The Queen's Back

Chapter 40

Mona blushed at her brother's teasing and said, "It's my first time playing! I'll get better next time."

Albert looked at her, not saying much more.

Afterward, Mona played a couple more rounds. She improved slightly, managing to dodge a punch before being knocked out by a kick, but the game still ended quickly.

Albert shook his head with a hint of amusement.

Mona sighed as she looked at the fallen character on the screen. I'm done for now. You go ahead and play. I'll call you when it's time to eat."

She decided she would practice the game more before trying again, as she felt a bit embarrassed by her performance.

Returning to her room, Mona focused on her real task. She sat at her desk and began-flipping through her college design book.

She couldn't help but admire her past dedication; the pages were filled with detailed notes, some of which she had forgotten writing. As she reviewed her notes, she aimed to refine her design sketches, striving for perfection.

When Maxwell came upstairs to call Mona for dinner, he found her deeply engrossed in her work. She was seated at her desk, pencil in hand, sketching carefully. Occasionally, she would erase a line and redraw it, repeating the process with focused determination. Maxwell watched her for a moment before approaching. When he saw the book she was using, his heart skipped a beat. He remembered discreetly discarding a photo from that book in the past.

He wondered if he should confess to throwing it away if Mona asked, or pretend ignorance. He felt conflicted.

"Hey, Maxwell, you're here! Look at the dress I just redesigned. Doesn't it look better now?" Mona asked with a smile, showing him her latest sketch.

Maxwell glanced at the design and nodded instinctively. "It's much more refined. Have you noticed anything missing?"

He was referring to the photo of Mona and Teddy that he had secretly discarded.

"What do you mean?" Mona asked, her attention still on her design. She hadn't noticed anything missing.

felt relieved. "Nothing, just asking. Let's

Maxwell. They stopped by Albert's room to call him, and

was a lively affair, with the family gathered around the table. In front of

as she looked at the food piled on her plate. Maxwell had never served her food at home before. Was he doing this just to impress

appreciated it. The taste

heading home, they decided to stay at the

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Chapter 40

took a shower first,

bathroom, Mona was already sitting on the bed, her

tossed her phone onto the bed in frustration, letting out a sigh as she stared at it with

upset you?" Maxwell asked, glancing at her

and said, "This infuriating game! I'm trying so

+5

worried about him teasing her. She looked

convenience, she might have sought comfort in

unsure when-or if-Maxwell might develop feelings for her. She hesitated to act too familiarly, fearing it might

his long fingers already reaching for her phone as

breadth between them.

played this

his head

pressed the start button and

a mix of concern and curiosity, worried that he might meet the same quick defeat she had and

remained

bit disheartened. How could they both be playing for the first time, yet have such different outcomes? "You're