.

    And it wasn''t hard to guess who was behind that quick cover-up.

    For the next three days, Rosemary holed up at home. Ynda, probably afraid she''d go stir-crazy,

    lined up quite a few gigs for her. Even when Oswald called asking her toe back to work at

    Heritage Revive Studio, she blew it off.

    That day, as she was sighing over a painting, Wendy''s call came through, "Mrs. Rosemary

    Templeton, could you pleasee over? Mrs. Pearl Templeton is supposed to go to the hospital for

    a check-up today, but she''s having a spat with Mr. Templeton and refuses to go."

    "Is Maxwell there?"

    "He¡¯s tied up with work at thepany; Christ is here."

    These sorts of things were usually Rosemary¡¯s job. Knowing she was about to divorce Maxwell,

    Wendy really shouldn''t have bothered her, but Pearl was mad at Maxwell and wouldn''t give him the

    time of day, dragging Christ into the mess as well.

    Rosemary agreed toe over. Pearl was probably ticked off with Maxwell over the divorce mess.

    She needed to get her on board or at least not against it, to avoid any unnecessaryplications.

    When Rosemary arrived at the vi, Pearl was on the sofa, fuming, "I said I''m fine, no need for a

    check-up." She red at Christ standing in front of her, "The one who really needs the hospital is

    your boss. Go get him an appointment for an eye and brain specialist, see if he''s blind or just in

    stupid, ditching a gem for fish eyes in the trash heap without even wrinkling his nose."

    Christ felt he might kick the bucket prematurely, stuck between Mrs. Pearl Templeton and Ms.

    Chambers, each with a sharper tongue than the other!

    "And make sure it''s with a top-notch doctor; no regr doc can fix his issues."

    Wendy thought, ¡°Mrs. Rosemary Templeton must be the real deal, huh?¡±

    She made a mental note to firmly stand by Mrs. Rosemary Templeton''s side in the future and not

    give Victoria the time of day!

    She grimaced awkwardly, "Mrs. Pearl Templeton, Mr. Templeton is just worried about your health.

    The doctor''s already scheduled. Maybe you should just go, to get it over with."

    Pearl was about to dig in her heels and refuse when she heard Rosemary''s voice at the door,

    "Pearl."

    At the sight of Rosemary, her face instantly softened with a warm smile, and her tone gentled,

    "What brings you back so suddenly?"

    Rosemary sat down beside her, "Wendy mentioned you didn''t want to go for your check-up. I came

    to see if that was true."

    "You know Wendy, always exaggerating things. I just thought it''s too cold and wanted to wait a bit

    before heading out. I never said I didn¡¯t want to go."

    Wendy quickly took the fall, "Right, right, Mrs. Pearl Templeton was just getting ready. Now that Mrs.

    Rosemary Templeton is here, you might as well go together. That newfangled hospital system is a

    bit much for us older folks."

    Of course, that was just an excuse. Working as a caregiver for the Templeton family, one had to be

    up to speed with all sorts of skills, including navigating online appointments and payments, and

    keeping up with thetest tech.

    Pearl patted Rosemary''s hand, "Myst test results are in Maxwell¡¯s study; could you fetch them for

    me?"

    "Sure."

    As long as Pearl was willing to go for the check-up, fetching a report from upstairs was no big deal.

    Rosemary didn''t bother to mention that the doctors had all the records and that many of the test

    results would need to be redone if they were over a week old.

    Once Rosemary was in the study, Wendy asked curiously, "Mrs. Pearl Templeton, aren''t the reports

    here?"

    Pearl tossed her a brown paper bag, "Put this in the TV cab drawer. When she asks, just say

    you got mixed up."

    Scapegoat Wendy.

    Seeing her clearly puzzled, Pearl indulged her with an exnation, "That brat has his lips glued

    shut with super glue, just like a tragic novel''s heroine, can''t spit out a word to save his life. If I don''t

    send Rosemary to his study to fetch the report, how would she see the photo of her on Maxwell¡¯s

    desk? I bet my bottom dor that boy has a thing for Rosemary; why else would he have her picture

    in his study?¡±

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Pearl pursed her lips, ¡°So coy, I have no idea who he gets it from. His dad was all about ying

    straight, not a hint of beating around the bush."

    This was Rosemary''s first time in Maxwell''s study. He hardly stayed there before they got married,

    and after tying the knot, his visits were even rarer.

    The study wasn''t huge - just an office desk, some bookshelves, and a sofa were pretty much the

    whole shebang.

    She didn''t bother looking around and bee-lined straight for the desk, yanking open drawers in

    search of the report.

    But the report was nowhere to be found. Instead, her eyesnded on something way too familiar.

    It was a framed painting, its modest canvas smothered in dark, brooding colors that, on closer

    inspection, revealed the figure of a woman.

    But the figure was shrouded in thick, cold hues, so blurred that, even though it was a frontal view,

    the face was missing.

    Staring at it for too long could creep one out, triggering chills down your spine and an unstoppable

    wave of sadness. That was the mood of the painting, Rosemary¡¯s mood.

    Her slender fingers gently rested on it, as if trying to feel the textured paper through the ss. This

    was her final project.

    The piece that a mystery buyer snatched up for a hefty sum, catapulting her to stardom at

    Greenwood University, only for her to crash and burn overnight.

    When she first heard her teacher say it was sold, she thought it was weird. The painting wasn''t

    exactly easy on the eyes. In fact, when the final piece came out, her teacher was this close to

    calling her folks, suggesting they get her some shrink time. Plus, as an art student''s work, it wasn''t

    exactly primed to skyrocket in value anytime soon.

    Rosemary let out a self-deprecating smirk. So why on earth did Maxwell buy such a crummy

    painting that was totally out of whack with his image?

    Meanwhile, downstairs, Pearl, seeing Rosemary hadn''te back for ages, couldn''t help frowning

    and said to Christ, who''d been blending into the wallpaper all day, "Go check on her, will ya? Hope

    she hasn''t gone loopy from excitement or something."

 Chapter 97

    Before, Christ hade over to help Maxwell with some paperwork, so he knew where the study

    was. He made a beeline for the door, ¡°Ms. Chambers, Mrs. Pearl Templeton sent me to check if

    you''ve found her report."

    He''d overheard everything downstairs and knew there wasn''t any report in the study.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Rosemary looked up, red around the eyes and as pale as a ghost. Her gaze was distant and

    vacant, as if she was looking through Christ rather than at him.

    Christ asked, ¡°Feeling under the weather?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Rosemary pulled out a painting from the drawer without hiding it from Christ. As she moved to

    the door, she noticed his puzzled look at the painting in her hand and pushed it toward him, asking

    with a smile, ¡°Pretty, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m thinking of hanging it up on the bedroom wall.¡±

    Christ was speechless. He eyed the dark and gloomy painting, swallowing hard.

    Might be better suited for warding off evil spirits on the bedroom door, he thought to himself. He

    didn''t say anything, but Rosemary could tell by his constipated expression that he knew what was

    up.

    Back when she created that painting, her days with the Chambers family were tough as nails -

    crushed by her awful dad and stepmom, and constantly butting heads with Stacey, who seemed

    hell-bent on making her life a living nightmare. No wonder her mood was in the gutter. The fact that

    she didn''t go on a midnight rampage with a knife was a testament to her lingering goodness.

    A painting birthed from such a state of mind, with mood as its theme, was bound to be eerie and

    sinister. So when it sold, she thought she''d found some sucker with more money than sense, and

    her art teacher probably thought the same, dragging her off to buy lottery tickets a bunch of times.

    But looking back, the real fool wasn¡¯t the buyer - it was her. He''d made her life''s canvas darker with

    just a small wad of cash, all to get augh from his girlfriend, plunging her headfirst into a whirlpool

    of verbal abuse.

    Heading downstairs, Rosemary forced a smile when she met Pearl''s anxious eyes, ¡°Pearl,

    something came up. I¡¯ll have Wendy go with you to the hospital for the check-up, okay? The

    doctor¡¯s got copies of all the reports. You can just go straight there.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Pearl gave Rosemary a careful once-over. Something wasn''t right; she didn¡¯t look happy at

    all. Testing the waters, Pearl asked, ¡°Rosemary, did you see something special in Maxwell¡¯s study?

    You don¡¯t seem too chipper sinceing down.¡±

    Rosemary didn''t want to worry Pearl, ¡°Yeah, I saw something special. Not upset, just a bit shocked,

    so I need to find Maxwell.¡±

    Hearing this, Pearl rxed, patting her hand, ¡°Alright, go find him. Couples should hash it out and

    not bottle things up. And don¡¯t throw around talk of divorce; it¡¯s bad mojo. I¡¯ll have the driver take

    you.¡±

    ¡°No need, I¡¯ve got my car.¡±

    Leaving the estate, Rosemary drove straight to the Templeton Group building, knowing exactly

    where to find Maxwell''s office.

    The receptionist tried to stop her, but when she said she was there to process her resignation, they

    let her through.

    Everyone at thepany knew Rosemary got her job through connections - easy work, high pay,

    and up-close ess to Mr. Templeton. And since she left, the envy-inducing position was up for

    grabs.

    Besides Christ, there was no one else close to Mr. Templeton now.

    Christ was off apanying Pearl for her check-up, so his assistant was the one who got in

    Rosemary''s way.

    ¡°Ms. Chambers, do you have an appointment? You can''t go in without one.¡±

    Rosemary wasn''t having any of it; she knew where Maxwell''s office was and didn''t need an escort,

    but the persistent hand blocking her path was driving her nuts, ¡°Didn''t Christ tell you who I am?¡±

    The assistant, not as experienced in weathering storms as Christ, stuttered, ¡°He did, but Ms.

    Chambers, Mr. Templeton has a guest right now. Maybe you could wait in the reception area?¡±

    Rosemary saw right through his eagerness to shoo her away, raising an eyebrow, ¡°Is it a woman?¡±

    While they spoke, they had moved to the door, with Rosemary barging in.

    Sure enough, inside was Victoria. Dressed in light hues, her long hair cascading down, partially

    hiding her cheek, she sat with a prim, crossed-leg posture, back straight as a rod. There was an air

    of lofty pride about her.

    Caught off guard by Rosemary''s sudden appearance, Maxwell furrowed his brow slightly, and

    gestured for the flustered assistant to leave, ¡°You can go.¡±

    The assistant, visibly relieved, whispered to Rosemary on his way out, ¡°Ms. Temple only arrived half

    a minute before you.¡±

    He was clearly trying to avoid any misunderstandings.

    Victoria forced a smile, though clearly displeased. She knew her current status didn''t grant her the

    luxury of displeasure, ¡°Rosemary, I came to see Maxwell about...¡±

    Rosemary didn''t give her the time of day, not even a nce, as she made a beeline for Maxwell.

    Her stormy demeanor was a clear red g for trouble.

    Victoria was taken aback, but she instinctively stood and followed Rosemary to the desk.

    Without a word, Rosemary swung her hand towards the man in the chair. The cold breeze of the

    p rustled Maxwell''s hair.

    ¡°Rosemary, have you lost your mind?¡± It was Victoria''s voice, her short breaths revealing how

    furious she was at the moment. She grabbed Rosemary''s hand, stopping the p, ¡°I¡¯m here on

    business with Maxwell, along with our dance troupe manager, who just went to the restroom and

    didn¡¯t enter with me. Youe in swinging right away - are you really that jealous? Isn¡¯t this a bit

    too much?¡±

    Rosemary pulled her hand back with a chilly look and, in a swift backhand, pped her across the

    face; then grabbed the coffee from the table and sshed it right in Maxwell''s face.

    The whole sequence flowed like water, so fast nobody could put a stop to it. Only after she''d done

    all that did Rosemary finally spoke up, "Is that a bit too much?"

    She tossed the painting onto the desk, her eyebrows raised in mockery and disdain, "Aren''t you the

    ones who are low-down, dirty, and sleazy? Over a petty school spat, you do something so utterly

    heartless. What goes aroundes around, you know. Scumbags get theireuppance. Sure,

    you''ve got thick skins; not even a lightning strike could take you down, but aren''t you scared it''ll

    come back to bite your kids? After all, doing such shady stuff, it''s only normal for the curse to hit the

    next generation."

    She rattled on non-stop, a little chatterbox, giving no one a chance to cut in. Rosemary didn''t think

    she used to be this mean, never dragging parents or kids into her insults, but now, she was spewing

    words without a filter, which went to show just how livid she must be.

    Maxwell hadn''t said a peep since Rosemary barged in, his gaze fixed on the painting the whole

    time, until this moment when he finally said, "Apologize."

 Chapter 98

    Hearing that, Victoria visibly rxed, her lips instinctively arching upwards, but she quickly checked

    herself, holding back the expression.

    Maxwell was still looking out for her. She knew it. He had been giving her the cold shouldertely

    because he was still peeved about her ditching him to go abroad all those years ago.

    Rosemary''s fingers clenched tightly together, her chin lifted defiantly as she looked down on him

    from her high horse, like a cock ready to rumble, "Dream on. I''m not about to apologize to Victoria."

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Maxwell''s face was a storm of anger, like a tempest ready to sweep Rosemary up and tear her to

    shreds, "I''m not asking you to apologize to Victoria; I''m telling you to apologize to the kid."

    Victoria, who was all set toe out looking like a peacekeeper and the picture of grace, was left

    speechless.

    Rosemary sneered dismissively, "Didn''t see thating. You''re actually a decent dad."

    Maxwell ignored her sarcasm, stood up, and his towering presence instantly overshadowed

    Rosemary''s defiance. He grabbed her wrist, tugged a bit harder than necessary, and yanked her

    across his desk into his embrace, "Apologize."

    There were still coffee stains on his face, and as Rosemary was pulled towards him, a few drops fell

    from his jawline onto the top of her head.

    This jerk just had to drag her down with him.

    "If you''re that superstitious, afraid my words wille true, then just don''t have the kid. You and

    Victoria, the douchebag and the slut, can y the crappy couple and live happily ever after until

    you''re both old and gray. Wouldn''t that be sweet?"

    Victoria uttered, "Rosemary, the beef between us is at best just some petty vanity and jealousy of

    young girls. Apart from a few snarkyments in college, I''ve never done anything extreme, and I

    haven''t even been in touch with you for years. Don¡¯t you think calling me ¡®slut¡¯ is a bit much?"

    Victoria wasn''t entirely wrong, but also not entirely right.

    To outsiders, it was just some petty squabble where the fans of two campus beauties tried to one-up

    each other, though it did get ugly. But the main yers never actually got their hands dirty.

    Yet, Rosemary knew the reason why those people held fierce animosity towards her was that

    Victoria had been pulling strings behind the scenes.

    Till now, she still didn''t get why Victoria despised her so much. Was it because of that silly poprity

    ranking posted on the forum? They were from different departments and both top students in their

    fields. Unable topete academically, some bored folks started stirring up drama based on looks,

    figure, and family background.

    Rosemary gestured with her eyes to a painting on the desk, "This painting, Maxwell buys it for a

    high price, and the next thing I know, you''re all over campus hyping it up. Then Crystal exposes me

    for staging the whole thing. Digging such a deep trap just to frame me, make me isted, and

    endure the relentless verbal abuse from everyone - just to crush an insignificant me. You guys sure

    went out of your way."

    Victoria panicked, reflexively looking up at Maxwell, only to see him looking unnervingly calm,

    though his eyes were frosty.

    He said, "You were bullied?"

    Rosemary pushed him away in disgust, "When you set up this whole thing, didn''t you n out my

    dire straits? Nowing here acting all concerned, it''s nauseating."

    Victoria took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, "Rosemary, I don¡¯t know where you''re getting

    these rumors, but I had no idea Maxwell was the one who bought the painting. I only found out

    when I overheard the teachers discussing it and promoted it for the school''s recruitment. I

    discussed it with the school administration. If you don''t believe me, you can go ask."

    Years ago, she had seen Maxwell getting the painting framed and found out he was the high bidder

    for Rosemary¡¯s work.

    She was blindsided by jealousy and someone else''s maniption and orchestrated the whole

    scheme through Crystal. After all these years, she never expected it toe back and bite her in

    such a way, catching her off guard.

    "Rosemary, if you''re slinging mud at me because you''re jealous, that''s really not necessary. I''m here

    today just to connect our leader with some contacts. How the talks go, and whether they seed or

    not, has nothing to do with me."

    Victoria tried to change the subject, but things didn''t go her way.

    Rosemary''s lips curled into a smirk, "If it wasn''t you, maybe someone else was just bitching around,

    dying to brown-nose you."

    "Rosemary." Maxwell''s tone was icy, clearly not pleased, "I bought the painting, but I didn¡¯t know

    about the rest, and I didn''t conspire with anyone."

    Victoria looked at him in surprise. Knowing Maxwell as she did, even if he doted on a woman, he

    would never let anyone walk all over him like this.

    Nearly pped, doused in coffee, and ridiculed as a douchebag, yet he remained unfazed

    throughout, except when Rosemary cursed his child.

    This wasn¡¯t the ruthless and fearsome CEO of the Templeton Group at all; he was acting like a total

    pushover.

    Rosemary gave Maxwell a look that screamed ¡°you think I''d believe that?¡±, "Then tell me, what

    about this painting caught your eye? Do you find it beautiful, or do you see its collector''s value? Or

    does looking at it make you happy?"

    Even though every painting was a piece of the artist''s soul, Rosemary didn¡¯t like this one bit - it was

    filled with her painful past.

    Maxwell was silent for a few seconds, and then sidestepped the question, "I''ll have someone look

    into this."

    "No need, I¡¯ll check it out myself. I¡¯d be grateful if you didn¡¯t meddle." Rosemary nced at her

    watch, noticing it was nearly quitting time, "We¡¯ll go through with the divorce tomorrow morning. If I

    don''t see your people at City Hall, mywyer will file awsuit."

    If Maxwell found excuses to drag his feet on the divorce, after two years of separation, the court

    would grant it by default.

    Rosemary turned to leave, but Maxwell grabbed her hand, not allowing her to move an inch,

    "Victoria, leave us. We''ll discuss the thing another time."

    Victoria''s face went pale as she instinctively looked at the man next to her. But Maxwell wasn''t

    looking at her; his gaze was locked on Rosemary''s face.

    Victoria closed her eyes for a moment, her cheek now swollen from the p Rosemary had given

    her, "Maxwell, she''s being totally unreasonable, throwing a tantrum and hitting me, and you''re still

    taking her side?"

    "Victoria, get out." Maxwell said, his voice now icy cold, "Whatever the investment amount is, have

    your boss give me a number."

    Victoria nced at him, her eyes filled with both disappointment and sadness, before turning around

    and walking out.

    The office door closed behind her. A secondter, Maxwell grabbed Rosemary by the chin, pulling

    her in closer, "You really have to bring up divorce?"

    "It''s not about bringing it up; we''re actually getting a divorce." Rosemary risked self-harm as she

    struggled fiercely to break free from his grip, "Stay away from me. Because of you, I now hate all

    male creatures; even the sight of a random male dog on the street makes me want to p it."

 Chapter 99

    The two split on bad terms. As soon as she stepped out of the Templeton Group building, she called

    Louis, "I''m filing for divorce."

    Louis had alreadyid out the pros and cons of filing for divorce to her before, so now he didn''t beat

    around the bush, and just told her what documents to prepare.

    After hanging up the phone, she let out a long sigh of relief.

    Rosemary never wanted to burn bridges, hoping to just quietly untie the knot like how quietly they

    had tied it. With a high-profile family like the Templetons, the media was always on the lookout,

    ready to broadcast any hint of drama far and wide. She wasn''t keen on airing her broken marriage

    for the world to gossip, pity, or throw shade at.

    But it hade to the point where she had no choice but to take it to court.

    She found a caf¨¦, ordered a simple meal, and set up a meeting with someone in an hour. At 6:40 p.

    m., a guy in a ck down jacket and a windproof mask walked in, scanned the caf¨¦, and made a

    beeline for Rosemary.

    "Ms. Chambers."

    David took off his mask and, turning to the waiter who''d followed him, ordered, "An Americano."

    "I need you to dig up dirt on someone," Rosemary pulled up a photo on her phone and passed it

    over.

    David used to be a journalist with some serious chops, exposing scoops that others couldn''t touch,

    and he had a knack for teasing his reveals, leaving those with skeletons in their closets shaking in

    their boots.

    But he got too shy and someone gave him a beating, left him lying on the ground like a dead one,

    not moving an inch. Rosemary had saved him by chance, and that life-saving favor was now owed.

    ncing at the photo, David lifted his gaze, "How deep do you want this dig to go?"

    He had an inkling. If she wasing to him, it wasn''t for the kind of surface-level stuff anyone could

    find out.

    Rosemary stared at the photo of Stacey looking down her nose with that smug look, her lips parting

    slightly, "Enough to ruin her reputation."

    David didn''t ask further, snapped a photo of the picture with his phone, and asked for some basic

    info on the target, "I''ll get in touch when I have something."

    This kind of business, it was safer to keep it off the records.

    "Also, sniff around for anything juicy on Maxwell, especially any women scandals."

    David shook his head, "I''ve trailed him before. Barely got started and got busted red-handed. Plus,

    the Templeton Group pretty much has a monopoly over Greenwood''s media scene. Anything that''s

    come out over the years is only because he allowed it."

    Sure, there were some who tried their luck, but their stories were pulled within minutes of going live.

    Those who risked their necks for a few minutes of fame were few and far between these days.

    Despite being braced for this, Rosemary still felt a twinge of disappointment, "Alright, then. Just

    focus on Stacey."

    Business wrapped up, and just as the coffee arrived, David grabbed it and left without lingering.

    Rosemary took her time, sipping her coffee. Her phone buzzed twice on the table. It was a text from

    Larry, attempting to rekindle their connection.

    It used to be all about nning their future together, brainwashing her about the importance of

    family glory. Seeing her unresponsive, he was now strolling down memoryne.

    But what he didn''t know was that ever since her mother passed away, all her family memories

    turned into resentment - against him, against Stacey and her mother.

    The thought of Stacey soon tumbling from her high horse to be a pariah eased some of the

    irritation Rosemary felt due to Maxwell.

    Different from Rosemary¡¯s content, Victoria was having a meltdown in her apartment! Anything that

    could be thrown or smashed had met its fate. The ce was a mess.

    Tracy watched from the couch with an air of detachment, neither intervening norforting, until

    Victoria''s tantrum fizzled out. Only then did she speak, "What''s the point of breaking stuff in front of

    me? Hoping I''ll go get your justice for you?"

    Her icy gaze swept over Victoria''s face, which no longer bore the mark of a p but flushed from

    the outburst. Paired with her striking looks, she was quite the temptress.

    But knowing her temperament, Tracy couldn''t help but shake her head. Some people have all the

    luck and still screw it up. And now she was tied to this hot mess!

    "You don''t need to worry about the painting; I''ll handle it. What you need to do is figure out how to

    reignite Mr. Templeton''s old me for you. As long as he loves you, whatever you did in the past

    won''t matter." Tracy pondered briefly, "I''ll find someone to teach you how to reel in a man

    tomorrow."

    Victoria bit her lip as though insulted, "You want me to seduce him?"

    What else? Did she think she was some fairy that could make someone fall head over heels without

    lifting a finger?

    Tracy bit back her sarcasm and coaxed patiently, "Victoria, I know you''re above all that, but Mr.

    Templeton clearly isn''t buying what you''re selling anymore. Right now, you can still y on some

    old affections, but what about when those run out? Don''t think men are that faithful. They can fall in

    and out of love, so why can''t they go from not caring to forgetting?"

    She expected a lightbulb moment for Victoria, but the retort was firm, "That won''t happen."

    Tracy was perplexed, "What?"

    ¡°He won¡¯t refuse seeing me.¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Tracy noticed how certain she was, ¡°Why?¡±

    Victoria dodged a direct answer, "He just won''t."

    Tracy was speechless. If Victoria was dead set on being foolish, Tracy couldn''t force wisdom into

    her.

    In the following days, Rosemary busied herself with gathering documents for the divorce, meeting

    with Louis once.

    "Ms. Chambers, cases handled by Mr. Holiday be textbook examples. Facing him in court, I

    can''t say I''m confident about winning," he was upfront about the oue.

    Harvey had been in the game for years, never taking a hit, yet he was still not cocky enough to

    crown himself the one and only top dog.

    The thing was, civil cases were a different beastpared to criminal ones. There were a lot more

    personal feelings to juggle.

    Rosemary, "Cool."

    She had braced herself for a marathon tug-of-war.

    A week after filing thewsuit, court day rolled around. Given Maxwell''s rep, they decided to keep

    the hearing hush-hush.

    At the court¡¯s break room.

    This was the first face-to-face between Rosemary and Maxwell since theyst split on bad terms.

    He was all suited up, exuding an even chillier and sharper vibe than before. Harvey, standing by his

    side, seemed overshadowed by his presence.

    He didn''t even nce at Rosemary, and just strutted over to an empty seat and plopped down. The

    already cozy lounge instantly felt like a pressure cooker.

    Rosemary pressed her lips, slicing through the suffocating silence, "Maxwell, your break room''s

    next door."

 Chapter 100

    Maxwell kept mum, leaning back in his chair and feigning sleep with his eyes shut. He looked beat,

    with a tell-tale shade of fatigue under his eyes.

    But it was Harvey, hiswyer, who spoke up, "Mrs. Templeton, the court''s hoping you and Mr.

    Templeton can hash this out behind closed doors. You know, ''For better or for worse'', making a

    scene in court isn''t doing you or Mr. Templeton any favors."

    Louis had mentioned that this step was par for the course before the actual court hearing, just part

    of the whole legal shebang.

    It was usually a few days before court, but with Maxwell''s schedule, it got pushed to just before.

    Rosemary replied, "Get him to agree to the divorce and I''ll drop the case this instant. Won''t waste a

    minute."

    Harvey mmed up, his face not giving anything away. That earlier bit seemed more like a

    formality, totally phoned in.

    Before long, the judge and court staff came to mediate. Gotta say, they were pros at this, serving up

    soul-soothing titudes like nobody''s business. Rosemary almost felt ungrateful after getting an

    earful, but her stance was the same: the divorce was non-negotiable!

    Seeing her resolve, everyone else backed off.

    Just a few minutes after the court staff left, Rosemary got a buzz from Larry; judging from the

    number, the call was from inside the country. It was only when she heard his voice that she realized

    it was him.

    "Drop the case now!" Larry was fuming, his huffing and puffinging through like a bull that had

    run a marathon.

    As Rosemary heard this, her first thought was to check on Maxwell. Not sure if he was waiting for

    this moment or it was just chance, but as she looked over, he was lifting his eyelids, locking eyes

    with her.

    Rosemary mouthed one word silently at him, "Despicable."

    She couldn''t believe he''d snitched to Larry. Did he think she''d listen to him, or did he believe his dad

    still had some clout over her decisions?

    "Are you listening?" Larry raised his voice even more when she didn''t respond, nearly blowing

    Rosemary''s eardrums, "Drop the case right now. The Chambers family can''t afford to lose face like

    this!"

    "Is it the Chambers family''s face at stake, or can''t you bear to lose Maxwell as your high-status son-

    inw?" Rosemary teased her hair, twisting the knife further, "But even with his status, you''ve

    reaped zero benefits as his father-inw. Look at other high-society inws living the life. And you?

    Chased by debt collectors, can''t even return to your own country. After all those years of steaks and

    burgers, have you forgotten the taste of food at home?"

    Back when he was at home, Larry was never one for fancy stuff, always picking local food

    whenever they ate out.

    She loathed Larry, but she wasn''t fond of Maxwell either, so she didn''t mind using him as a weapon.

    She''d be pleased to hit a nerve with either of them!

    Meanwhile, Louis, who had grabbed a ringside seat to the drama, sneakily nced over at Mr.

    Templeton, who looked asposed as if he''d welded a mask to his face.

    Mr. Templeton really was cool as a cucumber.

    Rosemary kept needling the person on the other end of the line, "Look at you, raised a daughter

    and got nothing for it. Might as well let me kick him to the curb. Then you can find me another

    sucker, and maybe you''ll get to strut back from abroad with your head held high."

    Larry on the other end was at a loss for words.

    A grating screech filled the air as a chair scraped across the floor. Maxwell stood up,

    expressionless, and nced at Harvey, "Court''s in session."

    They walked ahead, with Rosemary and Louis trailing two meters behind.

    Maxwell asked, "When will this be over?"

    Harvey said, "Within half an hour."

    ¡°Dude,¡± Louis thought to himself, ¡°I know you''re a big shot, but could you leave me some dignity? I

    am the intiff''s counsel here!¡±

    Just as that thought crossed his mind, he felt Rosemary''s gaze on him, his heart skipped a beat,

    and then he heard her sigh and say, "Maybe you should go back to school for a refresher?"

    Rosemary was just ribbing him; Louis was actually top-notch. His win rate wasn''t 100%, but he was

    up there in Greenwood''s rankings.

    Otherwise, she wouldn''t have chosen him, knowing full well how formidable the Templeton Group''s

    legal team was.

    Louis, eyes fixed ahead, showedpletely dispirited, "Awyer''s awyer; Mr. Holiday''s Mr.

    Holiday. Apples and oranges. And don''t even talk about going back to school. Even if I memorized

    thew book, I might not be able to out-argue him."

    Having gotten to know Rosemary better, Louis had started being less formal with her.

    Rosemary uttered, "You''re puffing others up at your own expense. I''m gonna file aint against

    you at your firm."

    Maxwell didn''t turn around, "He knows his ce, unlike someone who''s biting off more than they

    can chew, trying to shake the tree with a nudge."

    Rosemary opened her mouth to retort, but they had arrived at the courtroom.

    This was her first time slugging it out in court. Sitting at the intiff''s bench, she could easily see

    Maxwell across the aisle, the man wearing the same expression, oozing the aura of the judge rather

    than the defendant.

    The clerk checked attendance andid down the court rules, and after the preliminaries, the hearing

    officially began.

    Harvey had predicted the end within half an hour, and he hit the nail on the head. Despite

    Rosemary being ready for the possibility of not getting her way, she didn''t expect the verdict to be

    issued right there and then. Talked about leaving her no hope.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Stepping out of the courtroom, Harveymended Louis, "Not bad, yousted longer than I

    expected."

    Louis replied, "Appreciate the props, Mr. Holiday."

    Rosemary saw him starry-eyed, looking all smitten, and couldn''t help but roll her eyes before

    walking off.

    But before she even reached her car, Maxwell had her in a vice grip, shoving her into the back seat

    of the car with a terse, "Let''s talk."

    "Talk about divorce?"

    Maxwell let out a snort, leaning in close, his presence wrapping around her. He gazed into her eyes,

    inching closer as if to steal a kiss.

    Talked about out of the blue! Rosemary''s body went rigid in an instant, her back glued to the chair

    behind her; even her breathing went on the down low.

    Maxwell reached over to buckle her in, "Talking about your ns to snag another sucker, huh?"

    He looked at her, a smirk ying on his face, "This jittery? Thought I was going for a smooch?"

 Chapter 101

    Rosemary has never seen a guy so narcissistic! She shoved him hard, ¡°Just afraid of catching

    some sort of cooties.¡±

    Seeing Maxwell stand up straight and keep his distance, Rosemary chilled out a bit and retorted to

    his earlierment, "What do you mean ¡®another¡¯? I never went looking for anyone in the first

    ce."

    "Never?" The man''s raised eyebrow formed a mocking arch, "Aren''t I the one? After sshing tens

    of millions, you''re already kicking up a fuss about a divorce before the bed''s even cold. Is there

    anyone who''s a bigger sucker than me?"

    Maxwell''s mouth was really more toxic than arsenic.

    "Give up on hunting for suckers, will you? If I find out you''re messing around with anyone else, I

    don''t know if he''s a big sucker, but he''s definitely going to die a sucker."

    He closed the car door and instructed, "Jason, take Mrs. Templeton back."

    Rosemary wanted to exin further, but she bit her tongue, thinking, ¡°Forget it, why argue with an

    animal!¡±

    After leaving the court, she didn''t go home. Instead, she had Jason take her straight to Ynda''s

    antique shop.

    Ynda could tell she was bummed out and guessed the court case didn''t go well, so she didn''t pry,

    "Perfect timing, let''s go get a drink."

    Rosemary hadn''t even walked in before Ynda had her arm around her shoulder and dragged her

    out of the shop.

    After being friends for so many years, she knew what Ynda meant. Resigned, she said, "I''m fine."

    "I''m craving a drink. You have no idea; my dad''s been on some crazy kick about quitting smoking

    and drinking. If only he stopped there, but now he won¡¯t let me drink either, watching me like a hawk

    every day. He''s out of town on business today, so I''ve got to seize the opportunity."

    Once Rosemary was dropped off, Jason left but circled back upon seeing her and Ms. Abbotte

    out. Worried she might need a ride, he paused and then spotted them entering a nearby KTV.

    He thought for a moment and called Maxwell, "Mr. Templeton, Mrs. Templeton and Ms. Abbott are at

    a KTV."

    Maxwell asked for the exact address, "Wait for them at the entrance."

    Daytime at KTV was quiet, not many drunkards - rtively safe. He knew she was feeling down; a

    little booze to blow off steam couldn''t hurt.

    Ynda led Rosemary inside, reserved a small room for the afternoon and evening.

    It wasn''t as fancy as Night Club, but the vibe was still decent. On their way, Rosemary grabbed

    some snacks from a store and ordered some takeout on her phone.

    Ynda raised her ss, "We''re not stopping until we''re wasted. I''ve already sent my driver the

    address. He¡¯ll pick us upter, so let''s drink up."

    Thest time at Night Club, the run-in with that nutjob left her with a bit of trauma. Though that guy

    got what he deservedter, the pain was real. She wasn''t going to end up drunk without a n this

    time.

    Seeing Ynda chug a whole ss and cough from the rush, Rosemary cautioned, "Ease up on

    the booze. If anyone should be drowning sorrows, it''s me."

    "I''m just trying to break the ice for you. Come on, first round, let''s curse Maxwell that jerk to eternal

    limpness."

    That kind of curse was brutal for any guy. Ynda, pushing the ss toward Rosemary¡¯s lips, left

    her no choice but to drink, "I feel like you''re cursing me. If he can''t perform, Victoria will dump him

    faster than I can say ''divorce'', and I''ll be the one suffering."

    "Then let''s wish them a lifetime of love and happiness."

    Once they started drinking, it was hard to stop. Before evening, they were both stered. Ynda,

    grimacing in difort after throwing up twice, waved her hand, "I''m done; I''ll call my driver."

    "Keep it going, you said we won''t stop till we''re wasted," Rosemary clinked her bottle with Ynda''s

    but, seeing double, smacked Ynda in the face instead.

    Ynda clutched her cheek, yelping, "Rosemary, put that bottle down! If you take another sip, I''m

    going to lose it."

    The door swung open with a click, and a tall figure strode in against the bright corridor lights, his

    features a blur. Once the door shut, he was just a dark shadow.

    Ynda squinted, scrutinizing the neer, "Walter, you''re right on time. I''ll tell my mom to give

    you a raise. Take Rosemary down first. Drinking hasn''t killed anyone, but her tolerance might."

    Despite years of friendship and many drinks shared, this was the first time Rosemary was this

    trashed.

    The man headed straight for Rosemary, snatched the empty bottle from her hand, tossed it on the

    table, and roughly pulled her up.

    Ynda''s frown deepened as she sobered up a bit, "Walter, be gentle, eh? Wait, Walter, when did

    you get taller?"

    Rosemary fought the grip on her wrist, "Stop pulling me. I want to drink more; I''m not drunk,

    Ynda."

    She turned to look for Ynda, "Let''s keep drinking. I''m telling you, Maxwell is such a wuss!"

    Fury flickered in Maxwell''s eyes. In just half a minute, his hand was covered in red scratches from

    Rosemary''s nails.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    He clenched his jaw and hoisted her over his shoulder. Dangling upside down, her stomach pressed

    against his shoulder - luckily she''d just thrown up and hadn''t refilled - she managed not to hurl on

    the spot.

    "Ugh, don''t carry me like this. I need to throw up."

    Everything was spinning even more now.

    Maxwell carried Rosemary out and told Harvey, who was waiting outside, "Take her home."

    Harvey nced at Ynda, who was still making a racket in the booth, pestering Walter to hurry up

    ande get her, and replied, "Alrighty."

    Rosemary, tossed around the whole ride, finally got set down before she could pass out. She

    shoved the person in front of her away and bent over to puke. But her stomach was empty, so all

    she could bring up was some sour bile.

    Maxwell stood by, frowning deeply, "Gonna drink next time?"

    Rosemary, holding her hair back from her cheeks to keep it clean, heard him and turned her head to

    squint at him, "Who are you? Why does your voice sound so familiar?"

    She was pretty sloshed, swaying uncontrobly as she stood, her eyes blurry with drunkenness,

    reflecting the dazzling neon lights of the KTV, like two brilliant gxies hidden inside.

    Jason stood to the side, holding a bottle of mineral water, "Mr. Templeton, let Mrs. Templeton have

    some water."

    Maxwell was about to take it when Rosemary suddenly reached out, grabbed his cheek, and

    slurred, "Not just the voice, but you kinda look like that jerk Maxwell too."

    She really had a grip, not holding back at all, swaying from side to side to get a clearer look, leaving

    Maxwell¡¯s cheek visibly reddened.

    The man let out a soft ''tsk'' and pried her hand off his face, "Kinda look alike? Rosemary, are you

    really drunk or just faking it?"

    Rosemary thought her hand was about to break, grimaced, and grabbed the bottle of water from

    Jason''s hand, hurling it at Maxwell, "Asshole, you''re hurting me!"

    Although Maxwell had already experienced her lousy tolerance to alcohol, he didn''t expect her to

    have upped her game. Before, she just ran her mouth, but now she was getting physical.

    He pinned her against the car, one leg up against her, and grabbed her chin to rinse her mouth with

    the mineral water, "Come on, spill it. Where did you get the idea that I''m a wuss?"

 Chapter 102

    Rosemary pressed her lips, keeping mum, and just when Maxwell thought she had sobered up and

    recognized him, she shoved his face away again, irked, "Back off, just looking at you annoys me."

    Jason watched from the side, scared witless. Mrs. Templeton might not be all sugar and spice, but

    she was definitely not this fierce and menacing.

    He was terrified she''d tick off Mr. Templeton and get ditched right there and then.

    Maxwell, holding back his irritation, opened the car door and stuffed her inside, following himself,

    "To Meadork Retreat."

    "I''m not going to Meadork Retreat." Even though Rosemary was drunk, her subconscious

    resisted that ce, "I¡¯m going back to Silver Community. Take me back to Silver Community."

    Silver Community was the apartment she currently lived. The mere mention of Silver Community

    made Maxwell think of its owner, casting a shadow over his thoughts. He ignored her, turned his

    head towards the window, and pretended to doze off.

    If Rosemary were sober, she''d see he was at his wit''s end, the frown on his face so deep it could

    squish a fly. But drunks didn''t read the room; all she knew was he was ignoring her.

    "Talk to me," she swung a p his way, but before it could reach Maxwell, he caught her wrist in a

    sh.

    A vein on the man''s temple throbbed as he bellowed at her, "Shut up."

    Rosemary looked at him with puppy-dog eyes, "You yelled at me."

    He really got the message now: drunks were beyond reason, no matter how ssy they seemed on

    a regr day.

    "You yelled at me."

    He conceded, "I didn¡¯t yell at you."

    She caught him off guard with her other hand; this time he couldn¡¯t stop it, and itnded right on his

    neck - her nail scraped across his Adam''s apple, drawing blood, "Talk don''t yell, shut it!"

    She went from a sulky cutie to a full-blown fierce Barbie in a heartbeat.

    Maxwell''s face was utterly dark. He silently took off his tie, looped it around her wrists, and pinned

    her down on hisp, "Don''t move."

    If Rosemary was going to listen, that''d be a day. The more he told her to stay put, the more she

    squirmed!

    "Let me go, now!"

    Her hands, even through the fabric, rubbed back and forth on hisp, making Maxwell press his lips

    together, his Adam''s apple bobbing.

    He stared out the window with a nk face, letting Rosemary carry on her antics. After a while, the

    woman beside him seemed to have had her fill and quieted down, but not even five minutester,

    she leaned in, her ear against his chest, "Your heart''s racing."

    Maxwell pushed her away, his face even colder, "Sit tight, zip it."

    Rosemary licked her lips, "I''m thirsty."

    "Pushing your luck, drink it yourself."

    Despite his words, Maxwell endured and helped her drink, careful not to let her choke, pouring in

    small amounts until she frowned and started to protest, then he finally withdrew his hand.

    Silence reigned for a few minutes. Out of the blue, Rosemary blurted out, "Let me help you snag

    Victoria; what do you think?"

    Maxwell was thinking of ways to gag her!

    "Dude, don''t be so prideful." Rosemary wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer,

    earnestly advising him, "You won''t win a girl over like that. Listen to me, and Victoria will be head

    over heels for you in a week."

    Maxwell looked at her approaching face as if something clicked, a simr scene from his memory.

    He chuckled sardonically, snapping out of it, "So, how should I go about it?"

    "First off, you sleep with her."

    At the red light, Jason almost mistook the elerator for the brake.

    Maxwell nced at him through the rearview mirror. Jason immediately sat up straight, eyes fixed

    forward; if his ears were able to droop, they¡¯d practically have done it to block out the conversation.

    Rosemary kept on her serious analysis, "She''ll definitely say no, so you''ll have to force her."

    Victoria was totally an angelic bitch, all high and mighty on the surface, but just too proud to express

    her true feelings. She''d rather beat around the bush and expect others to get the hint. If they didn''t,

    it was like they didn''t love her.

    What was that about? A half-baked brain? Marrying her would be like dumbing down the next

    generation.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    But of course, she couldn''t trash-talk Victoria in front of Maxwell, so she continued, "Then she''ll

    bawl, and you swear your heart out, the more gruesome the vow, the better. Curse yourself to a

    terrible fate, get struck by lightning, be impotent in your next life, whatever it takes to sound pitiful.

    After that, shower her with flowers, jewels, houses, cars, make it a spectacle outside her dance

    studio. The more showy, the better. If she says no, she means yes; if she says yes, that''s also yes;

    if she tells you to scram, she wants you to hug her and beg for love. Bombard her with luxury gifts

    for a week straight, and she''ll be all yours!"

    Whether she''d get dumped afterward was anyone''s guess - after all, there was precedent.

    Maxwell watched her flushed, alluring face, his eyes masked with unspokenplexity, "You sure

    know her well. What about you? Would you agree if a guy came at you like that?"

    She thought, ¡°Agree, my foot!¡± She''d vomit yesterday''s dinner. Thinking everyone had got the same

    bizarre taste as Victoria!

    But to make her argument more convincing, Rosemary didn''t hesitate to nod, "Yeah, so bro, you

    gotta hustle."

    The man snorted, prying her hands off of him, "Bros don''t wrap around each other''s necks this

    close."

    Missing the pointpletely, no wonder he got dumped!

    Jason, a seasoned driver for decades, drove steadily, the car''s temperature just right, lulling her into

    drowsiness. Before long, Rosemary sumbed to the booze and leaning against the backrest,

    dozed off.

