Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
She had indeed suffered a lot – and not only just that night. And the worst was because of him.
Pursing her lips tightly, she suppressed the emotions surfacing within her and said nonchalantly, “The hardest days are over. It doesn’t matter now.”
Max did not know how to reply. He stared at her with his sharp eyes.
Mary lowered her gaze. After a moment, she added, “Max, forget it.”
Max felt a tightness in his chest. He knew Mary. The more indifferent she appeared to be, the more it meant that she still hated him. He had thought that she had hated him only because of what happened five years ago. Now, she probably also hated him for what he had done not too many nights ago.
He had not been able to control his fury that night.
She despised him for what he had done to her five years ago and now only had eyes for John. She thought that John was a good man. Max could not bear this.
“Is there a script for the interview?” Max changed the topic as the car started again.
Mary was preoccupied with her own thoughts, and hadn’t caught what he said. After a few seconds, she finally reacted. Her mind had gone blank for a moment as she considered an answer.
She replied, “No.”
Max did not ask further.
When they got back to the villa, the moment they entered the living room, they saw Jason busy in the kitchen. Beside him stood Fred, and the two of them chatted as they worked.
Max called, “Jason.”
Jason turned around and saw that he and Mary had come back together. Jason’s eyes lit up and he immediately put the vegetables in his hands on the table and ran over to hug Mary’s legs.
Mary lowered her head to meet Jason’s gaze and rubbed his head.
Jason loosed his arms, looked up, and said, “Mom, I love you.”
Mary crouched down to give Jason a kiss on his forehead. Jason returned with a kiss on her cheek and added, “You’re so beautiful today.” Mary giggled, “You are so handsome today. What were you doing in the kitchen?”
“I’m cooking fish for Mom. Mom, Fred is good at cooking and he is a certified chef. I’ve decided to learn a few more dishes from him. I’ll cook for Mom so that she can be healthier and put on some weight.”
Max was envious of the displays of affection between them.
He could not help but smile and interrupt, “Jason, why did you only kiss your mother? Why don’t you give me a kiss too? “
Jason let go of Mary. He looked up at Max with a frown on his handsome face and even motioned with his finger for Max to come towards him. Max cooperatively bent down and even put his cheek out and pointed at it.
However, after waiting for a few seconds, Jason still hadn’t moved. He just looked at Max strangely.
Jason looked at Max, bewildered. “Max, a man cannot kiss a man.”
Jason saw Max looking at him in confusion, and thought to himself, ‘My uncle seems a little dumb. Still, he is my uncle. I have to educate him.’
Then Jason told Max seriously, “Max, you must remember not to letjust anyone kiss you, man or woman. Don’t be fooled so easily.”
Mary coughed and walked into the kitchen and Jason followed her. Max was left in the living room, seething under the surface.
__
On a Friday afternoon, when Mary returned to her office after a meeting, Priscilla came in with a package.
She giggled and said, “Mary, there’s a delivery for you. It seems to be a valuable gift inside. Is it from another suitor?”
It hadn’t been long since Mary returned to the country, but she had received a lot of gifts, including flowers and desserts. And now there was another one. Priscilla thought that it was another gift from John.
When Mary opened the package, Priscilla asked, standing beside Mary’s desk, “Mary, is it from John? He’s quite sweet. Why don’t you try dating him?”
“Stop your gossip.” Mary shook her head and Priscilla quickly fled the scene.
The package was a red velvet box with a necklace inside. Mary looked at the necklace for a few moments and opened another larger box. In it was two miniature cameras.
Her cell phone beeped. Mary opened the incoming message. It was from Albert.
[Mary, have you received the delivery?]
Mary replied quickly: [I just opened it. How did you know?]
Albert replied with a laughing emoji.
Albert: [Of course I know. Do you know how to use it?]
Mary: [I do.]
Albert: [Alright, take a look at the manual first. If you have any questions, ask me.]
Mary: [Okay]
Albert: [By the way, I will be back before September 9.]
Mary frowned when she read the message.
Before she could ask why he wanted to come back, Albert sent another message: [I’ll be back to watch the show. If you need help, I will do everything I can to help you..]