The Queen's Back

Chapter

18

bit of a reaction down below.

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.

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

on his work. Mona stood there for a moment, hoping for some acknowledgment, but when none

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

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

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

he'd always thought wouldn't lift a finger in the kitchen, was here cooking for him. But

looking that it was Maxwell. "Just a little

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

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

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buzz of a phone on the table. Mona glanced at it but didn't bother checking, thinking it was

promise I won't mess up