    The next day, Rosemary''s eyes flung open from her slumber.

    It took a good while of staring at the surrounding decor before she realized she was in Meadork

    Retreat''s master bedroom, with the hangover hitting her the next second.

    "Ugh."

    Her head was pounding. She rubbed her temples, slowly getting up from the bed.

    How the heck did she end up here? Thest thing she remembered was knocking back drinks with

    Yndast night. As for how she left the private room and how she got back here, she drew a

    complete nk.

    Rosemary nced down at herself and noticed she was still inst night''s outfit, all crumpled up

    from a night''s sleep.

    Feeling eyes on her, Rosemary followed the gaze and locked eyes with Maxwell, who was holding

    her phone in his hand.

    Rosemary bolted up from the bed, not even bothering to slip on her shoes, and made a beeline

    barefoot toward Maxwell. She snatched her phone out of his hand, "Dude, where are your

    manners? Snooping through someone else''s phone, really?"

 Chapter 103

    Maxwell knew what Rosemary was up to the moment she reached out, but he didn''t budge, letting

    her snatch the phone away.

    A quick nce at the screen, which was still locked, with messages and missed calls notifications

    hanging there.

    Maxwell didn''t check it? Then what was he doing staring at his phone screen all this time?

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Poking at the phone and sounding none too pleased, Rosemary asked, "What are you even doing

    here?"

    "Well, you hogged my bed; where else am I supposed to be? Or are you bummed I didn''t crash with

    you?" Maxwell probably hadn''t slept a wink all night, red streaks clear as day. His jacket was tossed

    aside carelessly, leaving him in just a thin shirt and dress pants, with the top few buttons undone,

    giving off a vibe ofziness and casualness that wasn''t usually his style.

    Rosemary looked up at him in disbelief, "How can you keep a straight face, looking all suave and

    dapper, while spewing such shameless crap?"

    Was that what she meant? She was asking why he didn''t just roll off to another room to sleep,

    instead of hanging around on the couch like a ghost all night, God knew fantasizing about what

    while she was asleep.

    The thought alone gave her the creeps.

    Maxwell ignored her sarcasm, "What''s with your phone wallpaper?"

    Her wallpaper was a hand-drawn cartoon that, if not for the fact that it was a spitting image of

    Maxwell in his usual attire - minus the head, with "I''ll knock your block off" written beside it, wouldn''t

    have been so odd.

    Maxwell continued, "You really want to knock my block off, huh?"

    "Isn''t it obvious? Don''t you know how annoying you are?"

    She saw an address from David, and a message, "Is this enough for you, or shall I dig up more?"

    Rosemary pocketed her phone and opened the wardrobe.

    She had moved out months ago, and Maxwell had said he''d ask the servant to toss all her stuff, so

    she wasn''t holding out hope for finding any clothes to change into - she just couldn''t stand the

    wrinkled mess and stench of booze she was wearing. She pulled open the door, half-hoping to at

    least find a T-shirt.

    To her surprise, her clothes were still there, neatly arranged by length as per her habit, even the

    essories sealed in bags and hung up.

    Weren''t these supposed to be trashed? But that question, likely to steer things towards flirty

    territory, she only pondered in her head without voicing it out.

    After grabbing clothes and heading to the bathroom, she found all her stuff still there: face wash,

    toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash cup.

    Once she was freshened up and changed, Rosemary made a beeline out of there. She half-

    expected Maxwell to stop her, even had her retorts ready, but when the man saw her, he just

    nonchntly remarked, "Take the bed sheets you dirtied with you."

    Rosemary snorted coldly. She''d never again call Victoria an angelic bitch. Anyone who could tame a

    demon like Maxwell was a downright saint in distress!

    Grinding her teeth, she angrily bundled up the pricey sheets and duvet, pillows and all, dragging

    them out with her.

    After dumping them in the trash downstairs, all sweaty and flustered, she hailed a cab to the

    address David gave her - a grocery store. Upon exining herself, she was handed a USB stick.

    Back home, she plugged in the USB to find five videos.

    Rosemary knew Stacey was no saint, but she didn''t expect her to stoop to the lows of honeypot

    traps to snag a contract for not only once or twice, let alone the giarism, gagging others with both

    carrot and stick, and bullying - all standard practice.

    Rosemary transferred some cash to David; all she had to do now was wait for the right moment.

    She could''ve sent the videos straight to the media, then paid for some trending hashtags to stir the

    pot, but that would risk exposing her, and the buzz wouldn''tst - after all, Stacey wasn''t a celeb,

    and public interest in business drama wasn''t that high, not to mention Stacey had Ster Group

    backing her.

    But before Rosemary could find her moment, Stacey beat her to it, getting into a brawl over a table

    with an influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers in a restaurant. Neither were the type to

    back down, and things got physical quick. Stacey''s goons, looking like trouble with a capital T, got

    involved, and the poor influencer ended up with her nose job wrecked, bloodied and wailing.

    Someone at the restaurant filmed it, posted it online, and it went viral. With fans moring for

    justice, Stacey''s ordeal became meme fodder all over the web.

    Rosemary messaged David to drop those videos he''d gathered when the time was ripe. David was

    a pro at this, knowing just when to release them to fan the mes of public outrage.

    If at first Stacey could still try to bury the story and hire some keyboard warriors to clean up her

    image online, maybe even y the victim once in a while, once David''s videos hit, she lost control

    over the narrative. She couldn''t even show her face without being mobbed, her address and phone

    number outed byizens.

    Watching the personal info spilled online, Rosemary thought back to her own dark days - getting

    dragged through the mud, homeless, huddling in dark corners of parks, scared stiff of being

    recognized even though she fully covered herself up.

    Beyond the relentless online mockery, there were fabricated scious rumors and the sickening

    harassment from loan sharks.

    Thinking about it, it was as miserable as being a sick animal! And Stacey, the instigator, was

    probably living it up somewhere, clueless.

    Lost in thought, Rosemary was jolted by the abrasive ringtone of her phone. She turned to see

    Stacey''s name shing on the screen.

    She didn''t pick up, but it kept ringing, persistent as a leech. Annoyed, Rosemary grabbed her

    phone, about to switch it off, when a message from Stacey came in, "Rosemary, if you don''t pick up,

    I''lle find you. Digging up someone''s address is a piece of cake for me."

    She could totally feel Stacey''s fury just oozing out of the text! But this woman seriously never

    learned. Even after bing universally loathed like a rat crossing the street - everyone was ready

    to take a swing at her - she was still so pretentious.

    Rosemary smirked, thinking, ¡°If you''re gonna be like that. Well, guess what? I''m out!¡±

    She shut off her phone, went through her bedtime routine, and just as she had settled into bed,

    there were loud knocks at the door.

 Chapter 104

    The knocking was frantic, ear-splitting; not just folks on this floor, but probably the whole three-story

    stack got a rude awakening.

    Rosemary rolled out of bed, took a few strides to the door, and yanked it open with a vengeance.

    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    The person outside was Stacey, wrapped up like a burrito; no joke, even her own mom wouldn''t

    recognize her, let alone Rosemary.

    "What do you want?"

    Rosemary had been puzzling over how Stacey had sneaked in. Unlike Maxwell, whose face was a

    regr on TV and super recognizable, Stacey''s current get-up screamed ¡°wanted criminal¡± to

    anyone who glimpsed her. Now, spotting the janitor''s uniform she was rocking, Rosemary got the

    picture.

    She''d really underestimated her.

    "Sis, I need your hubby to bail me out. Some jerks have stitched together a hot mess of some

    videos and thrown it online," Stacey tried to bulldoze her way past Rosemary''s defenses, but after a

    few failed attempts, she gave up.

    Rosemary took her sweet time before responding, "And why on earth should I help you? With our

    history, Stacey, not kicking each other when we''re down is already saintly enough. You think I''m

    gonna pull you out of the muck? Remember how you screwed me over, watching me suffer, having

    a st, weren''t you?"

    Whether Stacey was ying dumb or missing the point, she pondered for a few seconds before

    gritting her teeth, "Did you leak those videos?"

    Rosemary raised an eyebrow, silent.

    "Come on, spill it. Was it you? It''s gotta be you. Who else would hate me that much?"

    "Pfft." Rosemary scoffed, "You sure think highly of how people feel about you."

    Not to mention, all those people she bullied in the vids would probably love to see her get what she

    deserved.

    "You bitch," Stacey lunged at her with ws bared, but Rosemary was quicker, mming the door

    shut.

    Stacey hit the security door face-first, her nails screeching against the metal. She''d wed so hard

    her nails split.

    Rosemary warned, "Make one more peep, and I''ll have the whole building out here gawking at the

    latest inte sensation."

    Stacey, like a cornered thief, clutched her mask and hat to her face, scoping the scene. Seeing no

    one, she swallowed her pride, "Rosemary, you vicious wretch!"

    The atmosphere at the Templeton Group was tense as a tightrope these days, everyone stone-

    faced, tiptoeing around, voices hushed, because Mr. Templeton was in a foul mood.

    Those who''d reported to his officetely came out looking like they''d been through the wringer,

    soaked in cold sweat.

    He wouldn''t yell; just gave them a frosty look that screamed ¡°Are you an idiot? Can''t even handle

    this simple task?¡± His mere presence was enough to leave them breathless.

    Christ, clutching a freshly framed painting, took a deep breath before knocking on the door, with

    Victoria by his side.

    She was here to get Maxwell to sign a sponsorship contract. He''d verbally agreedst time, but the

    paperwork wasn''t inked yet.

    It was pure coincidence she arrived just as Christ was about to deliver the framed artwork. Victoria

    eyed the painting in his hands, her expression chilly when no one was looking.

    Christ said, "Ms. Temple, could you hang back for a sec while I let him know you''re here?"

    Victoria nodded, "Sure, thanks, Christ."

    Christ entered, and there was Maxwell, buried in paperwork, his brow furrowed, lips downturned,

    clearly displeased.

    He gingerly set the painting on the desk, "Mr. Templeton, the framing''s done. Want me to hang it up

    for you?"

    He was genuinely surprised Mr. Templeton valued this painting, which could pass for a talisman on

    one¡¯s door, enough to have it expertly reframed.

    "No need."

    Maxwell stashed the painting in a drawer, "Who''s outside?"

    "Ms. Temple, she''s got the sponsorship contract for your signature."

    Normally, the staff could handle such minor matters, but given Victoria''s special status, he didn''t

    dare overstep.

    Maxwell paused for a moment, "Let her in."

    Victoria strutted in, and pped the contract on his desk with all business, "Mr. Templeton, see

    anything that needs changing?"

    Tracy had coached her well: didn''t cling to a guy like a bad rash, maintained some distance, yet

    didn''t vanish for too long. Showed vulnerability at the right time, but not in a way that seemed

    scheming. Especially with a guy like Maxwell, who was swimming in female attention - didn''te

    off as too eager.

    Victoria was plotting her next move to seem vulnerable but not cheap, to elicit sympathy without

    seeming desperate, when Maxwell cut in, "Rosemary''s saying we''re both ying her in some plot.

    What''s that about?"

    Victoria, a lifelong dancer, instinctively straightened her spine at his words, "Shouldn''t you be asking

    Rosemary that? After all, it''s her story. She ought to know the ins and outs."

    She was unsure whether Rosemary had spilled the beans to Maxwell or how much she''d shared, so

    deflecting was her best bet.

    Maxwell''s eyes, sharp and devoid of their usual warmth, pinned Victoria in ce.

    Since she walked in, the advice from Tracy had been buzzing in her head, but at this moment, it

    was all tossed aside, "So you''re questioning me for her? You think I''d do something to hurt

    someone?"

    "I''m not using you, just asking. If you''d rather not say." He frowned slightly, his words trailing off,

    "Even though it''s been three years and might be hard to dig up, there''s bound to be some leads."

    Victoria''s eyes, which had lit up at his momentary silence, flickered out as he finished his sentence,

    "If I say it wasn''t me, would you believe it? No, you wouldn''t. You''d still investigate. You''re only

    asking to cut off my escape routes."

    She quirked a self-deprecating smile, "You know me, I''ve always had my nose in the air, thinking I''m

    all that. So, if the results turn out different from my story, I wouldn''t bother overturning what''s been

    said today."

    The office fell dead silent. She waited for Maxwell to speak, but the man simply flipped through the

    document she had brought, nced over the terms to make sure everything was kosher, and then,

    without further ado, signed his name at the bottom.

    Seeing his meticulous manner, Victoria couldn''t help but throw a jab, "What, scared I''ll pull a fast

    one on you?"

    Maxwell replied, "For whates next, just liaise with the Investment Department Manager. I''ll have

    Christ give you a business cardter."

    Was that his way of saying, ¡°Don''te back to me¡±? How fed up did one have to be to cut off even

    this tiny bit of contact?

    Victoria''s voice was faint, almost a whisper, "Maxwell, did you ever have feelings for me? In the

    past, or now?"

 Chapter 105

    Maxwell''s attention was on the papers when he heard her; he replied nonchntly, "Victoria, all that

    stuff is water under the bridge."

    Victoria''s eyes were rimmed red, her lips white from biting; she stubbornly insisted, "I was your

    girlfriend for two years; I deserve to know, don''t I? During that time, the person in your heart, was it

    ever me?"

    It was a question she had never asked before. Their rtionship was aplete fluke. Back then,

    they often spent time together discussing things about the preparations for the annual g, and

    rumors spread that they were dating.

    Later, when someone heckled them, asking if they were really an item, Maxwell didn''t respond.

    Perhaps it was his pride that kept him from dignifying such baseless rumors with a rification, but

    to everyone else, his silence was as good as confirmation.

    And just like that, Victoria found herself ying the role of his girlfriend.

    Maxwell looked up, his gaze meeting Victoria''s; different from her agitated state, his tone calm, "I."

    "That¡¯s it." Victoria cut him off; a self-deprecatingugh that was uglier than tears escaped her, and

    she stepped back, "Why would I ask such a dumb question? How could a man who hasn''t even

    held my hand in two years possibly like me? But I can''t me you; after all, you did tell me to chase

    my own happiness if I fell for someone."

    Perhaps not wanting to hear any hurtful truths from Maxwell, Victoria turned and left immediately

    after speaking, even forgetting to take the documents on the table.

    Maxwell closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. A few secondster, he wearily opened

    them and pressed the inte, "Christ, take these papers down to Victoria."

    Once Christ had left with the items, Maxwell opened the top drawer of his desk, revealing a

    wristwatch inside.

    The back of the metal watch bore the logo of some luxury brand, but it wasn''t one of the models his

    company had released.

    It was a custom piece. Just like the one he''d been given at Martin''s wee party, though this one

    looked noticeably older.

    When her phone rang, Rosemary was delicately gluing a thumb-sized porcin fragment back into

    ce with tweezers. Not wanting to be distracted, her phone was on silent, but she nced at the

    screen when it lit up.

    It was Oswald calling. He''d called a few times before, all about getting her back to the studio for

    work.

    Putting down her tweezers, Rosemary wiped her hands on a damp cloth before picking up,

    "Oswald."

    "Hey Rose, you free to grab a biteter?"

    Oswald was about the same age as her grandpa, and Rosemary couldn¡¯t bear to turn down such a

    request, so she agreed.

    "Sure, I''ll let you know the ce once I''ve decided."

    It wouldn''t be polite to show up empty-handed, especially since Oswald had been looking out for her

    at Heritage Revive Studio. After tidying up, she set out for the mall to buy some presents.

    Just as she opened the door, she locked eyes with Martin, who was heading her way. A flicker of

    surprise crossed his eyes before he teased, "Did you know I wasing and decide to wee

    me at the door?"

    Rosemary knew he was joking and didn''t take it seriously, "What brings you here?"

    Martin said, "I was passing by downstairs and thought I''d check in to see how you''re settling in. The

    security guard at the door mentioned someone troubled youst night?"

    He didn''t mention that he had asked the security to keep a special watch on her ce and that they

    had called him when someone came looking for trouble the night before; he couldn''t make it back in

    time since he was out of town.

    Rosemary stepped aside to make room, "It''s been taken care of. Do you want toe in?"

    Martin nced at her high heels, "Heading out?"

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    "Yeah, I''m meeting an elder for dinner and was about to head to the mall to pick out a gift."

    "There''s arge shopping center not far from here that sells things for all ages. I''m free this

    afternoon, mind if I drive you there?"

    Rosemary wasn''t aware of the shopping center Martin mentioned. Although she''d been living there

    for a while, she was a homebody who had only ventured as far as the food street behind her ce,

    "That''d be great, thanks."

    "You''ve be more polite over the years. Our families used to visit each other quite a bit, and

    you''d climb over the fence into my yard to steal fruit. You weren''t so shy back then."

    Rosemaryughed awkwardly, "I was young and didn''t know any better."

    Back then, her mother was still around, and she was the pampered little princess of her parents, a

    bit mischievous. Seeing that Martin''s pear tree wasden with fruit that had fallen and was not being

    collected, she climbed up and picked a couple.

    Little did she know that this one time, she''d get caught red-handed by Martin, who was reading in

    the yard. Startled, she dropped a pear, which, by chance, fell right on his head.

    Thinking back on it now made her cringe!

    Martin seemed to reminisce, a touch of mncholy in his eyes, "Looking back, those were the best

    times."

    Rosemary thought he was being nostalgic, as growing up brought more worries than one''s younger

    years. She tried tofort him with a smile, "People have to grow up and experience all sorts of

    things."

    Martin looked at her, a wry smile on his face, "You say it like my old philosophy professor from one

    of those electives."

    He shifted the subject, "Did you sort things out with Maxwell?"

    The mention of Maxwell sourly filled Rosemary with grievances. She had lost thestwsuit and

    had to wait another three months before she could appeal again. Considering the almost crushing

    defeatst time, she didn''t expect different results even if she tried a hundred times.

    Her mood visibly darkened, "No, looks like it''s something I''ll never get sorted in this lifetime. Do you

    know anywyers who are better than Harvey?"

    Martin knew about the divorce drama between Maxwell and Rosemary but hadn''t paid much

    attention to it, only hearing bits and pieces during social gatherings. He had no idea it had escted

    to court battles.

    He shook his head, "I don''t."

    At least in recent years, he hadn''t heard of anywyers who could rival Harvey in the legal field.

    ¡°If you''re thinking about getting the upper hand legally against him, it''s gonna be tough. You might

    as well have a heart-to-heart with Maxwell. Even if you guys are heading for splitsville, at least try to

    part on good terms.¡±

    Rosemary''s frustration burst out like a floodgate had been opened, and she just went off, chattering

    non-stop, "You clearly don''t get Maxwell. He''s the type who wouldn''t hear a single piece of advice

    from others, and his ears are just for show. The chance of him taking it is as likely as a snowball''s

    chance in hell. He''s just dragging his feet on purpose when ites to the divorce, a ssic case

    of ''If I can''t be happy, nobody can.''"

    Martin gave Rosemary, who was all indignant, aplex look, his expression loaded with meaning,

    "Maxwell isn''t the type to cling and won''t get caught up in a tangle."

 Chapter 106

    Rosemary stopped herints and instead threw Martin a look that said, ¡°See, you just don¡¯t get

    him.¡±

    She let out a sigh and mused to herself: The two-faced rascal was truly an expert at deceiving

    others.

    Seeing how convinced Martin was, she couldn¡¯t bear to burst his bubble about Maxwell. After all,

    they were friends who had grown up and been through thick and thin together. She decided not to

    be the bad guy stirring up trouble between them.

    It was now the afternoon, with little traffic. It only took ten minutes to drive from the apartment to the

    mall.

    She couldn¡¯t just be too straightforward to dismiss the guy who gave her a ride like that. Martin

    wasn¡¯t a chauffeur she¡¯d hired, after all.

    Rosemary unfastened her seatbelt and asked, in a half-hearted way, ¡°Would you like to go in and

    take a look? Maybe you could help me choose?¡±

    That was just a polite phrase, not even heartfelt. But Martin directly turned off the car and agreed,

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    They went from the first floor all the way to the sixth, skipping the three floors in the middle that sold

    female and children¡¯s stuff. They went to every other floor, but did not find anything suitable.

    Given her rtionship with Oswald, she couldn¡¯t choose something too expensive, as it would make

    him feel burdened; nor could it be too cheap, as that would seem too casual. It definitely couldn¡¯t be

    personal items like clothes or shoes ¨C they weren¡¯t close to that level yet. In the end, she settled on

    a decent calligraphy set.

    During her time at Heritage Revive Studio, Rosemary was fortunate to see Oswald¡¯s calligraphy. It

    was master-ss, with sharp strokes and a powerful flow. Each character and stroke was

    meticulously crafted.

    She took the gift box from the clerk and thanked Martin, ¡°I really owe you one for today. I¡¯ll treat you

    to dinner sometime.¡±

    Martin had been a big help in choosing this set. Rosemary hadn¡¯t expected him to know so much

    about calligraphy supplies; she had thought only insiders or older folks used this stuff.

    Martin yed it cool, ¡°It was nothing.¡±

    The two left the store, chatting andughing.

    Not far away, Pearl, who had seen everything, quickly pulled the person next to her behind a pir.

    Sandra, who was walking just fine, nearly tripped when yanked and steadied herself before asking,

    ¡°What are you doing? Acting like a thief?¡±

    Sandra and Pearl were old friends, but she had been abroad for many years and only returned a

    few days ago, finally shaking off the jetg today.

    They originally agreed to meet up for a coffee upstairs, but on the way Pearl got sidetracked by an

    art supply store, saying she wanted to pick out something for her daughter-inw.

    Pearl asked, ¡°What do you think of those two?¡±

    The floor wasn¡¯t crowded, so Sandra quickly caught sight of the couple not far away. Although she

    wasn¡¯t sure why Pearl had suddenly asked this question, she honestly answered, ¡°Quite a nice pair.

    The man is handsome, the woman beautiful. Their physiques and temperaments match well. They

    both look friendly, and I bet they¡¯d have cute kids.¡±

    Sandra had just be a grandmother recently; hence, everything she saw made her think about

    kids.

    She had spent these years abroad and had only heard about Maxwell¡¯s marriage, but hadn¡¯t seen

    his wife, so she didn¡¯t recognize Rosemary.

    Seeing Pearl looking unhappy, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? You look as if the sky¡¯s fallen.

    Are you telling me that your menopause is so severe that you¡¯re starting to be jealous of young

    people dating?¡±

    Pearl rolled her eyes at her, ¡°Which one looks better to you, that man or my son Maxwell?¡±

    Sandra thought her friend was a bit neurotic, but under Pearl¡¯s piercing gaze, she had to reply,

    ¡°They¡¯re different types. That man seems gentle and easy-going, while Maxwell is more aloof and

    has a stronger presence. In terms of looks, they¡¯re both top-notch.¡±

    Pearl looked sad and downcast, ¡°A gentle man is nice, right? What woman would like to spend

    every day with an ice-cold man? If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t choose that rascal Maxwell either. Not only

    is he cold, but he also can¡¯t concentrate on one thing. He is always hanging around with that

    Victoria, with their rtionship unclear. As for Martin, there has been no rumors of any romantic

    involvement for years, not even the presence of any close female friends.¡±

    Sandra listened to Pearl rambling on like chanting, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going shopping anymore?¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m going to look for that good-for-nothing Maxwell and have him ask Martin for his birth details.

    Then I can find a master to do some fortune telling,¡± she said with a mournful expression, ¡°It might

    be needed any day now!¡±

    Given the situation, it would be soon!

    What a pity that her wonderful daughter-inw was about to be someone else¡¯s!

    After leaving the mall, Pearl went straight to the Templeton Group.

    She rarely came to thepany. When Christ saw her, he was startled and then stood up to greet

    her, ¡°Ma¡¯am, what brings you here?¡±

    ¡°Is Maxwell in his office?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±

    Pearl nodded, ¡°You go on with your work; no need to bring tea.¡±

    Christ wanted to follow her and inform Mr. Templeton ahead of time. But Pearl¡¯s expression seemed

    murderous, and he was stopped in his tracks by her cold re!

    Pearl barged into Maxwell¡¯s office and saw her no-good son with his head buried in paperwork. She

    felt a sudden rush of anger, ¡°You earn all this money ¡ª are you nning to use it in the future to

    buy yourself a costly retirement home, so you can find a nurse who won¡¯t mistreat you?¡±

    Martin, who had never had a girlfriend, knew to apany girls shopping. But there her son was,

    all about work.

    Maxwell had no idea why his mother was so riled up, but given her anger, it was most likely his

    father¡¯s doing. He stood up resignedly, ¡°Mom, what are you doing here?¡±

    He reached out to help her, but Pearl wasn¡¯t having any of it, huffing and turning to sit down on the

    sofa, ¡°How long has it been since youst apanied Rosemary out shopping?¡±

    Maxwell was silent. He couldn¡¯t answer the question.

    He had never gone shopping with Rosemary, not before marriage nor after. If Pearl found this out,

    she would probablysh out at him.

    Since he is her very own son and seeing that he wasn¡¯t saying anything, Pearl already knew the

    answer.

    Compared to Martin, her son wasn¡¯t even fit to tie his shoes.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°Do you have Martin¡¯s birth details?¡±

    From Pearl¡¯s disappointed expression when she walked in, to what she had just said, and

    considering it all deeply, Maxwell suddenly got a cold look in his eyes, ¡°What do you need that for?¡±

    ¡°To check if Martin and Rosemary arepatible. Even if you two split, she¡¯s still like a daughter to

    me. I know this stuff isn¡¯t exactly credible, but you can¡¯t just disregard it either.¡±

    Maxwell was feeling a bit agitated. He picked up a cigarette and lighter from the coffee table, but put

    them back again when he remembered Pearl¡¯s health wasn¡¯t good. He asked, ¡°Mom, did you hear

    something?¡±

    Otherwise, why on earth would she suddenly want to check thepatibility of Martin and

    Rosemary?

 Chapter 107

    Pearl nced at Maxwell, whose mood had evidently deteriorated, ¡°Even if I¡¯ve heard something, is

    it rted to you? Just answer what you¡¯re asked. If you don¡¯t know, then make a call and find out.

    Don¡¯t be so indecisive.¡±

    Ever since he got married, this wasn¡¯t the first time Maxwell got the cold shoulder from his mom.

    Pinching his brow in some resignation, he replied, ¡°We¡¯re not even divorced yet. Plus, do you really

    think the Ger family would let Martin marry a divorced woman?¡±

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they? If they think Rosemary isn¡¯t good enough for their family, then they¡¯re blind.¡±

    Despite saying this, Pearl knew very well this matter was a bit tricky.

    The Ger family wasn¡¯t small; the line of eligible bachelorettes eager to marry Martin. Even with

    Pearl backing her up, Rosemary¡¯s history with Maxwell was a thorn in the side.

    Seemingly, she would have to find an opportunity to explore the Ger family¡¯s stance. If it was

    hopeless, she would advise Rosemary¡ªthere are plenty of other fish in the sea.

    But this would have to wait until Norton returned from the Brooksville branch, as she didn¡¯t get along

    with Mrs. Ger and wasn¡¯t very familiar with her.

    Maxwell didn¡¯t know what she was thinking, but seeing that Pearl didn¡¯t entangle him on this matter

    anymore, he thought she had finally figured it out, ¡°Mom, why did you suddenly think of

    matchmaking Rosemary and Martin?¡±

    ¡°They have been sweetly shopping together. They don¡¯t need my matchmaking.¡±

    After saying this in annoyance, Pearl gave him a look, as if saying ¡°you¡¯re such a letdown, can¡¯t

    even keep your wife,¡± she grabbed her bag and left.

    Five minutester, Maxwell ordered Christ, who hade in to get the paperwork, ¡°Check where

    Rosemary is now.¡±

    Whenever Christ heard the name Rosemary now, he would reflexively tense up. Fortunately, he was

    prepared and had already sent someone to check, ¡°Mrs. Templeton is having dinner with Oswald

    from Heritage Revive Studio.¡±

    Subordinates always have to y to the boss¡¯s tune. When Maxwell wasn¡¯t fond of Rosemary,

    Christ, although respectful to her, would refer to her as ¡°Ms. Chambers¡± or ¡°Assistant Chambers.¡±

    Buttely, sensing a shift in Maxwell¡¯s attitude, he promptly switched to calling her ¡°Mrs. Templeton.¡±

    Rosemary arrived ten minutes early and was led by a waiter into a reserved private room. To her

    surprise, Oswald was already there, sipping tea. Rosemary said, ¡°Oswald, sorry I¡¯mte.¡±

    Oswald waved it off, ¡°No worries, I came early on purpose. I just love the tea here, had them brew a

    pot specially.¡±

    Rosemary handed over the gift she had brought, ¡°Oswald, thanks for all your hard work at Heritage

    Revive Studio recently. This is just a token of my appreciation.¡±

    Oswald didn¡¯t resist, ¡°I¡¯d love to take credit, but you made things too easy for me. If Hans could be

    half as easygoing as you, I would be content.¡±

    After exchanging courtesies, Oswald got down to the serious business, ¡°I¡¯ve called you several

    times before to invite you back to Heritage Revive Studio, but you¡¯ve refused each time. That¡¯s why

    I¡¯m here in person.¡±

    Rosemary tried to interrupt, ¡°Oswald.¡±

    However, Oswald raised his hand to stop her, ¡°Hear me out first. I know the way Heritage Revive

    Studio handled things has disappointed you, but I¡¯m not here on their behalf. I¡¯m here for the

    countless artifacts yearning to see the light of day again. Only by restoring them can history be

    more vivid, and people can gain a clearer insight into the past. You know as well as I do that our

    field is short on talent; so many artifacts are excavated and then just left to gather dust in

    storerooms because there¡¯s no one to restore them.¡±

    His gaze fell on Rosemary. But it seemed to look right through her, as if at someone else, ¡°You

    know, you remind me a lot of Rosalind, a big name in our circle back in the day. Not only in the way

    you restore artifacts, but also in your appearance.¡±

    Hearing her mother¡¯s artist name from Oswald¡¯s mouth again, Rosemary couldn¡¯t keep her

    composure, ¡°You knew Rosalind?¡±

    She¡¯d wanted to ask thisst time but had held back.

    Her mother¡¯s cause of death was uncertain. Over the years, she and her grandfather had been

    privately investigating. They¡¯d only managed to trace the possible culprit to someone within the

    circle, with motives rted to a painting her mother was restoring¡ªa painting said to bring

    misfortune, with all who touched it meeting untimely deaths.

    But Rosemary didn¡¯t believe it. Could a painting even be a spirit and harm people.

    Her interest in the circle was not just a passion but partly to find someone who knew the real story

    behind that year.

    Oswald responded, ¡°Rosalind used to work at Heritage Revive Studio. She was taken on as a

    disciple by my teacher in a rare move. Technically, she was my junior. At that time, us in our forties

    gettingpletely shown up by a twenty-somethingss ¨C we lost facepletely. But then she left

    this circle for a man.¡±

    Grinding his teeth, he continued, ¡°What a waste of talent. If I ever find out who that man was, I¡¯d

    break his legs. But if he treated her well, I guess I¡¯d forget it.¡±

    Lowering her head, Rosemary asked in a rtively low voice, ¡°Do you still have contact with her

    now?¡±

    ¡°No, not for the past ten years.¡±

    Her mother died ten years ago.

    ¡°Before you lost contact, did she tell you anything?¡±

    Oswald sensed something was wrong, ¡°You knew Rosalind?¡±

    Rosemary opened her mouth, for a moment wanting to tell him everything. Compared to herself,

    Oswald had way more connections in the circle, and since he was both a colleague and a sort of

    mentor to her mom, he must have knew things that she and her grandfather did not. But in the end,

    she held back, ¡°No, I¡¯m just a bit curious about this senior who you praised so much.¡±

    The whole situation from back in the day wasplicated, and she couldn¡¯t be sure if Oswald truly

    had no connection to her mother¡¯s death. It was not yet time to tell everything.

    ¡°Oswald, I promise to return to Heritage Revive Studio.¡±

    Stepping out of the building, Rosemary only then noticed it was raining outside.

    The drizzle blurred the world into a misty haze, and the damp, chilly wind snuck in through her

    cor, sleeves, and pant legs, sending shivers down her spine.

    She came here in Martin¡¯s car, so she would have to take a taxi home.

    Holding an umbre borrowed from the restaurant, Oswald offered, ¡°Rose, did you drive here? If

    not, let me give you a lift.¡±

    Rosemary shook her head, ¡°No, it¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll just¡ª¡±

    She gestured towards the street and was about to say she¡¯d grab a taxi, but before she could finish,

    someone grabbed her outstretched hand.

    Arge palm belonged to a man. He grasped her hand, his burning hot palm pressing against her

    ice-cold skin.

    Then, a big ck umbre shielded her, blocking the fine rain, ¡°We won¡¯t trouble you, Oswald.¡±

    As he spoke, Rosemary turned and caught sight of his face.

    Maxwell, wearing sses that came from who knows where, had the coldness in his eyes hidden

    behind the lenses. The sses also softened his sharp facial features, even making the smile at the

    corners of his mouth seem warm and gentle, making him look like a refined gentleman.

    This was the very temperament that elders loved¡ªall polite, kind, and gentle as jade.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Rosemary bit her lip and silently confronted him, ¡°Maxwell, what the heck are you trying to do?¡±

 Chapter 108

    Oswald sensed something unusual between the two: ¡°Rose, who¡¯s this?¡±

    Rosemary, who was called out, turned around and was about to speak when Maxwell behind her

    said, ¡°I¡¯m Rosemary¡¯s husband. It¡¯s raining, and I¡¯m here to pick her up.¡±

    As he spoke, he pulled her closer into his embrace.

    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s my husband,¡± Rosemary¡¯s face froze as she spat through clenched teeth, ¡°He¡¯s a bit

    thick-skinned, Oswald. Please don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Oswald was amused by her words, ¡°Don¡¯t be annoyed, he¡¯s just concerned about you. This ce

    isn¡¯t easy to find.¡±

    The entire street was lined with these quaint buildings, and the restaurant he had chosen wasn¡¯t

    famous at all, and the location was not advantageous. Even knowing the name, finding it wouldn¡¯t

    be a walk in the park.

    Judging by Rose¡¯s reaction, it was clear that she also hadn¡¯t expected him to show up here, which

    meant she hadn¡¯t shared her location.

    Just this thoughtfulness alone showed that her husband must care a lot about her.

    Rosemary had no choice but to nod in agreement.

    After seeing Oswald off, she immediately did a full 180 on Maxwell: ¡°How can you be there?¡±

    She wasn¡¯t buying the coincidence card.

    If they were so destined, they wouldn¡¯t be at the brink of divorce.

    ¡°Christ said you were eating here.¡±

    ¡°You had someone following me?¡±

    The ce was miles away from The Templeton Group¡¯s office building, and it was a workday. Only

    Maxwell¡¯smand could possibly have let Christ know that she was eating here.

    Maxwell didn¡¯t argue; he just pulled her into the car.

    Rosemary raised an eyebrow and asked ironically: ¡°So, you didn¡¯te here just to take me back,

    did you?¡±

    She didn¡¯t kick up a fuss to get out of the car: firstly, Maxwell had a firm grip on her hand ¨C she

    couldn¡¯t break free no matter how hard she tried; secondly, she didn¡¯t want to hail a taxi in this

    weather. She wasn¡¯t the tragic drama heroine, insisting on appearing headstrong and end up

    looking like a mess.

    A ride right to her doorstep, why not take it? Especially since she owned half the car.

    Maxwell: ¡°No.¡±

    Rosemary¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.

    That quick admission ¨C he seemed to have all the traits of being shameless!

    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Maxwell instructed Jason: ¡°Go to the mall.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s sote, why go to the mall?¡± Rosemary frowned.

    ¡°To go shopping.¡±

    ¡°Are you crazy!?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want a divorce?¡± Maxwell looked at her. ¡°No dice with the private negotiation, and you

    won¡¯t win in court either. Maybe you should start thinking about how to make me happy. Who

    knows, if I¡¯m in a good mood, I might agree to divorce.¡±

    His words hit the nail on the head for her, making her unable to refuse.

    Seeing her expression, Maxwell knew she agreed. He cracked a smile, a hint of amusement in his

    eyes, but it was quickly reced by a self-mockery.

    Since Maxwell hadn¡¯t specified which mall to go to, and it was gettingte, Jason just drove to a 24-

    hour mega mall.

    It had everything: boutiques, snack bars, night markets, perfect for a couple¡¯s date.

    Once the car door opened, all sorts of noises flooded in. Rosemary got out of the car and stood

    aside, waiting for Maxwell to take the lead.

    Shopping was proposed by him, and she had no clue what he was looking to buy.

    Rosemary originally thought that he would walk in front and she would follow. Although she was

    wearing high heels, men weren¡¯t typically keen on shopping, so she could handle it, even if her

    heels were sky-high.

    Maxwell walked forward a few steps, then turned to see Rosemary still rooted to the same spot. He

    reached for her hand, pulling her to his side: ¡°If I wanted to go shopping with a subordinate, any

    random secretary would do. Why would I need to go through all this trouble to pick you up?¡±

    Rosemary was about to retort, but considering her current situation as the underdog, she put on a

    fake smile and said in a high-pitched voice: ¡°Sure thing, boss. Lead the way, I¡¯ll be right there to

    support you.¡±

    Maxwell swept a cold nce at her obviously forced smile: ¡°You shut up, do not smile.¡±

    He had wanted to ask if she was the same with Martin when they shopped, but he swallowed the

    words back down.

    Rosemary retreated her smile, looking at him with a nk expression.

    Great, he was even more irritated now.

    In the mall, they wandered aimlessly through the first floor, which was filled with skincare, shoes,

    and sweets; then they took the elevator to the second floor.

    She had tried to slip her hand out of his grasp but hadn¡¯t seeded.

    She had thought Maxwell would go straight up, given that the second floor was for lingerie and

    women¡¯s clothing, but he didn¡¯t.

    Rosemary looked at the dazzling array of lingerie on both sides, including some rather risqu¨¦ pieces

    mixed in between, leaning over whispering: ¡°Do you have some preferences that are unknown to

    others?¡±

    Otherwise, why stroll through the lingerie floor?

    Maxwell didn¡¯t nce at her, ¡°If I said yes, would you try them on for me?¡±

    Rosemary recoiled like a frightened bird.

    The mall was divided into the south and the north wings, with each floor massive. Maxwell didn¡¯t

    entered any stores on the first three floors, and even on the fourth, which was for menswear, he

    showed no intention of going in any stores.

    He was just dragging her along the corridors. Instead of saying that they were shopping, it felt more

    like he was inspecting his work with her. But Rosemary remembered this mall wasn¡¯t part of The

    Templeton Group¡¯s assets.

    All this talk of shopping, and the man was just torturing her on purpose.

    Rosemary pointed to a mannequin in a store window: ¡°That outfit looks nice, why don¡¯t you give it a

    try?¡±

    It was already spring, and the disy window models were decked in, well, mboyant outfits.

    Maxwell looked where she was pointing ¨C it was a suit, green and embroidered.

    He turned to Rosemary, who was leaning her head towards him and smirking.

    The man¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed: ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Rosemary just wanted to find a store to sit and rest, the backs of her foot were all worn out! She

    was thinking after being rejected for the green suit, she could pick something more low-key, and by

    then Maxwell would most likely feel embarrassed to refuse again. But she didn¡¯t expect that he

    agreed so readily.

    Rosemary quickly pulled him into the store and sat down on the sofa, pointing at the suit and telling

    the sales associate, ¡°Bring him a suitable size.¡±

    When Maxwell went into the fitting room, he whispered something to the sales associate waiting by

    his side, who nodded and left.

    The man changed clothes quickly, and a few minutester he came out.

    One must admit that, a good-looking man with a great physique can pull off anything, even this

    green embroidered suit that practically no one else could rock.

    The sales associate who had ran away just now came back gasping, holding a shoe box in her

    hand. She walked straight toward Rosemary, and when she passed by Maxwell, the box was taken

    over by him, ¡°Thanks for the trouble.¡±

    Maxwell walked to the front of the sofa, squatted down, one hand opened the box, the other hand

    held Rosemary¡¯s ankle.

 Chapter 109

    Rosemary was a bit out of sorts at first, it wasn¡¯t until she caught sight of the t shoes in the box

    that she realized what Maxwell was up to.

    In that split second, her ankle was already held by the man.

    Maxwell¡¯s palm was running hot, a heat she could feel even through her cloth. Rosemary, not used

    to this kind of touch, twitched her foot away and whispered, ¡°I can do this myself.¡±

    A scene like this that would make a viewer in a romantic idol drama swoon, but in real life, it only

    made her feel awkward, especially with two people looking on. She wished she could dig up a

    mansion on the spot to shelter herself from the embarrassment!

    And seeing their envious looks, she knew they must¡¯ve found this whole spectacle super sweet!

    Rosemary wasn¡¯t about to me herself, no way. It had to be the wrong guy, that Maxwell was

    wed, he didn¡¯t deserve such a romance, that¡¯s why she felt out of ce.

    The man was looking down, his longshes, the lines of his nose and jaw all visible from

    Rosemary¡¯s angle. Sensing her resistance, his grip tightened slightly, his brows knitted together,

    and his lips pursed into a displeased curve, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±

    With little effort, her shoe was slipped off. Rosemary¡¯s fair skin was now exposed, revealing the

    scrapes on her heels and ankles. Blood seeped from the broken skin, leaving arge red patch.

    In a romantic drama, Maxwell should¡¯ve been staring at her wound with a distraught look on his

    face. But in reality, the jerk scoffed coldly and teased, ¡°Rosemary, how did you even survive being

    this dumb? Can¡¯t you even squeak in pain?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a rat, what¡¯s there to squeak about? Why don¡¯t you give it a try, let¡¯s hear you squeak,¡±

    Rosemary forcefully pulled her foot from the man¡¯s palm. She had decided if he didn¡¯t let go, she¡¯d

    kick him away!

    Whether it was because she was strong or he had loosened his grip, she easily broke free.

    The sales assistant had picked out a pair of sneakers and even thoughtfully paired them with cotton

    socks, though taking them offter would be a bit of a pain, with the socks likely sticking to the

    wounds.

    Just as Rosemary was about to put on the shoes, Maxwell held her hand and turned to the

    assistant, ¡°Do you have any band aids?¡±

    The two, who were cracking up with giggles, suddenly straightened up at the question and replied

    they did, then they turned to get the band aids from the drawer behind the counter.

    Rosemary wanted to do it herself. However, seeing how adeptly Maxwell took the band aid, opened

    the packaging, and applied it to her wound gave rise to a tangle of feelings in her heart, ¡°You¡¯re

    pretty skilled, have been doing your homework, huh?¡±

    Aside from her, the only other woman close to him was Victoria. There was no doubt who taught

    him those skills.

    Rosemary could swear, she was just speaking her mind, without any sarcasm.

    Maxwell helped her put on the socks in a straightforward manner, his movements far from delicate,

    ¡°If you had some product knowledge, you wouldn¡¯t be sniping like this here.¡±

    Maxwell changed out of the green embroidered suit Rosemary had purposely chosen to tease him.

