The Queen's Back

18

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Maxwell's heart sped up as he caught another glimpse of Mona's figure. She had the kind of curves that could make any guy lose his cool-everything just right in all the right places. A moment ago, he'd accidentally gotten a peek at her chest, and it was hard not to feel a After Maxwell left, Mona quickly finished getting dressed, still thinking about how the day had been full of awkward moments with him. It was surprising how much Maxwell had matured. It was hard to believe that the same guy who used to tease her and pinch her cheeks was now so calm and composed. Spotting the silver-gray suit hanging in the closet, Mona decided it would make the perfect wedding gift for Maxwell. She picked it up and headed toward the study. Standing at the door, she knocked twice and called out, "Max, I'm coming in." His deep voice responded from inside, "Come in."

As Mona walked in, she was met with Maxwell's usual cool, distant vibe. His shirt was slightly unbuttoned, showing a bit of his firm chest. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, giving him a mix of restrained desire and icy detachment. Mona couldn't help but think, 'He's incredible. When will I ever win him over?'

Their eyes met briefly before Mona smiled and held out the suit. She'd noticed his closet was full of black suits and was curious to see if he'd be into a different color for a change.

When Maxwell saw the suit, his expression darkened. He felt a surge of irritation and gripped his pen tighter. "What's this supposed to mean? Is she giving me something Teddy didn't want?' he thought.

"Max, it's a wedding gift. Do you like it?" Mona asked with a bright smile.

Trying to keep his frustration in check, Maxwell just said, "It's not bad.

Mona felt a pang of disappointment at his lukewarm response, but at least he didn't flat-out reject it. "I'll hang it in the closet for you. Maybe you can wear it when you get a chance."

"Sure," Maxwell said, turning back to his computer, focused on his work. Mona stood there for a moment, hoping for some acknowledgment, but when none came, she realized she was just in the way and left the study.

Once Mona was gone, Maxwell leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette, letting the smoke fill the room with a hazy mist. He thought to himself, 'Mona, what am I supposed to do with you?'

Meanwhile, Mona was in the kitchen, deciding what to cook for dinner. Since it was her first time making a meal for Maxwell and it would just be the two of them, she went with some simple dishes: fried steak, Caesar salad, and French onion soup-all with ingredients she found in the fridge.

She had taken the steak out of the fridge and was marinating it with spices, paying close attention to every detail. She wanted Maxwell to taste her best effort. When Maxwell walked out of the study, he was met with the sight of Mona, her hair tied up and wearing an apron, hard at work in the kitchen.

Maxwell's heart squeezed at the scene. Mona, the pampered heiress he'd always thought wouldn't lift a finger in the kitchen, was here cooking for him. But then he realized, she must have learned all this for Teddy,

Mona felt a strong gaze on her back and knew without looking that it was Maxwell. "Just a little longer, and dinner will be ready!" she said cheerfully.

"Let me help," Maxwell said. He wasn't one of those CEOs who couldn't manage on his own. He'd learned to cook out of necessity growing up, and even after joining the Carter family, he still liked to cook for himself whenever he could.

Móna turned and saw Maxwell washing vegetables with skillful ease. She nodded in agreement, and they quickly fell into a smooth rhythm, working together effortlessly. Before long, the kitchen was filled with the delicious aroma of their cooking.

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The peaceful atmosphere was suddenly broken by the buzz of a phone on the table. Mona glanced at it but didn't bother checking, thinking it was just a message. Maxwell, standing right next to it, caught a glimpse of the screen.

The message read, [Mona, I know I was wrong. You don't have to marry Maxwell just to get back at me. I promise I won't mess up again. Please, give me one more chance.] Even without a remark, Maxwell instantly recognized the sender as Teddy.

Th

hed cooking, and Mona ate cheerfully, but Maxwell only took a few bites before getting up and heading back ving Mona alone at the table. Even though the food was delicious, it tasted like ash in his mouth. Mona, sudden shift in mood, sighed. 'Did my cooking not suit his taste?' she wondered.

well left, Mona lost her appetite too. As she mindlessly scrolled through her phone, she finally saw the message

d stirred things up. Already in a bad mood, her anger flared.

Mona replied, [Teddy, you jerk! Haven't I made it clear? I don't like you anymore. We're done. And you seriously think I married Maxwell just to spite you? Are you out of your mind? The biggest mistake I ever made was wasting my time on you!] After sending the message, Mona immediately blocked the number, trying to calm down.

When Teddy read the message, he was fuming. 'I begged her, and this is how she treats me?' he thought. When he tried to call Mona, he found she'd blocked him. Enraged, he smashed his phone. He decided he wouldn't chase her anymore, confident that Mona would eventually come crawling back, just like before. After a while, it finally hit Mona that Maxwell might have seen Teddy's message, which could explain why he'd suddenly gone cold. But then she second-guessed herself. 'Maxwell doesn't even really like me right now, so why would something like that bother him?' she wondered.