Chapter 417
“Just rest if you’re tired,” he said as he lay on his side, pulling her close by the waist.
Brielle turned to nestle into his embrace, hearing his lingering question. “Sure, you don’t want. that cartoon–themed down jacket?”
So that was still on his mind.
In Max’s eyes, Brielle was unlike any other woman. She might’ve appeared dull, but her thoughts were more intricate than anyone’s, never demanding anything from him, nor voicing her own needs. Yet, that very fact left Max on edge, always fearing he might inadvertently. cross some unseen boundary and accumulate enough disappointments in her to walk away in silence.
Brielle was like the shattered bits of colored glass in a kaleidoscope, tiny and fragmented, hidden deep within, and impossible to fully see.
Max was willing to fulfill all her wishes if only she would ask, but she never did, so he remained clueless about her desires.
“No, let’s just sleep,” she replied.
Max’s arm, draped around her waist, tightened, and he gave a reassuring pat. “Okay, let’s sleep.”
But wasn’t sleepy. It wasn’t that she was rejecting Max’s affection; it was just best to be cautious during the early stages of pregnancy.
Max had a robust vitality; once he got going, there was no end in sight, which completely contradicted his seemingly reserved exterior. It was out of concern for the baby that she had declined.
Max let go of her and got up to head to the bathroom, where the sound of running water soon. filled the room. He had already taken a shower that night; he probably wanted to cool down his urges with a cold shower.
Feeling a pang of guilt, Brielle was just turning over when her phone by the bedside began to ring. She cursed her sharp eyesight and immediately recognized the flashing name “Alivia.”
She wasn’t naive; she could guess Alivia’s game. She trusted that Max wasn’t the type to keep looking for something better while he had something good, so he must have made his stance. clear to Alivia. But Alivia knew how to use Max’s mother as a tie, binding their relationship tightly.
If Max had been entirely indifferent to Martha, he wouldn’t have sent her abroad for convalescence, away from the troubles of Beaconsfield. So if Brielle ever showed displeasure at Alivia contacting Max because of Martha, that would be Alivia’s cue to gain an advantage.
The ringtone persisted, especially intrusive in the dead of night.
Chapter 417
Brielle could have played the same game as other women, and picked up the phone at such a moment to rile up Alivia, but while effective, that tactic also disrespected Max himself. So, she got up, took the phone, and knocked on the bathroom door. “Max, your phone’s ringing.”
The sound of water stopped, and his voice came through, “Who is it?”
“Alivia.” Brielle’s tone was calm, betraying nothing.
Max frowned slightly; a call at this hour likely meant something about his mother, “Can you take it for me? Ask what’s needed. I’ll be a few minutes.”
He sounded a bit embarrassed when he mentioned a few minutes.
Brielle blushed, thinking how the cold shower wasn’t doing him any good in this chilly weather. But wasn’t all of this her doing?
Max had respected her refusal to touch her earlier, showing her utmost respect. Now, he was deferring to her to handle a call from another woman. Sometimes, Brielle even felt that seducing Max had been the most correct decision of her life.
The water started again, and Brielle glanced down at the phone, a slight smile curving her lips. Since Max had agreed, she wouldn’t hold back.
She pressed the answer button, and Alivia’s voice came through. “Max, I suddenly remembered something about the new medication the doctor mentioned. Are there any side effects? I’m choosing a new home nurse for Aunt Martha and want her to be aware of any potential issues.”
See, Alivia was so concerned about Martha. She was even selecting a trustworthy nurse for her in the late hours.
Woman to woman, Brielle knew the play. If Max had been the one to answer, even though he disliked outside interference, he wouldn’t have rebuked Alivia. After all, everything Alivia did was for Martha’s sake, and even if it was to no avail, she was busy until the wee hours.
“Ms. Alivia, Max is in the shower.”
After saying this, Brielle suddenly recalled a past moment when she had called Spencer, and Lillian had answered. Lillian had said Spencer was in the shower with a tone that seemed boastful as if reveling in besting the ‘main wife‘ – It was quite distasteful.
Brielle chuckled to herself; heaven was her witness, Max was genuinely in the shower, and she was merely stating the truth, with no ulterior motive.
Chapter 418
But Alivia was definitely not feeling it.