    He bought another outfit in his usual style. He then took out some cash from his wallet and handed

    it to the sales assistant who had helped with the shoes, as a tip.

    As Rosemary was about to get up, Maxwell naturally bent down and scooped her up in his arms.

    The elevator was right next to them. The man carried her all the way to the basement floor, then

    called Jason to drive over to pick them up.

    While waiting, Maxwell suddenly said, ¡°I haven¡¯t.¡±

    Rosemary was all question marks, ¡°Haven¡¯t what?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never put a band aid on anyone, nor have I bought shoes for anyone.¡±

    And that was it. Maxwell dropped her off at her apartment building, watched her enter in, and left.

    The next day, the news of Stacey being kicked out of the Ster Group made the top three trending

    searches not long after it came out.

    Logically, such a nobody shouldn¡¯t have had such a big impact. But with the scandalous news

    spreading widely before, the Ster Group was now desperately trying to survive, making a big

    show to let everyone know¡ªStacey and Ster Group no longer had anything to do with each other.

    In the video, Stacey was thrown out of Ster Group¡¯s building by security. Her belongings were

    scattered all over the ground, looking like a plucked chicken, no longer had the grandeur she once

    had.

    Rosemary just nced at the news and lost interest, exiting the news page.

    She wasn¡¯t worried about Stacey causing trouble. After thest incident, not to mention whether

    security would let people in, speaking about fighting one-on-one, she could pin her down and scrub

    the floor with just one hand.

    ¡ªAll thanks to plenty of practice in the past.

    The spot on her foot where she hurt herself yesterday was still sore, so Rosemary nned to stay

    at home today. The porcin vase she was working on was nearly repaired. She nned to wrap it

    up these days and return to work at Heritage Revive Studio once it¡¯s fixed.

    But one never knows what life brings. Around five in the afternoon, she received a call from Larry

    Chambers.

    The voiceing through the phone was affable, ¡°Rosemary, Dad¡¯s back in the country. Let¡¯s have

    dinner tonight.¡±

    She knew without guessing why he¡¯d suddenlye back. He hadn¡¯t told her before returning, but

    was proactively inviting her to dinner aftering back.

    ¡°You go ahead, I¡¯m busy.¡±

    ¡°Are you too busy even to see your own father?¡±

    That tone of reproach.

    Rosemary was irritated inside. Even though it didn¡¯t take long for her father to show his true colors

    after her stepmother came, she had once enjoyed his fatherly love. When her mother was alive, all

    his affection was for her; and even after all these years, she still felt disappointed and upset every

    time he talked to her in such a tone.

    She replied, ¡°Mm.¡±

    Larry was probably vexed, he remained silent for quite a few seconds before responding, ¡°Then you

    go ahead. It¡¯s the same to me whether I speak with you or Maxwell.¡±

    Rosemary was about to hang up but at his words, she frowned, ¡°You invited Maxwell too?¡±

    ¡°Look at you, Maxwell is my son-inw, of course I should invite him for a meal when I¡¯m back in the

    country.¡±

    Rosemary clenched her teeth, ¡° Send me the address.¡±

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    She¡¯s not worried about Maxwell would be at a disadvantage with Larry. It¡¯s a case of the pot calling

    the kettle ck; both of them are no easy marks. What really worried her was the thought of those

    two teaming up to throw her under the bus!

    Larry was now trying to drum up some money to save Stacey, and if Maxwell agreed, he would

    definitely make her foot the bill. It¡¯ll just give him another excuse to keep dying, and winning the

    divorce suit would be even harder!

    Once Rosemary got the address, she hustled over. As soon as she was led to the entrance of the

    private room by a waiter, she heard Larry spouting outrageous nonsense: ¡°Rosemary and Stacey

    have always been close. If she knew that her little sister, whom she has doted on since childhood,

    was treated such way, she would definitely be heartbroken!¡±

 Chapter 110

    Rosemary had intended to see just how shameless Larry could be, to boldly spout such incredulous

    lies. But the waiter swung the door open for her, and the three people inside all turned their heads

    to look at her almost simultaneously.

    Rosemary walked in with a smile and took a seat next to Maxwell. She would have preferred to sit

    somewhere else, but that was the only empty spot in the private room.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± she asked.

    Maxwell¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile. ¡°We¡¯re talking about the close bond you and your sister

    share, how you¡¯ve always doted on her.¡±

    He was thoroughly familiar with Rosemary¡¯s family situation, from when her mother passed away, to

    when the stepmother entered the family, even to the details of when Larry punished her for Stacey,

    or even the exact dates she skipped school.

    Rosemary looked up to see Larry staring at her nervously, as though he would rather answer on her

    behalf.

    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re close. After all, after so many years, she is still alive and well,¡± she said ndly.

    Larry¡¯s face rxed a bit with the first half of her sentence, but tensed up like a drum at her second

    half, ¡°What are you bbering about in front of Maxwell? Don¡¯t make yourself theughing stock.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s my husband, that makes us family. If we¡¯re family, there¡¯s no need to be so wary, even

    weighing our words,¡± Rosemary was in high spirits, well aware of Larry¡¯s motives. He was trying to

    y on familial affection, hoping Maxwell would help Stacey solve her trouble because they were

    family.

    So, with her next words in mind, she smiled even more innocently: ¡°Or should I say, Daddy, you

    don¡¯t really consider Maxwell as family but rather a cash cow, which is why you¡¯re catering to him in

    every possible way?¡±

    ¡°Shut your mouth,¡± Larry fumed, his eyes bulging as if they were about to pop out, his hand on the

    table clenching into a fist, shaking uncontrobly with the force.

    Stacey was patting his back to calm him down, her eyes red and teary, a mix of urgency, anger, and

    hurt, ¡°Sister, how can you talk to Dad like that?¡±

    ¡°With that low tolerance for pressure, why are you even sitting here?¡± Rosemary¡¯s surfaceughter

    faded, revealing her impatience and indifference.

    Before Stacey could spit out harsher words, Larry immediately stopped her, knowing that ying

    the family card wouldn¡¯t work on Rosemary. Therefore, he cut to the chase: ¡°You must know about

    your sister¡¯s troubles. Come up with a condition, let Maxwell help sort this out for her. The debt

    collectors are ruthless, and if she can¡¯t pay up, they might drive her to her grave!¡±

    He would have preferred to go straight to Maxwell if he could, but he knew that despite being

    Rosemary¡¯s biological father, without a word from Rosemary, no matter how much he pleaded with

    Greenwood, this man wouldn¡¯t pay him the slightest attention.

    Rosemary¡¯s hand resting on her knee curled unconsciously, her eyes zing over, her voice

    wavering, ¡°You¡¯ll agree to any condition?¡±

    Larry gritted his teeth: ¡°Yes.¡±

    Stacey¡¯s tears flowed, ¡°Dad.¡±

    As Rosemary watched the touching scene unfold, Rosemary felt a pang of heartache. Yet she

    couldn¡¯t help but let out a snort ofughter, ¡°Don¡¯t make it so dramatic, like we¡¯re parting life andThis is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    death. I didn¡¯t say I¡¯d help.¡±

    She really wanted to ask Larry: When you were worried about Stacey being hounded to death by

    debt collectors, why weren¡¯t you worried when you used my ID to take out a loan with high interest?

    Why didn¡¯t you worry I might be hounded to death?

    But then she realized it pointless. If he had been concerned, he wouldn¡¯t have done such things, nor

    would he have run off with only his wife and Stacey.

    Rosemary: ¡°I won¡¯t help, and I can¡¯t.¡°

    She turned to Maxwell, who had been silent throughout, ¡°And you better not help either. Even if you

    do, I won¡¯t acknowledge it.¡±

    She held up her phone, showing him that she had been recording.

    Maxwell was amused by her act. Despite clearly being in distress, she still put on a fierce,

    unforgiving front to mask her feelings. But his lips twitched into a brief smile that nobody noticed.

    Dinner was out of the question now. Facing the two individuals across her who looked like they

    wanted to tear her apart, Rosemarypletely lost her appetite. Her goal foring here was

    achieved, and she was about to leave. Yet, someone tried to p her across the face.

    It was Stacey.

    And seeing Larry¡¯s expression, one could guess that he also wanted to hit her. However, his age

    made he knew when and where to control himself, especially with the presence of a great figure like

    Maxwell.

    Any man with a shred of dignity wouldn¡¯t let someone p his wife in front of him, feelings aside, it¡¯s

    a matter of pride.

    Therefore, before Stacey¡¯s hand could touch her face, Maxwell had grabbed it.

    Then came the woman¡¯s agonizing scream!

    Stacey¡¯s pretty features crumpled in pain as she cried out ¡°It hurts!¡± and struggled to free her wrist

    from Maxwell¡¯s grip.

    As she struggled, the wrist that was held turned visibly from red to blue.

    At the moment, she put her utmost strength into it, Maxwell suddenly let go, causing Stacey to fall to

    the ground along with her chair!

    Larry rushed over to help her up. With her lip clutched between her teeth and tears welling up in her

    eyes, Stacey looked both terrified and on the verge of sobbing.

    The man looked at her coldly, as if looking at a dead person, ¡°If there¡¯s a next time, whichever hand

    is restless will stay.¡±

    Stacey¡¯s body trembled with fear. This was no gentleman, no refined nobleman, but a bandit and

    tyrant!

    Maxwell then turned his gaze to Larry, ¡°Although it might not be strictly legal, the money I gave you

    was to sever your rtionship with Rosemary. Since you epted it, you need to y by the rules.¡±

    Rosemary was surprised to look at him. Was it that money that made Stacey a top executive at

    Ster Group out of nowhere?

    Curious as she was, she didn¡¯t ask. After leaving the private room, Maxwell pulled her into an

    adjacent empty room, ¡°The food here is good. I¡¯m hungry. Stay and have something to eat with me.¡±

    Rosemary wasn¡¯t in the mood to eat, but she sat down anyway.

    Larry and Stacey were too repulsive that made Maxwell not seem as bad inparison.

    Maxwell obviously knew the menu, ordering several dishes. Rosemary had just been listening

    uninterestedly when she realized he¡¯d ordered all her favorites.

    She wasn¡¯t about to tter herself by thinking Maxwell had tailored the menu to her tastes or

    anything, instead, she simply thought to herself, ¡°What a coincidence.¡±

    It¡¯s kind of funny that the two of them, with such simr tastes in food, were indeed a pair of hostile

    spouses.

    Resting her cheek on her hand, Rosemary watched him lost in thought. But Maxwell felt a bit of a

    lump in his throat under her gaze. He caught sight of his own reflection in her eyes and leaned in

    closer to her.

 Chapter 111

    As Maxwell leaned in, Rosemary snapped back to reality, her refocused gazending on the man¡¯s

    handsome lips. Instinctively, she tried to lean back, but before she could make a move, she was

    pulled into an embrace, his arms wrapping around her waist. ¡°Ten minutes.¡±

    Resting her cheek on her hand, Rosemary watched him lost in thought.

    The scent of the man was all too familiar to her. Even without any intimate contact, they had been

    practically inseparable for three years. Rosemary found herself pressed against his chest, his

    heartbeat steady and reassuring in her ear.

    Beyond that, the world was dead silent.

    At that moment, Rosemary could not find it in herself to push him away. The draining argument they

    had juste out of must have exhausted her both physically and emotionally.

    She rxed into him, letting her full weight rest against Maxwell, ¡°He used to treat me like this too.¡±

    It was probably due to the immense passage of time that she had to recall the details at a slow

    pace. Rosemary spoke slowly, but Maxwell didn¡¯t interrupt her, not even a hint of impatience

    showed on his face.

    If the senior executives at the Templeton Group, who were recently berated, saw this, they might

    think they¡¯d seen a ghost in broad daylight!

    ¡°Back in elementary school, I was framed by a ssmate for stealing his stuff. We argued, and he

    pushed me down, and I hit the back of my head on the corner of a desk. It ended up with the

    teachers, and the parents were called. He brought his parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents¡ªa

    whole crowd of over twenty people stuffed into the teacher¡¯s office. He stood up for me all on his

    own, beating up the ssmate who used me and still wouldn¡¯t admit his wrongdoing. He even

    scratched the boy¡¯s face up.¡±

    Thinking back, she couldn¡¯t recall the specifics anymore. What stood out in her memory was him

    punishing her for the sake of Stacey over and over.

    Maxwell kept silent but patted her head gently.

    Looking down, he could see the woman¡¯s pale, delicate skin and her rosy lips. She looked so tame

    and docile now, significantly more lovable than the usual, fierce, bristling self.

    Which made someone want to kiss her.

    But that thought just shed through his mind; he wasn¡¯t that desperate.

    When the ten minutes were up, Rosemary flipped her mood, pushing him away and rubbing her

    growling stomach, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the food arrived yet? I¡¯m starving.¡±

    Maxwell let out a cold chuckle, ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t starve to death.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t long before the waiter started serving the dishes, the table filled to the brim.

    In the end, Rosemary who imed she had no appetite ate more than anyone. Maxwell, who had

    insisted on eating, barely touched his food after a few bites.

    Having eaten and drunk her fill, Rosemary soon grew drowsy. Sitting in the car with the heater at

    just the right temperature, she quickly dozed off, leaning over to the window. As the car bumped

    along, her head knocked against the ss with thud noises.

    Maxwell closed his eyes for a moment. After a moment of patience, he reached out and pulled her

    to lean against his shoulder.

    Her soft body against him stirred up the urge he had suppressed in the restaurant. He looked down

    at her for a moment and finally lowered his head, nting a kiss on her lips, now even more tender

    and flushed from the warmth.

    The kiss made him lose control. If it weren¡¯t for his reason reminding him that they were in a car,

    and Jason was there, he might have crossed the line.

    Maxwell let go of Rosemary, turned his head towards the window, and half-closed his eyes to quell

    the urge of desire.

    In the front seat, Jason¡¯s tense back finally rxed a bit. It was too much to put this close to the

    grave man through all this!

    The following week, Rosemary¡¯s life was exceptionally calm, without a hint of fluctuation.

    Larry went back to his country, but it wasn¡¯t clear whether it was Maxwell¡¯s warning that had effect

    or Larry saw her cold-blooded ruthlessness, knowing he wouldn¡¯t get any benefits, stopped wasting

    time on her, thus, he hadn¡¯t sought her since then.

    She paid no further attention to Stacey¡¯s situation, not knowing if it had been dealt with, but

    considering Larry¡¯s determination to protect her at all costs, she guessed it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal.

    One day, Pearl invited her to apany her to an auction, and though Rosemary wasn¡¯t keen,

    Pearl was already downstairs waiting.

    Before heading out, Rosemary grabbed the car keys from the drawer - the ones for the car she¡¯d

    driven from Meadork Retreat. The car was too shy and costed fees when parked, yet she

    couldn¡¯t sell it because she wasn¡¯t the owner.

    Rosemary nned to return this hot potato to Maxwell, considering it settling the debt he¡¯d paid

    Larry to sever their ties.

    Pearl¡¯s car was parked in in sight, and Rosemary spotted it immediately. Once she opened the

    car door and got in, she noticed that Pearl looked despondent and not in high spirits. She asked in

    confusion, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling ill anywhere?¡±

    Now that she was publicly divorcing from Maxwell, what concerned her most was Pearl¡¯s health.

    Pearl nced at the apartment Rosemary had just exited, hesitated, and then shook her head, ¡°No,

    I¡¯m quite fit; don¡¯t worry about me.¡±

    She knew about this ce; Martin had even consulted Maxwell when buying it, and she had been

    right there at the time.

    So they were living together now?!

    Rosemary: ¡°How did you know I was living here?¡±

    ¡°I asked Maxwell; he told me,¡± Maxwell knew she was living here with Martin, and didn¡¯t feel a bit

    jealous. It seemed like his wife is really going to be someone else¡¯s.

    Sigh, best not dwell on it, it only brings heartache.

    After pondering for a moment, Pearl spoke up, ¡°Rosemary, even though you are very fond of each

    other for now, don¡¯t be too hasty. What if he takes you for granted once he gets you? Though that

    kid does not seem like a person who indulges into irresponsibility, you can¡¯t let your guard down,

    when you and Maxwell,¡±

    She paused, unable to utter the word ¡°divorce¡±, ¡°Later, I¡¯ll talk to him, make sure he marries you off

    with full honors.¡±

    Rosemary was totally lost, ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°You and Martin are dating, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Where did you hear that from?¡± Rosemary couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°Martin and I are just friends. I¡¯m

    temporarily renting here; I¡¯ve paid the rent.¡±

    Pearl was instantly exhrated, her gloom from the past few days scattered to the winds. ¡°Paying

    extra for the rent is good, especially since the ce is in a prime location, so we don¡¯t owe them

    anything. Mom will wire you a few millionter, keep it for spending.¡±

    The auction this time was mainly jewelry, taking ce at a swanky five-star hotel. The ones invited

    were all prestigious individuals from various sectors.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Rosemary darted off to the restroom, while Pearl waited for her at the entrance, chatting with her

    friend casually. Suddenly, she overheard someone nearby exim in surprise, ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that the

    dancer? It seems like she¡¯s holding Mr. Templeton¡¯s invitation card!¡±

 Chapter 112

    The auction crowd was pretty much from the same social circle. They bumped into each other all

    the time at various events. When hearing the words, a person nearby immediately chipped in, "No

    way! How did you spot her?"

    People were only supposed to whip out their invite at the entrance, and Victoria was just stepping

    up to the stairs.

    "When she got out of the car, her invite dropped to the ground. I caught a glimpse and thought I saw

    the name ''Templeton'' on it."

    ¡°Templeton¡± wasn''t one¡¯s run-of-the-mill surname - it screamed status and clout. The only

    Templeton that came to mind was Maxwell.

    "There was news about those two before - a dancer took a tumble off the stage and Mr. Templeton

    swept her off her feet. If she''s showing up with his invite to this shindig, it looks like they might be

    getting cozy."

    The societydy chatting with Pearl knew Maxwell was hitched and was up in arms, "These folks

    don''t know squat and just run their mouths. All that etiquette and upbringing they supposedly

    learned as kids must have vanished along with age."

    Pearl kept a poised smile on her face, but inside she was hurling every curse and swear in the book

    at Maxwell. With Victoria unting that invite around, to the clueless it looked like an indirect nod to

    her and Maxwell''s affair, and to the clued-in, it screamed that Maxwell had a mistress on the side!

    Pearl was itching to w her eyes out, but who knew if that damn invite Victoria was clutching was

    legit from that fricking brat?

    If it was, wouldn''t causing a scene be even more humiliating? Plus, the media was swarming

    around!

    Thinking about Rosemary getting gossiped about left her totally ticked off! Why did she have to

    have a kid that was such a headache?

    Today, Victoria was rocking a white backless V-neck gown, with her curly hair cascading down,

    partially covering her exposed back. Her dancer''s physique was graceful and lithe, and her charm

    put most of the elite wives in the shade.

    When Victoria''s gaze unexpectedly met Pearl''s, she hesitated for a split second before changing

    course and heading over, "Mrs. Templeton."

    She was holding the invite like it was a hot potato.

    Pearl was all decked out in a prim suit, her hair done up, looking down her nose at Victoria with all

    the disdain of a high-societydy, "Ms. Temple, you don''t mind if I take a gander at your invite, do

    you?"

    Her voice wasn''t loud, but the gossip hounds from earlier were all ears, sneaking peeks over at

    them. They were like nosy monkeys in a melon field!

    Victoria''s grip on the invite turned her knuckles white, her lips bitten to a deep red. She knew Pearl

    wasn''t her biggest fan, but she didn''t expect a public showdown, "Mrs. Templeton, let''s discuss this

    privately; don''t give the peanut gallery a show."

    Even without seeing the name on the invite, her reaction said it all. Pearl''s contempt grew as if

    Victoria was some unsightly trash, "Ms. Temple might not be aware, but my daughter-inw is here

    today, so I won''t let anything of my son''s be unted by another woman to insult her."

    She reached out, "If Ms. Temple has any shame left, hand over the invite and please leave."

    Victoria didn''t get to know Pearl through Maxwell introducing her to the family, but by going out of

    her way to win Pearl over.

    When Victoria tried to butter her up, Pearl simply said, "I know you''re my son''s girlfriend, but you

    don''t need to try so hard to please me because I don''t approve."

    Victoria couldn''t understand. Both women, both university grads, both top of their ss, why could

    Pearl ept Rosemary but not her?

    "Mrs. Templeton, I''m here to bid on a piece of jewelry, won''t stay long, won''t cross paths with

    Rosemary, and certainly won''t say anything to tarnish Mr. Templeton''s reputation."

    "Ms. Temple, I''m not interested in your motives, as long as you''re not waving my son''s invite

    around, you could be sitting on the throne for all I care."

    Pearl had never been fond of her, and being this civil was already a huge concession. She snatched

    the invite from Victoria''s hand, tore it to shreds right in front of her, and dumped the pieces on a

    waiter''s tray.

    Victoria was livid, her face a mix of red and pale, "Mrs. Templeton, this is too much."

    Pearl ignored her, turning to greet Rosemary who was approaching, "What took you so long? Are

    you cold?"

    She reached out to touch her hand.

    Rosemary had actually been out for a while but stayed back when she saw Victoria and Pearl

    talking.

    Seeing her gaze still was fixed on Victoria, Pearl patted her hand to draw her attention, "Don''t waste

    your thoughts on insignificant people. Why don''t you call Maxwell and see where he''s at?"

    Spoke of the devil. A ck Bentley pulled up at the entrance, the door opened, and Maxwell

    stepped out from the car. The journalists swarmed him, camera shes going wild, "Mr. Templeton,

    are you here with Ms. Temple today?"

    They had caught wind of the earlier situation and listened in, knowing the invite Victoria had was

    Maxwell''s.

    Maxwell frowned, offering noment. He strode towards the hotel, the reporters not daring to

    block his way, trailing behind him. The scene was quite a spectacle.

    "Are you and Ms. Temple a couple?"

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    "Ms. Temple brought your invite to the auction today; does that mean good news is on the horizon?"

    Pearl''s face soured, "These paparazzi, useless in every other way but great at pimping people out.

    Which of their eyes saw Maxwell and that woman as a couple?"

    Rosemary teased, "Maybe both eyes did."

    There were plenty of women with their eyes on Maxwell, and even more looking to stir up rumors

    with him, but aside from Victoria, none had managed to make the news before being nipped in the

    bud.

    If this unique favoritism wasn''t love, then Maxwell really was a born loner.

    "No way, we can''t let these people spout nonsense," Pearl dragged Rosemary towards Maxwell.

    She didn''t believe for a second that this rascal would dare stir up any scandal with Victoria right

    under her nose.

    Rosemary hadn''t expected Pearl to ask Maxwell over. If she knew this was the n, she would''ve

    bailed for sure.

    Victoria felt a rush of panic and blurted out, "Maxwell."

    Everyone knew she was there with an invite from Maxwell. If he publicly acknowledged Rosemary''s

    status, how would that make her look?

    Hearing her voice, Maxwell nced over. Victoria swayed a bit. She was already thin and dressed

    lightly, looking like she might faint at any moment.

    Rosemary noticed too and quickly grabbed Pearl, "Pearl, let''s not go over there; I and he are

    already..."

    Before she could finish, Pearl shouted at that direction, "Maxwell, your wife''s feeling a bit off. She

    just threw up. Could she be pregnant?"

 Chapter 113

    Rosemary, who hoped to y matchmaker with a heart of gold, was like, "??"

    Her eyes went wide in astonishment when she watched Pearl cool as a cucumber telling fibs. When

    the heck did she throw up?

    Andpared to Victoria, who looked like she could barely catch her breath, Rosemary felt so

    perky she could knock out a cow, easy-peasy. Sick? As if!

    But all the mental gymnastics Rosemary was doing didn''t stop the paparazzi from shoving their

    cameras in her face. Some of them were in the loop and had heard the rumors but hadn''t seen the

    two together and there was no official word, so they were sniffing around for the truth.

    Now that Pearl, acting all mother-inw-ish, had confirmed it herself, how could it not be legit?

    "Mrs. Rosemary Templeton, did you know that Ms. Temple used your husband''s invite to get into the

    auction?"

    "Is Ms. Temple aware of your marriage to Mr. Templeton?"

    Knowing they''d get zilch from Maxwell, most of the journos swarmed Rosemary. Wife tearing into

    mistress, that was like tabloid gold. And the mistress was kinda a public figure to boot. Tomorrow''s

    front page was in the bag.

    The crowd was so thick, two mics nearly smacked Rosemary in the face a couple of times. Maxwell,

    frowning, cut through the crowd and passed by an ashen-faced Victoria, who suddenly blocked his

    path, "Those snaps of you and Rosemary leaving the hotel, I know you are the one who leaked

    them to the media."

    That drama made big waves; she caught wind of it even overseas, but maybe that was because

    she kept tabs on Maxwell.

    Back then, she was baffled that any journo would have the guts to expose his scandal. She called it

    a scandal because Victoria just couldn''t swallow the fact that Maxwell would jump into bed with

    another woman right after she left.

    But as the situation blew up, her little self-deception couldn''t fool her anymore.

    Maxwell''s eyes narrowed slightly, a chill flickering through them, but his voice was steady, just lower,

    "Vicky, you threatening me?"

    This name, unchanging from the start, only made Victoria want tough now. Because she knew,

    this seemingly intimate nickname wasn''t because Maxwell had feelings for her; he just couldn''t be

    bothered to change it.

    To him, it didn''t matter what he called her Vicky or Victoria; it was just abel. Since it made no

    difference, why bother over a name?

    "Maxwell, I''m a public figure; next tour''s in Greenwood, in half a month."

    So she couldn''t afford any scandals. Gotta hand it to Victoria; she''d learned a thing or twotely,

    and knew when to back down to get ahead.

    With her old holier-than-thou attitude, she''d never budge an inch, would rather go down in mes.

    Pearl peeked through the crowd and saw them ¡°exchanging amorous nces¡±, nearly passing out

    from the fury. There she was, busting her chops to win him a wife, and he was out in the open,

    siding with the other woman.

    Maxwell caught her vibes and looked away from Victoria, moving past her without a word.

    Rosemary grabbed the nearest mic; had to, or it would''ve ended up in her mouth with one wrong

    move. She shed a smile and answered the media, "Sorry, but as for the deal with Mr. Templeton

    and Ms. Temple, the people involved are right here. You should ask them for the clear picture."

    Maxwell weaved through the journos towards Rosemary. The crowd parted, making way for him.

    Rosemary''s crisp voice came through the mic, "As for me and Mr. Templeton, we''re working out a

    divorce. Once the papers are done, you guys will be the first to know."

    "Sorry." Came Maxwell''s voice as he made his way through the crowd; he took Rosemary''s hand,

    and pulled her close before everyone, "My wife''s been a bit moody; loves to joke around."

    Onedy reporter joked, "Must be pregnant then. Those pregnancy hormones can make one all

    over the ce. Mr. Templeton''s gonna have his hands full."

    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Maxwell visibly brightened, "Thanks for the favorable words."

    These journos weren''t newbies; they''d staked out Maxwell enough to know he was never this

    chummy. He even threw in the polite talk, and they were convinced: Mr. Maxwell Templeton and

    Mrs. Rosemary Templeton were lovey-dovey.

    Rosemary nced at him, and murmured sassily, "Liars get struck by lightning, doomed to

    impotence."

    Maxwell leaned in, whispering back, "Are you hinting you want to make the pregnancy a reality?"

    Someone skeptical wanted to dig deeper, "So, Mr. Templeton, what is the nature of your rtionship

    with Ms. Temple? She had your invite earlier."

    That brought the spotlight back to them.

    Maxwell spoke up nonchntly, "Ms. Temple and I go way back, just friends. The invite was just a

    favor; didn''t mean to mislead or cause trouble for Ms. Temple. My apologies."

    Rosemary couldn''t be bothered to call out his BS. Anyone with half a brain wouldn''t buy it. As if

    getting a new invite with his name on it was tough for Maxwell.

    Let''s be real, any seasoned yer, let alone some Joe Schmo, knew what lending out an invite with

    one¡¯s own name meant.

    After shaking off the media, in order to let the two have their own space, Pearl made an excuse to

    chat with a friend and nudged them to go ahead.

    Rosemary, chin up and a defiant grin on her lips, teased, "Wanna have your cake and eat it too,

    huh?"

    Hoping to keep Victoria''s rep clean while dragging his feet on the divorce.

    Maxwell''s brows furrowed, his voice a stern warning, "Rosemary Chambers, don''t jump to

    conclusions."

    When Rosemary was called by her full name, she cracked a wry smile and looked him in the eye,

    unflinching and defiant, "I''m not gonna let you have your cake and eat it too."

    With that, she flounced off and strode into the auction hall. Rosemary hade with Pearl, and

    their seats were right next to Maxwell''s, prime real estate in the front row with a killer view.

    Rosemary had barely sat down when Maxwell showed up, "You''re representing the Templeton

    family now, and with the media here, don''t stir up trouble."

    He didn''t know what she was up to, but knowing Rosemary, he was sure she''d make a scene.

    "Why don''t you stand up and shout ''We''re divorced'' to the whole room? That way, I can''t do

    anything to tarnish the Templeton family''s good name."

    Maxwell scoffed, his words clipped and deliberate, "Dream on about the divorce."

    Rolling her eyes, Rosemary reached into her bag to grab some earplugs, intent on blocking him out,

    when she felt a shadow loom over her.

    "Rosemary."

    That familiar male voice rained down on her from above. Rosemary looked up and her face, usually

    dripping with sarcasm, suddenly bloomed with a genuine smile, "Hogan?"

 Chapter 114

    At first, Hogan thought he had mistaken someone else for her. When Rosemary walked in, he only

    caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye and wasn''t sure.

    Now he was sure it was her, "The moment you walked in, I thought you looked familiar. Turns out it

    really is you."

    He plopped down on the stool next to her, legs spread wide in a carefree pose, "Checked out the

    catalog yet? See anything you fancy? I''ll snag it for you."

    Each seat had a catalog on it, detailing the auction items of the day. Rosemary was about to speak

    when the frosty voice of Maxwell cut in, ament begging for a punch, "Mr. Abbott, I believe

    you''re in the wrong seat."

    Only then did Hogan notice Maxwell''s presence; he raised an eyebrow, "Rosemary, who''s this?"

    The two men locked eyes across the space - one brazen and bold, the other cool and collected.

    Maxwell''s eyes were a deep abyss, his arm casually draped over Rosemary''s shoulder in a

    possessive gesture, "I''m her husband."

    "Husband? You got married?" Hogan was out of the loop during the media interviews. He nced at

    Maxwell''s hand on Rosemary''s shoulder, his face suddenly souring as he swiftly grabbed her arm,

    his voice low and tense, "When did you tie the knot? You once said you''d marry me."

    Hogan was Rosemary''s ssmate, schoolyard bullies. His dad had strong-armed him into the

    military, turning the schoolyard bully into an even more domineering soldier.

    His emotions surged, and his words came out more like barks. Rosemary was dumbfounded by his

    words, "What?"

    When had she ever agreed to marry him?

    Back in high school, they were ssmates, and in college, they attended the same university.

    Hogan was straightforward, loyal, and protective. She and Stacey were at each other''s throats daily,

    both headstrong. Initially, their paths rarely crossed until their homeroom teacher, aiming for better

    grades, paired them up. She was tasked with tutoring Hogan.

    Two months to boost his grades by fifty points, that was the teacher''s order.

    A nerd and a bully together were like oil and water. They fought plenty at first. Although Hogan was

    rough, he had a rule against hitting girls. Rosemary, on the other hand, didn''t hold back. Any time

    he cked off, she''d let him have it, and she didn''t go easy on him.

    After a while, they ended up buddies.

    Hogan, with his sharp features and domineering personality, insisted, "The night before I left for the

    military."

    Rosemary struggled to remember that night, but it was a long time ago, and they had been drinking.

    Hogan rambled on for over three hours - who could remember if any weird promises were made

    amidst that?

    Maxwell gripped Hogan''s hand on Rosemary''s arm, "Mr. Abbott, please conduct yourself with

    decorum."

    "It''s okay; marriages can end in divorce."

    Their voices rose almost in unison.

    Maxwell''s grip suddenly tightened, a stark contrast to his touch on Rosemary, his fingers white-

    knuckled and unyielding on Hogan''s wrist. His gaze was deadly, the chilling aura like a knife

    pressed to Hogan''s throat, "So eager to be a homewrecker, huh? You''re really doing your ancestors

    proud."

    Hogan, the king of ying dirty, had few rivals, "No worries, I''ll just get in line. Once you''re done, I''ll

    make my move. Looks like things between you aren''t great anyway - probably won''t be long."

    Maxwell''s menacing eyes fell on Hogan''s face, their grips silently battling, a stalemate in the

    making, "You won''t get the chance."

    Just as Hogan was about to retort, the auctioneer, dressed in a cheongsam, gracefully took the

    stage, signaling the start of the auction. Pearl, who had been chatting with others, came over too,

    and Hogan had to swallow his words, rising and gesturing a phone call to Rosemary, "We''ll be in

    touch."

    Everyone in the venue had taken their seats, and the auctioneer had begun the introduction. With

    Rosemary''s identity as Mrs. Templeton now public, the majority of the crowd was fixated on her,

    curious to see the kind of woman who had captured the cold-hearted patriarch of the Templeton

    family.

    Hogan stood at a towering six-foot-two, his presence next to her drew even more attention. So even

    without looking back, Rosemary could feel countless eyes on her. Under these circumstances, all

    she could do was nod.

    As Hogan walked away, Maxwell shifted his gaze to the stage as the first auction item was

    presented. His voice cold, "Mrs. Templeton, you sure know how to y the field. Even mimicking

    those promise games?"

    "Me and Hogan are just friends. Cut the sarcasm."

    Maxwell let out a half-smile, "Friends? Your guy bestie?"

    Rosemary red at him, "Even if he is, it''s none of your business."

    "You''re my wife. If I can''t have a say, then who can? Or perhaps there''s someone else you''d prefer

    to listen to?"

    "As long as I''m happy, I''ll listen to anyone but you."

    Maxwell withdrew his gaze from the disyed jewelry and leaned closer to Rosemary''s ear, "Don''t

    provoke me, unless you want to put on a show of our ''loving'' marriage for the other esteemeddies

    here."

    She forgot Maxwell was shameless! Rosemary turned her head, searching the audience for

    Victoria. Without Maxwell''s invitation, she wasn''t sure if she''d been able to get in.

    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    There weren''t many people around, and as Rosemary scanned the crowd, she finally spotted

    Victoria in the veryst row at the very end. As Rosemary looked over, Victoria looked back.

    Rosemary raised her eyebrow at her, and Victoria''s lips visibly dropped.

    Tsk. Judging from Victoria''s temper, after such an embarrassing scene, she would have likely

    stormed off. But not only did she stay, she even entered the auction hall and got a bidder''s paddle,

    apparently dead set on winning something.

    As the auction progressed and items were sold off one by one, the moment came for an emerald

    bracelet. Victoria raised her paddle to bid.

    The bracelet had got some killer translucence, super clear, and it wasn''t going for peanuts - the

    bidding started at a whopping half 100 grand.

    The price shot up from the starting bid of 120 grand, all the way to 820 grand before it started to

    chill out. Rosemary nced over and caught Victoria with a face tighter than a drum.

    "820 grand going once, anybody wanna go higher? 820 grand going twice..."

    Victoria''s lips curved ever so slightly, her face screaming relief.

    Rosemary raised her paddle.

    "870 grand," the auctioneer''s voice was all rise and fall, really amping up the mood.

    Maxwell gave her a look, "Dig it?"

    "Yeah," Rosemary rested one hand on her cheek, casually waving her bid number with the other.

    Victoria raised her paddle again, this time mming down extra 100 grand straight up, clearly hell-

    bent on getting it.

    Maxwell said coolly, "Doesn''t suit you."

    Sure, it had got great translucence, but the color was too old-fashioned, not exactly fitting for a

    young gal like Rosemary.

    She tilted her head, and gave him a cheeky wink - all yful, but the words that came out were

    anything but, "I want it anyway."

 Chapter 115

    Her eyes were sharp and clear-cut, with just a hint of a curve at the corners, and the look in them

    was nothing but teasing, like a little fox that just snuck a taste of something forbidden.

    Maxwell''s brows started to knit together as he recalled Rosemary''s words from before about not

    letting him have his cake and eat it too.

    While he was caught up in that thought, the auctioneer fired up again, counting off with a passion.

    Rosemary threw up her paddle once more, bidding the bare minimum just like she was toying with a

    cat.

    The other folks interested in the bracelet caught a whiff of the tension in the air and decided to back

    off, figuring it wasn''t worth making enemies over a piece of jewelry.

    Victoria was gritting her teeth, herplexion flipping between pale and flushed, as she realized

    Rosemary''s game. She didn''t ce another bid, and in the end, the bracelet went to Rosemary.

    The auction rolled on, but she stood up and left the scene.

    As an art restorer, Rosemary was used to handling the kind of jewelry that ancient nobility wore,

    intricate and beautifully crafted, far beyond the simple diamond-encrusted baubles of today. She

    nced at Pearl, who was still buzzing with excitement, and didn''t suggest leaving. Instead, she

    leaned in and whispered, "Pearl, I''m gonna hit the restroom."

    Pearl said, "Alright, have Maxwell go with you."

    Rosemary shot that down fast. She''d have to be bonkers to bring Maxwell along to the loo. She

    thought Victoria had already taken off, but lo and behold, she ran into her again by the sinks.

    Talked about bumping into thest person you want to see!

    Rosemary washed her hands, her face a mask of calm, not a trace of the cutthroat bidding war that

    had just taken ce.

    Victoria clenched her fists, her eyes drilling into her, "Rosemary, did you do that on purpose?"

    "Yes."

    Without even looking up, Rosemary admitted it in as day.

    "I''ve never wronged you. I like Maxwell, sure, but I was ying fair and square."

    "Fair and square like when you schemed to buy my painting?" Rosemary cut her off, clearly

    annoyed, "Victoria, just for that, I could squash you like a bug and still not be satisfied."

    The whole painting fiasco ended with insufficient evidence and a public apology from a ssmate,

    but it still tarnished her reputation. She''d been turned down by a couple of studios andpanies

    since graduating.

    Victoria let out a bitterugh, "Rosemary, do you know who leaked those photos of you and Maxwell

    in a hotel room to the media?"

    It was Stacey who had confessed. But Victoria''s tone hinted at more to the story. Rosemary didn''t

    say a word, and just watched her calmly, waiting for her to spill the beans.

    "In Greenwood, who would dare expose Maxwell''s dirtyundry without his say-so? And keep it in

    the headlines for days on end." Victoria looked down her nose at Rosemary, trying to read her face,

    but all she got back was a stony expression, "Back then, I insisted on going abroad despite his

    pleas, even willing to break up with him. What do you think his reason was for leaking those

    photos?"

    Rosemary could only think it was to make Victoria jealous and force her back.

    "Clinging to a man who doesn''t love you, Rosemary, how pathetic."

    No sooner had she finished than Rosemary''s hand flew up to p her. Victoria didn''t expect the

    p, her eyes wide with shock as she stumbled back a few steps.

    But she forgot she was in sky-high heels and lost her bnce, twisting her ankle. "Ah." She winced

    in pain, bending down to rub her swollen ankle.

    As she did, Rosemary''s raised hand was caught by a man''s hand that reached over from behind.

    The grip was firm, undoubtedly male.

    She had a hunch about who it was. She turned around; yep, it was Maxwell.

    Brows furrowed, his face was a thundercloud, his eyes locked on her.

    Rosemary forced a light smile, her tone airy, "You and Victoria, you''re a match made in heaven,

    both so revolting."

    Maxwell, confused by the sudden attack, red back, teeth clenched, "Rosemary, there''s a limit to

    your tantrums. Remember where we are."

    The journos were lurking around. If they had caught that scene, along with the intentional bidding at

    the auction, those paparazzi would''ve twisted the story six ways from Sunday for clicks.

    Victoria had a ton of fans. A little spin and Rosemary could be the target of a massive online

    bacsh.

    Without waiting for him to exin, Rosemary yanked her hand away, spitting out harsh words,

    "Since you two are such a great duet, why not just lock it down? For old times'' sake, cut me some

    ck."

    Maxwell stared at her, repeating his mantra, "Forget about the divorce. The moment we got hitched,

    I never nned on swapping our marriage certificate for a divorce paper."

    Of course, Rosemary didn''t buy it. They got the marriage certificate with the condition that they

    signed a divorce agreement to be enacted three yearster. If he never intended to split, why the

    agreement?

    She pulled out the car keys and threw them at him, "Chew on that. Even ghosts wouldn''t believe

    your story."

    She walked away, not sparing another nce for the pair.

    Victoria, ankle swollen, kept quiet, just silently standing there. Wearing her injuries silently, not

    fighting, not fussing, her quiet demeanor more heartbreaking than any tantrum.

    Maxwell said, "I''ll have someone from the hotel take you home."

    "Alright."

    As Maxwell chased after Rosemary''s retreating figure, Victoria nearly snapped her teeth in rage, but

    she kept it in check. Only after they were out of sight did she let out a self-mocking smirk.

    That moment was caught by a journalist hiding in the shadows.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Rosemary didn''t return to the auction hall. She texted Pearl that she was pacing out and left the

    hotel straight away.

    A ck SUV was idling right by the hotel''s ss doors, the engine humming a low buzz, the car''s

    slightly shaking body blocking most of the entrance.

    Just as she was about to curse whoevercked this basic decency, the window rolled down and

    there was Hogan, head tilted, "Get in, I''ll give you a lift."

    "Nah, I''ll just grab a cab."

    No matter how tight they were back in the day, years apart have added ayer of rust to the

    friendship.

    Rosemary wasn''t really into imposing on others. Hogan nced over her shoulder and noticed

    Maxwell striding their way. He quipped, "Or maybe you''d rather hitch a ride with him?"

    Rosemary turned and locked eyes with Maxwell. Even without a word spoken, Maxwell read the

    situation loud and clear from her expression, shooting her a ¡°don''t you dare¡± look.

    With thatst bit of hesitation wiped clean, Rosemary decisively swung open the passenger door of

    Hogan''s car and hopped in.

 Chapter 116

    Once the car door mmed shut, the rugged off-roader roared off into the night, kicking up dust like

    nobody¡¯s business. Mindful that Rosemary hadn''t buckled up yet, the driver kept the pace slow

    enough not to get a ticket but loud enough to raise eyebrows across half the hotel.

    By the time Maxwell made it to the entrance, all he could catch was a glimpse of the red taillights

    vanishing into the darkness.

    He stood there, his gaze darker than the starless sky above, lips pressed into a thin line, the

    corners of his mouth turned down in a grimace.

    A waiter helped the injured Victoria out, "Ms. Temple, I''ll fetch the car, just a sec."

    "Sure," she stood beside Maxwell, propping herself up against the doorframe to ease the pain in her

    foot, now adorned with disposable hotel slippers in ce of her high heels, which only made her

    swollen ankle look worse.

