Chapter 6

Max's POV

Priscilla eagerly dashed towards the bed as soon as we entered her room. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she retrieved a stack of books, a set of pens, and all the necessary supplies for school. It was peculiar, though, how she adamantly refused to accept any money from me. Instead, she radiated pure joy over a simple sheet of paper and a plastic pen. Leaning against the doorframe, I observed her meticulously arranging all the items I had purchased.

Suddenly, I was jolted out of my reverie by her inquisitive voice. "How do I use this?" she asked, her curiosity palpable.

Making my way over to the bed where she stood, I replied, "This is the laptop I mentioned earlier." Settling myself down and carefully unwrapping the laptop from its protective case, I gently placed it on the bed before powering it on. "Come, sit beside me, and I'll show you," I suggested. Priscilla obediently took her place next to me, eagerly awaiting the unveiling of this new technological marvel.

Priscilla's POV

I listened intently, my eyes fixed on the man before me as he patiently explained the difficulties of using a laptop. The vision seemed straightforward enough, but my lack of proper reading and writing skills made it all the more challenging. Nevertheless, I was determined to absorb as much knowledge as I possibly could. I longed to become a renowned journalist, to carve out a name for myself in this vast world. I yearned to be someone, to make my dear mother proud. Even though she was no longer with me, I knew deep in my heart that she would continue to support me, just as she had done throughout the years. Unbeknownst to me, a solitary tear escaped my eye, tracing a path down my cheek. I tried my best to conceal my emotions, hastily wiping away the evidence of my sorrow.

"Are you crying?" a concerned voice beside me inquired. I swiftly brushed away any lingering tears, determined to maintain composure.

"No, I'm not crying," I replied, my voice tinged with a hint of a sniffle, my efforts to suppress my sobs evident.

"What happened? Did I do something wrong?" the man asked, his concern palpable.

"No, it's just... I miss my mom," I confessed, my voice trembling with the weight of my emotions. "It's hard for me to accept that she's truly gone."

At that moment, the floodgates of my grief threatened to burst open, but I fought to keep them at bay. After all, I was trying my best to carry on as if I hadn't lost my mother, but the truth was, I couldn't seem to forget her. She was my everything, my guiding light in this vast and often bewildering world.

"I deeply apologize for the loss of your mother," he expressed sympathetically. "I am certain that your mother would have wanted nothing more than to see you find happiness and succeed in your career. I am here for you now, and I will provide unwavering support every step of the way."

"Thank you," I replied, wiping away my tears. "Although I still harbor negative feelings towards you, you do come across as kind-hearted." I attempted to lighten the atmosphere, not wanting to dwell in sadness. My mother's happiness and peace of mind in heaven were my utmost desires."Isn't if fair that you know my name and I don't know yours?" I asked, faking a smile.

"I am Maximilian Hale," he revealed with a slight smile. It was the first time since our encounter that I truly noticed his striking handsomeness. His chiseled jawline, piercing black eyes, and dark hair that partially obscured one eye only enhanced his attractiveness. His well-built physique added to his appeal. Wait, why was I even assessing this man's appearance? I must have truly lost my composure.

"What happened? Why do you look so lost?" he asked, kindly snapping me out of my daze.

"Oh, nothing. You have a lovely name," I replied. "Please, continue," I added, dismissing the silly thoughts in my head.

Time seemed to pass by unnoticed until the evening arrived. If it weren't for the maid who came to inform me that dinner was ready, I wouldn't have realized how late it had become. At least now I have a better understanding of how to use a laptop.

"Come with me, you must be very hungry," Maximilian said, rising off the bed. I followed suit and followed him out.

Everyone had already gathered for dinner, and Max kindly pulled out a chair for me to sit down.

"Priscilla, my dear, I have specially instructed the maid to prepare healthy food for you, with the hope that it will contribute to the birth of healthy grandsons," Granny kindly informed me as she served the food. Little did she know that I wasn't actually pregnant.

I mustered a smile and replied, "Thank you, Granny," although my response felt somewhat forced.

Suddenly, a lady whom I assumed to be Nelly interjected, "Granny, have you already forgotten about me? You seem to be taking care of this homewrecker instead of me." Nelly had long chestnut hair that gracefully fell over her shoulders, and her brown eyes exuded a certain allure.

Granny's response was sharp and direct, "That's because she is not a cheater like you, who engages in affairs with her husband's uncle." I hadn't expected Granny to defend me, especially since she had been kind to me ever since I arrived at her doorstep.

Nelly retorted, "But isn't she also a cheater, involved with a married man?"

Feeling a surge of frustration, I glared at Nelly and asked, "Why don't you just say what you want to say directly, instead of beating around the bush?" I wanted to avoid being insulted naively.

"I wasn't talking to you, bitch," Nelly snapped.

"Well, you're talking to me now. Did you just call me a bitch? You know what? We're both bitches. The only difference is that you're worse because you cheated with a married man, and not just any married man, but your husband's uncle," I retorted, not caring about the stars we were getting.

"You're disgusting," Nelly spat, her face turning red.

"Not as disgusting as your pathetic life, torn between your husband's money and your uncle's love." I replied with a sharp tone.

Nelly lunged at me, but I quickly grabbed her hand and twisted it behind her back.

"Don't mess with me. I'm not a naive, stupid girl who will stay quiet when messed with. And if I were you, I wouldn't try to fight with me because you might end up in the hospital with broken bones," I warned, pushing her to the ground and she screamed her lungs out.

Max quickly stood up from his chair. "Nelly, please stop this nonsense. Aren't you satisfied with all the heartache you've caused me? Now you want to harm her and my baby?" he said coldly, he tried to touch my shoulder but I moved away.

"Granny, I'm sorry, I can't eat now. I've lost all my appetite. Goodnight," I said before hurrying upstairs, leaving everyone stunned. I could hear footsteps following me but I didn't turn to see who it was because I didn't give a crap.