Chapter 9

Priscilla's POV

"I don't feel like eating at all," I murmured, my gaze fixed upon the food that lay before me on the plate. The mere thought of consuming anything made my stomach churn, a sudden and puzzling aversion to food taking hold of me.

Max, sensing my distress, inquired with genuine concern, "Why... What happened?" I could feel my stomach tighten further, a wave of nausea threatening to overwhelm me.

"I need to use the bathroom," I managed to utter, my voice strained. Without hesitation, I abruptly rose from my chair and hurried towards the bathroom, Max following closely behind. Bursting through the door, I made a beeline for the toilet, my body convulsing as I expelled the remnants of the cakes I had indulged in the previous day. This was an unprecedented occurrence for me; I had consumed copious amounts of cake in the past without any adverse effects. After rinsing my mouth and flushing the sink, I found myself drenched in perspiration, my body betraying the discomfort I was experiencing.

Emerging from the bathroom, I furrowed my brow upon spotting Max in my room. Concern etched across his face, he gently inquired, "Are you okay, Priscilla?"

"I'm fine, I think I ate so many cakes yesterday," I replied, my confusion evident. The inexplicable nature of my current condition left me perplexed and searching for answers.

"Come on, let's go. You must eat your breakfast," Max urged me, his voice filled with concern.

I hesitated, feeling a wave of nausea wash over me. "I think I will eat later," I replied, my voice weak. "I'm not feeling well. I fear I may have indulged in one too many cakes last night. Perhaps a small nap will alleviate this discomfort, and I may feel better upon awakening."

Understanding my predicament, Max nodded sympathetically. "Very well," he said, his tone gentle. "I will be in the study if you require anything, my dear." With that, he left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

As I lay on the bed, a sense of unease settled over me. I was afraid to close my eyes, for I knew all too well that the nightmares would haunt me relentlessly, especially when I found myself alone.

...

It felt as though an eternity had passed, a whole week had passed since I had embarked on this new chapter of my life, living under the same roof as Max. The days seemed to blur together, leaving me with little time to ponder over the multitude of thoughts swirling in my mind. My online schooling had commenced, and on the surface, everything appeared to be going smoothly, except for one crucial aspect - my well-being. Alas, I was plagued by a persistent illness that left me feeling utterly drained. Each morning, I would succumb to bouts of nausea, and a pervasive fatigue clung to me throughout the day. The cause of my malaise remained a mystery, as I struggled to comprehend the enigma that was unfolding within me.

Despite my physical affliction, I found solace in the company of those around me. Granny, Liz, Lurry, and, of course, Max had become familiar faces in my life. Over time, we formed a bond akin to friendship, as Max treated me with unwavering kindness and compassion. Even amidst his heartbreak, he never once directed his frustrations toward me, exemplifying the true essence of a gentleman…

"Priscilla, are you alright?" Max's voice snapped me out of my daze. I found myself sitting by the pool, the clock striking 11 p.m. Due to my relentless nightmares, sleep eluded me, leaving me with no choice but to sit here.

"I'm fine. Sleep evades me, hence my wakefulness," I replied. Max approached and took a seat beside me.

"You know you should rest, Priscilla. The school has kept you occupied, and you're neglecting your well-being," Max scolded.

"I miss my mother. I cannot bear to sleep alone, for it invites the nightmares to haunt me," I confessed, a tear welling in my eye. When did I become such an emotional wreck?

"Do you wish to discuss it? Remember, I am here for you as a friend," Max offered. I clenched my fist tightly, unable to forget that fateful night, its vividness etched into my mind. But I couldn't bring myself to speak of it... If I were to reveal the truth, he would surely cast me out of his home without a second thought.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it," Max said quickly when he noticed my reaction. "Is there anything that you want?"

"No... I'm fine," I said, curiosity etched on my face. "Why are you nice to me? As far as I remembered, you wanted me to pretend to be your girlfriend in front of your wife, but she is not here. Then why are you nice to me? Is there something that you want from me? Tell me the truth, because if I discovered the truth on my own I will hate you with everything that I have in my being and you will wish that you never met me. "

Max's POV

I felt a lump forming in my throat as Priscilla posed her question. The weight of the truth bore down on me, knowing that revealing it would undoubtedly ignite her anger. I could already imagine the storm of emotions that would consume her - the disappointment, the hurt, and the inescapable hatred that would be directed toward me. How would I be able to care for her in that state? As if to compound my worries, Priscilla's morning sickness had begun to take its toll, leaving her looking pale and drained. The baby growing inside her demanded attention, necessitating her upcoming check-up.

"Priscilla, I cannot bring myself to disclose the truth. I am prepared to bear the brunt of your hate when the time comes," I confessed, resolute in my decision to shield her from the painful reality. I would find a way to navigate this treacherous path.

"Oh, so there is a hidden motive behind bringing me here?" Priscilla's voice dripped with anger, her mood shifting dramatically.

"Yes, I am hiding something from you. There is indeed a reason for bringing you here. I choose to withhold the truth because I cannot bear to witness your sorrow," I explained, my voice tinged with regret.

"You are nothing more than another self-centered wealthy person... I had believed you were different, but it seems I was mistaken," Priscilla seethed, rising from the floor in a display of resentment, and stormed upstairs.

Having no choice, I rose from the floor and followed her upstairs.

"Priscilla, stop acting like a child, right? You don't even know what I'm hiding from you, but you are already behaving like this? How do you expect me to tell you the truth?" I asked as I followed her upstairs.

"Why don't you just tell me the truth then? I won't behave like a child," Priscilla retorted as she kept on running up the stairs.

"I've been too patient with you, that's why you are behaving like this. Stop running or you are going to fall and hurt yourself, and my… " I stopped mid-way, and Priscilla stopped and turned her back, glaring at me.

"Why did you stop? I will hurt myself, what?" Priscilla asked, her face reddened in anger.

I bit down on my lower lip, thinking of the best response.

"I'm talking to you, Max," Priscilla yelled.

"If you run like this, you will hurt yourself, and it will be my responsibility to take care of you," I said cautiously.

"Go to hell," Priscilla yelled as she kept on running.

I finally caught up with Priscilla, my heart pounding in my chest as I reached out and firmly grasped her hand. The force of my grip caused her to stumble into me, her body colliding with my solid chest.

"Will you please stop this foolish behavior?" I exclaimed, my voice filled with frustration. "Why are you becoming so angry over something that you are unaware of? I have chosen not to reveal the truth to you simply because I believe you would not handle the situation with the necessary composure. You must learn to control your emotions."

"Max, I am not like you, alright? I do not possess the same level of patience that you do," Priscilla retorted, her voice laced with anger. "Tell me, why have you brought me here? If you refuse to reveal the truth, I will take it upon myself to uncover it. And if I do, I assure you, I will not show you the same mercy that you showed your foolish wife who betrayed you." With those biting words, Priscilla forcefully broke free from my grasp and swiftly made her way to her room. I was left in a state of disbelief, struggling to comprehend the audacity of her statement.