    Maxwell''s eyes briefly swept over her, his lips twitching almost imperceptibly. Victoria, feeling his

    gaze and sensing he had something to say, cut him off lightly, "Go after her; don''t worry about me."

    She stared ahead, her demeanor proud and aloof.

    "Why did she suddenlysh out at you?" Maxwell''s voice was as cold and t as ever, betraying no

    emotion, just like when he talked to anyone else.

    Victoria finally turned to face him, her eyes still red from crying; she met his impassive look with a

    self-mocking smile, "The question on your mind wasn''t about my foot, was it? You wanted to know

    what I did to make here down from her high horse to hit me."

    Maxwell was at a loss for words.

    Victoria lifted her head, silent for a good thirty seconds before she spoke again, "You should ask

    her."

    Although she hadposed herself considerably, restraining her emotions, her voice still cracked

    with a hint of resignation, as if she was ready to throw in the towel, "Whatever she says goes."

    The waiter pulled up with the car, and Victoria couldn''t wait for him to get out and help her; hobbling

    over, she opened the car door.

    Inside the off-roader.

    Rosemary turned to nce at Hogan; tsk, the guy hadn''t changed one bit since school - every cell

    of his body screamed e at me¡±. But that familiar feeling was creeping back.

    She buckled up, and then slumped into the passenger seat, visibly rxing.

    Hogan''s mood had shifted from the euphoria of reunion to the profound sorrow of ¡°my girl got

    hitched, and the groom wasn''t me¡±. When he spoke, it came out harsher than he intended, not

    because he meant to be mean, but because he was used to barking orders at recruits, which made

    him look like he was scolding her, "Why didn''t you wait for me?"

    Rosemary felt wronged, "When did you ever ask me to wait?"

    If she had known, she would have said no right away!

    All her attention had been on outsmarting a cunning mother-daughter duo; she had no spare

    thoughts for romance. And who would have guessed that the guy who always had your back, who

    was like a brother, would secretly want to be her man?

    Hogan replied, "The night before I left for the military, I told you to wait for me toe back and I''d

    treat you to meals for a lifetime. You agreed."

    Rosemary was speechless.

    Damn, talked about a raw deal. She turned her head, probing, "Hogan, have you not had a girlfriend

    all these years?"

    She didn''t mean to attack him personally, but she couldn''t help herself.

    Hogan was oblivious to the undertone in her words, "I asked you to wait for me; how could I look for

    someone else?"

    Besides, in the army, the only females they ever saw were mosquitoes; everything else was, well,

    equipped.

    Hogan steered with one hand, fiddling with a lighter in the other, restless, itching for a smoke,

    "When are you ditching the guy?"

    His tone was casual, assuming, and Rosemary replied without thinking, "Don''t know; have to wait

    three months before I can file awsuit."

    Only after she spoke did she realize the guy beside her wasn''t the same simple school tough guy

    from before.

    Hogan cracked a smile, visibly cheering up, "Let''s have dinner tomorrow. If you don''t agree, I''ll

    camp out under your apartment until you do."

    Rosemary, who had given him her address earlier, thought to herself, ¡°Big mistake!¡±

    But it was just a fleeting thought. After such a long time apart, it was only right to have a meal

    together. As for Hogan''s feelings for her.

    They hadn''t seen each other in years, and she was married now. Even if she was a bit vain, she

    wouldn''t assume he had any real romantic feelings for her. It was probably just a bit of sour grapes

    after hearing she was married.

    When they pulled up to her apartment, Rosemary got out of the car, and Hogan followed suit.

    "What are you doing getting out?"

    "I''m walking you up." Hogan, tall and long-legged, quickly caught up to her, "It''s dark and creepy;

    who knows what might be lurking behind the bushes or trees."

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    "No need, the security here''s pretty tight, and they don''t allow parking. You should head back."

    With a wave of her hand, and fearing he might actually follow, she dashed through the gate.

    A car engine started up behind her. Rosemary nced back reflexively, only to see a ck Bentley

    pull up next to Hogan''s vehicle. She didn''t catch the license te, but the model was unmistakable -

    it was Maxwell''s.

    The Bentley''s door opened, and out came Maxwell, indeed. He was still dressed in the same suit

    from the auction, not even a coat to ward off the chill.

    The man was stern-faced, his gaze fixed on her as he walked over with determination. But before

    he could get close to Rosemary, Hogan blocked his path, "She''s off to bed. You should go back."

    Maxwell followed the arm blocking his way to Hogan''s rough face, marked by military life, and gave

    a half-smile, "I''m her husband. Naturally, I live with her. And thank you, Mr. Abbott, for bringing my

    wife back."

    His tone was calm and polite, buting from him, with that look on his face, it carried a sharp and

    mocking edge, which couldn¡¯t be ignored.

    Hogan''s retort was equally sarcastic, but cruder than Maxwell''s veiled jabs, "You''re separated now,

    no damn point pretending to live together. Beat it, or I''ll call the cops on you for trespassing."

    His guess about the separation was just that - a guess. The apartments were posh butcked

    kitchens and open mes, typically housing singles and unmarried couples. Given Maxwell''s

    wealth, with staff and drivers at his beck and call, it was unlikely he''d stay there.

    "Separated?" Maxwell glowered at Rosemary through the doorway, his mood as dark as a storm

    cloud.

    He didn''t utter a word, but his face screamed, "You even told him that?"

    Rosemary t out ignored him and turned on her heel. Maxwell tried to sidestep Hogan''s grip,

    aiming to chase after her, but Hogan yanked him back by the arm.

    His brows knitted together, and he hissed a warning, "Let go, and get lost."

 Chapter 117

    Hogan just scoped out Maxwell''s dirt at the auction. No word on him tying the knot with Rosemary,

    but sure as heck found some juicy gossip about him and another chick.

    So, this dude was likely bad news! Plus, both were heading to splitsville, and his antics right now?

    Total clingy disaster.

    Thinking that, Hogan puffed up again, tongue-in-cheek, all slouched and smirky, oozing a ¡°couldn''t-

    care-less¡± vibe, "Can''t you see she''s totally not into you? You''d think a silver spooner like you,

    raised with all the bells and whistles, would get a clue, huh?"

    Maxwell''s eyes were swirling with a storm that could tear him apart, "And who the hell are you to

    butt into our business?"

    His voice was low and razor-sharp, every word crystal. Dude looked like a slick, suit-and-tie kinda

    guy who''d get floored with one hand, but the vibe he gave off was straight-up savage.

    Both guys were young and full of fight; none could stand such tant provocation, especially since

    they couldn''t stand each other to begin with. Who threw the first punch? Nobody knew, but it was

    on!

    They went at it, no holding back, punches that made people fear for their life just hearing them!

    Hogannded a solid one on Maxwell''s left cheek, but got a nasty kick to the gut in return, stumbling

    back a few steps before catching his bnce. Even with muscles for padding, it felt like his insides

    got rearranged.

    "Ouch."

    He winced, but then gave Maxwell a surprised eyebrow raise. These past years on the team, one-

    on-one, few could touch him.

    Turned out, this guy could throw down. Hogan clicked his tongue, dropped the casual facade,

    leaned forward, and motioned with his hand, "Come at me."

    Maxwell wiped the blood from his lip, shrugged off his jacket, ditched the tie and cufflinks on the

    ground, and popped a few buttons for good measure, loosening up for the brawl.

    The scene made the security guard feel like his head was gonna explode! If he didn''t step in, the

    two would catch the show right at the front door - no way to spin that. But stepping in? He was out

    of his league!

    He didn''t know Hogan from Adam, but they sure knew who Maxwell was. To tussle with him, this

    guy had to be someone.

    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

    Soft approach? Tried that. Didn''t work. Hard approach? No way, and it looked like a losing battle.

    Stuck between a rock and a hard ce, the guard turned to the one who stirred up the mess, only

    to find she''d already made herself scarce. He hustled after her, "Ms. Chambers, wait! At least try to

    break it up. If this keeps up, our front gate''s toast!"

    Even the barrier arm was nearly snapped in two!

    Rosemary knew about the fight, nced back at the two men doing their violent dance, pure

    ferocity. But both were smart enough to know their limits.

    When the guard asked for help, Rosemary didn''t even look back, "Let them be. They''ll stop when

    they''ve had enough. No need to intervene."

    The guard, stunned, looked back and forth between the battered duo, the busted barrier, and the

    blood sprinkles on the ground, then back at the departing Rosemary.

    Ms. Chambers was one tough cookie! Wasn''t the script supposed to have her running in, arms

    wide, forcing them to stop?

    Biting the bullet, the guard chased her down again, because she could remain unruffled, but

    honestly, what if it went too far, and someone died?

    "Ms. Chambers, please. What if it ends up with someone dead?"

    Rosemary was cornered, turned to see the two still going at it, and told the worried guard, "You think

    I can stop that?¡±

    If they started the fight because of her, then right now, those two were thrilled by this matched

    battle; they wouldn''t stop till there was a winner.

    ¡°They know what they¡¯re doing; nobody¡¯s gonna die. If you''re worried, call the cops."

    The guard clung to thest shred of hope, "Maybe you could stay till the cops arrive, Ms.

    Chambers?"

    Cops were already on the way, but keeping Rosemary around was just to keep things from

    spiraling. Fights were unpredictable - what if they didn''t stop in time?

    Stuck, Rosemary resigned herself to spectating, but just standing there would be something weary,

    "How about you fetch me a chair?"

    Weird. How could Mr. Ger, the epitome of grace, fall for someone as cold-blooded as Ms.

    Chambers? And he also asked them to look out for her.

    He cast another nce at her stoic face; for someone like her, who''d dare mess with her?

    Before the cops showed up, Maxwell and Hogan had already cooled it. Rosemary couldn''t tell who

    won or lost with her limitedbat skills, just that both were standing, bruised but steady.

    Hogan looked up, picked up his clothes from the ground, and gestured to Rosemary from a

    distance, "Dinner tomorrow, I''ll pick you up."

    Rosemary replied, "Sure."

    Maxwell scoffed and walked away without a word, leaving his coat and cufflinks in the dust.

    Seeing this, Rosemary got it. Maxwell was the loser, probably hurt bad, too pained to speak or even

    pick up his stuff.

    ¡°Winner¡± Hogan turned around, wincing; damn, that hurt! Was Maxwell raised by wolves or

    something? Such brutal hits. Weren''t CEOs supposed to just push papers and sit in meetings?

    Where''d he learn to fight like that?

    Hogan almost ascended to heaven from the pain just getting into his SUV with its high chassis,

    "Damn, definitely gonna be limping!"

    Once the coast was clear, Rosemary faced the guard who''d be her shadow, "Calcte the

    repair and cleaning costs for the damages, and send me the bill."

    And then, she just went and sent it to Maxwell, that jerk! If he hadn''t followed her just now, this

    whole mess wouldn''t have even started. Now she was under Martin''s roof, totally at his mercy, and

    pulling a stunt like this? Talked about making things awkward for herself.

    Later that night, just as Maxwell got back to Meadork Retreat, he got a call from Christ.

    Slouching on the couch, he leaned his head back, casually pulled out a cigarette, and ced it

    between his lips. The soft blue me of his lighter flickered to life, casting light on his bruised

    jawline, "What''s up?"

    "Mr. Templeton, the press release from the media folks is ready. Do you want to take a look?"

    Usually, Christ would handle this sort of thing, but this time, he wasn''t sure what to do.

 Chapter 118

    Maxwell cracked open his eyes, thin lips parting to release a swirl of pale smoke that mingled with

    his breath. The living room was dark, unlit save for the streemp light seeping in through the floor-

    to-ceiling windows. The already dim room was further obscured by the curling smoke, blurring his

    vision.

    His Adam''s apple bobbed as a grunt escaped him as a reply. After hanging up the phone, Christ

    promptly sent over the original draft of the news article.

    He stared at his phone in the dark. The screen was a bit of an eyesore, but Maxwell couldn''t be

    bothered to turn on the lights. He made do, squinting through the text even though his smart home

    would have sprung to life with just a few taps on the smart control app, swapping out of WhatsApp.

    Sure enough, the snap of Rosemary raising her hand to strike Victoria had been caught on camera.

    But it only showed her arm in motion - no aftermath. The article''s lines dripped with sympathy for

    Victoria, insinuating that Rosemary was nothing but a domineering brat. It even dredged up the old

    news about the hotel rendezvous, suggesting that Mrs. Templeton had climbed her way into her

    position by sleeping her way up.

    Thenguage was tactful, but Maxwell knew this draft was just a feeler. If he didn''t make a peep,

    tomorrow''s piece would be sharper, more cutting.

    Christ called at the perfect moment, "Mr. Templeton, ready to publish?"

    Maxwell''s fingers tapped idly on the armrest of the couch. The harsh glow from his phone cast his

    chiseled features and short hair into stark relief, shadows pooling in his eyes - a deep, dark abyss,

    "What do you think, that she forced her way into the Mrs. Templeton title by sleeping her way up?"

    Christ was silent; he didn¡¯t dare respond for he was unsure of Maxwell''s stance.

    He''d harbored such thoughts too, having worked alongside Mrs. Templeton for over two years.

    Maxwell''s attitude towards her hadn''t gone unnoticed; anyone with half an eye could see he wasn''t

    her biggest fan.

    But considering Maxwell''s asional cryptic behaviortely, things might not be as straightforward

    as they seemed.

    Maxwell didn''t fault him for his silence. His voice, raspy yet tinged with an ambiguous chuckle,

    sounded again, "The one who orchestrated the shotgun wedding was actually me."

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Christ was floored. He couldn''t tell if Mr. Templeton was dishing out the real tea or just cueing in the

    narrative he wanted to see in the news.

    Either way, he got the message loud and clear.

    "I''ll have them revise it straightaway."

    "And the journalist who wrote this," Maxwell paused for effect, "I don''t want to see him in this

    industry again."

    Christplied, "Understood."

    He didn''t feel sorry for the journalist. If the guy hadn''t been trying to suck up, anyone with brains

    would''ve steered clear of stirring the pot on such a topic. Regardless of Mr. Templeton''s feelings,

    she was Mrs. Templeton. And no matter how favored Ms. Temple might be, even with her ex status,

    she was now the other woman.

    The next day, Rosemary''s jaw dropped as soon as she unlocked her phone to find lovey-dovey

    news about her and Maxwell. The photo showed them hand in hand, smiling for an interview. She

    closed the app, opened her browser, and there it was, "The Templeton Group CEO reveals secret

    wife, admits he was the one who forced marriage." She switched apps, and the same story popped

    up everywhere.

    Ynda''s call came just as Rosemary was reeling, her voice a mix of shock and gossipy glee,

    "Rosemary, what''s the deal? You''re not divorcing Maxwell? I wake up, check my phone, and bam,

    your official announcement is everywhere. Talk about a plot twist!"

    Rosemaryy t, staring at the ceiling with the look of someone who''d lost all hope, "Would you

    believe me if I said I didn''t even know?"

    Silence from Ynda for half a minute, "Has he finally realized what he''s got and is now chasing

    after you?"

    "Probably not. More like Hogan knocked some sense into himst night."

    "Hogan?"

    Rosemary, irked, sat up abruptly, "That jerk. Just to keep me from dining with Hogan, he''s digging a

    pit for me on purpose."

    The photo was fromst night''s auction, with the article gushing about their marital bliss, not a

    mention of Victoria.

    Given the media''s shameless thirst for clicks, they wouldn''t pass up on a juicy scoop like that for

    nothing. A mother-inw defending her daughter-inw and publicly tearing into the mistress -what

    a clickbait headline! But not a word.

    No need to guess - Maxwell''s handiwork, clear as day.

    "Why''s he gotta be such a jerk? He can cuddle up with Victoria all he wants, but the moment I have

    dinner ns with a friend, he pulls this stunt."

    With her face stered all over the news, anyone who so much as nced at a newsfeed would

    recognize her. Now, any private meal with Hogan would be tainted by this trending topic; given his

    reputation for being a little too open-minded, what would people say?

    Ynda, out of the loop onst night''s drama, cut in, "Wait, wait, Hogan? That guy who''d hang

    around your university gates, that unfortunate soul? You ran into him and made dinner ns?"

    Rosemary glossed over the details of the previous night.

    "Go for it." Ynda eximed, pping her thigh, "I''lle over and do your makeup. I swear,

    even your dad won''t recognize you."

    She almost slipped and said ¡°mom¡±. Back in the day, she was the number one shipper of Rosemary

    and that unfortunate soul. Too bad Rosemary was clueless about Hogan''s feelings.

    Even though one''s married and the other''s current romantic inclination was unknown, a meal was

    still on the table, right? At least it would soothe the heart of a broken shipper like her.

    Rosemary demurred, "Forget it."

    She didn''t want to drag Hogan into this mess. She had agreed to dinner thinking it would be nice to

    catch up after years, but now.

    If this dinner was going to cause him unnecessary trouble, it was better to just let it be.

    "Just you wait, I''m on my way. Maxwell doesn''t want you to grab a bite with Hogan, but we''re gonna

    do it anyway just to spite him."

    With that, the call ended.

    It would take Ynda over half an hour to drive over, so Rosemary decided to head downstairs for

    some breakfast.

    As she opened her door, she was greeted by two towering men standing at the door, decked out in

    uniform ck suits and overcoats, standing like a pair of imposing guardians.

    Rosemary frowned, "What are you two doing here?"

    She had a hunch who was behind this, but she asked anyway.

    One of the men turned around, "Mrs. Templeton, the boss has instructed us to ensure your safety."

    "Ensure my safety?" Rosemary let out a scoff, her voice rising with a sharp edge, "Are you here to

    protect me, or to keep tabs on me?"

 Chapter 119

    Facing Rosemary''s questioning, the bodyguard didn''t even bat an eyelid, still sporting that icy

    professional demeanor, "We were ordered to protect you."

    To protect her? Rosemary wasn''t buying that Maxwell was suddenly ying the good Samaritan!

    "I don''t need anybody''s protection. Go back to where you came from and stop loitering at my

    doorstep."

    Just as she was talking, she spotted neighbors peeking out their doors in their direction. But the

    bodyguard stood his ground, his tone as emotionless as a parrot repeating phrases, "Mr. Templeton

    said if you don''t want us here, he coulde in person."

    Great, there went her appetite - poof, vanished in thin air! She mmed the door shut with such

    force that the walls trembled.

    Digging out her phone from her purse, Rosemary called Maxwell. The moment he picked up, she

    unleashed a torrent of fury at him, "Maxwell, call off your people!"

    "They''re there to keep you safe," the voice on the other end sounded husky as if he had just woken

    up.

    Grinding her teeth, Rosemary retorted, "Not necessary."

    "The trending topic this morning made you recognizable. You might attract some unsavory attention;

    where you live isn''t safe."

    Maxwell shouldn''t have brought that up - it only fueled Rosemary''s anger, "You weren''t so

    concerned when you leaked those photos of us leaving the hotel to the media."

    Back then, she was cyberbullied to the point where she couldn''t even step outside, and while

    dodging debt collectors, she didn''t even have a single voice in the online army to defend her, let

    alone a bodyguard.

    After a few seconds of silence, the man''s voice turned dark, "Who told you that?"

    With a hint of mockery in her voice, Rosemary said, "Your little sweetheart, of course."

    With so many eyes on themst night, Maxwell could cover up everything for his sweetheart.

    Otherwise, just the fact that Victoria used Maxwell''s invite to attend the auction could have been

    enough forizens to rip her to shreds and nail her to the pir of shame as a mistress!

    A suppressed, low chuckle came through the phone. After a while, Maxwell said, "The bodyguard

    issue is non-negotiable unless you want me to move in and personally keep an eye on you."

    Rosemary''s mind was reeling with rage, "Maxwell, can''t you man up and stop clinging to me

    shamelessly? You could have buriedst night''s news, but instead, you''ve made itmon

    knowledge. Are you sick? I don''t need protection, and I certainly don''t need you to handle my dead

    body!"

    Taking a few deep breaths to calm her oxygen-deprived dizzy head, she added, "I''ve got ns to go

    out for dinner. Get your men out of here."

    "They won''t stop you."

    They might not stop her, but they would follow her. Imagine dining with someone, bodyguards

    nking like emotionless statue guardians. Who could stay cool with that?

    "Maxwell," Rosemary forced herself to stay calm, "are you jealous? You don''t want me to have

    dinner with Hogan, so you pull this stunt to get under my skin?"

    "If that''s what you want to think, I can''t help it."

    That wasn''t jealousy; it was pure sarcasm, revenge for what she had done. Fuming, she hung up

    and threw the phone onto the carpet ferociously!

    Soon, Ynda arrived with a suitcase turned makeup bag, changing her shoes while eyeing the

    men outside, "What''s the deal with those two wooden statues at the door?"

    Rosemary slumped on the sofa, deted, "That''s Maxwell''s crazy doing."

    She suspected Maxwell had some unseemly designs on Rosemary - who knew, the man seemed

    deep and calcting, and she had only interacted with him a few times because of Rosemary,

    barely exchanging words.

    Ynda opened the suitcase, "Has Hogan said when he''s picking you up?"

    Rosemary nced as Yndaid out a collection of vials on the coffee table, including some

    breast enhancement cream, "Why does that sound so weird to me?"

    It sounded like she was asking when the groom wasing to fetch the bride!

    "Me asking clearly is just to n better."

    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

    Rosemary stopped Ynda''s hand, which was about to apply something to her face, "I''ll do it

    myself, and you can keep your breast and butt enhancers, or hair removal creams to yourself."

    "They''re all good stuff." Ynda nced at Rosemary''s chest, "Never mind, you don''t need them."

    Any bigger, and clothes wouldn''t look good.

    As Ynda watched Rosemary skillfully apply her makeup, she curiously asked, "Do you really

    have no feelings for Maxwell anymore?"

    Rosemary paused while applying sunscreen, "Don''t know, but I''ve never wavered on the idea of

    divorce since it first crossed my mind. Not every couple divorces because of lost feelings. It''s like a

    discarded toy; it''s not because you don''t like it, it just feels dirty."

    Ynda nodded in agreement; that made sense.

    When Hogan arrived to pick her up, he was covered up even more than Rosemary, the newfound

    inte sensation. Hat, mask, sunsses, and a scarf around his neck, the only visible skin was

    the hand tucked in his pocket.

    Gazing at him, Ynda was dumbfounded, "Are you here to take Rosemary out to lunch or to cast

    her in a ''Mr. & Mrs. Smith'' skit?"

    "Knew Rosemary would be all covered up today; just wanted to match her with a couple''s set,"

    Hogan''s face couldn¡¯t be seen, and his mood was only discernible through his tone of voice.

    Hogan tilted his chin, "What''s with the two in the back?"

    Rosemary frowned, "Did Maxwell rough you up?"

    It was more than roughing up; he had been beaten to a pulp. It didn''t seem so badst night, but

    when he woke up this morning and looked in the mirror, his face was red and swollen, with bruises

    turning blue in severe spots, looking like a pig''s head ready to be cured and hung.

    That sneaky man, no wonder he only went for his facest night! Still, he was a man, and he

    couldn''t show weakness in front of the woman he liked no matter how bad it was, "It''s nothing. He''s

    just jealous I''m better-looking than him, always picking on, ouch."

    Before he could even finish his sentence, Rosemary''s hand had already smacked into his belly. Just

    last night, she had seen Hogan take a kick from Maxwell right there.

    She didn''t put much muscle into it, but Hogan was caught off-guard. Suddenly taking a hit like that,

    he couldn''t help but yelp in pain.

    Rosemary rolled her eyes at him, clearly annoyed, "You call this ''nothing''? Have you even been to

    the hospital to get it checked out?"

    A gut punch could easily lead to internal bleeding!

 Chapter 120

    After zooming off from herest night, Hogan had patched himself up at the hospital, but now,

    staring into Rosemary''s eyes, he just shook his head with a clear-cut decisiveness, "Nope."

    "Take off the mask; let me see your wound."

    ncing around, Hogan noticed the hustle and bustle at the entrance of the apartment building,

    "Here? Maybe we should find another spot."

    The two dudes behind them screamed bodyguards, Maxwell''s muscle. If they caught a glimpse,

    wouldn''t that be like letting his love rival see him through proxy?

    "It''s not like I''m asking you to strip. What''s with all the fuss? Want me to book a hotel room for you?"

    "Well, that''s not entirely out of the question."

    Rosemary couldn''t be bothered with his nonsense and just yanked off his mask. Hogan realized

    what she was doing just as she reached for him and instinctively lifted his hand, only to forcefully

    lower it again.

    The guy was rough around the edges. What if he couldn''t control his strength and ended up

    snapping her wrist?

    With the mask off, the damage on Hogan''s face was out in the open, looking even more gruesome

    after a night''s settling than it did yesterday.

    Rosemary pressed her lips and after a few seconds of silence, made up her mind, "I''m taking you to

    the hospital."

    These were just the surface wounds visible to the naked eye. If they were this bad, who knew what

    internal damage might be lurking. If he dragged his feet and something went wrong, it''d be toote

    for regrets.

    Hogan wasn''t thrilled, "Weren''t we supposed to grab a bite? I can run and jump around just fine."

    He wanted to say he was sure he was okay, but facing Rosemary''s disapproving gaze, he quickly

    changed his tune, "Let''s eat first then head to the doc. I''ve already made reservations."

    Who''d prefer the chaos of an emergency room - where it was a free-for-all for seats and people had

    got to shout to talk - over a ssy restaurant where they could sit back, reminisce about the old

    times, and dream about the future?

    "You''re already thinking about food over your life?" Rosemary snapped, snatching the car keys from

    Hogan, "You''re riding shotgun."

    She''d noticed him limping when he arrived earlier, "You''re already a mess, and you still wanna

    drive? Wanna crash into a flower bed or something?"

    Hogan followed behind her like a henpecked hubby, silently taking the earful.

    Rosemary hopped into the driver''s seat first, and when he went to open the passenger door, he saw

    those bodyguards trailing, even looking like they were about to open the rear doors. His face went

    icy in an instant, his hand pressing down on the car door.

    The message was crystal clear: No way in, beat it!

    Bodyguard uttered, "Mr. Abbott, we''re ordered to ensure Mrs. Templeton''s safety, please make

    way."

    "You''re not following my orders; why should I make it easy for you? Whoever gave the orders, go

    ask them for making way. The car''s mine, and if I say you''re not getting in, you''re not getting in. Try

    it, and I''ll call the cops on you for trying to hijack my property."

    The bodyguards were at loss for words. They could force their way in if they really wanted to, but

    that would surely tick off Mrs. Templeton.

    The two exchanged a look, a silent agreement passing between them, and decided to tail them in

    another car.

    The one who wasn''t driving called Maxwell, "Mr. Templeton, Mrs. Templeton''s taking Mr. Abbott to

    the hospital."

    They hadn''t reached the destination yet, but they''d overheard the conversation just now.

    Maxwell took minutes to respond, and the bodyguard didn''t dare rush him. From Mrs. Templeton

    and Mr. Abbott''s recent chat, it seemed thetter''s injuries were courtesy of Mr. Templeton, and

    from the look of things, Mr. Templeton might be hurt too.

    Yet, Mrs. Templeton was off to the hospital with Mr. Abbott, without sparing a single word of concern

    for her own husband. Far from caring, they''d had a spat in the morning.

    The door wasn''t exactly soundproof; they''d heard every hurtful word Mrs. Templeton had hurled,

    clear as day.

    What kind of domestic warzone was this, and were they going to get offed for witnessing it? Just as

    the bodyguard was quaking in his boots, Maxwell finally spoke up on the other end, "Yeah, got it."

    Turned out Hogan''s injuries were no biggie, just some surface stuff that would heal over time,

    though a few bloody cuts needed dressing changes.

    After leaving the hospital, Rosemary handed him the ointment, "Remember, change it every three

    days. If you don''t want to do it yourself, drop by the hospital or any clinic to get a doc to help. Keep

    it dry to avoid infection."

    Hogan, with azy energy and a mischievous arch of his brow that screamed testosterone, hooked

    the bag with one finger. His skin was bronze from years of training and tanning, his build strong and

    bnced.

    Such a strapping, upright guy was now teasing her from his lofty perch, "What about showers?"

    "Can''t exactly go without forever, right? If it takes months to heal, I''ll stink myself to death, won''t I?"

    Rosemary shed him a smile, "You live alone anyway; no one''s around to smell you."

    Just a few stitches, no need for surgery, and months to heal? She spun on her heel and walked

    away without a second nce.

    Hogan''s face fell, and he caught up to her in a few strides, "Hey, that''s pretty cold, you know? I am

    injured, after all. And it''s already seven."

    A nearly six-foot-three tower of muscle whining like this only made Rosemary feel goosebumps all

    over, "Speak like normal."

    Hogan said, "I''m hungry."

    So was Rosemary; she hadn''t eaten much at lunch. She whipped out her phone, and scrolled

    through an app for nearby eats, "What do you feel like to eat?"

    Hogan leaned in to take a look, "Let''s see what''s good."

    Back in high school, she used to tutor Hogan, and he''d often lean in close like this to listen to her

    exnations. So, when he leaned in to check her phone now, Rosemary didn''t think much of it.

    But before he could get close, a hand swooped in from behind, snatching her phone away, followed

    by an arm wrapping around her shoulder.

    Rosemary was pulled into a familiar embrace, instantly flooded with the scent of the man holding

    her.

    She looked up, and sure enough, there was Maxwell, his face a mask of tight lines and extreme

    anger, "The check-up is done. Mr. Abbott, you should leave."

    He whisked Rosemary away from the spot, putting some space between her and Hogan.

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Maxwell had his share of battle scars, but it was just a couple of spots on his left cheek and

    cheekbone that took the hit. They looked pretty bad, but with Hogan''s face looking like it got the

    deluxe treatment from a wrecking ball, those little nicks on Maxwell hardly registered.

    Hogan raised an eyebrow, and man, did he regret it! That move pulled at his stitches and he winced

    like nobody''s business.

    But he knew Maxwell wasn''t exactly having a walk in the park either. The guy had aimed for the

    spots his clothes coveredst night, so one wouldn''t know the damage unless he stripped down.

    Hogan was pretty darn proud of his punching power. Bet those hidden bruises were giving Maxwell

    a sweet kind of agony!

    "Mr. Templeton is like a bad penny; just keeps turning up." Hogan cracked his knuckles with a

    chorus of pops, "You¡¯re about to be her ex, and still, you stick like glue. Wherever she goes, there

    you are!"

 Chapter 121

    Maxwell nced down at Rosemary, who was frowning. Even though she was forced to lean into

    his embrace, her gaze was fixed on Hogan.

    It looked as if she had eyes only for the guy across from her. His hand slid from her shoulder to her

    waist, his fingers tightening brutally to yank her attention back to him.

    Maxwell''s eyes were an opaque shade as he said, ¡°Let''s go.¡±

    Jason, with a keen sense of timing, had already parked the car right beside them, the door just a

    reach away.

    ¡°No.¡± Rosemary barely got a word out before Maxwell forcefully whisked her into the car.

    Hogan''s face darkened in an instant. He made a move to intervene, but his outstretched hand was

    blocked by bodyguards nking him.

    In the blink of an eye, Rosemary was in Maxwell''s car, the door mmed shut, and they sped away

    from the hospital at breakneck speed.

    It wasn''t just Jason in the car; Christ was also there.

    Hogan''s voice, mixing with the roar of the engine, reached the ears of the two people in the

    backseat with varying expressions, ¡°Maxwell, if you dare force her, I swear I won''t let you off the

    hook.¡±

    He said ¡°force¡± because he knew as an outsider he had no say in their affairs, no matter how

    strained their rtionship was. Even if they were in the process of divorcing, as long as they were

    still married, it was within the bounds of reason.

    He could only stand up for Rosemary if she didn''t consent. Men understand men better than they

    understand women. The look in that guy''s eyes just now was screaming intense ¡°possession¡±.

    Knowing what could happen if a man lost control in such a state, Hogan, as a man himself, knew all

    too well.

    But what Hogan imagined didn''t happen. Not only did Maxwell refrain from doing anything, but he

    also let go of her as soon as the car door closed.

    Now they were sitting side by side, with a good half-meter gap between them. No one spoke in the

    car; even the sound of breathing was so faint as to be nearly inaudible.

    Rosemary turned her head, and there was Maxwell, eyes closed, leaning against the seatback in a

    feigned slumber. His long eyshes cast a shadow on his face, his lips pressed, the heavy shadow

    outlining his features and profile in a chilling aloofness.

    Christ nced in the rearview mirror, saw the two acting like sworn enemies, giving each other the

    cold shoulder, and couldn''t help but speak up, ¡°Mrs. Templeton, there''s a pharmacying up.

    Maybe you can grab some wound care stuff for Mr. Templeton. He''s pretty banged up too, been

    back-to-back in meetings today without even a chance to hit the hospital. Mr. Abbott''s been in the

    army for so many years, and he''s no stranger to the toughest and most grueling special forces

    training. His strength and skills are nothing to scoff at.¡±

    Maxwell kept his eyes closed, neither objecting to nor endorsing Christ''s suggestion. Jason had

    already stopped the car by the pharmacy, and considerately got out to open the door for Rosemary.

    Four pairs of eyes, both inside and outside the car, were fixed on her, especially Christ, who was

    this close to joining his hands in prayer, nodding and bowing, practically begging her.

    And fearing she might refuse, he went the extra mile, listing few ointment names. With the window

    rolled down and his loud voice, the people around the neighboring shops all heard him, attracting

    even more attention.

    And then there was Jason, also sporting a look of earnest pleading.

    Rosemary couldn''t stand being looked at with such eyes by an elder, and she felt that if she didn''t

    agree, Christ might just keep the door open and stay put even before Maxwell could say anything.

    So she had been yed, and she wasn''t going to let Christ off easy, her tone mocking, ¡°Christ,

    you''re really going above and beyond, huh? Earning an assistant''s pay, doing a mother''s job.¡±

    Which assistant cared about their boss to this extent? A grown man, begging a young girl, dignity

    be damned.

    Christ gave an awkwardugh. He didn''t mention that when Mr. Templeton was in a foul mood, it

    was him, the courtier who had to enter the CEO''s office seventeen or eighteen times a day, who

    bore the brunt of it. Those nerve-wracking days were just no way to live.

    He suspected he''d get a heart attack before he even retired!

    Rosemary went down to buy the ointment. Other than iodine and gauze, she wasn''t sure what else

    was used for treating wounds, but she had nced at a few items earlier when she picked up

    Hogan''s medication and had kept them in mind.

    Back in the car, Rosemary tossed the purchased ointment at Maxwell and washed her hands of it.

    Twenty minutester, the car stopped outside the apartment building. She had barely stepped out

    when Maxwell followed.

    Rosemary frowned and snapped at him, ¡°Don''t follow me.¡±

    She was hungry and tired and didn''t need any more torment from him.

    Maxwell lifted therge bag of ointment she had bought at the pharmacy and shoved it in her face,

    ¡°You bought the ointment; who else is gonna apply them to me?¡±

    ¡°You''ve got a great assistant; why don''t you let him.¡±

    Before she could finish, the car, which had never been turned off, drove away.

    Maxwell gestured towards the car that had now blended into the traffic, impossible to find, ¡°Looks

    like it''s up to you to do it.¡±

    Rosemary was clearly not going to agree, but Maxwell seemed to have no intention of asking her

    opinion. He just grabbed the ointment and strode towards her building as if he knew the ce better

    than she did.

    The security guard at the door didn''t stop him, and even swiped his card to let him in. The tight

    security that required a resident''s confirmation and an ID card registration for visitors was clearly

    just for show with him around.

    Rosemary took a deep breath and followed, thinking about ignoring him and heading straight to a

    hotel, but she hadn''t brought her ID.

    ¡°Maxwell, are you falling in love with me or what?¡±

    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

    The man didn''t answer. She wasn''t sure if he didn''t want to respond, tacitly agreed, or thought her

    question was so dumb it wasn''t worth acknowledging. The only sounds on the quiet path were their

    footsteps.

    Rosemary continued on her own, ¡°Or is it something else? This is seriously creepy, you know.¡±

    About to get divorced, and then this happened out of the blue - who wouldn''t be freaked out?

    ¡°If I were to fall for you, would that really be creepy?¡± Maxwell''s voice sounded cold, as if he were

    angry, but when Rosemary turned to look at him, she saw the faintest curve on his lips.

    Rosemary didn''t hesitate with her response, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Maxwell''s gaze drifted away from her face, ¡°How high did you stack your pillowsst night toe

    up with such an unrealistic fantasy?¡±

    Rosemary gritted her teeth, "You''ve never brushed your teeth since the day you were born, have

    you?"

    If he didn''t like something, just said it straight up. No need to get nasty with words. She picked up

    the pace, aiming to beat Maxwell home and lock him out. Even if that wasn''t possible, she''d grab

    her ID and hit up a hotel.

    But she was fast, the guy was faster. The door had barely cracked open, and before Rosemary

    could shove it, Maxwell had already slipped through.

    Taking a deep breath, she reached for the wallet on the shoe cab; her ID was in there. Her

    fingertips had barely grazed the leather when the door mmed shut behind her.

    Maxwell propped an arm against the door, his other hand snaking around her waist, enveloping her

    in his presence.

 Chapter 122

    The man bowed his head, his handsome face closing in on Rosemary, his straight nose and those

    lips - perfect in shape and hue just inches away.

    With such an invasion of her personal space, Rosemary''s heart raced, and she pushed against his

    chest, "What are you doing?"

    Scared the life out of her! Because they were so close, Maxwell lowered his voice when he spoke,

    the usual chill in his tone, yet if one listened closely, there was a trace of a smirk, but it couldn''t hide

    the bone-chilling cold, "Given up hope with Martin, thinking of giving Hogan a shot?"

    His breath fell on her lips, Rosemary tilted her head back, trying to put distance between them, but

    her head was already up against the door; there was no escaping.

    "Aren''t you supposed to be getting ointment? Go lie down over there."

    She nodded towards the couch, pushing against Maxwell who was almostpletely pressed

    against her.

    This was too risky, and a single careless move and things could go off, although Maxwell seemed to

    have more self-control in these matters, with no rumors of him cozying up to any woman during the

    three years Victoria was gone, but who knew what could happen.

    Maxwell chuckled, his lips brushing hers, "I''m asking you the question."

    Even without going any deeper, this alone was enough to send Rosemary into meltdown, especially

    as he spoke, his lips grazing hers so subtly.

    Her rationality snapped like an over-tightened string in that instant. She didn''t even care if her

    resistance would piss off Maxwell; she was pushing and shoving with all her might to break free

    from his hold.

    She didn''t speak, her lips pressed into a tight line, giving Maxwell no opportunity to take advantage.

    The man looked down; even from this close, he could clearly see the rejection and panic in her

    eyes. She really didn''t want him touching her.

    Eyes red with anger and grievance, a pert nose, tight red lips, cheeks flushed with color, and fair

    delicate skin...every part of her was tempting him to kiss her.

    Without any regard, ignoring all her rejections. With Maxwell''s skill, he could subdue a woman with

    one hand, and with the natural physical disparity between men and women, she stood no chance of

    escape.

    And Rosemary could feel Maxwell''s reaction. Her eyes widened in astonishment, a look of disdain

    in her gaze; men''s minds and bodies indeed operated separately.

    Maxwell, the instigator, showed no embarrassment at being seen through, and when he met

    Rosemary''s eyes, he even rasped, "Stop moving."

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Rosemary clenched her teeth, "If we switched ces, and I told you not to move, would you listen?"

    Maxwell''s lips curved into a smirk, a low chuckle, "You could try."

    Right, no reasoning with a beast. In the awkward silence, there came a couple of knocks on the

    door, "Rosemary, are you there?"

    It was Martin. A clear joy shed in Rosemary''s eyes; at a time like this, anyone, even a stranger,

    was a wee interruption.

    She looked at Maxwell, a silent demand, "Let go."

    Maxwell''s icy gaze was fixed on her, unmoved. Neither spoke, but their intentions were clear.

    It felt like a long standoff, yet it was perhaps only a few seconds before the knocking came again,

    more urgent this time, "Rosemary?"

    Maxwell instructed, "Tell him to leave."

    His voice was so low it didn''t carry through the wall separating them from Martin outside.

    Rosemary immediately refused without hesitating, "Not gonna happen."

    If Martin left, who knew how long Maxwell''s madness wouldst? After what just happened, she had

    no faith in his morals.

    With her refusal, the handsome man''s face darkened under the light, he pinned Rosemary''s hands

    against the door panel, his lips close to her ear, "A Martin, a Hogan, how many more men do you

    n on attracting in the future?"

    It was then that Rosemary truly understood, a man''s physical reaction and actually wanting her

    were two very different things.

    He was kissing her. Not the vicious, violent type that seemed to want to devour her, but a torturous,

    gentle way, his lips barely touching, nibbling on her earlobe, neck, tracing the contours of her face.

    Rosemary couldn''t hold back any longer; her rationality shattered, she screamed, "Maxwell, have

    you lost your mind?"

    No matter how hard she kicked and struggled, the man before her was immovable, showing no sign

    of pain.

    She banged desperately on the door behind her, trying to make noise for Martin outside to hear, not

    caring if it would further enrage Maxwell, already in fury, "Martin, Martin."

    Maxwell sneered, his hand slipping from her waist under her clothes, tracing her spine, "Rosemary,

    who are you calling for?"

    Rosemary''s mind buzzed, barelyprehending his words, or maybe she did, but didn''t want to. All

    she knew was she had to stop Maxwell, and right now, Martin was the most likely to do it, so, she

    yelled even louder for "Martin".

    Her waist almost crushed by his powerful grip, but in her fear, she felt no pain.

    "Rosemary." Maxwell held her chin, his eyes clouded with fury, his rough voice as if squeezed from

    his throat, "You like him that much? Too bad he doesn''t want you, even if you begged, he wouldn''t

    ept you."

    ¡°Martin always knows his position. Do you think he¡¯d stoop to meddle in our sexual life just for you?¡±

    Facing Maxwell''s mocking gaze, Rosemary felt despair; No, he wouldn¡¯t. Because after she yelled

    Maxwell''s name, there were no more knocks from Martin outside.

    The whole world was silent, except for their heavy breathing and arguing, no other sound to be

    heard.

    Rosemary kept mum, ring at him like a cornered wolf cub, all fierce and bristling. In the eerie

    silence, the fingerprint lock on the door buzzed as it scanned, and the next second, it clicked open.

    Martin pushed the door and entered.

    Rosemary was pinned by Maxwell, pressed right up against the door, but Martin still managed to get

    in, which went to show he must have really put his back into it.

    Taking in the scene inside, he furrowed his brows tightly. His voice was gentle, but his stance was

    all boss, "Maxwell, you''ve scared her."

 Chapter 123

    Maxwell let go of Rosemary, who was ring at him with a furious look, the clear love bite marks on

    her neck from his unrestrained passion still visible.

    If she had a knife in her hand right now, she''d probably be hacking at him without a second thought.

    Did she look even slightly scared? Not at all!

    Maxwell didn''t bite, his gazending on Martin''s hand. He had used his fingerprint to unlock the

    door just now.

