Chapter 26: It's who I want to be

"Valerie, who did you meet before coming to me?" Max asked.

Valerie wondered what he was talking about. What glow? Was it the relief she had felt for a moment? She shook her head. He was being dramatic again.

She attempted to get off his legs and said,

"If you're going to spill whatever pops up in your head, I think I'd better sit over there and wait till you're ready to get down to business." She said but he yanked her back, causing her to sit back on his leg heavily and it alarmed her. "Hey, you'll really hurt yourself if you keep doing something like that." She scolded him.

"Why? Are you concerned about me now?"

"Concerned? You're going to be my husband for life. Do you think I'd want my husband to be crippled just because he acted recklessly?" She flared at him.

"Don't worry, even if I get crippled, that stuff's still going to work to the fullest." He chimed in with a knowing smile but it only got her annoyed.

"You're out of your mind." She gritted her teeth and sighed to calm herself. "In any case, getting disabled is not something I'd wish for you."

"Wow, something definitely happened to you before you came to me," Max said, surprised. "Should I just find out who you met from the CCTV crew?"

"Ugh, you want to do pointless things just to force my lips open. I met an old man. Are you happy now?" She finally answered but he was not convinced.

"What old man could make you glow like this?"

"A normal person." She answered, suddenly smiling softly, making his eyebrows furrow.

"I'm normal too, so smile for me." He said but her smile immediately fell, giving him a frown filled with disbelief. He was far from normal and knowing her thoughts, he laughed. "Okay, I get it. Stop looking at me like that. It's hilarious seeing you have so many expressions in one day."

"What can I do? It's who I want to be?"

"A person with so many expressions?" He asked and she tilted her head to the side, glancing at him.

"Normal."

Max paused. Normal, eh? From the moment he met her, he knew she was far from normal. The vague look in her eyes, the indifference in her words, and the loneliness in her steps... He could recall all of it as if he met her just yesterday.

"So, where is it?" Valerie asked, bringing him out of his thoughts and he snapped his fingers.

Jeremy brought forth two bags, both belonging to expensive brands.

"I invested in these clothing brands so I'm confident with my choices." He said and she took them.

"Yeah, but why two?" She asked him.

"I figured you never got it, seeing as you never asked about it." He said and she raised her head to meet his gaze, wondering what he was talking about. "An invitation was sent last week. There's a masquerade party at the Stewart main household tonight."

"And I was sent an invitation?" She asked and he nodded.

"You were the only one sent an invitation. Well technically, Ross's heiress was the recipient of the invitation. And they probably think I have my eye on their daughter, so they took it for their daughter."

"Hm, still coveting my position? Well played. This is all they can do, sneaky rats." Valerie said, her gaze turning cold once more and Max observed her.

Yes, this was the expression he was familiar with. Her urge to get back at everyone and everything tenfold.

"So you got me a dress for the party tonight? How thoughtful of you." Valerie said, seeming grateful but it only made Max feel she was scheming something. But then she said,

"For some reason I don't want to go." She said, looking at the invitation, causing him to furrowed his eyebrows. "But she's already going while using my invite, so I'll just use this opportunity to stun her a bit."

"She'll probably try to act weak again and throw accusations. You can handle that much, right?" He asked and she nodded.

"If I can't, will you come to my rescue?" She asked and he gave her a knowing smile.

"Only if you ask for my help. You can use me as much as you want." He said, sounding so cheesy again.

"Okay, now that you already got it figured out and have given me what we both came here for, I'll head out now." She wanted to get off his leg but he wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Tell me, what else are you planning?" He asked and Valerie looked away. What was she planning? What was she planning?

She didn't even know. This party was unexpected so she'd have to go back and notice the situation in the mansion before knowing her next course of action.

"I don't know yet." She said. "Call me later. Maybe I'll be able to answer properly then."

Max looked at her suspiciously but ended up with a sigh and let go. She got up and looked at him, wondering what he had in mind this time.

"Won't you seat something before you leave?"

"I already ate." She answered.

"With who?"

"The old man."

Max frowned. What was this about that old man? There was no way she built a connection with a total stranger. Maybe he'd have to check the CCTV after all, and know who it was that was trying to lure his wife.

"By the way," Valerie broke his chain of thoughts, "Who's hosting this party? I don't think there was a celebration in Stewart this time of the year."

"Hm, you sound like you keep tabs on Stewart's Corp." He said but she shrugged.

"I simply follow up on written news. I have to know what my rival company is up to, don't you think?" She plainly answered which was a bit disappointing but honestly, what did he expect?

"My grandfather." He finally answered her question. "My stepmother gave birth recently so he's throwing a congratulatory party."

"Step... Mother?" Valerie asked, confused and Max looked up at her, stunned. Did she not know? "Max, when did you have a stepmother?"

Max suddenly got angry and yelled,

"Just go if I've answered your question. You don't need to pry into every little damn thing." His words were harsh and though she did not understand why he suddenly became aggressive, she did not appreciate being yelled at like a kid and just stormed out.

Max rested his back, placed his hand on his head, and regretted his reaction. He shouldn't have yelled. But did she have to step on his wound like that?

There was no way she didn't know that his mother was dead. She just wanted to get on his nerves. But...

Valerie suddenly returned and he looked up, wondering if she wanted to apologize but she simply picked up her face cap, her shades, and her nose mask. She eyed him and made her way out of there.

Max frowned. How dare she sneer at him like that?