Chapter 109 Chapter 109
Maxwell
I watched Maxwell stand frozen for a moment, his frown deepening as he stared at his phone. “Maxwell, what is it?” I asked cautiously, my voice low.
He didn’t answer, his jaw tightened, and I could feel the tension radiating off him in waves. There was something in his silence that made my stomach twist.
Without another word, he slid into the seat. “Is everything okay?” I asked again. He nodded without looking at me.
I swallowed, hesitating. “So, what excuse did my parents give you?” I asked, my curiosity edged with unease.
He finally turned his gaze toward me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Amelia, the last time you were at your parents’ place, when you met Rhea’s mom, what relationship did your parents tell you they had with her when you asked?”
I blinked, confused. “What do you mean? They said was a former business partner, and they had a bad fallout.” I said. “Why are you asking?”
He finally turned his gaze toward me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Amelia, the last time you were at your parents’ place, when you met Rhea’s mom, what relationship did your parents tell you they had with her when you asked?”
I blinked, confused. “What do you mean? They said she was a former business partner, and they had a bad fallout,” I said. “Why are you asking?”
“I don’t think they are just business partners,” Maxwell said quietly, his tone steady but heavy with meaning. “And they have met again recently.”
I frowned, trying to make sense of it. “They met again? That’s not what I was told,” I said, shaking my head. “They said she tried to come back and invest in the company, but already you stepped in. They made it seem like she was upset with them.”
Maxwell let out a short, dry scoff. “That story doesn’t add up,” he said, glancing at me briefly before looking away again. “The company is doing well now. There’s no reason for her to suddenly come back like that.” He paused, then added more firmly, “Amelia, your parents are hiding something. And until we know what it is, you can’t trust them completely.”
His words made my chest tighten. “They are my parents,” I said softly, shaking my head again. “I know them. They might keep things from me sometimes, but they would never do anything to hurt me or anyone else.”
Even as I said it, a small part of me felt unsure. “I still want to find out what they’re hiding,” I added after a moment, my voice more determined now.
Maxwell didn’t argue. Instead, he reached into his pocket and handed me his phone. “Then look at this,” he said. “Tell me if they mentioned anything about it.”
I took the phone from him, my fingers tightening slightly around it. The moment my eyes landed on the screen, my breath caught.
It was a picture, my parents were sitting at a restaurant table and across from them was Rhea.
He didn’t respond immediately. I could tell he was thinking it through, weighing the risks. The silence stretched for a few seconds before he finally sighed. “Fine,” he said. “I’ll take you there. I just hope we don’t run into Rhea.”
I nodded, even though that possibility made my stomach tighten.
Maxwell leaned forward and gave the driver a new instruction. The car changed direction smoothly, and soon we were on our way to Mrs. Cole’s house.
The rest of the drive was quiet. By the time we got to the gate, my chest felt tight with anticipation.
Just as our car slowed to a stop, another car, a sleek Bentley was driving in ahead of us. The moment it noticed our presence, it came to a halt. The door opened, and Adrian stepped out.
He walked toward our car with confidence, like he already knew who was inside. When he got close, he knocked lightly on the window.
Maxwell lowered it, the moment Adrian saw both of us together, a slow smile spread across his face.
I didn’t know how to react. It had been a while since I last saw him, and things had changed so much since then. I never told him I was married, not to Maxwell. And now here I was sitting beside the very man he considered an enemy.
On top of that, I was also the woman connected to the collapse of his sister’s marriage.
“Never thought I’d see the day,” Adrian said, his smile widening, though there was something sharp beneath it, “that Sinclair would show up at my house again after ruining my sister.” His eyes flickered between the both of us, lingering just a second longer on me.
Maxwell’s jaw tightened, his expression turning cold. “Never have I seen a member of the Cole family take responsibility for their actions,” he said sharply. “You are always shifting blame.” His tone changed almost instantly after that, becoming casual, almost careless. “Boy, I’m here to see your mama, Is she in?”
I quickly tapped his arm, a silent warning for him to stop before he made things worse. Then I forced a small smile and looked at Adrian. “Hello, Adrian,” I said, keeping my voice polite despite the tension twisting inside me. “It’s really good to see you again.”
He smiled back at me, his expression softening. “I’m only letting him in because of you,” he said, glancing briefly at Maxwell before returning his attention to me. “Come on in. It’s been a while.”
Before turning away, he blew me a playful kiss and headed back toward his car. I felt Maxwell’s gaze on me immediately, “If he tries to flirt with you,” he muttered under his breath, “I’m punching his face, and we are leaving.” I shook my head slightly, trying to hide the small sigh that escaped me. His jealousy wasn’t helping the situation.
The gates opened fully, and we drove into the compound. I couldn’t stop my eyes from wandering as we moved deeper inside. The mansion was breathtaking, grand, elegant, and intimidating. It wasn’t as large as Maxwell’s estate, but it carried a different kind of presence, refined and powerful.
And compared to my parents’ house it wasn’t even close. They are extremely wealthy.
The car came to a stop, and we stepped out. Adrian was already waiting, that same mischievous smile playing on his lips. Does he ever take anything seriously? I wondered.
He walked straight toward me, ignoring Maxwell completely, and stopped at my side. His expression shifted, softening with what looked like genuine concern. “You look pale, honey,” he said gently. “Are you okay? Did something happen?”
“Call her honey one more time…” Maxwell’s voice came low beside me, “and they won’t be burying you whole.” I shot him a sharp look, silently telling him to stop.
Adrian let out a small chuckle, completely unfazed. “Careful,” he said, his tone light but his eyes carrying a hint of challenge. “You are in my territory now, Sinclair.”
For once, he didn’t push it further. Instead, he turned and led the way inside. The moment we stepped into the living room, a sharp voice cut through the air. “What is this witch doing in my house?”
I looked up instantly, Mrs. Cole stood at the top of the staircase, her hand gripping the railing tightly. Her eyes burned with anger and hatred.And it was directed straight at me.