    For the scions of wealthy families, emotional intelligence was a basic course, and the first lesson of

    EQ was reading the room. So even though Maxwell didn''t say a word, Martin got the hint right away.

    "Sorry, it was urgent before; didn''t have time to delete it."

    It was indeed a faux pas on his part; Martin opened the door and fiddled with the touchscreen for a

    bit, erasing his fingerprint from the system.

    Maxwell was distant, not even bothering to toss out a courtesy invite toe in and sit, just

    standing at the entrance with a look that screamed ¡°time to leave¡±, ¡°What''s up? It''ste.¡±

    "Just passing by, heard from the security downstairs that something went downst night; thought

    I¡¯d check it out."

    The truth was the security guard had phoned him that morning, spilling the beans on all the drama

    fromst night.

    "Where were you headed that brought you straight through River Manor?"

    The two men locked eyes in mid-air, Martin''s face the picture of innocence, not a hint of guilt even if

    he was lying, creating a palpable tension as if swords were drawn.

    Martin dropped a location that was indeed on the way.

    Rosemary pointed to the hallway outside and coldly told Maxwell, ¡°Get out!¡±

    ¡°Rosemary,¡± Maxwell called her name, his handsome face showing no emotion, hard to read but the

    warning was crystal clear.

    Rosemary''s voice suddenly spiked, her emotions raw, eyes red-rimmed, not caring about tearing

    down the facade in front of a stranger,ying bare her crumbling marriage, ¡°Get out, I said go!¡±

    Maxwell''s expression turned icy, his brows knitting tightly, his hand reaching out to grab Rosemary.

    Rosemary stood her ground, either too furious to react or unsure of his intentions, but Maxwell''s

    hand never made contact with her - it was intercepted by Martin mid-way.

    ¡°How about we go grab a drink?¡±

    ¡°Martin,¡± Maxwell''s eyes narrowed, his tone icy, ¡°you''re overstepping.¡±

    Despite his usually gentle demeanor, Martin didn''t back down an inch from Maxwell''s imposing

    presence, ¡°I''m not trying to meddle in your marital issues, but if you stay here tonight, you''re only

    going to make things worse, not better.¡±

    ¡°Maxwell, she doesn''t want to see you right now.¡±

    Not just now, Rosemary never wanted toy eyes on him again in her life!

    The room fell into an eerie silence. After a standoff, Maxwell ended up leaving with Martin.

    Jason had driven off, and Maxwell got into Martin''s car. Martin''s voice was cool, that innate

    refinement that had been ingrained since he was twelve or thirteen was, for the moment, stripped

    away, ¡°Where to? Night Club?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Maxwell closed his eyes feigning sleep, clearly not in the mood for a chat.

    But Martin didn''t let the earlier conversation drop; he uttered, ¡°You can tell, Rosemary''s dead set on

    divorcing you.¡±

    Maxwell''s response was cold, with a hint of aggression, ¡°So?¡±

    Martin went on, ¡°So, even without me in the picture, there would be others, like,¡±

    He nced at Maxwell, who was clearly not in the best of moods, paused, and then continued, ¡°the

    guy you fought withst night.¡±

    Maxwell slowly opened his eyes, ¡°Are you admitting you have feelings for her?¡±

    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

    The usation in his voice was clear and direct. Martin pulled over, took a cigarette from the pack

    and ced it between his lips. He didn¡¯t have any craving for smoke, nor did he do it often,

    ¡°Maxwell, what right do you have to question me? Whether I like her or not, I haven''t overstepped.

    But what about Victoria? How are you going to handle that? One woman at home, another on the

    side?¡±

    He was a bit out of control tonight, especially after hearing Rosemary call his name through the

    door. So, even though he hadn''t thrown a punch, his words were aggressive, not in line with his

    usual character or approach.

    But Martin knew he wasn''t in a position to be questioning these things.

    So, he pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to subdue the restlessness stirring within him, putting

    back on his amiable veneer, ¡°Rosemary''s beautiful and capable. Guys chasing after her are a dime

    a dozen. You might stop one or two, but can you stop them all? And you know Rosemary, if she

    really falls for one of them, she won''t back down easily. What will you do then, lock her up if you

    can''t bless their union?¡±

    Maxwell''s jaw was clenched tight. As Martin finished hisst sentence, there was a flicker in

    Maxwell''s eyes.

    ¡°Have you considered that her pushing for divorce could be out of jealousy over Ms. Temple?¡±

    Exes were always a delicate matter, and Maxwell hadn''t been discreet, plus the media, always

    hungry for a story, could easily fuel misunderstandings.

    Maxwell stared out at the monotonous night scenery and finally grunted out few words, ¡°Won''t

    happen.¡±

    His cold demeanor didn''t seem typical of someone in love. Martin had thought Maxwell might not be

    as indifferent to Rosemary as he seemed, but now it looked like he was overthinking it.

    ¡°You still hung up on that girl you were chasing before? If you really can''t shake it off, why not end

    things amicably and give it another shot? A guy as good-looking, young, wealthy, and fit as you,

    unless someone''s blind, they''d hardly turn you down a second time.¡±

    The first rejection was years ago. Martin merely knew that Maxwell''s confession had failed, and he''d

    even been in a slump for a while. Who the girl was, he had no idea, but then Victoria came into the

    picture.

    Maxwell scoffed, ¡°Turns out she was that blind one.¡±

    Looked like he still had feelings for her.

    "Come on, spill the beans about who the girl is." The two had been buddies since childhood, always

    hanging out together, and the crowd they knew was pretty much from the same circle. Maybe there

    was a chance he knew her, "Archer and I can brainstorm some ideas for you."

    "Archer?" Maxwell raised an eyebrow, not meaning to be sarcastic, but clearly not impressed with

    the guy''s game when it came to chasing skirts, "Let him bag Yvonne first; then we''ll talk."

    That was gonna be tough.

    The next day, Rosemary was up with the chickens; she had to get back to work at Heritage Revive

    Studio.

    Her pad was a good trek from the studio, so she hit the road an hour early. Nearing the ce, she

    got a message from Ynda: a snapshot of someone hugging a big bouquet.

    The bouquet was a mix of blue baby''s breath and blue-and-white roses, massive, with the person

    standing behind it, not even a strand of hair in sight.

    "??" Rosemary shot back two question marks, "A secret admirer''s gift to you?"

    "Seems like it''s from your hubby."

    Before Rosemary could respond, Ynda''s second text rolled in, "It''s for Victoria; the campus forum

    is blowing up. Three years since graduation and some people are already married with kids old

    enough for school, yet she has the nerve to post it on the school forum. Doesn¡¯t she have anyone

    nearby to congratte her, or what?"

    Rosemary didn''t reply because she had just reached the studio door, only to see a bouquet identical

    to the one in the photo, currently being hefted with some difficulty by the florist.

 Chapter 124

    Rosemary mmed on the brakes, and the florist holding the bouquet noticed her,ically fishing

    out his phone from his bag andparing it to a photo.

    Once he confirmed it was her car, he made a beeline for her.

    At that moment, everyone in the studio was crowding at the door, rubbernecking. They had been

    there when the guy first showed up with that humongous bouquet; it was hard not to draw attention.

    Rosemary''s car was now parked outside the studio, and under all those watchful eyes, she couldn''t

    just hightail it out of there without seeming like she was trying too hard to hide something, which

    wouldn''t solve anything. She could only watch as the guy approached.

    "Excuse me, are you Mrs. Templeton?"

    Even with the windows up, his booming voice was crystal clear. Rosemary was speechless for a

    moment, then parked properly and got out of the car.

    "Mr. Templeton sent you these flowers. Could you please sign for them?"

    No sooner had he spoken than the chorus of hoots and hollers from her colleagues began, one

    after the other. The studio crew was small and the work monotonous, with a broad range of ages,

    they didn''t have the usual office politics, but their gossiping spirit was instantly awakened with the

    appearance of the bouquet.

    They had all seen the trending topics yesterday, even the colleagues who barely followed the news

    had received the links. They never would have guessed that low-key Rose was actually Mrs.

    Templeton of the Templeton Group.

    The Templeton family, now that was what they called old money! Who would have thought there

    was such a high roller right in their midst!

    Rosemary eyed the delivery slip he was holding out, but didn''t take it. The bouquet was so big that it

    was a struggle for him to hold it with one hand. His hand was shaking, but he persisted, trying to get

    her to sign.

    To avoid her colleagues'' prying eyes, Rosemary quickly scribbled her signature and said, "Just toss

    the flowers, will you?"

    Hearing that, the guy unceremoniously plopped the flowers on the hood of her car, dropped a ¡°thank

    you¡±, and bolted. No joke, if he threw away a client''s order, how could he keep his business running!

    Rosemary looked at the flowers on the hood, dodged her colleagues'' curious nces, and got back

    into her car, calling the instigator, "Maxwell, what''s your deal?"

    Maxwell had just received a message from the florist a second ago, knowing the flowers had been

    delivered to Rosemary, and now, hearing her irate voice on the other end, he frowned, "Aren''t you

    pleased?"

    "Pleased my foot." Rosemary cursed, still having a bone to pick with him aboutst night''s forceful

    advances, "If you''d just agree to get the divorce over with and stop sticking to me like a bad rash,

    then I''d be happy."

    Silence on the other end.

    Rosemary felt like she was punching cotton, her frustration burning with nowhere to go. Sensing her

    mood, Maxwell coolly replied, "Then I guess you''re never going to be happy."

    Grinding her teeth, Rosemary spat out each word, "Don''t have anyone send flowers to the studio

    again."

    Then she added, "And not to the house, either."

    "Aren''t women supposed to love this kind of grand gesture?"

    "Who the hell told you," Rosemary was livid, and then something clicked, "I said Victoria liked that

    kind of thing."

    But recalling that that woman had already received the flowers and unted them, she sneered

    coldly, "You''re really something, treating your wife and mistress the same, not even bothering to

    change the color of the flowers. You think you can have your cake and eat it too, but you''re barking

    up the wrong tree."

    On the other end of the phone, Christ watched as his boss''s mood darkened from pleased to

    thunderous, and he couldn''t help but wonder what bad luck had befallen him recently, always

    catching the k.

    Maxwell, hearing the busy tone at the other end of the line, then nced at Christ, "How did the

    auction invite end up with Victoria?"

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    He had no intention of going, so he had Christ dispose of the invitation, but somehow, it had ended

    up in Victoria''s hands, causing quite the misunderstanding.

    Christ said, "I asked the cleaning staff from that day; someone had approached her and bought it off

    her, a man wearing a mask and hat, so she couldn''t make out his face."

    He watched Maxwell''s expression cautiously, "As for whether Ms. Temple was behind it, we can''t

    tell yet."

    He had been busy with meeting materials and just tossed the invitation, which was shy but

    ultimately useless and personally addressed. Even if someone actually took it, it wouldn¡¯t cause any

    serious trouble at the auction. That was why he overlooked it.

    Maxwell''s gaze was icy as he regarded Christ, who felt his limbs go weak, his heart skipping a beat,

    already thinking about job hunting.

    "Hand the man over to the police; get our legal department and run through legal procedure."

    Maxwell''s voice was detached, "If this kind of amateur mistake happens again, I''ll have to question

    your suitability for your current position."

    Christ breathed a sigh of relief, escaping the worst, "Mr. Templeton, I assure you there won''t be a

    next time."

    He was about to bolt for fear that Maxwell might regret when thetter said, "Wait," and Christ froze,

    his body going stiff. Maxwell lowered his gaze, still pondering Rosemary''s bizarrement, "Check

    into Victoria''s recent affairs, like whether she''s received any flowers from someone."

    Thest sentence was cold as ice, sending a chill through the room. Christ was puzzled; did Mr.

    Templeton fancy Mrs. Templeton or Ms. Temple? Or did he want to have his cake and eat it too?

    Though he had all sorts of thoughts, he maintained a strictly businesslikeposure, "Will do."

    Mrs. Templeton wasn''t wrong; he felt like a chancellor trying to decipher the king''s will.

    In the end, Rosemary tossed the flowers in the trash and snapped a photo to send to Maxwell. She

    wasn''t trying to get under his skin; she just wanted to give him the straight dope, ¡°don''t waste your

    time, buddy; I¡¯m not biting.

    In the short time she was distracted, Ynda had bombarded her with messages, "That pic was

    posted by a junior who''s interning at the Victoria dance troupe, openly gushing about how Maxwell

    spoils Victoria. And there''s a whole fan club cheering them on. Are cheating dudes and mistresses

    getting shipped now? Does anyone even have moralpass?"

    "I saw Victoria rifying in thements, telling people not to get it twisted and that she and Mr.

    Templeton are just pals. I could smell the BS through my screen."

    "Damn it, I''m about to go and rip off her fake innocent facade."

    Rosemary shot back a text telling her to let it slide, hoping that Victoria would keep doing the work

    so she could get her divorce over with sooner.

    After being ribbed by her coworkers all day because of the morning''s bouquet, she barely made it to

    the end of the workday. Stepping out, she saw Maxwell''s shy Bentley parked right outside the

    studio.

    Rosemary frowned, losing patience, "What are you doing here?"

    Maxwell replied, "Since you didn''t dig the flowers, I figured I''d pick you up from work instead."

 Chapter 125

    Hanging out with Rosemary right now were some other colleagues, and at this moment they were

    all shooting her sly grins.

    After being ribbed all day, she could finally face these people''s eyes with a sense of calm. As Beth

    walked past her, she turned her head and whispered, "Rose, you didn''t cover up that hickey behind

    your ear."

    Rosemary, the total newbie who jumped straight from singleness into marriage and guarded an

    empty bed for three years, tried to stay cool as a cucumber. But when faced with a situation

    indescribably embarrassing, she couldn''t just brush it off. She quickly covered her ear with her

    hand, blocking out Beth''s gaze.

    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

    "Don''t bother hiding it; everyone has seen it already."

    This morning when Rosemary left the house, she had looked in the mirror and covered the marks

    on her neck with concealer, wore a turtleneck sweater, wrapped a scarf around, and even let her

    usually tied-up hair down. She thought she was armed to the teeth, but still, it wasn''t enough to hide

    everything.

    Beth was bubbly. Seeing Rosemary''s face turn red, she quickly scooted off after saying hi to

    Maxwell.

    The entire studio, including the cleaning staff, was just over a dozen people. In the blink of an eye,

    only Rosemary and Maxwell were left at the door.

    "Get in the car."

    "Mr. Templeton, don''t you have a clear sense of who you are?" Rosemary felt like she''d been

    bugged by his shameless persistence for so long that her temper had evolved. Now, seeing him,

    she couldn''t even muster up any anger, "How gutsy do you think a woman has to be to get into the

    car of a guy who''s a rapist?"

    She emphasized the word ¡°rapist¡± heavily, clearly still ticked off aboutst night''s events.

    Maxwell looked at her and after a long pause said, "Sorry, I couldn''t help myself."

    His words sounded like an apology, but they didn''t carry an ounce of sincerity. It was all just a ¡°I''m

    not wrong, I just couldn''t help it, and if I can''t help it next time, I''ll do it again¡± attitude, like a dead

    mouse feared no cold.

    Useless, why expect a beast to have any sense of propriety? Why waste time arguing with him? A

    few pointed jabs wouldn''t humiliate him due to his thick skin and if she were to get physical.

    With his masochistic tendencies, he might actually enjoy it.

    "Rosemary," she turned to leave, but Maxwell called out to her, "aren''t you going to take your mom''s

    belongings?"

    Rosemary spun around abruptly.

    The car''s air conditioning was on, and the man was only wearing a shirt and trousers, buttoned up

    to the top, exposing just the area around his Adam''s apple - both chaste and tempting. But no

    matter how good-looking he was, it couldn''t hide his despicable nature.

    "Why would you have my mom''s things?"

    Thest time Larry said he''d send them back to her, he even gave her the tracking number, but then

    there was no follow-up. Not only were those belongings probably gone, but even if there was

    anything left, she didn''t really expect him to return them, so she didn''t bother to keep tabs.

    Although Maxwell wasn''t a good man, he wouldn''t use this to deceive her, because if he wanted,

    finding those items would be easy for him - so easy it wouldn''t be worth lying about.

    "Get in the car."

    Rosemary took a deep breath and got into the car. Maxwell nced at her as she pulled out a can

    of pepper spray and a safety hammer from her bag, holding them in her hand.

    He had no doubt that the safety hammer was intended for cracking his skull.

    The car headed toward Meadork Retreat, with Rosemary turning to look out the window the

    moment she got in, clearly refusing to engage in conversation.

    Maxwell asked, "Why did you throw out the flowers?"

    "What else was I supposed to do? Post a picture on the campus forum to show off?"

    Rosemary''s response was solely to needle him, but she forgot that Maxwell was a confident man.

    After a few seconds of silence, he asked, "Jealous? The bouquet for Victoria wasn''t from me."

    To avoid dying of frustration, Rosemary decided to pretend to sleep. When dealing with someone

    who was overly confident, exining was like covering up, and silence meant she agreed.

    For the sake of her mother''s belongings, Rosemary decided to endure!

    Meadork Retreat.

    It''d been months since she moved out. Although she''d been back in a rush, she never really took a

    good look around. She thought she''d feel like a strangering back here, but when she pushed

    open the door, everything inside was exactly as it was when she left; even the decorations hadn''t

    been moved.

    Her slippers were still in the shoe cab. When she moved out, it was summer. Now inside, there

    were her winter slippers, as if she never left.

    "Where are my mom''s things?"

    "Upstairs in the secondary bedroom."

    Getting an answer, Rosemary didn''t bother with Maxwell anymore and hurried upstairs.

    The items weren''t many, all rted to artifact restoration and collectibles. She didn''t know if these

    were her mother''s, but she did recognize a few familiar things among them.

    Maxwell leaned in the doorway, not entering, "The bags, clothes, and shoes that were sold, they''ve

    been worn by others; I didn''t buy them back."

    Those were designer brands, and even though they''d been worn, people would still buy them.

    Rosemary opened one of the toolboxes, which was filled with artifact restoration tools. They were

    not worth much, which was probably why they''d been preserved so well.

    She said, "Thanks, can I get a suitcase?"

    Even though her mother passed away a long time ago and she''de to terms with her loss,

    seeing these items still tugged at her heartstrings, making her eyes well up.

    Maxwell replied, "We don''t have any at home; I''ll send someone to buy one, but it might take half an

    hour."

    Rosemary, with her back to him, looked perfectly fine from her silhouette.

    "I have a meetingter; I¡¯ll have the maid bring it over when it''s ready," he closed the door behind

    him as he left.

    Only when his footsteps fade away did Rosemary slump down into a chair. How could there be no

    suitcase at home? Maxwell saying this was just an indirect way of telling her that for the next half

    hour, no one woulde in here; she could let her emotions out freely.

    Looking at those items, Rosemary felt more and more familiar with them; these were what her

    mother once used.

    A few minutester, she bowed her head and buried her face in her palms. Half an hourter, the

    maid delivered the suitcase. Rosemary refused help and carefully packed everything before

    carrying it downstairs herself.

    Maxwell was sitting in the dining room, with avish dinner spread out on the table, "Come and eat."

    Rosemary showed him right then and there what it meant to turn cold-hearted. She didn''t say a

    word, just grabbed her suitcase and headed out the door.

    The vi was huge, with a bit of a trek from the dining room to the living room. By the time Maxwell

    caught up with her, Rosemary was already at the entrance.

    "I''ll drive you home after dinner."

    "Thanks for helping me find my mom''s things. I won''t disturb you two anymore."

    Maxwell didn''t catch her drift at first, not until a woman''s familiar cooing reached them from outside,

    "Maxwell."

 Chapter 126

    Seeing Victoria show up at the door and thinking back to what Rosemary had said, it wasn''t rocket

    science to figure out what was going on.

    Maxwell narrowed his eyes, a chill in his gaze. He didn''t fly off the handle, but she could feel his

    anger loud and clear. The grip on Rosemary''s hand kept tightening - it was practically brute force,

    "Did you call her here?"

    Pain shot through Rosemary''s arm, spreading all over. She couldn''t help but hiss in pain, and

    before she could wiggle free, Maxwell let go.

    He looked down, his eyes falling on her reddened wrist, "Sorry, I didn''t realize my own strength

    there."

    Although Maxwell was all Mister Nice Guy now, even apologizing after hurting her - which sounded

    way more sincere than that half-hearted sorry at the studio door - Rosemary instinctively kept her

    distance.

    Because he was giving off major yandere vibes, like those sickos in dramas. pped a pair of gold-

    rimmed sses on him and he would practically be a textbook creepy psycho.

    "Since you brought her here, you can be the one to send her packing."

    Rosemary had called Victoria over because she was dead sure Maxwell wouldn''t let her off the

    hook easily. Like she''d really listen to him and shoo her away?

    "Rosemary," Victoria cut in, interrupting their little bubble.

    She was pale as a ghost, her slender frame trembling, looking utterly humiliated and furious, "I

    haven''t been in touch with Maxwell for ages. You didn''t have to humiliate me like this."

    She turned to the cool and collected Maxwell with a scornful chuckle, "Even if I was shameless, I

    wouldn''t cling to a man who doesn''t like me and be a nuisance."

    Maxwell''s face turned stormy in a sh, his lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes on Victoria icy and

    full of warning.

    Rosemary watched the whole thing, thinking, here we went again - another pair of drama queens

    ying the ¡°guess how I feel¡± game. And she was clearly being used as a pawn to make someone

    jealous.

    What a mess! What on earth did she do in her past life to deserve bumping into these two

    nutcases?

    With a sigh, Rosemary said, "Why don''t youe in, and I''ll give you both some advice?"

    Like, seriously, what was the big hurdle here? Dating shouldn''t be this exhausting. Anyone would

    think there was some deep family feud going on.

    Victoria, "No need."

    Maxwell, "Get out."

    They both spoke at once, one with a bitterugh, the other seething.

    Victoria''s eyes brimmed with tears as she turned on her heel and walked away. After a couple of

    steps, she turned back, "Since I''m here, let me rify. The invitation thing was my agent''s idea. I''ve

    been thinking about getting into showbiz, and she wanted to create some buzz for me. It was all a

    misunderstanding. I''ve given her an earful. It won''t happen again. Sorry."

    And with that, she left without looking back.

    Rosemary also wanted to leave, but before she could, Maxwell caught on. His face clouded over as

    he threatened, "Have dinner with me, and I''ll take you home. Make a scene, and you''re wee to

    spend the night here."

    Rosemary looked at Maxwell striding towards the dining room, her sympathy overflowing for a

    moment. He was pitiful, really - loaded, powerful, handsome, and pining for someone as prickly as

    Victoria. It was a ssic case of love hurts.

    "Can you even stomach food with me around? Need me ask her toe back for you?"

    To drag, not to ask - that was the most she''d do.

    Maxwell, however, gave her a frosty look, "You''re still Mrs. Templeton. Bringing her back, you want

    the press to make up stories and ruin reputations?"

    Right now, Rosemary wished she could go back in time and p her softer self. She felt sorry for

    him? For thinking about his sweetheart? She must''ve been blind!

    Maxwell waited for a reply but there wasn¡¯t any, and then shot back, "Cat got your tongue?"

    Rosemary snapped, "Because I know better than to make a fuss if it''s not about the apple of my

    eye. The more noise you make, the sooner you bite the dust."

    The guy was a lunatic! She nearly had her hand crushed!

    After dinner, true to his word, Maxwell drove her back to her apartment. He was in a foul mood,

    silent all the way. She''d nned to have Jason drive her, but Maxwell wouldn¡¯t have it, and in the

    end, Jason was behind the wheel anyway.

    Talked about being in a pickle!

    The next day, Rosemary visited Oswald''s office.

    She had pored over her mother''s belongings the night before and hadn''t found anything suspicious.

    "What? You''re Rosalind''s daughter?" Oswald was shocked, looking at Rosemary in disbelief, yet he

    felt it was the usible exnation - the simr techniques, the resemnce. It was too

    coincidental to be a coincidence.

    "Why didn''t you say anything the first two times I asked about Rosalind? How''s your mom doing?

    Still in the same line of work?"

    "My mom passed away. Ten years ago, she didn''t just lose touch with you. She died."

    Revealing her identity to Oswald wasn''t an impulsive decision for Rosemary. She had never found

    any information about her mother''s death. She had once doubted it was truly an ident, but her

    grandfather was convinced her mother was murdered. After some digging, she discovered her

    mother had taken on a restoration job before she died.

    The painting wasn''t finished when she passed, and after her death, it disappeared.

    If the enemy was hidden, she''d put herself in the spotlight. Rosemary didn''t know if this would make

    a difference, especially since it had been a decade. Any schemes would have already settled down.

    But with no leads, it was worth a shot. She needed to use Oswald''s connections to spread the word

    in their circle - that she was Rosalind''s daughter.

    Oswald opened his mouth; it took him a few seconds before he continued, "How did your mom

    die?"

    Rosemaryid out the cause of her mother''s death, her suspicions, and the clues she''d gathered

    over the years.

    Oswald frowned, voicing his disagreement, "If your mom''s watching over us from above, she''d

    definitely not want you risking your neck. No way, I can''t let you y with fire. I gotta look out for you

    in her stead. We can snoop around in secret; we¡¯re bound to find some leads."

    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

    Rosemary revealed, "My grandpa was hell-bent on finding out the killer right up until hisst breath.

    I can''t let him down."

    "We need to y the long game here." Oswald decided with finality, "You go public as ''Rose'' for

    now. Once you climb the ranks in this scene, who knows, maybe some clues will justnd in our

    laps."

    Even though ¡°Rose¡± had made some waves in the scene over the years, due to Rosemary''s low

    profile, hardly anyone could get in touch with her directly. This meant that despite her prowess, only

    a select few were in the know.

    "The feedback from thatst documentary was ster. Director Madden wants to shoot a reality

    show with everyday folks this time around. He asked me if I could rope you in, using your public

    appearance as a gimmick to hype up the show. If you''re aiming for the spotlight, this is one heck of

    an opportunity."

 Chapter 127

    Two weeks back, Director Madden had a chat with Oswald about this show; because Rosemary

    wasn''t hanging at Heritage Revive Studio, and since Oswald knew she was not keen on showing

    her face in public, he just went ahead and said nope on her behalf.

    Last documentary they did, Rosemary only shed her hands and teamed up with the handsome

    Hans, which got theizens all hyped up, trying to get a glimpse of her. They made a not-so-hot

    documentary trend like wildfire.

    When Rosemary got the buzz from Oswald that she agreed to join the party, the other side was over

    the moon and told her the shoot was going down in a week.

    They were all average people here - the one thing they weren''t short on was free time.

    The day before the cameras rolled, Rosemary got the rundown and the who''s who list from the

    crew. Even though they were strangers, she gotta go through the motions.

    She wasn''t there for the cameras; she just wanted to ride on Director Madden''s hype train and let

    everyone know she was the mystery ¡°Rose¡± of the restoration world.

    So she took a quick peek at the schedule and then bounced. Squinting at those tiny words on her

    phone was a real eye-killer.

    But what she didn''t expect was to bump into Victoria in the makeup room on D-day. This show was

    like a no-star ind - no celebs to boost ratings, not much cash flowing, and no big names meant

    no fancy private makeup rooms.

    Thinking back to when Victoria was all about breaking into showbiz during their Meadork Retreat

    chinwag, Rosemary didn''t think they''d cross paths so soon. Talked about a small world!

    The makeup room wasn''t exactly roomy, so if Rosemary could spot Victoria, obviously the feeling

    was mutual.

    Tracy was drilling Victoria on the schedule when she noticed thetter was staring closely in the

    mirror, so she too cast a nce and that was when she caught Rosemary''s eye.

    She nced around and with a sneer, she said, "We''re about to roll, and what''s-her-face ''Rose'' isn''t

    here yet. What''s she doing, ying diva on day one and making us all wait?"

    She had spotted ¡°Rose¡± on the listst night and had a moan with Victoria, "Some big-shot mystery,

    huh? Just another money-grabber, charging an arm and a leg for her work, and now she''s even

    hopping on this show!"

    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Tracy was an early bird and had already matched faces to names, but she hadn''t seen any

    unfamiliar ones.

    Rosemary found a spot and sat down, "Here I am, right? Tracy, maybe you should focus more on

    your own peeps. Trying to y the big shot when you ain''t got the chops, and overstretching -

    careful not to pull a muscle."

    Victoria frowned, "I thought the guest was Rose. So what, is her assistant showing up instead?"

    She asked without a hint of emotion, sparking curiosity, and suddenly all eyes in the room were on

    her.

    "Rose? The antique restorer?"

    Everyone had seen the job titles on the list, and they were all curious about what Rose looked like.

    "Yeah, I saw that documentary. Just the hands. We all guessed she was a knockout - I mean, her

    hands were gorgeous."

    "Now that the show requires a face reveal, if it''s the assistant stepping in, maybe Rose is hideous

    and doesn''t have the guts to show up, hoping her assistant can pull a fast one."

    "Don''t even - her assistant is a looker. I want to do some surgery to get a pair of eyes like hers. But

    why does she seem familiar?"

    "Ah," someone whispered with a sudden shriek, "she kinda looks like Mr. Templeton''s wife."

    Rosemary didn''t give Victoria the time of day, just closed her eyes and let the makeup artist work,

    tuning into the whispered gossip.

    Tracy stormed off to the director''s office, "I''m gonna tell the crew there''s an imposter trying to pull

    the wool over everyone''s eyes!"

    At that, Rosemary didn''t even flinch.

    Victoria couldn''t tell if Rosemary was actually chill or just faking it. But since the director was the

    same guy from the Heritage Revive Studio documentary, and he''d surely recognize Rose,

    Rosemary''s cool meant she probably had everything squared away with the crew already.

    Director Madden was on the scene in a sh, even before Tracy could get her bearings. No joke,

    Rose was his ace in the hole for this season, the grand finale. Without her, why would anyone

    bother watching his show?

    Now, someone was suggesting Rose sent her assistant instead? That nearly scared the life out of

    him!

    Sure, Rose kept a low profile, but not to the point of anonymity. If the truth came out, it''d be the

    scandal that could crush the show! Even after thest documentary, he couldn''t persuade Rose to

    show her face, and her sudden agreement toe on had him on edge, half-expecting a trick.

    At the sound of footsteps, Rosemary opened her eyes, "Director Madden."

    Seeing the same face that matched the one in his memory, Madden breathed a sigh of relief and

    instructed the makeup artist, "Make it good."

    Apart from thest documentary''s little ssh, she was also Mr. Templeton''s wife, who''d recently hit

    the news. The story might have cooled, but the buzz was still there.

    Big traffic - she needed VIP treatment! After some quick small talk, he was off to the races. He shot

    Tracy a look that could kill, "If you''ve got nothing better to do, go prep your artists. Quit the

    scheming. With your attitude, you won''tst long in this biz."

    Director Madden''s stance was clear, and Tracy wasn''t about to push it. The makeup room went

    silent, everyone sneaking nces at Rosemary.

    Except for Victoria. She stood up, and approached Rosemary who was letting someone put on

    makeup, "You''re Rose? You restored that painting?"

    "Yes."

    "You''re pulling my leg? Rosemary, you did that on purpose, didn''t you? You knew full well I was

    looking for Rose and you yed dumb. Why didn''t youe clean? You charged me an arm and a

    leg for that painting restoration just to get back at me!"

    Rosemary couldn''t help but find the barrage of usations amusing and eventually cracked up

    laughing, "Victoria, if I''m not mistaken, Oswald introduced me to you the moment I walked into the

    office. You were the one who said you were looking for a different Rose, not me. As for the fee, it''s

    all clearly marked. You thought it was steep, you could''ve said no. Nobody twisted your arm to

    come to me."

    "But you knew damn well I was talking about you."

    "So what? I''m supposed to bend over backwards exining myself to you? Are you for real?"

    Everyone in the makeup room was sneakily or openly watching the drama unfold. Victoria''s pride

    wouldn''t let her make a scene like some fishwife, so she nced at Rosemary who had closed her

    eyes again, and walked out to the hallway.

    Pulling out her phone and trying to contain the frustration of being humiliated, she called Maxwell''s

    number.

    The moment he picked up, she blurted out, "Do you have any clue about Rosemary''s another

    identity?"

 Chapter 128

    Maxwell was furrowing his brows, staring hard at the document in his hands, "What identity?"

    "She''s that Rose." Because there was some simrity in ¡°Rosemary¡± the name, thinking he might

    not understand, she emphasized, "The one who fixed that antique painting for me."

    She''d nned to use that painting to butter up Pearl and surprise Maxwell as well, hence why she

    hadn''t mentioned it beforehand. But then, the drama that unfolded at the birthday bash put Rose,

    who was supposed to be just a behind-the-scenes yer, right under the spotlight.

    Rose? Maxwell''s fingers, which had been flipping through the pages, suddenly paused, and his

    gaze lifted from the document. It took him a while before he just hummed in acknowledgment.

    Rose? Rosemary?

    As Victoria heard his nonchnt response, her breath hitched, and she asked in disbelief, "You

    knew about this already?"

    Not a clue. He recalled someone named Hans calling Rosemary ¡°Rose¡±, but he had just thought it

    was a coincidence, and since he didn''t really care about it, he hadn''t given it much thought.

    Now facing Victoria''s interrogation, he didn''t bother to exin, nor did he think it was necessary to

    justify anything to her.

    Victoria''s voice rose, "And what about her conning me? Did you know about that too? Or were you

    in on it?"

    "What did she con you out of?"

    Silence. The moment the question left her lips, she realized she''d made a fool of herself. True,

    Rosemary had charged her a hefty sum, but she had quoted the price upfront, and Victoria had

    agreed to it, so it wasn''t really a con, just a bit of a rip-off.

    But considering that the two of them weren''t exactly bosom buddies, it wasn''t beyond the bounds of

    reason that she''d refuse.

    On the other end, Maxwell remained silent. Victoria wasn''t sure if he was still waiting for her to

    answer, but after what felt like an eternity, she managed to squeeze out a reason she didn''t even

    believe herself, "The money, sure the painting was a bit banged up, but it wouldn''t cost an arm and

    a leg to fix it based on market rates."

    Maxwell replied, "If it''s about the cash, why wouldn¡¯t shee sucking up to me? She''d make a

    killing without having to hustle from dawn till dusk."

    Victoria knew Maxwell''sment wasn''t a dig at her. He was too above that. He was just stating

    the facts.

    She stood by the window in the hallway, the cold wind blowing in, making her cheeks feel stiff and

    sore.

    "I''d tried to get a hold of her through so many contacts, and then not long after I bumped into her at

    Oswald''s office, suddenly someone called up out of the blue saying they got her. Plus, the whole

    birthday party fiasco, don''t you think it''s a bit too coincidental?" Victoria mocked, "She''s deliberately

    trying to humiliate me."

    Maxwell, rubbing his temples, leaned back in his chair tiredly, "How did you find out she''s Rose?"

    "She epted Director Madden''s invite to go on the show, promoting it under her stage name;

    looks like she wants to..."

    She couldn''t finish her sentence before the call cut off. Victoria was stunned, staring at her phone

    as it automatically went back to the call log. She watched it for a full five minutes, but Maxwell didn''t

    call back.

    During the wait, she bit her lip so hard it left deep teeth marks. She thought about calling him back,

    but ultimately, she nixed the idea.

    In the president''s office of the Templeton Group, Maxwell¡¯s phone was slowly twisted and bent in his

    bare hands, the screen shattering into fragments, pieces of broken ss piercing his palm, slowly

    oozing droplets of crimson.

    The moment Christ pushed the door open, his skin crawled, and every instinct screamed danger!

    But looking closely, everything seemed business as usual, with Mr. Templeton impassively

    reviewing documents.

    "Mr. Templeton, you wanted to see me?"

    "Christ, what do you think of the Summit City branch?"

    Maxwell didn''t even look up, his tone casual, but Christ felt like he was choking, even breathing was

    hard, "Uh, it''s great, the growth has been strong these past few years, with annual sales going up

    and up."

    "Since it''s going so well, you''re heading over there."

    Christ was on the verge of tears; this was like a bolt from the blue, "Mr. Templeton, did I mess up

    somewhere?"

    "Did you know Rosemary is Rose?"

    The name was confusing, but Christ got it immediately, "Sorry, Mr. Templeton, I overlooked that. I''ll

    look into it right away."

    "No need, pack your stuff, you''re going to Summit City tomorrow. You''ll get the transfer notice in a

    bit." Maxwell wasn''t in the mood for more talk, "Now get out."

    Rosemary was blissfully unaware of Christ''s tragic fate, just finished taping a show, removed her

    makeup and was ready to head back.

    She had expected Victoria and Tracy to continue causing trouble, but when she left the studio, they

    were nowhere to be seen.

    She was just so tired; all she wanted was to get back, order some takeout, and take a rxing bath.

    Rosemary moved her stiff neck, pondering what to eatter, but right as she reached the building''s

    lobby, her mood, which had just brightened, vanished at the sight of the man standing at the

    entrance.

    The man walked straight toward her. The unpleasant memories made Rosemary instinctively take a

    step back, but realizing this was a public ce with peopleing and going, she steadied herself

    and said evenly, "Victoria''s already left."

    "I''m here for you. Let''s go eat." Maxwell reached out, pulling her close, his words blocking any

    protest, "Or would you prefer I carry you there?"

    To anyone watching, they looked like lovers in an embrace. There were still people around,

    sneaking nces at them.

    The restaurant wasn''t far, a posh diner. Rosemary hadn''t been for ages and found her appetite

    whetted by the pretty pictures on the menu.

    But she only ordered for herself. Maxwell barely nced at the menu before picking a few signature

    dishes.

    After ordering, Rosemary pulled out her phone and started ying a single-yer game, making it

    crystal clear, ¡°I''m just here to eat; let''s wrap this up quickly and bounce!¡±

    Maxwell was watching the woman across from him, totally engrossed in her game. She had just

    removed her makeup, her face fresh and clean without a smear of anything on it, her fair skin barely

    showing any pores. Her eyshes were curled and thick, her lips a rosy red, looking as delicate as

    a pretty doll.

    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    He loosened the tie around his neck a bit and asked, "Thinking of making a ssh in showbiz?"

    Rosemary nced up at him and then looked down again. She didn''t want to deal with him, let

    alone chat. But Maxwell kept staring at her, giving her the creeps, so she humored him with a

    nomittal, "Mm-hmm."

    The corners of Maxwell''s mouth curled up in a cool, mocking smile, "If that''s the case, why don''t you

    sweet-talk me? I''ll throw some resources your way."

    Rosemary choked on her own saliva. She looked up at him, somewhat in disbelief, "How exactly?

    Sleep with you?"

    "Do you think you have anything else worth offering? Or are you nning to impress me with your

    artifact restoration skills?" The man chuckled lightly, but his eyes were filled with a chilly hardness,

    not a trace of real humor, "Rose?"

 Chapter 129

    The moment Rosemary caught Maxwell''s vibe and heard his snarky tone, she knew he was in the

    know.

    Victoria didn''t get what she wanted from her in the morning, stormed out for a few minutes, and

    came back looking a lot less sour. By the afternoon, Maxwell showed up, his every word dripping

    with disdain.

    He was out for revenge on behalf of his sweetheart.

    Rosemary had been run ragged all day, puppeteered around to do this and that, and she was beat.

    Just when she thought she could clock out, she had to deal with this guy nitpicking at her, and her

    face darkened instantly.

    She mmed her phone on the table with a sharp snap. Crossing her arms, she leaned back and

    cut to the chase, "What''s Victoria after? Getting her money back? No chance."

    Maxwell''s eyes darkened, "I''m here to talk about Rose; let''s not drag others into this."

    "Others? Victoria called you this morning, didn''t she? Did she rat on me? Your whole ''pay with your

    body for resources'' spiel from the moment you arrived, isn''t it just to shame me on her behalf?"

    "If she snitched, it means you did something behind my back. If you can do it, why can''t others talk

    about it?" Maxwell closed in on her, his presence growing colder, "You¡¯re Rose; why didn''t you tell

    me?"

    "Why should I tell you? Does your family have antiques that need my restoration skills?"

    He let out a half-smile, "You know very well what I mean."

    Rosemary suddenly fell silent, memories rushing back, bringing a bitter and wistful feeling. Then,

    she cracked a smile, "Did you ever ask me? My workshop is right next to your study, never locked,

    often ajar. With all those tools and broken items, anyone with eyes could see. But for three years,

    you''ve turned a blind eye."

    Since she decided to divorce, she harbored no resentment. She was done with this man; what was

    there to resent? Talking about the past now just left some things hard to swallow.

    Rosemary watched his tense face, herugh growing wilder, "You always thought I was just some

    life assistant earning a pittance, and that I only got the job because your mom spoke up. Do you

    think so because in your heart, without you, without the Templeton family, I''m just worthless trash?"

    Maxwell looked down, the dim light of the diner casting shadows over his eyes and concealing his

    emotions.

    He remained silent to her questions. She didn''t know if it was guilt gnawing at him or if he simply

    couldn''t fathom why she was so resentful.

    "After leaving the Templeton Group, you had Christ investigate me. He told you I was a janitor at

    Heritage Revive Studio, and you really believed that. Why didn''t you ever consider that a graduate

    from a top university with a golden stint at the Templeton Group would stoop to cleaning?"

    All the discrepancies, being called ¡°Rose¡± at the studio, restoring antique paintings in front of guests

    at the birthday party, there were so many things that seemed amiss; anyone giving it a bit of thought

    would figure it out, but Maxwell remained clueless.

    Managing the vast Templeton Group so sessfully, his thoughts were unfathomable. So, it could

    only mean one thing - he didn''t care. That was why he could ignore it all so thoroughly.

    As the waiter began to serve the meal, Rosemary''s appetite had vanished. She grabbed her purse

    and stood to leave.

    Maxwell finally reacted, grabbing her wrist, "Let''s eat."

    He paused, and then added, "Sorry."

    "I can''t ept that. If you really feel sorry, just sign the divorce papers, and I''ll thank you morning

    and night."

    "I haven''t been good enough in the past, but divorce is off the table."

    He had the nerve to say he just wasn''t good enough? Rosemary rolled her eyes ferociously, "You

    sure know how to sugarcoat it! If we''re not talking divorce, then we have nothing to discuss. Let go."

    She yanked her hand away, and in the struggle, identally knocked over a wine bottle, drenching

    Maxwell.

    The rich aroma of the wine filled the air. Though Maxwell wore dark clothes, the stain was still

    evident, his soaked shirt clinging to his skin.

    He wasn''t exactly a clean freak, but being sticky like this was ufortable. He gritted his teeth,

    "Rosemary."

    She nced at his stained clothes, without a hint of regret, instead rubbing her reddened hand

    caused by his grip, "If you keep grabbing me like that, next time I''ll ssh it right in your face!"

    With that, she left without a second nce.

    The next few days were back-to-back show recordings, and Rosemary was beat. She finally got a

    day to rest after it all ended.

    But that day, Pearl wanted to go shopping. With Christmas around the corner, there were plenty of

    goods to buy and gifts for the staff.

    Seeing all the stuff Pearl was buying, Rosemary asked curiously, "Didn''t Wendy usually handle this?

