Chapter 0049
“Maximus! Well, it’s just that… I don’t know what… I don’t know what to think.”
“Mary, I want us to talk about what happened and what comes next.”
“What do you mean?”
“What I told you a few hours ago is true. I want you with me, Mary, and it makes me anxious to think you’ll leave soon. I want you to come back here, to live with me. I want you to be my woman… I want you to be my wife!”
Mary was stunned. Out of all the things she had imagined, she had never thought this man would ask her to be his wife.
“Maximus! Are you sure about what you just said?”
“Yes! I want you to be my woman! I want to marry you
“I… I don’t know what to say… I–I accept!”
“Mary, there’s something I need to tell you first… Do you still accept?”
“Yes! I accept!”
Maximus couldn’t believe how quickly she had agreed, but he knew he had to clarify something before it caused issues down the line.
“Mary, please think carefully. Before we move forward, I need to tell you something about me and my grandmother. I know you’ve said yes, but I want you to really consider this. After you hear me out, if you still accept, then we’ll get married.”
“Alright! But I do want to marry you! That was my birthday wish!”
“Mary, you know that I’m the current president of Palmer Group. The day my grandmother and I argued, it was over someone I hired. Things didn’t go well, and that led to you leaving this house. It put me in a difficult situation.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have to get married within three months, or my grandmother will propose a new president–my brother, Peter.”
“And what does that have to do with me? Tell me…”
“Yes and no. Yes, because I want you to be my wife. No, because that’s not the only reason. I care about you, and I truly want you as my wife. I don’t want anyone else. You’re important to me.”
Without hesitation, Mary responded, “Maximus, I accept! I want to marry you! It doesn’t matter if it’s now, in three months, or later–I want to marry you.
the
Maximus embraced her naked body, his future wife. He couldn’t believe his luck. There she was, woman who had broken his heart nine months ago, when he thought he’d never see her again. He knew there were things that still needed to be resolved, but that would be for another time–he’d deal with it
Chapte
when he returned to the office on Monday.
+25 BONUS
Maximus woke up to the sound of his alarm. It was Thursday, and he had to return to the office. He got out of bed with an odd feeling the dream he’d had last night stirred up memories he had buried deep within. As he showered, his thoughts drifted to that night when everything changed. “If only all of that hadn’t been part of Grandma’s plan,” he thought. By now, he and Mary could have been living a peaceful life. They’d probably already have children, and Alexia would be a distant memory. But things didn’t turn out that way, and his grandmother had played a huge role in this mess. Mary had used her virginity to trap him, following Grandma’s orders, and that’s why he hadn’t thought twice about proposing to her back then, so naïve.
Maximus shook off the lingering thoughts of the dream and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Emma wasn’t home, but Matthew, who knew his boss was returning today, had already made coffee and was waiting for him with fruit, French toast, and a cup of coffee.
“Sir, I came by for you. You must be exhausted. How’s the missus?”
“She’s doing well. She’s strong and recovering nicely. She’ll be home in a few days.”
What Maximus didn’t know was that Mary’s belongings were no longer in her room. Everything had been carefully moved to Catherine’s house, where Mary would be taken once she was discharged from the hospital.