    Why are you doing it yourself this year?"

    "I''ve been boredtely, so I needed something to do. I''ll get a few things, and she can fill in the

    gaps."

    "Is Norton not traveling next year?"

    After handing over the Templeton Group to Maxwell, Norton, bored, started a newpany with

    friends. It was supposed to be a hobby, but it turned out well, with branches opening up, keeping

    him busy out of town, onlying back for holidays.

    But Rosemary had heard he found someone to manage things and cheekily winked at Pearl, "You

    won''t be bored then."

    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Pearlughed softly at her tease, "Oh, now you''re making fun of me. It seems Maxwell hasn''t been

    trying hard enough."

    She stopped midway, remembering the couple was in the midst of a divorce, and her good mood

    vanished.

    But she was afraid of dumping any more mental baggage on Rosemary, so she just yed dumb

    and pped on a happy face.

    "Let go, dammit, let go, or I swear I''ll knock you dead!" Suddenly, an angry shout cut through the

    lively mall atmosphere up ahead.

    The two looked up and saw not far off, a woman, as gaunt as theye and in as day, clinging

    desperately to a middle-aged man, who was also gingerly holding a pregnant woman in his arms.

    Even as a mom-to-be, she was dressed to the nines, wearing gear that could set back an average

    family for a year.

    The haggard woman, with no care for appearances, went off like a fishwife, "Why the hell should I

    let go? You''re my husband, for crying out loud. I hitched my wagon to your broke ass when I was

    just eighteen, didn¡¯t ask for a thing or a fancy wedding, scrimped and saved for years, buying

    clothes only once in three years. And now that you''ve struck it rich, you''re keeping a mistress? After

    all the sweat and toil I put into this family business, why should this hussy get a free ride?!"

    With everyone around rubbernecking and gossiping, the man lost his cool, "You''ve got some nerve!

    All these years and not even a single kid to show for it. You''re forty and the doc says you can''t have

    ''em. You¡¯ve got a wicked heart, wishing our family line to die out!"

    "I can''t have kids, can''t have kids because you''ve been forcing me to pop birth control pills for

    years!" The woman lunged like a madwoman toward the pregnant woman the man was shielding,

    "If I can''t have a child, I won''t let this tramp have one either!"

    But before her hand even grazed the pregnant woman''s clothes, she was sent flying by the man''s

    kick. Soon after, mall security rushed in and dragged everyone involved away.

    Seeing this, Rosemary took Pearl by the arm, "Pearl, let''s go. We¡¯ll check out upstairs."

    She stepped forward and realized Pearl wasn''t following. Turning back, she saw her quite shaken

    up. Rosemary frowned, "Pearl, what''s wrong?"

    "Rosemary, be straight with me. You and Maxwell have been married three years with no baby. Is it

    him? Is he making you take birth control?"

    Hearing ¡°birth control¡±, Rosemary just froze.

 Chapter 130

    She seriously didn''t see iting. Just watching other folks quarrel somehow made Pearl think of

    her.

    "No."

    "Don''t you lie to me; if that brat really forced you to take that stuff, I''d never let him off the hook!"

    Pearl had that deadly serious look, like all Rosemary had to do was give the nod and she''d be ready

    to grab a knife and go after Maxwell like there was no tomorrow.

    With a helpless shake of her head, Rosemary said, "No, Pearl, he never forced me to take any pills.

    Even though we''ve been married for three years, he''s never touched me."

    Ever since she''did it all out to Pearl about them getting a divorce, she started to let loose and

    didn''t hold back anymore.

    "What?" Pearl''s eyes nearly popped out of her head when she heard this bombshell, "You mean to

    tell me you two never...you know...after getting married?"

    There was still that generation gap between them, and Pearl found it really awkward to juste

    out and ask.

    "Should I get the doctor to prescribe more ofst time''s medicine? Maybe taking a bit more will do

    the trick!"

    Now it was Rosemary''s turn to feel awkward. She was seriously worried Pearl might start feeding

    Maxwell all sorts of random stuff and quickly defended him, "No, he doesn''t need any medicine;

    there''s nothing wrong with him physically. He just doesn''t want anything to do with me. Don''t worry;

    once he finds someone he likes, you''ll have grandkids in no time."

    "No way, back then, he was the one who insisted on." Pearl''s voice trailed off. She must ask

    Maxwell about this; she couldn''t afford to get this wrong. If she caused any more misunderstandings

    between them, she''d be the guilty one.

    Suddenly, she wasn''t in the mood for shopping anymore, "Let''s go home. We''re having dinner at the

    vi tonight."

    Rosemary really didn''t want to go, but seeing Pearl''s rollercoaster emotions, she worried her words

    might have hit her hard, so she quietly followed along.

    As soon as they got home, Pearl headed straight for the second-floor study.

    Wendy was confused, "Mrs. Rosemary Templeton, what''s wrong with Mrs. Pearl Templeton?

    Weren''t you two out shopping? Howe it seems like the mood''s gone sour?"

    Rosemary just shook her head, not saying much.

    An hourter, Maxwell, who was supposed to be at the office, drove back. He nced at Rosemary

    before heading upstairs.

    The study door was ajar. Maxwell knocked and walked in, "Mom, you wanted to see me?"

    "Tell me, what''s the deal with you and Rosemary? You were the one desperate to marry her, and

    now you''re treating her like this? For three years you haven''t even," She took a few deep breaths,

    "Didn''t you tell me you''d be dedicated to her? Is this your idea of dedication? After all these years,

    Rosemary was still covering for you!"

    Maxwell hadn''t expected that Pearl''s urgent summons would be about this.

    "She told you that we''ve never slept together after getting married?"

    Rosemary yed a few rounds of Candy Crush, and then Maxwell came down from upstairs,

    heading straight for her.

    She was sitting on a long sofa, right side up against the armrest, with plenty of space to the left, but

    Maxwell chose to sit right next to her, legs touching, which to anyone else would look pretty darn

    intimate.

    Rosemary frowned and scooted over, "Back off a bit, will ya? Isn''t the couch long enough for you?"

    Maxwell, expressionless, challenged, "Who told you to spill to Mom that we''ve never slept together

    in three years?"

    Oh, so he was here to point fingers now. Rosemary shifted her gaze from her phone screen to his

    face, feigning innocence, "What else was I supposed to say?"

    "Mom just asked about the kid business. You could''ve just said you didn''t want any."

    "Who doesn''t want any? Me? You? We''re already tearing each other apart in court; why should I

    cover for you? What for? Because you''re getting old? Because you''re impotent? Or because you

    fancy having two wives?"

    If sarcasm could turn into a physical de, judging by Rosemary''s attitude, she''d probably want to

    stab him full of holes.

    Maxwell frowned, "Mrs. Templeton, are you so spiteful towards me because I didn''t sleep with you

    during our marriage and you''re frustrated?"

    Rosemary scoffed, "No, I''m actually grateful for your restraint over these years. I can only imagine,

    if you had, it would''ve been worse than sleeping with an animal! The first experience is utterly

    horrible. What a terrible waste of your God-given physique!"

    She got so worked up that her voice rose without her realizing. Little did she know that Pearl had

    juste downstairs and caught this jaw-dropping statement! And so did Wendy in the kitchen; was

    it toote to shut the kitchen door now?

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    Rosemary was momentarily frozen, internally screaming like a prairie dog, cursing up a storm. At

    Meadork Retreat, at the apartment where there was no one else, she''d forgotten that this was

    the vi, not only teeming with servants but also her mother-inw.

    She bolted upright, grabbed her bag without even a goodbye, and made a beeline for the door.

    Maxwell, with lips pressed tight, was about to follow.

    "Maxwell," Pearl called out to him, using such a tender tone for the first time since he got married.

    He turned around, asking inly, "What''s up?"

    "Whenever you''ve got some free time, don''t just bury yourself in work. Maybe look at some

    educational material. Asking friends with experience could help too."

    "Um." She tilted her chin, gesturing towards the front door, "You better chase after Rosemary. It''s

    tough to hail a cab around here; don''t let her get away."

    Less than half a minuteter, Rosemary had bolted out the vi''s front gate. But she heard rapid

    footsteps behind her and soon felt her wrist seized.

    "Maxwell, let go."

    Maxwell''s jaw was set as he dragged her a few steps to his car, threw open the door, and practically

    shoved her inside.

    As Rosemary tried to get out, Maxwell''s towering figure blocked the car door, looking down at her

    with a half-smile that was enough to send shivers down her spine.

    "Mrs. Templeton, think my skills are lousy? You''re saying being with me is worse than being with an

    animal, huh?"

 Chapter 131

    Maxwell and an animal, this was like a lose-lose situation; no matter how she answered, she was

    walking into a trap.

    Thankfully, Maxwell wasn''t the type to sweat the small stuff anymore. Seeing that Rosemary wasn''t

    keen on chatting about it, he didn''t bug her further.

    He shut the car door, walked around to the driver''s side, and hopped in.

    The vibe inside the car was definitely off. The guy was stone-faced, looking straight ahead like a

    "keep out" sign was stered on his forehead. Rosemary started ying mute too, not poking the

    bear by saying she didn''t want his ride.

    She had just downed a honey water back at the vi and was feeling a bit thirsty. So she grabbed

    an unopened bottle of mineral water from the glovepartment and was about to open it when

    she caught Maxwell''s nce.

    Rosemary paused, lifted the water bottle, and turned to ask, "Want some?"

    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

    Maxwell just snorted, and whatever that meant was anyone''s guess. Rosemary rolled her eyes at

    him, unscrewed the cap, and brought the bottle to her lips. But the dude''s gaze was so intense that

    it was hard to ignore.

    She handed him the bottle, "Here."

    But Maxwell dodged it, "What''s this? You nagging my skills and now trying to make nice?"

    She couldn''t help but be impressed by the guy''s mental gymnastics. But it could be understood

    though;ing from the high-and-mighty Templeton family, Maxwell had been surrounded by

    ulterior motives since he was a kid.

    Rosemary gave up on him, tilted her head back, and took a big gulp. The icy water slid down her

    throat to her stomach, sending a shiver through her.

    "Fine, my bad. The nob¡¯s undeserving of sympathy, so let it all go to hell."

    At the apartment building, as soon as the car stopped, Rosemary bolted out, quick as if she was

    being chased by some natural disaster.

    The winter night was dead quiet, with only the howling wind rustling the leaves. Engulfed by the

    mist, the streetlights which were not bright to begin with became even dimmer. All she could see

    were a few scattered pedestrians hurrying by and the security guard on duty.

    Rosemary lived in the innermost building. The biting wind felt like it was slicing her skin, and she

    huddled deeper into her clothes, burying her chin into her scarf.

    In the still night air, a mess of footsteps and raunchy jokes reached Rosemary''s ears. She looked up

    to see a few blonde dudes emerge from the dark, dressed like trouble and spewing filth - clearly up

    to no good.

    The path was wide. Rosemary stuck to the right, and they were on the left. They should''ve been

    ships passing in the night, but as the gap closed, she noticed them edging her way.

    She looked up and locked eyes with one of them, who shed a tobo-stained grin. She didn''t

    know the guy, but the malice in his gaze was enough to send a chill down her spine.

    Rosemary nced toward the entrance where the security guard, presumably cold, was sitting in

    the booth.

    At that moment, Maxwell had just finished a cigarette. Once the smell cleared from his car, he

    prepared to leave. He nced in the right-side mirror; something shiny caught his eye from the

    passenger seat.

    He looked closer. It was a metallic charm, wedged between the seat and the glovepartment.

    Rosemary must''ve left in a hurry and didn''t notice it fell or got torn off.

    Maxwell picked it up, and sure enough, the chain was broken. Frowning, he fiddled with it for a

    moment before stepping out of the car and heading into the apartmentplex.

    He brushed past a gang of rowdy, shabby-looking young men. Their unsavory talk made Maxwell''s

    expression chill a bit more.

    Not far ahead, he spotted Rosemary standing by the roadside. He approached with a frown,

    "What''s up?"

    Rosemary jumped, but seeing it was him, her tension eased. Shaking her head, she said, "Nothing."

    She couldn''t help but nce back at the group walking away. She had felt that guy''s ill intent and

    thought they might try something. After all, crossing from one side of a wide road to the other was

    definitely abnormal.

    But nothing. They just passed by, reeking of booze, still lingering in the air.

    Maxwell''s gaze followed hers to the retreating figures; his handsome face set in a hard line, "What,

    those guys bothered you?"

    "No." Rosemary shook her head again, and then frowned, "Why did youe over?"

    Maxwell detected the disdain in her voice, his eyes darkening. He tossed her the charm, "Keep it

    safe. Next time you''re this careless, I''ll just chuck it."

    Rosemary caught it, recognizing it as a cheap charm bought from a night market before, something

    she hung on her bag.

    "Just toss it. It''s not worth anything, and it''s broken anyway," she nonchntly walked to the trash

    can and threw it in.

    Maxwell watched her toss it, "Hmph."

    Without a word, he turned and left, poker-faced. Passing by the guard booth, he asked, "Those

    guys who just left, are they residents here?"

    The guards knew exactly who Maxwell meant without needing to ask - they were that conspicuous.

    "No, they were here to see someone. Never been here before."

    "Okay," Maxwell''s brow remained furrowed, not letting his guard down.

    Noticing his expression, the guard got nervous, "Mr. Templeton, we have top-notch security here. All

    visitors have to be confirmed by residents and are logged."

    "So, ¡®confirmed¡¯ means they''re not bad guys? And logging them prevents violence?"

    Those guys looked shady, sure, and theirnguage was crude, but how''d that connect to violence?

    But the guard wouldn''t dare question Maxwell to his face.

    "We have 24-hour surveince, covering every corner outside the apartments to ensure there¡¯s no

    blind side."

    Maxwell shot him a cold nce, "So you''ll watch someone get attacked on camera, and by the time

    you get there, what, a grave''s been dug?"

    Damn, was he just looking for a fight? This apartmentplex wasn''t exactly some stand-alone

    vi where every resident was the cookie-cutter type. They couldn''t just go around arresting people

    because they had a funky sense of style, could they?

    They were security guards, not some old-school disciplinarians waiting to pounce on anyone who

    stepped out of line at the school gate.

    But Maxwell didn''t see anything off with what he said. He kept staring down the security guard until

    the poor guy was freaking out, breaking out in a cold sweat and starting to stutter, "So we will step

    up the patrols. Maybe do a top-to-bottom sweep in shifts."

    After an eternity, Maxwell finally grunted an agreement.

    The guard, whose heart had been in his throat, finally rxed. Once Maxwell was out of sight, he let

    out a huge sigh of relief.

    Damn, that scared the crap out of him!

 Chapter 132

    For the following days, Rosemary hadn''t seen those guys around the apartment again. She realized

    she had been overthinking that night and quickly put it out of her mind.

    The show had just finished filming and hadn''t aired yet. Even if someone was plotting against her,

    now wasn''t the time.

    That day, right after pulling an extra shift, Rosemary got a call from Hogan. He started off with a

    tone of resentment, "If I don''t reach out to you, would you just act like I don''t exist?"

    They hadn''t been in touch since their hospital farewell. He''d been swamped and hadn''t had a

    chance to catch up. Onlyter did he realize this heartless woman hadn''t even bothered to drop him

    a single message.

    A grown man sounding like a nagging woman, Rosemary couldn''t help butugh out loud, "How''s

    your injury? Did you get it dressed like the doctor told you?"

    The man grunted, "If I waited for you to ask, grass would be growing two meters high on my grave."

    Rosemary was packing up her stuff and didn''t bite. After waiting for about a few seconds, Hogan

    comined, "Back in school, you might not have been chatty, but at least you were a hot-blooded

    youth with a heart of gold. Howe you''ve be so lifeless over the years, like a m?"

    "Did you call just to whine about me?"

    "Of course not, I''m asking you out for a midnight snack." Hogan saidzily, "Come down, I''m outside

    your building."

    "I''m at the studio, not home."

    "At thiste hour?" Hogan nced at his watch; it was already past eight. He hade straight

    here after wrapping up his stuff, intending to ask her out for dinner, "Hang on, Ynda said your

    workce was at home. Where''s the studio? I''lle pick you up."

    Rosemary paused, realizing she hadn''t gotten around to telling Ynda that she was back working

    at Heritage Revive Studio.

    "No need, I drove here. There''s not much around this area, so just send me the location when

    you''ve decided where, and I''ll head straight there."

    "Alright then."

    Hanging up, Rosemary finished tidying her workbench, checked the water and electricity to make

    sure everything was off, and then took her keys and left.

    Came winter, the streets were deserted at night, and the studio''s location, away from any shopping

    district, made it even quieter.

    After locking up, Rosemary hurried to the parking lot. When she saw her car, her steps halted. With

    few cars around, the group of people by her car stood out starkly, sitting or standing, their blonde

    hair particrly eye-catching in the dark.

    They were all there for Rosemary. As soon as she appeared, they spotted her.

    "Ms. Chambers, you sure made us wait. It''s freezing out here; we''re about to turn into popsicles.

    How about you hurry up and open the car so we can warm up inside?" The speaker was the same

    man that Rosemary had seen days before at the apartment, the one who had snarled at her.

    Rosemary''s body tensed, her hand slipped into her bag, finding her phone, "I don''t know you."

    "No problem, we know you; that¡¯s enough." They started to approach her, "Just a small favor for Ms.

    Chambers."

    Seeing this, Rosemary turned and ran. These men had a clear purpose, and stalling for time

    wouldn''t work.

    But the inherent physical difference between men and women meant that even as she sprinted

    forward, they quickly encircled her.

    "Don''t worry. We''re just gonna snap some photos; won''t really do anything to you. It''s cold as hell,

    Ms. Chambers, just be a dear and cooperate so we can wrap this up and get back."

    Rosemary held her breath, "Who sent you?"

    She nced around. Not a single soul in sight, not even a stray dog.

    "That involves professional ethics, so you better not pry. The more you know, the worse it gets." The

    lead guy motioned to the others, "Go easy; don''t hurt her. Make sure the photos are clear."

    The men sneered, closing in. Rosemary kept backing up, but there were people behind her too. No

    way out.

    Meanwhile, Maxwell was leaving the vi with a grim face, calling Rosemary.

    Thesest few days his mom had been giving him the evil eye, acting like he was thest thing she

    wanted to see, yet insisting on calling him back home every night, saying he was living alone at

    Meadork Retreat like a lost soul.

    He hadn''t expected her to call his dad back too, today of all days, with the same old message - to

    learn and practice more.

    Easy for them to say. Rosemary treated him like he was trash, wanting to be as far from him as

    possible. How was he supposed to ¡°practice¡±?

    The phone kept ringing, almost to the point of hanging up automatically when someone finally

    answered. Before he could speak, a woman''s shrill voice mixed with heavy breathing came through,

    "I''m at...ah!"

    Then, the line went dead. Maxwell''s face went pale, a dark fury shing in his eyes. He called her

    again as fast as he could, but her phone was turned off.

    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Starting the car, he drove towards Rosemary''s apartment, his long, strong fingers clutching the

    steering wheel. He swiped the screen a few times and made a call, "Find out where Rosemary is

    now; you have three minutes."

 Chapter 133

    In the parking lot, Rosemary''s phone flew out of her hand, crashed to the ground, and the screen

    instantly shattered into a snowke pattern.

    One of the guys unceremoniously stepped on it, stomping a few times, "Are you freaking asking for

    trouble? We just wanna snap a few pics, and if you don''t y ball, don''t me the boys for not

    ying nice!"

    After saying that, the dude eyed Rosemary up and down with lecherous nces, sneering through

    his teeth with a grin, "Damn, you''re built like a brick house; must''ve had a lot of...you know."

    All kinds of filth were being hurled at her, and the looks they were giving her started to take on a

    different vor.

    Rosemary was dressed casually today, with a crossbody bag slung over her shoulder. She asked

    them coolly, "What kind of pictures do you want to take?"

    "The kind you see in those adult videos, we''ll shoot that kind."

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    "Alright, but we gotta do it in the car. I don''t want to be seen." She removed the bag, holding it in her

    hand, "I''ve got ns forte-night grub with someone, so make it quick. My friend can''t find out I got

    these kinds of pictures taken."

    The guys snorted at that, thinking a pic was meant to go viral, and she was still worried about not

    being seen?

    But their original n was to shoot in the car anyway; in this pitch dark, the quality would be crap!

    "Fine, but you need to hand over the car keys."

    Rosemary pressed her lips, reluctant to hand them over, and the ringleader reached out to grab

    them.

    Suddenly, she raised her hands and whipped her bag strap around the guy''s neck, coiling it tightly

    with a quick wrap.

    Taking advantage of the others being off guard, she maneuvered the guy around, backing herself

    up against the hood.

    Rosemary looked like a demuredy with no fight in her and no weapons in hand, so these men

    seriously underestimated her. Turned out, she was one tough cookie with a spine of steel!

    "You are doing this for money, aren¡¯t you?"

    "You think you can buy us off with a fat stack? We''ve got our own code on the streets. You think a

    little strap can threaten us? We''ll see who drops dead first, you or our boss."

    The talker pulled out a switchde from his pocket, the de gleaming ominously in the light.

    Rosemary didn''t show a trace of fear, loosening her grip just enough for the guy to breathe. It took

    two minutes to strangle someone, but a mere second to stab her to death.

    "The person who sent you for my nudes didn''t tell you who I am, did they? Maybe you should check

    out Mrs. Maxwell."

    "There are cameras here, and with the resources of the Templeton Group, before you try to off me,

    think about how you''ll run, where you''ll run, and you better take your whole damn family with you.

    Maxwell''s known for being ruthless, and there''s no rule that says the family gets spared."

    Hearing this, the guy with the knife couldn''t resist pulling out his phone to do a quick check.

    Rosemary licked her dry lips, adding, "I made the first move, clear as day on the security footage.

    It''ll just look like a scuffle to the cops, no serious harm done, and it''s unlikely to,"

    Before she could finish, a thunderous boom ripped through the quiet of the winter night! Two

    blinding headlights beamed straight at them, and as the screeching brakes sounded, a ck car

    came to an abrupt stop right in front.

    The door swung open, and a tall, imposing figure stepped out. The car''s high-beams were on and

    so close that everyone squinted against the light, unable to see who was approaching.

    Rosemary stared at that person, and with every nerve on edge, didn''t know if the neer was

    friend or foe. If it was thetter, her bluff would be in vain.

    But as the figure drew closer, a glimmer of hope sparked within her. Could it be Maxwell? She

    couldn¡¯t discern the figure; everything was a blur.

    Not until the man flipped the outermost guy over like a sack of potatoes did Rosemary''s tense body

    rx. It was then that she realized her hands were shaking terribly, barely holding onto the strap.

    The neer took down the ragtag bunch in no time, with cries of pain echoing around. Rosemary

    slumped onto the hood, looking up at the man standing before her.

    "Hogan."

    Hogan towered over her, the ring light casting a halo around him.

    Her voice trembled with post-shock jitters, "How did you get here?"

    "I was worried about you, called Ynda for your work address, knew this area was a bit isted,

    so I came to pick you up."

    Hogan let out a long sigh, sitting down beside her with his legs spread, embodying a rxed

    posture, "Lucky I did. All those years in the military weren''t for nothing, even sharpened my

    instincts. When I couldn''t reach you on the phone, I knew something was up."

    Rosemary managed a faint smile, "Thanks."

    "Next time, just stay put and wait for me to pick you up. Don''t evene down from the building;

    damn it, you had me scared stiff."

    "Sorry."

    He muttered to himself, "Wonder if my legs give way due to stiffness, what am I gonna do, just use

    my hands to walk from now on?"

    Rosemary instantly felt her ¡°sorry¡± was superfluous. His distraction, though, helped ease her mind

    and dissipate some of the fear.

    While they chatted, the guys who were holding their legs and bellies began to sneak away, only to

    be kicked far off by Hogan, each letting out a pitiful yelp.

    "What should we do with this bunch?"

    "Let''s drop them off at the station."

    There was no better option. Just as Rosemary spoke, a car sped towards them,ing to a sudden

    stop.

    Dressed in ck, Maxwell stepped out, his gaze falling on the man and woman seated close

    together.

 Chapter 134

    Maxwell made a beeline for Rosemary.

    The bunch that Hogan had knocked to the ground were still curled up there, not because they were too hurt to get up, but because they were too

    scared to move. The guy who tried to leave and got kicked a couple of meters away had left a serious mental scar on them!

    Most folks, when they came across an obstacle, their first instinct was to go around, but Maxwell didn''t have thatpulsion. He didn¡¯t even bother to

    lack down before he booted the obstacle in his path.

    The man let out another agonizing cry.

    Maxwell''s expression was stone-cold, and the aura surrounding him made him look like he''d just stepped out of hell.

    Seeing this, the others quickly scattered, making room for him to pass - a path so wide he could have strutted through even if with legs eight feet long

    and still not touch anyone.

    Maxwell paused, looking down at the two elongated shadows on the ground, one belonged to Rosemary and the other to Hogan. Although they came.

    from different sources, they nowy side by side, merging with the darkness behind them, indistinguishable from one another.

    He fought down the restlessness stirring in his heart and shifted his gaze back to the woman''s pale face, reaching out his hand, "Get up."

    As Maxwell reached out his hand, Hogan cut in before Rosemary could respond, "Mr. Templeton, here to y the hero? Bad timing. I''m afraid. I''m

    here for the same reason, but judging by your timing you might as well be here to collect a corpse.¡±

    He cocked his chin, his wordsced with a snide insinuation that someone had arrived embarrassinglyte.

    Maxwell gave him a chilly nce, pausing for half a second before saying. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    That ¡°thanks¡± was like a deration of ownership, a dagger that sessfully pierced Hogan''s chest. The smug smile on Hagan¡¯''s face vanished,

    reced by a displeased and cold rage, "I didn''t save you: you''re not the one who should be saying thanks.¡±

    "You saved my wife, and it''s only right that I thank you. Not only that, I''ll cover the hospital bills." Maxwell said with a faint smile, his tone casual as he

    added, "And if you have any other demands, feel free to name them."

    Hogan was about to explode with frustration at this guy''s attitude!

    In the midst of the tense atmosphere, the shrill sound of police sirens grew louder, and two police cars pulled up, with officers getting out.

    One of the blonde thugs scrambled to his feet, howling and shouting, "Officer, help! They''re gonna kill us!"

    The cops nced at the people lying on the ground - all blondies - then looked at Maxwell, who stood firm, ¡°Who called the cops?¡±

    Hogan stood up, "That would be me. My friend here was just leaving herpany when this gang cornered her. They even had weapons. If it weren''t

    for my timely arrival, she''d be dead by now."Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    ¡°You''re talking out of your ass! We just thought thedy was pretty and wanted to chat her up!"

    With the police there, the gang''s courage was bolstered. They''d been through the system enough times to know that for what had just happened

    even if the cops checked the cameras, they''d likely be detained for only a few days, "We''re all good people. just a bit rough around the edges. We get

    nervous just killing a chicken, let alone a person. Besides, it was that woman whe threw the first punch. Don¡¯t believe us? Check the surveince!¡±

    This time, they weren''t the ones who started the fight, so they spoke with brazen confidence, their backs straighter than usual.

    The cop made a decision after looking at the group, "We''re taking everyone in for statements. Lea, you''re in charge of contacting Heritage Revive

    Studio for the surveince footage.¡±

    Back at the station, the group was separated for questioning. Maxwell was the first to finish since he arrived after the incident had ended, which was

    confirmed by his dashcam footage.

    Maxwell stoo¡ékat the doorway,

    peering through the ss at the

    laid-bac ~earefree delinquents being

    questioned by the cops. He asked

    the person next to him withoutany

    change n his expression, ¡®Got

    hing? Who''s pulling the-strings?"

    Sontent belongs to swnevel

    "These guys insist they were just acting on impulse at the sight of a pretty girl, and they really didn''t do anything physical to Mrs. Templeton, just

    some verbal harassment."

    Maxwell scoffed, "Acting on impulse? That''s some serious infatuation.¡±

    Last time at the apartment building, and now, dayster, these guys had tracked down Heritage Revive Studio and coincidentally ran into Rosemary

    workingte.

    "Hand them over to me."

    The other guy was caught off guard by Maxwell''s request, "Mr. Templeton, that''s not really by the book.¡±

    Maxwell''s cool gaze swept over him, "I''ll do the questioning. Once I''ve got the answers, you''ll get everything back intact - testimonies and all - and the

    credit is all yours.¡±

    The surveince from Heritage Revive Studio was obtained, and although Rosemary was the first to make a move on the video, she was the victim

    and hadn''t actually hurt anyone. She could leave after giving her statement

    Exiting the interrogation room, Rosemary saw Maxwell waiting outside. She frowned slightly and asked the cop who had taken her statement, "What

    about my friend? Hogan.¡±

    "Mr. Abbott will have to wait. That group demanded a medical examination; we''ll know when he can leave after we get the results."

    Rosemary nodded, "Okay, got it.¡±

    Maxwell''s gaze fell on her hands, which bore red marks from being restrained. They had been hard to see in the dim parking lot light, but now they

    locked somewhat purple and bruised.

    He frowned, wanting to say something, but in the end, he swallowed his words and simply said, "Move back in.¡±

    Rosemary sat down on a bench in the hallway, "Those people are targeting me; it doesn''t matter where I live.¡±

    These thugs had shown up at her apartmentst time. and tonight they had cornered her at Heritage Revive Studio, right after she had workedte. It

    seemed they had been following her.

    "I''ll arrange for a bodyguard to follow you. Meadork Retreat has a better security system than the apartment.¡±

    With so many-people in the

    apartmentplex, it was

    impossible topletely eliminates

    danger no matter how much one

    increased patrols. Meadork-~

    Retreat, however, was a standalone

    Vis the whole area waS hissand

    Ofily his people could ent¨¦r.

    Judging by the low-level thugs they had sent, he knew whoever was behind this didn''t have much reach.

    Rosemary was persistent, shaking her head, "No."

    Maxwell''s already frosty demeanor grew colder with her refusal, "Or you prefer having a few guys guarding your door all day?¡±

    She got the message loud and clear: if she didn''t move back, he''d send his bodyguards on her doorstep like thest time, tailing her every move like

    a hawk.

    Right now, Rosemary was beat and

    just wanted:to chill. She couldn''t be

    botheredto-waste her breath on <

    axwell¡®about this stuff at a time?

    ike this. She brushed him off, ¡®You

    headback. I''ll hang here waiting for

    Hogan." -

    4

 Chapter 135

    ¡°You waiting for him?¡± Maxwell kept up a cool and collected facade, but if she listened closely, she could catch the venom hiding in his tone.

    Rosemary leaned on the metal chair back, her eyes half-sed, looking like she was about to nod off, ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Hogan had saved her, and now he was cooped up in the interrogation room, with no clue about the oue. What did it make her if she just walked

    out?

    The anger he had been holding back suddenly shot through the roof. Maxwell yanked her up from the chair, ¡°I''ve already reached out to Harvey; he''ll

    be fine. I¡¯m taking you home to catch some z''s.¡±

    His moves seemed rough, but he didn¡¯t actually hurt Rosemary. His eyes ring at her, his tightly pressed lips curved into a restrained arc.

    ¡°He''ll be out in three hours tops, but if you insist on sticking around here, don''t be surprised if you get the news of his detention tomorrow.¡± His voice

    was icy, dripping with threat, ¡°The injury assessment isn''t out yet. What kind of oue are you hoping for, hmm?¡±

    Rosemary¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She had no doubt that Maxwell had the chops to twist the truth! Then, she yanked her hand away from his in

    disgust, "I''ll make my own way back.¡±

    Just as she got to the police station entrance, she bumped right into Harvey. Seeing the man in front of her, all suited up and carrying a briefcase,

    Rosemary let out a snort and quickly walked past him.

    This guy looked all prim and proper, but he was just as crooked as Maxwell, birds of a feather. It was true; the shady ones always cliqued up.

    Harvey got caught in the crossfire out of the blue.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Rosemary was going to hail a cab, but ended up Maxwell strong-arming her into his car. Luckily, she said she wanted to go to her apartment. so he

    drove her there, albeit reluctantly.

    The ride was silent, not a word spoken. After sending a message to Hogan, Rosemary dozed off against the car window.

    In a half-sleep state, she heard the man say, ¡°Sorry, I waste.¡±

    His voice was low, but she heard it clear. Rosemary''s eyes snapped open, the dazzling neon lights outside the window blurred her sense of ce for

    a moment before she gathered herself, ¡°I don¡¯t me you: no need for apologies.¡±

    Although she did think it might have been Maxwell who showed up when Hogan did, after regaining her senses, she knew it wasn''t realistic. Maxwell

    couldn''t have possibly arrived that fast. And to me him for beingte would be utterly unreasonable.

    ¡°You got there pretty fast,¡± Rosemary said truthfully. If it were her, she''d probably wouldn''t have found him until he was stone cold.

    But Maxwell didn¡¯t seem pleased with her ¡°understanding¡±. On the contrary, he felt even worse, grateful, yes, especially when the cops found knives

    on those thugs, but also really displeased

    Maxwell stared at her for a long moment before letting out a snide chuckle, "Of course, you don¡¯t me me. After all, you had someone who''s quick

    on their feet.¡±

    That sarcastic tone was seriously asking for a p!

    ¡°Yeah. if it weren''t for Hogan¡¯s quick thinking, you might have missed even mourning.

    So not ming him was wrong too? If he loved shouldering the me that much, then let him have it!

    ¡°Why was Hogan there sote?"

    ¡°Must be our telepathy.¡± Rosemary wasn''t afraid to piss Maxwell off. ¡°That''s why he was the first one by my side when I was in danger.¡±

    ¡°Heh,¡± Maxwell scoffed, ¡°you really are worried he''ll get locked up for too long

    At that, Rosemary turned and red at him.

    They reached the apartment, Maxwell didn''t go up, but a few guys got out of the car that stopped behind, including two familiar faces, the bodyguards

    who had been stationed to guard her before.

    ¡°Go on up. They''ll be outside your door tonight: don¡¯t be scared.¡±

    Rosemary paused for a moment before heading inside.

    The bodyguards were stopped by

    the doormangand whether it was

    because they saw Maxwell or not, .

    the cheokin was meticulous. cS

    Everyone was registered befores

    beinglet in, and Rosemary had¡±

    alreadly walked quite a distattce

    away, her silhouette hazy-and

    indistinct under the ligh $s,

    Once home, Rosemary gauged the time and called Hogan to make sure he was okay and that he was out of the station before she breathed a sigh of

    relief.

    ¡°You really have no conscience, do you? I get out and you vanish? Not even offering to take me to the hospital to check for injuries?

    Rosemary apologized, ¡°I''m sorry.

    Hogan cut heroff, ¡ã ¡®Forget it, I know

    Maxwel must have ckmailed you.

    Otherwise.with your kind heart, how

    could yotrjust leave me in the dust?

    Remember, you owe meatesnight

    snask. We''ll do it once this ness is

    sorted out.¡±

    &

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    After hanging up, Rosemary tossed her phone on the bed and headed to the bathroom for a bath. When she came out, she noticed a missed call

    from Harvey on her still-lit screen, meaning he had called not too long ago.

    Her only connection with Harvey

    was throughser divorce case with

    Maxwell, and Harvey was always ~

    very prof¨¦ssional, even when = =

    discussing the terms of the divorce

    agreement. He''d contact her-during

    theday, so why was he calling her

    SOte?  t6

    They had just seen each other at the police station entrance, and he didn¡¯t seem like he had anything to say to her.

    Rosemary was debating whether to call back when Harvey called her again. She answered without speaking, and he got straight to the point, ¡°Mrs

    Templeton, pleasee to Meadork Retreat as scon as possible.¡±

    Compared to the robotic coldness he usually showed, this time Harvey''s voice carried a hint of personal emotion, subtle but with a sense of urgency.

    Rosemary frowned, ¡°What''s the matter?¡±

    She really didn¡¯t want to set foot in Meadork Retreat again if it wasn''t absolutely necessary.

    Harvey replied, ¡°Someone died.

 Chapter 136

    Rosemary was taken aback, "What?"

    Harvey said, "Mrs. Templeton, you bettere over.¡± And with that, he hung up.

    Rosemary, frowning. listened to the busy tone on the other end of the line. Meadork Retreat was Maxwell''s turf, and if something went down, it

    definitely wasn''t him in trouble. So, it had to be someone else.

    She flung the door open and stepped out; the usually chill bodyguards snapped to attention and gave her the once-over.

    Rosemary said, "I gotta head back to Meadork Retreat."

    Half an hourter, when she walked into the vi, the bloody mess inside left her frozen in shock!

    She couldn''t believe that the bodies scattered on the living room floor, barely breathing, were the same jerks who had spewed filth at her in the

    parking lot and tried to snap some nudes.

    One of them was on his knees, banging his head on the floor in desperation. Even with the thick carpet, his forehead was battered, his face a bloody

    mess.

    "Mr. Templeton, we honestly had no clue who was behind this. It was an acquaintance who hooked us up. and we got paid through them too. All we

    were told was to snap some pics of Ms. Chambers."

    Having seen this man''s brutal streak, he didn''t dare utter the words ¡°nude photos¡±.

    The air conditioning was on in the living room, Maxwell''s coat was casually thrown over a sofa, and he was just in a ck shirt and trousers, sleeves

    rolled up to his elbows. His usually crisp clothes were all wrinkled now, giving off an air of a devil-may-care rogue

    Rosemary couldn''t tell if he was sttered with blood, dressed in ck from head to toe, but he looked ne different from his usual self - still the posh

    and graceful scion of a wealthy family, nothing like the vicious thugs ready to kill at a moment''s notice.

    But the thick scent of blood in the air was making her head spin.

    "Maxwell, what are you doing?"

    Harvey, seated on a nearby armchair, saw Rosemary and stood up to leave, "The nearest hospital¡¯s a twenty-minute drive. If we rush them now,

    these guys could survive a half-month stay. Any more dys and they''re going straight to the crematorium."

    Rosemary''s eyebrows twitched, and looking at the people on the floor who could hardly groan, she turned to the bodyguards who followed her back

    "Get them to the hospital, quick."Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

    But the bodyguards nced at Maxwell, hesitated, and didn''t move.

    Rosemary couldn''t help but raise her voice, and gave Maxwell an earful in front of everyone, "Maxwell, are you ignorant of thew? Assault is a one-

    way ticket to jail, and with your hot temper, you''d be beaten into a half-paralyzed mess in no time!¡±

    Finally, Maxwell''s mask-like indifference showed a crack. his deep eyes looked at her, his voice low and restrained, ¡°You don''t know what I''m doing?"

    Even if she was clueless, it was clear as day. Her anger subsided a notch, and she said through gritted teeth, "Maxwell, I''ve already called the cops.

    Let them handle this mess. Don''t meddle. Let thew deal with it as it should.¡±

    "What do you think they''ll do?" He scoffed at her naivety, "The surveince is silent. From the footage. these guys didn''t even touch your clothes. At

    best, it''s harassment, not even indecent assault. They''ll be let out after a few days in detention.¡±

    He stared her down. his shiny ck shoes stepping on one of the men''s hands. The man, who had been lying motionless, almost unconscious, let

    out a scream.

    Rosemary even heard the sound of bones breaking!

    Maxwell''s face was void of emotion, unfazed by the gruesome scene unfolding around him. Rosemary grabbed his shirt to pull him away, "Have you

    last your mind?!"

    In three years of marriage, she had never seen him so bloody, so brutally cruel. Although he was always aloof, he was a gentleman of manners,

    never resorting to violence.

    Yet, Maxwell spoke calmly. "I''m just standing up for you. Those thugs daredy a hand on you."

    His demeanor was calm, but the scene was too violent, too bloody. Rosemary felt behind that indifference was a ferocity that could tear a person to

    shreds.

    This had to stop, or these men wouldn''t make it.

    "I don''t need it." Rosemary bit back, "Maxwell, with things between us as they are, you shouldn''t have to do this for me. I don¡¯t want to get tangled up

    with you over this."

    If he ended up in jail for avenging her, they''d truly be tied together till death did them part. She wasn''t desperate enough to want him behind bars over

    a divorce certificate.

    Even though her marriage to Maxwell wasn''t great, if she found the right person in the future, she''d consider it. She wanted a clean break, no loose

    ends.

    "I can handle my own battles: I don''t need to outsource.¡±

    At that, Maxwell''s gaze turned unprecedentedly cold, ¡°Hogan fights for you and you''re over the moon, ready to throw yourself at him. I do it and I''m

    just clinging to you?"

    Rosemary frowned: why drag Hogan into this? What mattered now was that Maxwell was doing something dangerous; he was being irrational!

    She looked at the bodyguards again, this time with amanding tone, "As Mrs. Templeton, I order you to get these men to the hospital, now."

    The bodyguards exchanged nces, but their training kicked in and they quickly moved the injured men to the car outside. Before they left, they even

    closed the door behind them

    With the sound of car engines fading, Rosemary finally breathed a sigh of relief. Unable to stand the sickening stench of blood in the living room any

    longer, she turned to leave.

    But Maxwell suddenly grabbed her, "With our rtionship, we shouldn''t get tangled over this? Then tell me, what is our rtionship now?"

    Rosemary sensed something off in his words, ¡°Let go of me first.¡±

    Without waiting for her response, Maxwell continued, "Let me tell you what our rtionship is."

    As he spoke, he yanked her wrist, throwing her onto the sofa. Before Rosemary could fight back, he was upon her, pinning her down.

    Justa moment ago, she wasn''t sure

    if Maxwell-had gotten any blood on

    him, byfnow, as he got up close-and

    ersonal, the stench of blood hit her

    ke afreight train, way stronger than

    the-scent lingering in the living room

    air.

    = 0

    The hand she-pressed against his

    chest also encountered a sticky

    dampness. The smell was so ¡°

    overpowering it made Rosemary''s¡±

    stoma¨¦h do somersaults. She ¡é>

    could¨¦ t take it and turned herface

    away, only to catch sight ofa huge

    bf¨¦odstain on the carpet,

    All her life, shed yed by the rules,

    except for th asional ps she

    traded with Stacey during their = =>

    spats. She d neverid eyes on such

    a graphic scene. Instinctively, Ker

    bodyctensed, and she tried teback

    away. _¡± S

    o

    There was only one thought in her head: to put as much distance between herself and Maxwell, this blood-soaked madman, as possible!

    But his arm barricaded her in from the side, trapping her tightly. His hand gripped her chin roughly, yanking her face to look straight at him.

    Then came that fierce kiss, overwhelming, like a storm. stealing away all her breath.

 Chapter 137

    Rosemary''s eyes widened in panic as she twisted her head to dodge the man¡¯s rough and aggressive kisses, shrieking, "Maxwell. let go of me, you

    maniac, you freak, psycho."

    Her nerves were stretched to the limit, and she hurled every curse she could think of at him non-stop.

    She struggled fiercely, her head shaking like a bobblehead, and Maxwell''s attempts to kiss her again were nimbly dodged.

    Looking down at her from above, the man''s smile grew colder as he saw her face nearly crumble from her extreme resistance. He pinned her hands

    above her head and yanked off the loosely hanging tie around his neck to bind them.

    A flurry of kisses peppered her neck, leaving a trail of red marks everywhere theynded. Rosemary was wearing pants today, but under Maxwell''s

    terrifyingly violent treatment, pants and skirts really made no difference; they were both just as easily torn.

    "Maxwell, if you''ve got the hots and it''s driving you crazy. go find Victoria." She blurted out in an emotional mess, "You''ve been all over the tabloids

    with her, pulling in investments; I''ve never meddled in that. Hogan just happened toe to my rescue tonight, and I''m a hell of a lot more innocent

    with him than you are with Victoria."

    The sound of fabric tearing apart was especially distinct in the living room filled only with her screams!

    He was able to tear through thick winter jeans by hand; Rosemary couldn''t even begin to imagine the terrifying strength that entailed

    Maxwell cracked a smile, but there wasn''t a hint of mirth in his eyes, "You should be thankful you and he are squeaky clean; otherwise. the one lying

    there tonight would''ve been that Abbott guy."

    Rosemary kicked and iled like a madwoman, but her legs were pinned down by Maxwell, causing hardly any real damage.

    "If you''re so capable, why didn¡¯t you score with Victoria? Why bother with me, your wife in name only, with no love lost? If you''ve got the fricking balls.

    go force yourself on Victoria: I''d happily give you a wedding gift and wish you two a happily ever after."

    On anormal day, she would never dare to provoke him with such words in a powder-keg moment, but her current predicament was such that even if

    she yed nice and submissive, Maxwell the lunatic wouldn''t let her off the hook!

    Because right now, he was exuding a strong, violent, and cruel male pheromone, as if he wanted to tear her apart and devour her.

    Maxwell''s handsnded on her, his violent actions restrained under a facade of calm, which was all the more chilling to witness.

    He spoke slowly, as if forcing each word out of his throat. "But right now, I''d much rather force myself on you.¡±

    At this moment, there was hardly anything between the two. A vast despair surged up like the sea, trying to drag Rosemary into the abyss.

    She wrapped her arms around Maxwell''s neck with all her might, one leg hooked around his waist, and with the other, she pushed him off her with all

    her strength.

    With a thud, the two of them tumbled off the sofa together.

    Maxwell was undermeath, his back hitting the floor hard. Rosemary leaned down, biting fiercely into the man''s shoulder, aiming to take a chunk out of

    him, and blood was drawn immediately, the taste of blood spreading in her mouth. Ovee by the stench, she turned her head and retched a few

    times.

    Throughout, the man seemed not to feel pain, not even a flinch until Rosemary turned away to retch, and then his face began to show concern as he

    reached out to pat her back.

    But before he could touch her, Rosemary scrambled up like a wary cub, backing away a few steps, "Don''te any closer!"

    She grabbed a decorative porcin vase from the coffee table, ready to smash it on the man''s head if he dared to move.

    Her stance was determined. Maxwell watched her steadily, rising from the floor and walking towards her with slow but firm steps, "Want to kill me?¡±

    Rosemary''s hand trembled uncontrobly; whether from nervousness or exertion, it was hard to tell, ¡°Don''t move."

    She smashed the bottom of the vase hard on the coffee table, shattering it, and in that brief moment, Maxwell had already closed in and grabbed her

    wrist.

    A sharp pain shot through her, and her grip loosened, the vase falling to the floor and leaving her defenseless.

    Maxwell pullethher away to avoid the

    shards, his paim feeling her

    tremblingmuscles. He sighed =

    wearily, al fight gone from him, and

    tenderly wiped the tears from Rer

    face Before unraveling the tiethat

    bound her, ¡°Sorry, I lost control."

    ~

    Rosemary still red at him with red eyes, full of caution.

    "Go rest in your room.¡±

    "No, I''m going back!¡±

    All she warted was to get away, the

    farther fram this man, the better.

    Who knew if he would lose control

    again?-As for the humiliation and

    bullying, g, she''d treat it as if she''d

    been bitten by a rabid beast? ¡°Content

    b¨¦longs  ~

    Maxwell''s face was icy as he gritted his teeth, "I won''t touch you."

    "You think I''d believe you?"

    The living room fell silent after her words. Maxwell pressed his lips, looking as if he was at his boiling point. a vein throbbing on his forehead from the

    strain.

    He was giving her his biggest concession by making such a promise. For a second, the suppressed urge started to resurface.

    He even thought about taking her regardless of her cries, struggles, fears, and pleas - doing as he pleased.

    After all, she was his wife byw; even if he took her, it would only be what was expected between husband and wife.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    But seeing the still-damp tear streaks on Rosemary''s face, he softened a bit. ¡°Go change into something else; I''ll take you back.¡±

    Her clothes weren''tpletely shredded, but they were barely covering her, especially the pants.

    Rosemary still refused, "No need. I''ll wrap up in my coat; just have the bodyguard take me back."

    Her coat was long, down to her calves. If she wrapped it tight, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to discern; she''d just feel a bit chilly.

    If she wasn''t currently being held by Maxwell and unable to break free, she would''ve already put distance between them, not letting his hands touch

    her.

    Maxwell sneered, holding her chin to force eye contact, "You think you''re in a position to negotiate with me? Either stay here or go change, and I''ll

    take you back."

    In the end, Rosemary went upstairs, quickly washed up, changed clothes, and was taken back by Maxwell.

    Inside the car, it was dead silent, the mood was heavy, and the bodyguard driving up front didn''t dare make a peep.

    Once they goto the apartment

    building, Rosemary bolted out of the

    door like abat out of hell. Maxwell->

    pinched I the bridge of his nose and

    instructed the bodyguard wha was

    aboutto get out, "Keep an eye ¡®on her

    forthe next few days." Content

    ?

    The bodyguard responded with an ¡°Okay.¡± and quickly made tracks after Rosemary.

 Chapter 138

    The next day, Rosemary was awakened by a ring of her phone. Because ofst night''s drama. Oswald had given her a few days off to rest at home.

    The caller was the property manager, who cautiously apologized, ¡°Mrs. Templeton, there are two people at the gate who wish to see you, saying that

    they''re your father and your sister.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to see them.¡±

    Just as Rosemary was about to hang up after speaking. Larry''s voice. desperate and urgent, came from the other end, "Rosemary, I''ve found your

    mother¡¯s cell phone.

    Back when she was young, and she thought her mom had died in a car crash, she was too devastated to think about these insignificant things.

    It was onlyter when things didn¡¯t add up and she wanted to look for the phone that she realized it was missing, and even the telpany

    could not find the records.

    She had asked Larry about it, and he said he had never seen it. So, she guessed that it probably got thrown out during the car ident.

    Now, the phone that had been missing for years was suddenly found back. If Larry wasn''t lying, it meant that then her mother''s death had something

    to do with him¡ªthat¡¯s why he kept the phone but hid it from her.

    Rosemary said coldly, ¡°Let them in.¡±

    With bodyguards around, they wouldn''t be able to do anything even if they wanted to.

    Ten minutester, Larry came upstairs with Stacey.

    At first nce, Rosemary barely recognized the woman who had be as thin as a rail to be Stacey. Herplexion was sallow and haggard, with

    blotches on her face.

    Most shockingly, Stacey, who always liked topete with her in every way, hadn''t even bothered to put on makeup.

    As soon as they walked in, Larry yelled sharply, "Kneel down!¡±

    Rosemary initially didn''t realize who he was yelling at, until she saw Stacey drop to her knees in front of her¡ªLarry actually had his most beloved

    daughter kneel before her?

    She stepped aside, though she disliked Stacey, she didn''t enjoy being knelt to

    ¡®I¡¯m not dead yet, a bit early for kowtowing. Speak whatever the matter is, stop this drama.¡±

    ¡°This rebellious girl, I''ll leave her to you for punishment today, Rosemary. Dan¡¯t show her mercy, let her kneel until you''re satisfied,¡± Larry said with a

    voice full of anger that made Rosemary¡¯s ears buzz. Having suffered two such shocksst night, she had only fallen asleep as dawn approached; the

    aftermath of staying up all night were now all manifesting, making her feel dizzy and weak.

    She frowned, moving a little away from Larry, ¡°What did she do that made you dragged her here so early in the morning to apologize?"

    Rosemary had a hunch though

    The goonsst night were so useless, anyone with some leverage wouldn''t hire such incapable helpers.

    She looked at Stacey kneeling there with a face full of defiance, her mind drifting.

    Larry truly loved this daughter; otherwise, he wouldn''t swallow his pride and strategically bring her to apologize and let Rosemary decide her

    punishment. He chose her over Maxwell simply because he believed she wouldn''t be too harsh.

    Rosemary¡¯s couldn''t help but think of the scene fromst night. She had to admit, she couldn''t be as ruthless as Maxwell.

    Larry was ring. his face seething with anger and disappointment, ¡°This ungrateful child dared to hire people to scheme such a heinous act to

    frighten her own sister; I''ll beat her to death today, don¡¯t you stop me!

    Hearing this, Rosemary took a big step to the side, leaving him plenty of room

    He just wanted to put on a show, but he was now stuck in a hard ce. He had to p Stacey hard on her face with a loud ¡°smack.¡± The sound itself

    was painful to hear, let alone the force he must have used for the bearer.

    Rosemary smiled calmly, ¡°What she did was not merely hiring people to frighten me, but to murder. Since you know she was the one who found those

    people, don¡¯t you know they were carrying knives?¡±

    Stacey was already frustrated; if it

    wasn''t becau¨¦e of Larry forcibly

    bringing herhere to apologize, she.

    would never have suffered such x

    humiliation, ¡ã ¡®Rosemary, stop

    ndeting me. I only told thea fe)

    take photos. Don''t think I dott know,

    that all the wicked things-done to

    me before was your doing.¡±

    ~

    Rosemary ignored her, turning to Larry. ¡°Where''s my mom''s phone?"

    Larry looked at.this daughter who

    was unrted''to him, a trace of

    disgust shed I in his eyes. He hac

    raised h¨¦vall these years, and every a

    dog wuld wag its tail at him, but¡¯

    she was like a white-eyed wolf;

    always baring her teeth, asif ready

    t?pounce and bite him.

    What''s the point of keeping a daughter who''s no use to him and not even rted?

    Given the case, there¡¯s no point in hiding anything.

    ¡°I can give you the phone, but I have one condition: you tell Maxwell not to interfere in this.¡±

    If it weren''t for Maxwell, he wouldn''t be rushing over with Stacey to apologize.

    Rosemary said, ¡°Sure, hand the phone over.¡±

    Her readily response made Larry hesitate, ¡°Are you really willing to let it go just like this?

    When had Rasemary be so magnanimous? She was practically a saint!

    ¡°That depends on the value of what you''re bringing. If there¡¯s just a wiped nk phone, then you can just get lost.

    Larry took out a phone from his pocket and opened the call log to her. Indeed, there were entries from ten years ago.

    It was a at least clue, even though she didn''t know if those numbers were still in use.

    Rosemary reached out to take it, but Larry held back, ¡°Call Maxwell first.

    When Stacey saw this. she blurted out, ¡°I have a condition too, I want to work at the Templeton Group!

    After those scandals exposed, nopany would take her in. She couldn''t go anywhere and had been cooped up at home every day ever since.

    Larry snapped at her, ¡°Shut up!¡±

    In front of them, Rosemary dialed Maxwell¡¯ number and put it on speaker.

    The call connected, and Maxwell¡¯s cold voice came through, ¡°What is it?¡±Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

    That voice, that tonepletely different from the maniac who almost forced himself on herst night.

    The realization made Rosemary nk out for a mament. He wasn¡¯t schizophrenic, was he?

    The difference between him in a suit and without was like night and day, human and beast!

    Her silence seemed to irk Maxwell, ¡°Rosemary, speak.¡±

    The incident from the previous night

    had left a significant psychological

    impact on Rosemary. Her voice ~

    tightened, and her back ramrod x

    straight-Even though they were over

    the phone, she was worried that

    Maxwell might pounce at her in the

    n¨¦xt second. Conten bel¨¦ngs to

    ¡°Aboutst night, there¡¯s no need for you to investigate it anymore. Just leave it be.

    With Larry appearing to be in such a hurry, she guessed Maxwell must be close to identify the mastermind behind all of this.

    The person on the other end went silent, even the background noise of flipping files disappeared.

    After a short pause, the man¡¯s restrained voice of anger burst out again: ¡°Rosemary, do you know what you''re saying?¡±

 Chapter 139

    Rosemary replied, "I know.¡±

    Maxwell''s lips curled into a lingering smile, his tone tinged with amusement: ¡°So, you don¡¯t want me to investigate, don¡¯t want to owe me anything,

    don¡¯t want to get tangled up with me, or you simply don''t n to pursue it further?¡±This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Rosemary nced at Larry, who was staring at her anxiously: ¡°I have no ns to pursue it.¡±

    ¡°Hah,¡± this time, Maxwell genuinely let out augh, a scoffing one. He mocked, ¡°You really shouldn''t be in Greenwood.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°You should go wake up the statue of God in Lakeside City. Take his position there, and I bet the ce would prosper.

    She just knew that Maxwell, this bastard, would never say anything nice!

    Without another word, she hung up the phone. Rosemary turned to Larry with an icy voice: ¡°Satisfied? Hand over the phone.¡±

    Larry, knowing he had been biased on this matter, felt a rare twinge of guilt. He handed the phone to Rosemary and noticed the shocking love bites

    on her neck.

    As a man, he had an instinctive understanding of how intense a kiss had to be to leave such intense marks. Clearly. someone was deeply in love with

    this woman, to kiss her with such passionate force.

    He had heard that they were getting a divorce, but with those marks and the bodyguards outside

    1

    He brightened up inside, ¡°Rosemary. you and Maxwell.

    Before he could finish, Stacey suddenly snatched the phone from Larry''s hand and smashed it to the ground. If seemed that was not enough for her,

    she proceeded to step on it with her full force.

    Stacey was right beside Larry and she had already nned this, so even if Rosemary reached out her hand at her fastest speed to stop her, she was

    still a step too slow.

    The bodyguards were outside. No matter how well-trained, they still couldn¡¯t sprout wings and fly over.

    ¡°Stacey.¡±

    Without hesitation, Rosemary delivered a p on Stacey. She pped so hard that it made her already aching head throb even more. She looked

    down at the woman who had fallen from her p, ¡°You want to die, huh? I''ll oblige.¡±

    Larry intervened, ¡°Rosemary, Stacey¡¯s just a kid, and she¡¯s immature. Dad apologizes on her behalf. She''s your sister, after all. Forgive her this

    once.¡±

    Stacey held her swollen face, ¡°Rosemary, you''re only acting all high and mighty because Maxwell''s got your back. Without him, what do you think you

    are? Your mother died so young, maybe you cursed her to death, and you also ruined thepany. If dad hadn''t gone abroad, he''d probably be dead

    by your curse as well.¡±

    Rosemary shook off Larry¡¯s hand and gave Stacey another p, interrupting her despicable words!

    ¡°Hasn''t Larry ever taught you to brush your teeth? That''s why the stenching out of your mouth? Today I¡¯m going to give you a free lesson on

    manners.¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡± After a few more ps, Stacey screamed, "Rosemary, you dare hit me. I''ll kill you! You and your short-lived mother should both go to hell!¡±

    She charged directly at Rosemary like a mad bull¡ª

    Rosemary didn''t dodge; her eyes were as cold as ice, staring coldly at her.

    Stacey met her gaze, a chill ran down her spine, with goosebumps all over her skin. At that moment, she was convinced that Rosemary really meant

    to kill her.

    This is a society ruled byw¡ªhow dare Rosemary have such thoughts?

    As she lunged forward, her momentum halted as her neck was seized from behind. The difort nearly made her vomit. She turned to see the

    impassive face of the bodyguard choking her, ¡°What the hell are you choking me? She¡¯s the one who started this!¡±

    The bodyguard was deadpanned, ¡°Our duty is to protect Mrs. Templeton and ensure she is unharmed.

    In other words, it was okay if Rosemary hit Stacey, but not the other way around.

    After saying this, he turned to Rosemary: ¡°Mrs. Templeton, you can leave this kind of rough work to us; hitting people can hurt your hands.¡±

    Damn. what kind of world was that? She hit me and yetins that my face hurts her hand?

    Rosemary¡¯s hand did hurt a bit, her palm aching: ¡°Send her to the police station. She¡¯s the one who sent those guys after mest night.¡±

    Hearing that she would be taken to the police station, Stacey panicked!

    ¡°Rosemary, you said you wouldn''t pursuest night''s incident anymore. You go back on your word?¡±

    ¡°The premise sf not pursuing is that

    you didn¡¯t give me a piece of junk.¡±

    Rosemarybent down to pick up the>

    phone that Stacey had stomped i into

    piecesyThe screen had gone ck.

    Afterpressing it a couple of times,

    there was no response at all

    Stacey and Larry were dragged away by the bodyguards while Stacey''s shrill curses echoed through the hallway: ¡°Rosemary, you bitch, you cursed

    your mother to death... ugh...¡±

    The curses abruptly stopped ¡ª probably because the bodyguards found her too loud and gagged her.

    Rosemary changed clothes, took a pill to relieve her headache, and put the severely damaged phone in her bag before she left

    This phone was pretly old and now it

    wasplete! y trashed. Rosemary

    was afraic.of losing the data stored

    in it if shefound someone randont

    to fix (bso she decided to bringit to

    Hogan to see if anyone couldrepair

    it OF 3f at least retrieve the data.

    There was definitely no one outside of the army that could match their technical talent.

    Rosemary looked at the few people tailing her: "It''s daytime now, you don¡¯t have to follow me.

    She was going to see Hogan, and God knows what Maxwell would do if he found out. Although he seemed quite normal during the day, not like

    someone who''d force himself upon others, she didn¡¯t dare to take the risk.

    The bodyguard said, ¡°Mrs. Templeton, Mr. Templeton ordered us to protect you closely.

    ¡°Are you here to protect me, or to keep a surveince?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Templeton didn¡¯t mention surveince.¡±

    Rosemary smirked, ¡°In that case, please give me all your phones.

    The remaining two bodyguards exchanged looks, ¡°Mrs. Templeton.

    ¡°If you can''t follow orders, I don''t need you here. Let Maxwell send someone else.

    The bodyguards had no choice but

    to hand overstheir cell phones. If

    Mrs. Templeton were toreally =?

    comitto Mr. Templeton, SS

    regardless s of whether it was their

    faultor not, Mr. Templeton would

    definitely not let them off tke hook

    easily.  ta

    Fearing that they might alert Maxwell halfway, Rosemary rode with them in the same car.

    Rosemary was meeting Hogan at a coffee shop. The location was decided by him and it was near his ce

    Upon arrival, Rosemary realized that main customers of this coffee shop were couples. Both the decoration and the atmosphere were quite romantic.

    The booth seating was only for two people and they were sitting close together. Coupled with the lighting and the overall romantic vibe of the ce,

    the slightest inattention could lead to some misced passion.

    The bodyguard, who had been keeping a stern face all this while, now had his eyes wide open as a thought crossed his mind.

    They were screwed!

    Hogan had already arrived. Upon seeing Rosemary, he put his arm around her shoulder and steered her towards the booth

    ¡°Finally, you took the initiative to meet me. But why have you brought along two people with you?¡±

 Chapter 140

    Rosemary shifted her body, avoiding Hogan¡¯s hand: "Don¡¯t cause such misunderstandings. I¡¯m here to ask for your help.

    Hogan locked at his own empty hand, shrugged, and followed her.

    The booth was originally designed for couples, tiny as hell. Having four people in there, even with two standing, it was still terribly crowded.

    Under the waiter¡¯splex gaze, Hogan looked up at the two bodyguards standing straight as statues, like they''re guarding the gates of heaven or

    something: "Why don''t you go sit in the next booth? I''ll pay for it.¡±

    The bodyguard looked down at him, ¡°No.¡±

    This man obviously looked like he had some shady ns for Mrs. Templeton!

    A polite smirk appeared on Hogan''s face, ¡°Then, do you two mind standing outside? You standing here like this, it''s not you who¡¯s feeling awkward

    it''s me.

    He held a position in the team and regrly dealt with a bunch of hotheads. If he was not authoritarian, he couldn''t control the situation. So even

    though he was smiling now, the intangible pressure and danger emanating from him instantly made people tense.

    The bodyguards were professional; they only obeyed their boss. So even if they sensed the danger, they didn''t back down at all. Instead, they

    instinctively reached out to shield Rosemary.

    Rosemary said, ¡°You guys can wait outside. Mr. Abbott is my friend, and we have something to discuss.

    The bodyguards responded ¡°Yes.¡± One stepped outside, while the other headed to the reception desk.

    There were two curtains hanging above the booth, one of cloth and the other of gauze. Hogan only let the gauze one down ¡ª he wouldn''t let

    Rosemary be the subject of gossip. He was used to being rough, and didn''t care about others''ments, but he wouldn¡¯t stand for anyone

    badmouthing ady he liked.

    As for picking a lover¡¯s caf¨¦, that was all because he heard his sister mentioning this caf¨¦ with her friends during a chat. Otherwise, being a person

    who had just returned less than a month ago and not fond of wandering around aimlessly, how would he know about this ce?

    Rosemary pulled out her phone that had been trashed by Stacey, "I was hoping you could find someone to retrieve the data fram this.¡±

    Hogan took it. nced at its busted exterior, and joked, ¡°Did this get run over by a truck?¡±

    ¡°Is the stuff inside important?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I''ll have someone look at it.¡± Hogan pocketed the phone and shed an insouciant smile at Rosemary, ¡°But does this mean you owe me a

    favor?¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s anything I can help you with.

    ¡°Bro!¡±

    A sweet voice interrupted. The next second, the gauze curtain was lifted, and Sylvia Abbott poked her head in. Her big eyes lit up like crescent moons

    upon seeing Hogan, ¡°What a coincidence, running into you here...¡±

    It wasn''t a coincidence, though. She brought her BFF over to ¡°bump into¡± Hogan. Her brother had mentioned to her abouting to this ce when

    he was leaving, which she found odd. After all, her brother didn¡¯t drink coffee nor had a girlfriend, so why would he suddenly want to go to this couple-

    themed caf¨¦?

    Then she saw Rosemary at the side. She mmed up. her baby-fat cheeks flushing with awkwardness. ¡°Bro, is this your girlfriend?¡±

    Sylvia couldn''t bear to look back at her friend. Molly had been crushing on Hogan for ages, and while he had been gone for military service, she had

    remained single. She imed she wasn¡¯t waiting for him, but everyone could see Molly was holding out for Sylvia¡¯s brother.

    Now that he was finally back, before she could muster the courage to confess, she saw the man she had fancied for many years fly to someone else

    ¡ª that would be a blow to anyone.

    Hogan''s tongue prodded his cheek before leaning into Rosemary¡¯s ear: ¡°See what you get for jumping straight to conclusions? This is karma, huh?¡±

    The man was so close that his breath tickled her ear. She instinctively shifted to the side.

    Hogan said: ¡°Didn''t you say to ask if there''s anything I needed help with? y along, and we''ll call it even.

    Without waiting for her consent, he casually draped his arm over the back of her chair. Although he didn¡¯t touch her, it was undeniably a pose full of

    possessiveness to others.

    Sylvia looked like she was about to cry; her grip on Molly¡¯s hand was shaking.

    ¡°When did you two start dating? Mom asked you the day before yesterday, and you said you were single then.¡±

    ¡°Just yesterday.¡± Hogan lied without missing a beat, "What, does it take a few years to establish a rtionship?¡±

    Sylvia turned to Rosemary, ¡°Sis, are you and my brother really a couple?¡±

    Rosemary could only offer an awkward smile.

    As a ¡°newly pepr influencer,¡± the

    buzz around fier being Maxwell''s

    secret wifeHad just died down. But.

    with the whole debacle at the time;

    who knew how many still recognized

    her? Atthough Hogan asked her ite)

    help acting, even if she reluctantly

    admitted, she still felt a litte

    embarrassment.  ike)

    ¡°You''re not some actress my brother hired to trick our mom, are you?¡±

    Violet Abbott hadid down thew ¡ª if Hogan didn''t bring home a daughter-inw by this New Year, she¡¯d make him hold a card in the square to

    help him find a date.

    Hogan put his arm around Rosemary''s shoulders, giving her a subtle squeeze.

    Meeting Sylvia''s inquisitive eyes, Rosemary mumbled a nomittal, ¡°Uh-huh.¡±

    ¡°So, itis an act?"

    Hogan retorted in an unkind manner,

    ¡°Act yourhead. Just because you

    kids watched TV dramas, you think

    the world I is so dramatic? Come on,

    withsyour brother¡¯s good looks, does

    he-need to pay for someone to act?¡±

    C¨¦ntent belongs to

    Sylvia agreed without even turning her head. ¡°Of course, you don''t need that.¡±

    Just as he was about to knock on Sylvia''s head. Molly walked up. She looked at Rosemary, looking her up and down several times, then said,

    ¡°Hogan, she looks familiar. Have I seen her somewhere?

    Hogan casually replied, ¡°Probably in one of my family albums.¡±

    Being best friends with Sylvia and having long been fond of Hagan, she''d definitely seen the Abbott family aloums, even swiping a few photos. But

    she was certain Rosemary wasn''t in them.

    That face

    At this moment, a scene she had seen earlier suddenly shed through her mind.

    Molly''s eyes widened in surprise, staring in disbelief at Rosemary, who was talking to Hogan.

    Hogan red at her, ¡°Alright, enough. You youngdies go and y on your own. Don''t crowd around here. It¡¯s not easy for an old man to have a

    romance, so don''t go scaring off my fianc¨¦e.¡±

    Rosemary was-beyond the point of

    roasting hig Hogan did get one

    thing right he didn''t need to pay =>

    someo act. With his good looks

    and good family background, there

    were plenty of girls willing tobe his

    gir friend.

    4

    Molly''s expression was visibly disdainful, ¡°Hogan, do you know who thisdy really is? Thisdy.¡±

    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 141

    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 caf¨¦, 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 caf¨¦, 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¡ªis 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 >

    li¨¦mewrecker 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.¡±

 Chapter 142

    Maxwell was frowning at Rosemary, instantly regretting what he had said. Rather than seeing her dismiss him as nothing, he would prefer to endure

    her temper and sarcastic remarks.

    After bidding Hogan goodbye, Rosemary grabbed her bag and left, acting as if Maxwell didn¡¯t even exist.

    Maxwell hurried after her, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean what I said just now, it''s not what you think.¡±

    Apologizing was clearly not his forte. His current clumsy demeanor was in stark contrast to the almighty Mr. Templeton that he usually was.

    No matter what he said, Rosemary simply ignored him

    He rubbed his forehead with frustration, ¡°Rosemary, how long are you going to keep this up?

    To him, the silent and unresponsive attitude of hers was just a tantrum, showing no intention of solving the problem

    His words were only met with continued silence.

    Rosemary had arrived in the bodyguard¡¯s car, but she was now annoyed with everyone and everything rted to Maxwell. She decided to hail a cab

    instead.

    Before she could get far, Maxwell grabbed her, ¡°The car''s this way.¡±

    Rosemary yanked her hand back with a look of disgust, ¡°I''ll take a cab.¡±

    ¡®It''s not safe.¡±

    Being with him felt like the biggest danger.

    But she didn¡¯t even have the energy to argue with him; all she wanted was to quickly get rid of him.

    Without uttering a word, Rosemary broke into a trot towards the street

    Maxwell clenched his jaw, watching her desperate attempt to get away from him. He tried to hold back, but he couldn''t. And in a few strides, he

    scooped her up despite her struggles.

    The sudden lift startled Rosemary. Once she had gathered her senses, she thrashed like a cat with its fur on end, kicking and squirming, ¡°Let go of

    me.¡±

    She iled at his chest, her nails leaving a long scratch on Maxwell''s neck. The burning sensation of pain finally ignited a sh of anger in his eyes,

    ¡°Rosemary, if you don''t stop it. believe it or not, I will throw you out.¡±

    Rosemary¡¯s struggles were frantic, as if possessed by a generator. If he dropped her from this height. she wouldn''t just get a bruise; she''d be in

    agony for weeks.

    ¡°Let go.

    The woman in his arms didn''t care about his threats and struggled even harder. Maxwell leaned in to steady her, but then.

    ¡°Bang.¡±

    identally, Rosemary''s forehead hit something hard.

    The impact was fierce, her vision went dark for a moment, her head spinning, the hit spot throbbing.

    ¡°Ugh.¡±

    She groaned in pain, clutching her sore forehead. At the same time, a warm liquid dripped onto her face.

    Before she could figure out what it was, she heard Maxwell''s cold and angry growl overhead, ¡°Rosemary.

    As her senses returned, she smelled the faint smell of blood

    Rosemary looked up, only to find Maxwell''s angr face tense with anger, his eyes full of rage. From his tall and straight nose, two red trails wound

    their way down, crossing his lips and chin. dripping and dropping.

    So, it turned out that she had hit his nose hard enough to make it bleed.

    His hands were full, there was no spare hand to stop the bleeding. His blood was flowing like crazy.

    Rosemary¡¯s face was wet with his blood.

    The stench of blood was overwhelming. She turned her head away, not wanting his blood on her, and said irritably, ¡°I told you to let go.¡±

    She moved, but Maxwell''s arms held her like vices, showing no intention of putting her down.

    ¡°You better pinch your nose and stop the bleeding, or you might pass out from blood loss.¡±

    Her voice Reld urgency, not because

    she was concerned, but because¡±

    Maxwell''s nosebleed was intense,

    like twin streams with no signof

    stopping If they didn¡¯t hurryshe

    might actually faint.

    to¡° -

    With so many eyes on them, and cameras overhead, if he died from this. she would never be able to exin it away.

    Maxwell put her down, ¡°You caused this mess, shouldn''t you be the one to stop the bleeding?¡±

    Rosemary was beyond annoyed. Even now, he was bickering. But he fixed her with a look that said he wasn''t going to deal with it himself.

    She pulled out some tissues from her bag and mped them tightly against his nose.

    Suddenly Maxwell said, ¡°It seems to have broken.¡±

    Rosemary, already annoyed, responded without thinking, ¡°What''s broken?¡±

    ¡°My nose.¡±

    Seriously? Just that slight knock just now caused it to break?

    Though skeptical, she couldn''t help but reach out to touch it. The man winced, hissing in pain.

    Maxwell had a freakish tolerance for pain, usually unfazed by injuries. Now, a mere touch had him sucking in air. It looked like... it was really serious!

    Rosemary quickly withdrew her hand, not daring to prod aimlessly any longer, fearing she might make it crooked for good.

    ¡°You better get your bodyguard to take you to the hospital.

    ¡°And let you off the hook? You create the mess and expect others to clean it up. Are you the one paying their sries, or their meals?¡±

    Then he added, ¡°You know how

    much women value this face? If cy

    nose brittge ends up misaligned~

    because of you and no one wants

    me anymore, you better be ready to

    take care of me for life.¡± Content

    b¨¦longs  ~

    Rosemary inhaled sharply, then said to the nearby bodyguard, ¡°Go get the car.¡±

    And so, she kept pinching his nose the whole way, afraid of getting blood on her hands again.

    At the hospital, while the bodyguard went to register, Rosemary sat in the ER waiting area. still pinching his nose, as people asionally nced

    their way.

    Maxwell''s nose, which she had hit hard and had kept it mped en route, was hurting a bit now, "Be gentle, people are watching you.¡±

    Rosemary felt like she had the worst luck ever. Every time she tried to distance herself from this man, they ended up tangled in various mishaps with

    himCcontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    ¡°They''re looking at the man who apparently has no hands.¡±

    The ER wasn''t crowded, so they

    were quickly attendec to by a doctor

    who checked¡¯Maxwell''s nose with

    professionat tools, and felt his nose,

    bridge. "your nose bridge is fine, and

    the bleeding has stopped. It¡¯s an¡±

    impact injury. Try to avoid touching

    it intheing days, and le

    prescribe some cream foryou to

    apply. Just keep an eye on it at

    home. If it starts bleeding again,

    please go to the ENT clinic for a

    thorough check-up.¡±

    Rosemary: ¡°Thank you, doctor.

    Maxwell: ¡°But it still hurts a lot, really. I believe I need to be hospitalized.¡±

 Chapter 143

    She turned to look at Maxwell, who sat there with an air of entitlement. For a moment. she had no clue what he was up to. ¡°The doctor said the

    bleeding has stopped. You''d recover faster at home.¡±

    This ce is nothing like those posh private hospitals decked out like five-star hotel rooms. The Templeton family have private doctors and servants.

    It would certainly be more conducive to recovery than the noisy, bustling public hospital.

    Maxwell looked at her, a casual smirk ying at the corners of his eyes, ¡°Who knows if the bleeding might start again? My ce is in such a remote

    area, and at night there''s not a soul around. What if I pass out from blood loss? I''d be a goner, right?"

    Rosemary red at him, gritting her teeth, ¡°What the heck do you want?

    ¡°What if I faint because of excessive blood loss...¡±

    Before Maxwell could finish, Rosemary turned to the doctor, ¡°Doctor, let''s get him admitted, please.¡±

    Thankfully, it was not a famous top-tier hospital, so the hospitalization process went smoothly.

    The ward was on the fifth floor, a one-meter single bed with blue sheets that had gone a bit white from too many washes, and same stubborn stains

    couldn''t be removed.

    Rosemary thought Maxwell would turn his nose up at it. After all, a silver spooner like him, who''s had nothing but the best since day one, might be a

    bit of a clean freak. You could tell by the spotless standards at Meadork Retreat.

    But Maxwell just took a nce and then took off his shoes,ying down on the bedposedly.

    After grabbing some toiletries from the supermarket downstairs, Rosemary hit the shower, gave her blood-stained clothes a quick fix, and then told

    Maxwell, ¡°I''ve left a towel in there for you. You can go in and wash.¡±

    Maxwell, whe had been feigning sleep, cracked open an eye at her words, ¡°It hurts, I don¡¯t want to move.¡±

    His nose looked pretty swollen at that point. and the dried blood on his face made him look a sorry sight.

    It was only noon, but Rosemary hadn''t slept much the night before and was struggling to keep her eyes open. Seeing that he wouldn''t go, she

    decided to leave him be. After all, it was not her who was dirty.

    Maxwell watched her from under half-lidded eyes, lying on the bed. He waited until he was sure she was settled in for the long haul before he called

    out, ¡°Rosemary...¡±

    His voice went somewhat louder.

    It had only been a few minutes since Rosemary hit the sack, and she was already on the edge of deep sleep when she heard him. She managed a

    perfunctory hum.

    Maxwell frowned, his nose to his forehead, and even his temples started throbbing. He ordered stiffly, ¡°Fetch some water and help me wash up.¡±

    At that, Rosemary woke up a bit and looked at him, ¡°You''ve just hurt your nose, not broken a limb.¡±

    ¡°My hands hurt too.¡±

    Rosemaryughed. It was out of anger.

    Knowing what she was about to say, Maxwell retorted with a sneer, "If it wasn¡¯t for someone acting like a pig in a poke, making a mess of things.

    would I be in this mess? Or maybe you just don''t want me to get well too quickly, so you have an excuse to nurse me a bit longer.¡±

    Hisst sentence was meant to provoke her, but Rosemary took the bait. She couldn''t help it; she just wanted to get rid of this man.

    Compared to this. giving in was nothing much.

    Maxwell watched as Rosemary, clearly fighting off sleep, dragged herself out of bed and trudged to the bathroom to fetch water.

    He felt a profound sense of weariness and helplessness. He wasn''t dumb: he could see that Rosemary really wanted a divorce; she was not using

    the quarrel as a stalling tactic.

    She handed him the wrung-out towel. Maxwell nced at it but didn¡¯t take it.

    Well, fine. He was the lord now.

    After c

    Rosem

    eaning the blood off his face,

    ary ¡°carried the basin of water

    and prepared to go to washroam to

    pour tt the water away but heard

    Maxwell utter, ¡°In three yearsof

    marriage, did you ever like.me?¡±

    For a moment, Rosemary almost thought she had knocked him silly. Otherwise, how would he ask something that sounded so pitiful?

    Maxwell had always been like an emotionless robot in front of her. On those lonely nights, she even wondered if she''d married a man devoid of

    feelings.

    Rosemary hesitated for a moment, and then responded with a soft ¡°yes.¡±

    Liking him wasn''t something to be ashamed of; there was no need to hide it.

    From Maxwell''s perspective, all he could see was the top of her dark hair. He felt a surge of satisfaction, his lips slowly curling into a smile, ¡°What

    about now?

    Rosemary: ¡°Not anymore.¡±

    To be precise, she was giving up. so it didn¡¯t matter whether she liked him or not.

    Since it didn¡¯t matter, there was no point in letting herself dwell on it. falling deeper into a one-sided love that was about to be a thing of the past.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Maxwell''s Smile froze a

    . NK

    instantly Spread across

    his entire demeanor tur

    nda chill

    his features,

    ned

    menaging. He let out a scoff, pulled

    the nket over himsel

    ¡°Yaur affection is really

    f and¡¯said,

    cheap.¡±

    She changed her heart as swiftly as she changed her clothes, just like when they got married

    In bed, she was all about getting him to marry her, and after less than two seconds down from the bed, she changed her mind, directly asking for

    money.

    The man must have mastered the art of switching faces, did he? Even professional face-changers can¡¯t switch that fast.

    She turned away to see Maxwell already shutting his eyes, the picture of someone who''s done talking.

    The lunch was brought up by a bodyguard. It was clearly the handiwork of the house chef, a five-tiered food carrier with each dish light and

    nourishing, perfect for healing.

    Rosemary had thought Maxwell''s insistence on being admitted was just a sudden whim and that he¡¯d leave the next day, but surprisingly, he seemed

    quite content, with no intention of checking out.

    When the nurse came to check his temperature and mentioned the renewal fee; Rosemary, irritated, asked Maxwell,

    stay?¡±

    ¡°How long are you nning to

    ¡°Ten days, maybe half a month. We''ll see.¡±

    Rosemary was livid. She turned and headed downstairs. She wasn''t exactly going to pay the fee, but because Ynda had arrived.

    After hearing about this mess from Rosemary the night before, Ynda decided toe over in the morning to cheer her up and to bring her

    something as well.

    Ynda was waiting in the lobby, but Rosemary hadn''t expected

    She came with Martin.

    ¡°How did you guys get together?¡¯

    In her mind, they were supposed to be hardly acquainted.

    ¡°I happened toxmeet Ms. Abbott at

    the door, knewing she was looking

    for you, sol came in with her,¡±

    Martin seid, his smile and voice both

    smoath ¨¦ as silk, his every move

    exuding a dignified elegance,"t How''s

    Maxwell?¡±

    NS

    wo

    Rosemary cracked a smile: "He''s okay.¡±

    Ynda asked curiously, "I was told he only got hit on the nose, nothing serious. Why is he still in the hospital?¡±

    Rosemary quipped. ¡°Maybe he knocked some sense out of himself.¡±

 Chapter 144

    ?

    Ynda was all for it. She had a few choice words she wanted to throw out there, but since Martin was still around, it didn''t seem right to diss his bro face to face. So, she bit her tongue and handed over the goodies to Rosemary, "My mom picked these up for you on her trip. Some snacks - didn''t want them to go bad, so she told me to hustle and get ''em to you ASAP."

    "Tell your mom thanks a bunch for me."

    "Oh, and what about that vase fromst time? My boss is on my case about it. They''re jet-setting out of the country and are wondering if they can get it earlier."

    Rosemary replied, "All done. I''ll head back now and grab it for you."

    It was Ynda who had snagged that order, so she could do the hand-off.

    Ynda was about to say she had her own set of keys to Rosemary''s ce and could just pick it up herself, but seeing Rosemary itching to get out of there, she swallowed her words.

    She wasn''t looking to fetch the vase; it was clear as day she wanted to give Maxwell the slip.

    Martin chuckled softly, probably reading her mind, "Go handle your biz. I''ll babysit Maxwell for a bit."

    The dude''s fit as a fiddle; he doesn''t need a babysitter.

    But Rosemary thought better of voicing that thought. Better someone keeps an eye on him or he''ll start stirring the pot again.

    "Thanks, I''ll be back before you know it. He''s in bed 507."

    She''s still rocking the Mrs. Templeton title, and since the whole mess started with her, and even though Martin and Maxwell are tight, Martin''s not obliged to y nursemaid. So she owed him at least a token thanks.

    Martin smirked, "No sweat, get going."

    The moment Maxwell stepped out of the elevator, he caught sight of the two of them sharing augh in the living room. He couldn''t remember thest time Rosemary had shed that kind of radiant smile at him. Thinking back, all he got from her were icy smirks or snarky digs.

    Just moments ago in his hospital room, she was as prickly as a porcupine, seemingly ready to skewer him, but now she was grinning like the cat that got the cream at her white knight.

    His stare was so intense, Martin felt it instantly and turned to see Maxwell storming over with a thunderous expression.

    "Maxwell, you..."

    Before Martin could finish, Maxwell brushed past him and yanked Rosemary into his arms.

    She barely had time to react - mostly because he was so quick, zipping from the elevator to them in a blink.

    Her nose mmed into his rock-hard chest, the pain almost bringing tears to her eyes on the spot.

    She didn''t know how it felt when Maxwell got hit the day before, but right now, it was a mix of sore and achy!

    Martin frowned at Maxwell''s rough move, seeing the pain written all over Rosemary''s face.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

    Instinctively, he reached out to pull her away, but Maxwell squashed his hand with a warning grip.

    Maxwell stood there, radiating a chilly aloofness, his jaw clenched, his eyes cold as ice picks, mercilessly drilling into your soul.

    Martin had known him for ages, seen his fair share of Maxwell''s darker moments, but this was the first time he saw such raw possessiveness in his eyes, "Martin, watch your step. She''s technically still my wife."

    Martin was taken aback, but in that split second of distraction, Maxwell had whisked Rosemary away.

    The elevator was packed like sardines, and with Maxwell turning into a walking freezer, everyone instinctively kept their distance. Rosemary, cocooned in his embrace, was oblivious to the crush.

    She didn''t want to make a scene in front of an audience, so she kept her mouth shut, but the moment they stepped out, she shook off Maxwell''s hold and strode towards the sickroom...

    Downstairs, Martin watched their retreating figures with a soft sigh. His eyes, usually warm and smiling, now betrayed a hint of mncholy.

    He pressed his lips together, deciding not to follow.

    But Ynda, who had seen the

    whole thing, was heaving sighs of her own. She had wanted to step in when Maxwell grabbed Rosemary the guy looked scary as hell, and who knew what he''d do in a fit of rage. She had been bombarded with news about domestic violencetely, and she couldn''t help but wonder how the inte always seemed to know exactly what grim stories to feed her.

    She couldn''t help but muse, "If Rosemary had married you instead, she might be living the dream by now."

    for

    Whether they''d be happy or not was up in the air; after all, both guys weren''t exactly head over heels for Rosemary. It was like choosing between the lesser of two evils But given Martin''s easygoing nature, she figured he wouldn''t be the type to cling to a dead marriage.

    Martin just stood there, speechless.

    He''s not one to open up easily, especially to someone he barely knows.

    As he was about to bid Ynda goodbye, she blurted out, "Why did you stand her up at the bar back then?"

    Huh?

    Martin, puzzled, responded, "What do you mean?"

    Ynda looked surprised, "She went looking for you at the bar, like, three years ago... She brought up marriage in the morning, and you ghosted her, so she couldn''t wait and found out you were at Night Club. She went to get your answer."

    Back then, Rosemary was a bankrupt socialite, drowning in debt, not even able to afford a private booth at Night Club, stuck in the main hall.

    Martin shook his head, "She never came looking for me."

    At that time, he saw Rosemary as a sister from a distinguished family - not close, but if she had actually sought him out that night...

    He tried to imagine it and couldn''t quite pin down what his past self might have decided.

    Ynda was ticked off, "No way. She sent me a video from Night Club, nursing a bottle of booze, trying to work up the nerve to ''turn rice into cooked rice.'' She even slipped a server a hundred bucks to run errands for her."

    A hundred bucks wasn''t much, but to Rosemary back then, dodging debt collectors and barely making ends meet, it was a fortune.

    At this point, Ynda wasn''t concerned about saving face for her friend; she just wanted to expose this guy''s phony demeanor.

    "You turning her down, we get it, man - it''s not exactly chump change we''re talking about here. But denying she even came to see you? Isn''t that kinda low, bro?"

    Martin frowned, Ynda didn''t seem

    like she was ying them, but the

    Night Club is a swanky joint,

    waitstaff rake in decent dough, on par with office drones in big firms. Why would she bat an eye at a mere hundred bucks to pull something like that?

    That night... wasn''t she hanging with Maxwell? Could there be some kind of mix-up?

 Chapter 145

    ?

    Martin frowned and shook his head, "Sorry, I had no idea Rosemary came looking for me that night. Maybe the waiter took the money and didn''t follow through."

    After all, Rosemary was easily taken advantage of back then.

    But no matter what Martin said, Ynda wasn''t buying it. She was convinced he was lying. "If it wasn''t for that unique, custom watch of yours, Rosemary wouldn''t have mistaken you for Maxwell and..."

    Ended up in bed with him, leading to a forced marriage.

    Rosemary had said she was very nervous that night, drank a little too much while waiting, and gotpletely drunk. She was slumped over the table, half-asleep, when someone helped her up. She didn''t get a good look at the man''s face, only saw the watch on his wrist.

    Since Martin had boasted about his watch being a custom piece, the only one in the world, and given that she had tipped the waiter to pass a message to Martin, Rosemary''s first reaction was that it had to be Martin.

    Plus, the guy smelled just like him.

    She followed him without much resistance, trying to see his face along the way, but she was too dazed to see clearly, only making out his smooth jawline, which seemed like Martin''s.

    She asked him about getting married, and the man even grunted a "Hmm" in response.

    Rosemary thought he had agreed.

    "A watch?" Martin was wearing that very watch today. He rolled up his sleeve, "This one?"

    That watch had actually been a gift from Maxwellter on. His original one-what a coincidence had gone missing on the very night of that nightclub party years ago.

    Although the watch was expensive, it wasn''t a big deal to them; it was just a lost item.

    Had Maxwell not mentioned it at the wee party and given him a new one, he would have totally forgotten about it.

    Ynda, in a bad mood, said sarcastically, "What, do you have a bunch of custom watches or something?"

    "Sorry, I need to go." Martin''s face had turnedpletely stormy as he quickly excused himself and headed for the elevator...

    Room 507.

    Maxwell, ring at Rosemary who had been sitting on a stool and ignoring him ever since she walked in, had a frosty expression and an even frostier tone, "What''s the matter? Upset that I''m interrupting your little heart-to-heart with your white knight?"

    "

    "

    "Would you have run off with him if I hadn''te downstairs?"

    Maxwell wasn''t the type to sweet-talk or tolerate being ignored by women. After being ignored several times, his face turned as dark as thunder, "Rosemary, I''m talking to you. What''s with the attitude?"

    Before Rosemary could stay silent again, the door to the room was pushed open.

    Martin walked in, his usual warm smile reced by a cold demeanor.

    He looked at Rosemary, "Rosemary, I need to talk to Maxwell alone for a minute."

    Rosemary nodded, "Oh, sure, I''ll go grab something from downstairs."

    And Maxwell, who had been tantly ignored several times, was like: "..."

    His face couldn''t have been any darker.

    As soon as Rosemary left, the tension in the room escted.

    Martin handed the watch he had taken off to Maxwell, "Happy with it?"

    Seeing the watch and catching the tone, Maxwell knew what he was getting at.

    His face, already cold, turned even more sinister, "Works like a charm. Without it, I would have had to figure out another way to get her to willinglye with me."

    Martin''s face shifted, an extreme coldness of fury washing over him as he mmed the watch down in front of Maxwell-

    "You know damn well she doesn''t like you..."

    That night, he had been drunk himself and ended up crashing at a hotel upstairs. So when he saw Rosemary leaving with Maxwell the next day, he dropped the whole marriage thing.

    Maxwell, looking at the watch on the

    I

    floor that could buy an average person a house, let out augh as if he had realized something, "So what? Martin, you''re just pissed because you think it''s your fault she ended up in bed with me. Butgiven her situation back then, do you think it''s better she got with me or ended up sold off to Astoria by those loan sharks?"

    He stood up, his gaze t as he looked at Martin, "Or were you nning to ept her proposal and marry her, help her pay off her debts?" Maxwell sneered, "Rosemary was foolish to turn to you, but we both know you wouldn''t have married her back then, nor could you have helped her with the money."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Let alone whether the Ger family

    would let Martin marry a

    down-and-out heiress, the Ger family had a major project at the time and was in dire need of funds. How could they possibly spare that kind of cash to help a woman with no apparent value pay off her debts?

    "You shouldn''t have lied to her, let alone used me to do it."

    Martin was feeling all kinds of messed up inside. He''d been abroad and wasn''t sure how things were between Rosemary and Maxwell But he figured it couldn''t have been good, otherwise she wouldn''t be so keen on divorcing Maxwell. And now, with Ynda''s words casting no doubt... He felt it was all his fault.

    "But she likes you," Maxwell blurted out, feeling a twisted sense of pleasure, "She thought it was you that night, even called out your name."

 Chapter 146

    Martin wasn''t the type to take the me lightly. He may have appeared gentle, but deep down, he was quite detached, making it hard for anyone to truly reach his heart. Yet now, a mix of rage, a twinge of heartache, and regret surged within him. "So you were sober that night?"

    Maxwell nodded, "Yes."

    He was indeed sober. He knew perfectly well that Rosemary had followed him obediently, mistaking him for Martin. Even their subsequent intimacy was something he had forced.

    Without another word, Martin swung his fist towards Maxwell''s face. He might not have been one for brawls, but he had been trained from a young age.

    After all, with their kind of background, there were always enemies or people looking for shortcuts eyeing them.

    The punch Martin threw packed a serious punch.

    Maxwell stepped back, raising his arm to block while simultaneously aiming a kick at Martin''s knee.

    The hospital room was small and not soundproof, so as soon as they started scuffling, themotion was heard outside.

    Rosemary hadn''t gone downstairs. Seeing Martin''s dark expression when he came in, she feared something might happen and stayed close by, overhearing their conversation.

    She hurried in through the door just in time to see Maxwellnding a punch on Martin''s shoulder.

    It had been aimed at his face, but Martin dodged it.

    "Martin..." Rosemary quickly walked over, pulling the wincing Martin aside, and turned to re at Maxwell: "What the hell, did a dog bite you or something?"

    "Get out of the way."

    The weather was gloomy, making the room''s lighting poor, so even during the day, the lights were on. The pallid glow of incandescent bulbs cast an eerie shadow over Maxwell''s face, outlining an ominous aura.

    Rosemary had her hair up in a bun today, revealing a face only as big as a man''s palm. Her light outfit made her look non-threatening, almost like she would be easy to push around.

    But now, she stood in front of Maxwell, protective as a hen with her chick, keeping Martin behind her.

    "Enough, Maxwell!" Rosemary closed her eyes momentarily. This man was seriously pushing her limits over and over to the point where she didn''t even want to argue anymore.

    She turned to look at Martin, but only nced at him briefly before quickly looking down: "Let''s go."

    She didn''t want anyone to see her in such a mess, nor did she want to catch any pitying stares.

    Martin gave her a deep,plex look, his gaze tangled with a whirlwind of emotions.

    Maxwell, with a pale and indifferent look in his eyes, had no doubt that if he wasn''t there, Martin would''ve already proposed to Rosemary on the spot. He smirked coldly and sarcastically: "So you''re just going to hide behind a woman and let her protect you?"

    Martin might not like to fight, and he never thought it solved anything, but at his core, he was a proud and haughty man who couldn''t stand being provoked.

    Martin took a step forward: "I''ve been wanting to punch you for a while now."

    Maxwell let out a coldugh: "Good, because I''ve been feeling the same."

    Just as the two men looked ready to go at it again, Rosemary frowned and grabbed Martin. "Why bother with a nutjob? If a dog bites you, you''re not gonna bite back, are you?"

    Her tone wasn''t angry, just full of disdain, as if she were looking at something too pitiful to bear, something disgustingly sickening.

    Maxwell half-smiled: "So you were just outside the door the whole time?"

    Otherwise, she couldn''t havee in so quickly. The moment he and Martin started fighting, she pushed the door open. Rosemary replied, "Yes."

    There was no point in hiding it, and it couldn''t be hidden anyway. A quick check at the security office would reveal everything.

    "You don''t have a single question?"

    Like why he deliberately made her think he was Martin; why he took her away knowing full well she wasn''t looking for him that night; whether the waiter delivered his message or not.

    Any question would do.

    After the event, Rosemary always thought their encounter was a coincidence, that he was just driven by alcohol and lost his sense after drinking. He didn''t exin.

    But Rosemary simply shook her head, "No."

    Maxwell squinted, a shadow of gloom pressing beneath his brows: "Not even a bit curious?"

    "Not curious," Rosemary paused, her voice colder than herplexion: "Because no matter the reason, they''re all just disgusting."

    Silence fell in the room...

    Rosemary and Martin stood together, Maxwell a little farther away. The space was small to begin with, so even "farther away" was within arm''s reach. But this distance, easily bridged with an outstretched arm, felt like a chasm.

    Maxwell shrugged, "Fair enough,

    there was no special reason anyway.

    Just that you looked so damn screwable lying there drunk, but the actual deed was pretty

    ovelet

    underwhelming. No wonder

    couldn''t get excited about you evenText ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

    after three years of marriage."

    Rosemary was livid. She didn''t want to waste her breath arguing with Maxwell, but that didn''t stop her from wanting to p him-

    "Smack!"

    Maxwell''s face was jerked to one side by the force of the p. Rosemary''s face was full of contempt: "You''re truly revolting!"

    Her hand by her side trembled slightly, the palm burning and reddened, a testament to the strength of that p.

    Maxwell gently massaged his struck cheek, "So you like him that much? Still hung up on him after all these years?"

    Rosemary''s lips curled slightly, her heart felt as dead as ashes. Disappointment, resentment, loathing, and sorrow all surged at once. She felt like thest three years had been a total waste!

    Not wanting to get entangled with Maxwell any longer, she bluntly admitted: "Yeah, I really like him. So much that I can''t wait a moment longer, just eager to get a divorce from you."

    Her eyes carried a smile: "If you have any decency left, just get the divorce over with and don''t hold up my grand wedding."

    With that, as if to confirm the truth of her words, she took Martin''s hand.

    Maxwell watched their sped

    hands, unable to contain his rage that bubbled up, his eyes reddening with fury. He suddenly lunged, grabbing Martin''s cor, yanking him away from Rosemary, and met him with a vicious punch to the face.

    The punches came hard and fast, not giving anyone the chance to dodge or react.

    Maxwell eyed Martin''s handsome, gentle, and schrly face, but there was ayer of bold and thick defiance in his eyes and brows.

    You could almost hear the grinding of bones in his tightly clenched fist...

    *Bang-*

    Due to ack of real-world fighting experience, Martin didn''t react in time and took a solid punch to the right side of his face.

    His body tilted to one side, but Maxwell had him by the cor so he didn''t go flying.

    Martin swung back with a punch of his own.

    The two of them went at it, both

    fighting like they had nothing to lose,

    got

    with a fierce, no-holds-barred style The stuff in the hospital room knocked over, furniture was kicked out of ce, creating a chaotic

    symphony of crashes and bangs.

    Maxwell''s moves were ruthless, his knuckles already bloody: "You like her too?"

    Blood trickled from the corner of Martin''s mouth. His lips curled into a mocking sneer, all traces of his usual gentleness and elegance gone: "Yes."

    Maxwell snorted derisively: "You think you''re worthy?"

 Chapter 147

    ?

    Punch after punch, with no finesse, just raw, brutal moves straight out of a primal male brawl.

    Rosemary''s voice was shaky with nerves, "Maxwell..."

    Her shout did nothing to stop the man, who was so ticked off and beyond control; if anything, it made him hit even harder.

    Martin wasn''t one to fight often, and it was clear as day that he was getting the worst of it. Rosemary tried to grab Maxwell, but the man was so enraged he wasn''t thinking straight and nearly threw her across the room.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    But Rosemary was ready. When he tried to shake her off, she clung onto his arm like a lifeline, throwing all her weight on him.

    Maxwell was strong, but not strong enough to shake off her grip.

    The scuffle cooled off for a moment, and Maxwell''s brain started to kick in again. But the rage and destructiveness inside him didn''t dial down a notch. His face was stone-cold as his eyes bore into her, "Rosemary, you''re protecting him?"

    He remembered that time he fought Hogan. Rosemary had just walked away. The building security had to stop her from leaving, and even then, she just stood by like a casual spectator, as if she couldn''t wait for them to finish so she could go to sleep.

    But now, she was risking her neck jumping in front of him.

    Guess there''s a difference between caring and not giving a damn.

    Rosemary nced at Martin, who was a bloody mess. His face and clothes were covered in blood, and you couldn''t tell where it was alling from. Even though he was still on his feet, he looked like he was about to copse any second.

    Feeling her gaze, Martin looked up and shed a half-grin, "I''m fine, don''t worry."

    Rosemary was drowning in guilt.

    She just wanted to shake Maxwell off. He kept saying she was into Martin, so she might as well own up, but who knew this nutjob would lose it and go full-on berserker mode like he wanted to beat the guy to death.

    You could tell Martin wasn''t a fighter. If she hadn''t stepped in, the morgue attendants would probably be clocking in for overtime.

    Maxwell scoffed when he heard her, muscles tensing on his arm. Rosemary was still holding it, feeling every twitch.

    She let go and stepped in front of Martin, "Enough!"

    Maxwell''s face was all twisted with mockery, "And what are you gonna do if I''m not done? Think standing in front of him makes him safe?" Looking at the smug man in front of her, Rosemary''s palms itched. Man, she really wanted to p him again.

    What a jerk!

    Outside, a mess of footsteps approached. The scuffle had stirred up the nurses, and now security was on the scene. They opened the door to find two bloody messes and a room trashed.

    The first few on the scene froze, looked at each other, wondering whether to call the cops.

    Seeing people arrive, Rosemary turned to help Martin up, "Doctor, please check him out."

    Martin looked rough, and though the doctor was intimidated by Maxwell''s presence, his duty to help won out, especially since Maxwell didn''t look like he was gonna make a move.

    He helped Rosemary support Martin and shouted outside, "Get a stretcher, rush him to surgery upstairs."

    He was an ENT doctor, after all; this wasn''t his turf.

    After Rosemary and Martin left, Maxwell slumped down like he was out of juice, half-closing his eyes without a peep.

    His shirt cor had lost a few buttons in the fight, now hanging loose. His trousers were wrinkled, and there was a long cut on the back of his hand, dripping blood.

    The nurse approached tentatively, "Sir, you need to get that wound dressed. Let me help you to the door."

    She would''ve wheeled in the stretcher, but the room was such a mess there was no way to even step through, let alone push a bed.

    Maxwell didn''t even open his eyes, just spat out a word, "Scram."

    The nurse tried again, "Sir, you really should-"

    "Get out," he suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze cold and fierce, striking terror into the nurse, "Take everyone and leave."

    The nurse shuddered and quickly ushered the others out.

    And made sure to close the door behind her.

    ...

    In the surgery wing, outside the dressing room.

    Rosemary sat on the bench, Martin was inside getting patched up. He''d been in there a while, and she had no clue how bad it was.

    Ten minutester, Martin emerged, bandages wrapped around his forehead and hand, a doctor in a white coat trailing behind, "We''ve taken care of the wounds. Go pay for a CT scan to check for internal injuries."

    Rosemary jumped up, "Okay, thank you, doctor."

    The CT and billing were both on the first floor. She steadied Martin, "Can you walk? Or should I grab a wheelchair from reception?"

    "I''m not a write-off, no need for a wheelchair."

    Although Martin said that, Rosemary still slowed her pace, supporting him gently towards the elevator.

    Martin''s legs were fine; he and Maxwell had been aiming for each other''s faces and midsections. But seeing her worry, he cracked a smile and didn''t say a word.

    "Sorry." "My bad."

    They both spoke at once.

    Rosemary looked up, their eyes met, and there was a brief silence before Martin said, "I didn''t know you came looking for me back then..."

    "It''s water under the bridge." Rosemary shook her head. She''d been desperate, not having researched the Ger family situation before reaching out. In hindsight, she realized she''d put him in a tough spot.

    To keep Martin from feeling guilty, she put on a troubled face, "You were smart not to agree. I really couldn''t pay back that much money."

    She couldn''t quite recall the exact amount she owed back then, but even after splitting the marital assets with Maxwell, she was still three billion in the hole. That debt was probably even bigger at the time.

    Seeing Martin about to speak, Rosemary quickly changed the

    he

    subject. She didn''t want to dwell on the past, "I''m sorry about today. was just trying to get away from Maxwell. I wasn''t thinking straight when I dragged you into that

    charade. I had no idea he''d go

    berserk and start swinging."

    "Rosemary," Martin grabbed her hand that was about to press the elevator button, "since we know that missing each other back then was just a twist

    of fate, is there a chance now to set things straight?"

    "What..." Rosemary was taken aback

    at first, mainly because Martin''s words were not exactly the most straightforward confession, so she mulled over his words again, and then it hit her that this was probably a love deration. "Sorry, Martin, that ship has sailed for me, and

    honestly, I really see you just as a friend now."

    What she actually wanted to say was ''brother,'' but considering their unequal family backgrounds, it felt a bit like taking advantage.

    The elevator arrived, and Martin let go of her hand and got in.

    Rosemary followed, but the air was understandably a bit awkward because of the incident.

    Reaching the ground floor, she blurted out, "Wait here for me, I''ll go pay, and then I''ll take you to the CT room."

    She was about to turn away when Martin caught her, his face breaking into a gentle smile again: "I''ll handle it myself. Aren''t you supposed to head home to grab some stuff for Ms. Abbott? Go take care of that."

    Rosemary: "I can''t just..."

    "Go on," he insisted, taking the appointment card from her hand with a firmer tone, "I''m just a bit banged up, not so bad that I need someone to lean on. And don''t beat yourself up about it, the brawl I had with Maxwell wasn''t all about you."

    Rosemary could tell Martin didn''t want her tagging along, so she nodded, "Alright, call me if you need anything. I''ve got things to do."

 Chapter 148

    ?

    Ever since that nurse was expelled by Maxwell in the morning, no one else had entered the room with bed 507. Maxwell remained seated by the bed in the same attire, the gash on the back of his hand had scabbed over, and outside, the daylight faded into darkness.

    Maxwell hadn''t moved an inch; if it weren''t for the asional blink, you''d swear he was a lifeless statue.

    The room wasn''t soundproof, so you could clearly hear the chatter and footsteps from outside. Those whispers seeping into the room made Maxwell seem even more lonely and forlorn, almost ghost-like.

    When night fell, even those outside sounds disappeared. It got even quieter.

    "Click."

    The sound of the door handle being pressed down was especially loud in the silent room. Maxwell didn''t open his eyes, didn''t even turn around, just coldly barked, "Get out."

    But the visitor didn''t leave - they came in instead.

    With a "bang," the stool that was propped against the door got kicked away, followed by a racket of more things being kicked around. The footsteps stopped only when they reached the bedside.

    Maxwell opened his eyes and looked at the person before him, not a hint of surprise: "What are you doing here?"

    There were only a handful of people bold enough toe in at this hour, and even fewer who''d make such amotion.

    Archer Winters flopped down beside him, mainly because there was nowhere else to sit. He handed Maxwell a cigarette and lit one up for himself, "You think I wanted toe? The head honcho called my secretary, told me to drag your ass out of here. If you''re gonna kick the bucket, don''t do it on their turf."

    Maxwell nced at the man puffing smoke next to him and muttered, "No smoking in the hospital."

    "You''re preaching about rules now? You brawled in a hospital? Fine, you brawled, but then you got your ass handed to you and refused treatment. Now they''re freaking out, pulling strings left and right to get someone to pick you up, scared stiff you''ll croak on their property. And here you are, telling me I can''t smoke?"

    Maxwell red at him, all menace.

    Archer sneered, "What, you haven''t had enough? Wanna go another round? You really want to end up like a piece of crap no dog would sniff at?"

    "Get lost..."

    Archer flicked ash from his cigarette, "Spill it. What went down? Why''d you suddenly start swinging at Martin?"

    "It''s nothing."

    Your wife running off with another man, and that man being your bro of over a decade - that''s the kind of embarrassment no one wants to broadcast. Archer quirked an eyebrow, "Suit yourself. I''ll get a doc in here to check you out. If you''re not dying, get the hell up and move to a different room. The cleaning crew needs to do their job."

    He snuffed out his half-smoked cigarette and stood up, "Oh, by the way, Victoria''s outside."

    Maxwell frowned, "You brought her?"

    Archer: "Do I look like I have time to kill? She was already in the lobby when I got here, been sitting there for God knows how long. If you want to see her, I''ll let her in. If not, I''ll take her with me when I leave."

    Maxwell ced the cigarette between his lips and with a flick of the lighter, set it aze.

    After a few puffs, he spoke indifferently, "Let her in."

    Archer raised an eyebrow and went to fetch her.

    Victoria was right outside. Knowing Maxwell was willing to see her, she came straight in. Seeing him covered in dried blood, tears instantly started to flow: "Maxwell."

    Maxwell didn''t respond. He was half-reclining on the bed, eyes closed, one leg bent on the bed, the other dangling carelessly, a picture of destion. Victoria approached, "How''d you get so banged up?"

    She was about to touch the bruised cheekbone when Maxwell opened his eyes and looked at her.

    His gaze was icy, pushing her away.

    Victoria''s concern shattered under his coldness. Right then, Archer brought in a doctor, and she found an outlet for her anger, turning to the

    nurse

    se behind her: "He''s hurt like this and you don''t treat him? What if something happens? Can your hospital handle that responsibility?"

    The nurse, the same one Maxwell had cursed out in the morning, feeling aggrieved, defended herself in a low voice, "Mr. Templeton refused the treatment."

    Why don''t you go chew out the big shot himself?

    The doctor was cleaning Maxwell''s

    wounds, and as the blood was wiped away, the true extent of the injuries revealed themselves. You''d think it''d look a bit better than a bloody mess, not so shocking, but it was just as bad.

    Bruises, swollen cuts, a battered nose - it was more horrifying than the bloody version. Victoria thought the blood had been a mercy cover.

    Maxwell let the doctor tend to him, not even a wince during the process, as if he didn''t feel a thing.

    Victoria: "Where''s Rosemary? You''re in this state, and she, as your wife, isn''t here to take care of you?"

    Maxwell still didn''t speak, but the

    nurse couldn''t keep her mouth shut: "Mr. Templeton got these injuries because of Mrs. Templeton. She''s upstairs in the surgical ward fussing over some other guy."

    "

    Today''s drama had spread through the hospital, and her colleagues had filled her in on the trio''s identities.

    Maxwell''s eyes snapped open, a frosty look thrown at the chatty nurse.

    Victoria, seeing this, let out a coldugh: "She treats you like this, and you still cover for her? You can''t even stand others speaking a word against her?"

    After saying that and seeing Maxwell''sck of reaction, she stormed out of the room.

    Archer, who had been fiddling with his phone, nced up, "You''re just gonna let her go stir up trouble with Rosemary?"

    -

    Archer was sick of his deadpan face and couldn''t be bothered to interfere any longer: "Just remember, if things go south, don''t regret it."Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

    Maxwell gave him a t look, "If you''re bored, go handle the discharge paperwork."

    "You think I want to deal with your crap?"

    Archer stood up and headed for the door, only to hear Victoria''s voice, "Rosemary, Maxwell is so badly hurt, and you''ve got the nerve to feed some other guy?"

    Victoria had intended to go upstairs and confront her, but as fate would have it, as soon as the elevator doors opened, there she was, clutching a meal box.

    When Victoria grilled her, Rosemary didn''t hold back and snapped back, "And who exactly are you to be interrogating me? Maxwell''s ex? His fling? Or maybe the future Mrs. Templeton?"

 Chapter 149

    ?

    Victoria couldn''t stand her carefree attitude and snapped coldly, "Maxwell and I are just friends. Don''t assume everyone is as twisted as you. And you and Martin, that''s a real scandal, isn''t it? What role do you have in taking care of him now, huh?"

    She had already gathered the whole story when she passed by the nurses'' station.

    Casting a nce at the bag Rosemary was holding, she added, "That store isn''t exactly around the corner from the hospital, is it? You''ve really gone out of your way. Did you bring anything for Maxwell too?"

    Just as Rosemary was about to retort, she saw Maxwelling out of the ward. His wounds had been treated, and he was wrapped in white bandages.

    His words from earlier echoed in her mind, and suddenly she lost the will to argue. "Instead of buzzing around me like a fly, you''d better figure out how to keep him on a tight leash and snag the Mrs. Templeton title after I divorce him."

    Maxwell came over, his gazending on Victoria. He said to her, "Let''s go, I''ll give you a ride back."

    "Sure."

    Victoria looked at Rosemary with a hint of smug superiority in her eyes.

    She could see it clearly; Maxwell hadn''t spared a single nce at Rosemary.

    It seemed like Rosemary had finally given up for good. And rightly so; no normal guy would forgive being cuckolded, let alone someone like Maxwell. Archer had sorted out the paperwork and was waiting in the car. Maxwell slid into the passenger seat: "Let''s drop Victoria off first."

    "And you? Heading back to Meadork Retreat? How about crashing at my ce tonight? Alone in that big house, if you catch a chill in the middle of the night, there won''t even be anyone to find your cold body."

    "No thanks."

    They were both grown men; Archer wasn''t in the mood for coddling. If Maxwell didn''t want to, that was that.

    After dropping off Victoria, Maxwell asked, "Fancy a drink?"This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    "Are you out of your damn mind? Drinking in your condition, are you in a hurry to meet your maker or something?" Archer gave him a look and said tly, "Dying''s no use; Rosemary won''t be ying the grieving widow."

    Maxwell grimaced, his brows knitting together as he nced down at Archer''s lower abdomen: "No wonder Yvonne dumped you."

    Men know men best; no matter how subtle, they can taste the bitterness. Archer scoffed, "You want a drink? Fine, let''s go. You''re the one dying, not me. And it''s not my wife who''s looking to remarry."

    "Yeah, Mr. Big Shot, why don''t you win Yvonne back?"

    Words can be the sharpest weapons. With each sentence, Maxwell was practically stabbing Archer in the heart.

    Archer sneered back, "You''ve pissed off everyone around you, enjoy your lonely life," and, not content, he added, "Serves you right to get beat up; you won''t even have visitors on Tomb Sweeping Day."

    The two men weren''t fussy; they just found a bar on the road.

    Maxwell was in a foul mood, knocking back drinks like there was no tomorrow. Even the best of drinkers can''t handle that kind of punishment, and soon he was showing signs of intoxication.

    The bar was too noisy; even speaking had to be shouted into the ear to be heard. Archer didn''t have the patience tofort someone under such grueling conditions, so he let him drink.

    Two hourster, Archer dumped a drunk Maxwell back at Meadork Retreat. The vi was empty, not a soul in sight. He cursed, "Should I get a bodyguard to take care of you?"

    Maxwell wasn''tpletely wasted, just foggy. He didn''t want to move or open his eyes. Lifting an arm to shield his eyes from the ring light, he muttered, "No need, just get lost."

    Archer huffed and really did get up and leave without a second nce.

    Stepping out of the vi, he rubbed his throbbing temples and ordered a nearby bodyguard, "Go fetch Rosemary for him."

    Drunk as a skunk, someone had to

    keep an eye on him, and since

    Maxwell was one to dislike strangers hovering over him-why else would he have no live-in help the vi-it made sense that Rosemary, the instigator of the mess, should be the one to look after him.

    As Archer''s car pulled away, Victoria, who had been waiting, slipped inside.

    She was worried about Maxwell''s injuries and knew that Meadork Retreat would be unstaffed at night. With Rosemary no longer living there, she decided to check on him herself.

    The bodyguard recognized her at the door; not only did he not stop her, but he even greeted her.

    ...

    Rosemary was dragged back to Meadork Retreat from her home by the bodyguard; she had already been in bed when he barged in, so she was still in her pajamas.

    Thankfully, winter pajamas are long-sleeved and conservative, so there was no worry of exposure.

    "Did Maxwell send you for me?"

    She had asked this question on the way over, but the stony-faced bodyguard hadn''t uttered a word. Maybe fed up with her questioning or because they had arrived, he finally said, "Mrs. Templeton, Mr. Templeton is stered. Needs someone to watch over him, could be dangerous otherwise."

    "He''s the one who let himself get wasted, and you''re worried about his safety?" Rosemary finally shook off the bodyguard''s grip and turned to leave. The bodyguard caught her arm again: "Mrs. Templeton, you''re going the wrong way."

    "

    She suspected he was doing it on purpose. Her intent to leave was clear, yet here he was, telling her she''s going the wrong way. But given his dead- serious demeanor, Rosemary wondered if she was reading too much into it. Maybe he was just a blockhead.

    But whatever she thought, this blockhead didn''t let go of her for the rest of the trip.

    Not until they reached the vi door did he release her: "Mrs. Templeton, you can go in. We can''t enter without a summons."

    Rosemary had no choice but to enter despite her reluctance. The bodyguard simply wouldn''t let her go. She pushed the door open with a face full of resentment, using her fingerprint to unlock it, and was immediately stunned by the scene inside.

    Though it was dark, the light from outside poured in as soon as the door opened, allowing her to make out the faint outlines within.

    From the foyer to the living room.

    Clothes were strewn all over the floor, both men''s and women''s, mixed together, telling the tale of what had transpired inside.

    Rosemary totally didn''t expect the

    n¨¦t

    sight that greeted her when she opened the door, and she froze on the spot, like a deer caught in headlights. But it wasn''t just her who was shell-shocked; the bodyguard who dragged her here was also rooted to the ground.

    The folks in the living room caught wind of themotion and rose from the couch.

    It was Victoria.

    The couch was hiding most of her, but from what the eye could see, from her neck down to her shoulders, she was in the buff.

 Chapter 150

    ?

    The bodyguard snapped to attention first, quickly spinning around to check out the scenic tree in the garden, and lo and behold, Ms. Temple was in her birthday suit!

    "Mrs. Templeton, there''s gotta be some kind of mix-up here. When I left, Mr. Templeton was so stered he was out like a light."

    Rosemary''s eyes darkened as she looked down, fumbling for her phone in her bag with shaky hands, missing the grip over and over.

    The bodyguard was freaking out on the inside, like ants on a hot pan, while sneaking peeks at Rosemary''s reaction from the corner of his eye. But who would''ve thought? Instead of leaving, Rosemary walked right in with her phone.

    The bodyguard was taken aback. This wasn''t the scene he had pictured in his head. "Mrs. Templeton, what''s going on here...?"

    Rosemary flicked on the living room lights, and the blinding flood of light exposed the two disheveled figures on the couch, as she started snapping pictures with her phone.

    Victoria''s hand was on Maxwell''s shirt buttons - she was wearing a ck off-the-shoulder sweater underneath, which was hidden by the couch back. That''s why Rosemary thought she was undressed when she first nced in from the doorway.

    "Maxwell just spilled some water on himself, and it''s chilly out. Sleeping in wet clothes can lead to a cold," she exined, but didn''t budge an inch. Instead, she shot Rosemary a mocking smile, "Mrs. Templeton shouldn''t mind, right? Besides, you''ve got your mind on Martin now, no time to worry about anything else."

    Maxwell was totally sloshed, and didn''t even wake up with all themotion.

    Victoria was about to unbutton his shirt when her wrist was suddenly gripped tight¡ª

    It was Maxwell.

    Frowning, he growled in a raspy voice, loaded with warning, "Beat it, don''t touch me."

    "Maxwell," Victoria said softly, "It''s me, Victoria."

    But his grip didn''t ease up; he even seemed like he wanted to fling her away, even though he was clearly knocked out.

    "Maxwell..."

    Her voice rose a notch, the sharp pain in her wrist forcing her to yank her hand back, trying to break free from his mp.

    Maxwell finally woke up, slowly opening his eyes, drunk as a lord, clearly not all there.

    Didn''t feel like moving, didn''t feel like talking.

    His groggy gaze drifted over to Rosemary, indifferent, "What are you doing here?"

    He was still in the hospital shirt and suit pants, now crumpled against his body, making him look down-and-out and in a sorry state. A few shirt buttons were undone, revealing a chest marred with ovepping new and old bruises.

    Rosemary''s gaze on her phone screen slowly thickened into something tangible, as if only now she wasing back to reality from the scene before her: "You''ll have to ask your bodyguard why he dragged me here in the dead of night."

    Maxwell nced at the bodyguard, who immediately stood at attention under his gaze, "It was Archer''s orders, afraid you''d get into trouble drunk and unattended."

    If he had known Ms. Temple would show up, he sure as heck wouldn''t have bolted so fast.

    "Maxwell," Victoria chimed in, not liking that the moment he opened his eyes, all his attention was on Rosemary, ignoring the one who had been taking care of him all along.

    He didn''t even care why she was there too.

    Victoria''s hair was down, her whole demeanor was one of calm elegance, unapologetic, without a trace of guilt, "Rosemary seems to have gotten the wrong idea. She took some photos that could cause a bad stir if they got out..."

    Rosemary quirked an eyebrow, amused, "Took care until clothes came off? If that were a bed, Ms. Temple would probably have rolled right onto it."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Victoria frowned, probably finding her words distasteful, "Maxwell was drunk and threw up, I had to take off the dirty clothes first. If you don''t believe me, feel free to check."

    She paused, lips curling in scorn, "You''ve got no right to me me. If you could fulfill your duties as a wife, I wouldn''t have the chance to take care of him."

    Maxwell''s order was cool and detached, "Delete them."

    Rosemary looked at the man in front

    of her, and felt like she''d been doused with ice water. She knew he favored Victoria, offering her blind unquestioning protection, but still, she felt an unspeakable sadness sweeping over her, the icy

    seeping into her bones fro

    pore.

    every

    Stubbornly, she stared at him, silent, as a nk despair slowly clouded her eyes.

    In the tense silence, Victoria stood up, "Since you''re back, I''ll leave him to you. I''m off."

    She brushed past Rosemary, a sneer hidden deep in her heart, locking eyes with her for a moment as she turned.

    That look was condescending, disdainful, with a challenge that others couldn''t sense.

    In this game, she had won.

    She was waiting for their divorce; the title of Mrs. Templeton was hers for the taking, and only hers.

    Once Victoria left, the bodyguard hurried out too.

    Rosemary didn''t move; she stood there, eyes downcast, looking at the man on the couch, still hazy from the drink, "Maxwell, let''s talk."

    The man chuckled lightly, "Me, all banged up and drunk, and you want to talk now?"

    Rosemary was silent for a few seconds, despite the air conditioning in the living room, she felt cold standing there in her light clothes, "Is there any point in forcing this, after everything that''s happened?"

    Maxwell eyed her through half-closed lids.

    Rosemary met his gaze, their eyes shing under the brilliant lights, illuminating the destion and silence in hers.

    Maxwell didn''t know when Victoria

    had arrived, but since Rosemary had the photos, she must''ve been there first. But since he opened his eyes, Rosemary had been detached, showing no anger at being ''caught in the act,'' not even a sarcastic remark.

    Even now, facing him, instead ofshing out with all the venom she could muster, she simply asked that one question.

    She looked utterly exhausted.

    But once those sharp thorns were gone, so were the vibrant emotions. Now she''s like a lifeless rag doll.

    In that moment, a sudden pang in his heart eclipsed all the physical pain he had, he closed his eyes, his voice stripped of its previous arrogance, murmured, "Not interesting, huh? I thought it was pretty intriguing."

    Rosemary had grown ustomed

    to his barbed words and her

    confrontational stance. She squeezed her eyes shut, her voice hoarse to the brink, "Let''s get divorce. I''m truly fed up with this relentless, dragging marriage. Every single dispute just wears me out."

 Chapter 151

    Maxwell was silently watching her, yet his gaze seemed to pierce through her, reaching out to another girl whose smile was as bright as sunshine. Her eyes used to sparkle brighter than the sun on the horizon, unlike now, where her eyes were heavy with twilight, showing not the slightest glimmer of hope for the future.

    She had never looked this way, not even when she was dodging loan sharks left and right.

    Back then, despite the dire straits, she was brimming with hope for the future. Her emotions were so vivid and distinct - hatred and joy, anxiety and fear.

    But now, just three yearster...

    "Are you tired of it all," he asked quietly, his voice husky, "or did you find out Martin''s got the hots for you too, and you just can''t wait to run off with him?"

    After what felt like an eternity, Rosemary spoke up, her voice hoarse andced with a distant chuckle, "Maxwell, we were married, for better or worse. Do you really want to drag this out to the bitter end, to a point of no return?"

    Maxwell''s eyes narrowed abruptly, a sharp pain struck his heart, followed by a wave of ruthless desire to just destroy her. He lowered his head and let out a low chuckle, "If I don''t agree, what''s your n? To off yourself, or to off me?"

    Rosemary used up what seemed like herst ounce of strength with those words, so she fell silent.

    "Still thinking about snapping photos for evidence at a time like this, Rosemary. Should I praise you for your smarts or say you''re heartless?"

    "1

    Maxwell pinched the bridge of his nose, all his emotions settling into a calm. He wasn''t sure if it was her ''fight to the death'' spiel or if he was just in tired, "If you''re that eager, then let''s get a divorce."

    He finished speaking and closed his eyes wearily, every pore exuding an icy hardness that pushed people miles away.

    Rosemary had been obsessing over a divorce, even dreaming about getting the marriage certificate with Maxwell at the civil affairs bureau. But now that he had actually said "let''s get a divorce," she was stunned, even doubting her own ears. She pursed her lips, "When should we do the paperwork?"

    Having been jerked around before, Rosemary was somewhat skeptical of his straightforward agreement.

    Maxwell: "Tomorrow morning."

    Not one extra word was spared.

    Rosemary: "For real?"

    The man opened his eyes impatiently, his gaze cold and mocking as he looked at her, his eyes bloodshot, "Rosemary, there''s a mirror upstairs. Go take a look. See for yourself what''s so special about you that I can''t let go. Is it your looks, your figure, or your bedroom skills? You''ve got none of that, but sure, dream on."

    With those words, Maxwell went straight upstairs, unwilling to spend another second with her.

    Rosemary nced at the wall clock; it wasn''t long until dawn. Fearing he''d change his mind after sobering up, she decided to stay at Meadork Retreat until morning and head straight to the civil affairs bureau with her documents.

    Upstairs in the study.

    Maxwell didn''t go to his room; instead, he headed to his study.

    Opening the topmost drawer on the right side of his desk, aside from a photo frame and some letters, there was nothing else.

    The girl in the photo, sixteen or seventeen, beamed at the camera, her features youthful and full of life. Nobody could tell she had suffered the loss of her mother and lived in such a troubled household.

    Thinking of her now, her face as still as dead water, Maxwell felt a jolt in his chest. The pain, dyed, surged from the deepest part of his heart like a tidal wave, drowning himpletely.

    Even the deepest blows hadn''t wiped the smile from her face, yet these three years of marriage had changed her from a vibrant young girl to what she was now.

    Maxwell closed his eyes, his lips white from the pressure, his grip tightening.

    "Crack."

    The ss of the photo frame shattered.

    The broken ss, pushed by his force, pierced deep into his palm and fingers, and the crimson blood flowing out instantly stained the picture in his hand.

    The pain was sharp and real.

    Maxwell was pulled back from his drifting thoughts by the acute agony. He looked down at the unrecognizable photo in his hand and tossed it into the nearby trash can.

    As he withdrew his hand, he casually grabbed a letter from the drawer.

    The envelope and stationery were cartoonish, the handwriting bubbly and youthful...

    The essence of a young girl hit him full force.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    In the center of the envelope, in neat writing, it said ''For Martin''s eyes only'', with a chibi version of Martin drawn next to it.

    Maxwell''s blood stained the light envelope into a chaotic mess. The paper, already fragile from age, quickly soaked up the blood.

    He didn''t open it, though he knew its contents by heart, having read it countless times.

    Every sleepless night, he''d pull it out,

    the girl''s andisguised, tant affection for another manid bare. The more he read, the less he slept. It was a cycle of self-torture he couldn''t seem to break.

    Rosemary dozed off on the armchair, only to be jolted awake by a loud ''bang'' from upstairs, as if something had been smashed or identally dropped.

    She didn''t go up but was too disturbed to fall back asleep, staring at the ceiling, waiting for dawn.

    Maxwell didn''te down again that night.

    By 8:30 a.m., with no signs of life from upstairs, Rosemary grew anxious. She kept ncing upstairs and at her watch, her brows knitting into a frown. Was Maxwell having second thoughts now that he was sober?

    This thought grew heavier in her mind and just as she was about to go up to check, he finally made his bted appearance.

    He''d changed into a new outfit, his hand hastily wrapped in a few loops of gauze, reminding her of the noise fromst night.

    His expression was as cold as ever, with just an added hint of blue under his eyes.

    He looked at her as if she were invisible, his gaze sweeping over her without a second nce.

    The two hopped into a car and

    headed for the civil affairs office, making a pit stop at Rosemary''s ce to grab some documents. The ce was buzzing with activity at year''s end, but most folks were there to tie the knot. The divorce corner, though, was pretty deserted, with just a couple of disgruntled pairs.

    Makes sense when you think about it - with barely half a month till the New Year, those who can''t stick it out a second longer and are dead set on splitting are hardly going to be the amicable sort.

    They took their ce in line, and before long, it was almost their turn.

    The staff did their usual spiel, trying to patch things up. Rosemary was like, "Sis, it''s a lost cause - we''ve even been through the wringer at court."

    ""

    ???%

    Everything was in order - no kids, no was in property drama - so the paperwork went through like a breeze. The official stamp came down with

    el

    thud, and voil¨¤, two divorce certificates slid across the table towards Rosemary and Maxwell.

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!