[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322F482CA-360":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},360,12,"Chapter 12: Delete Every Photo","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna Stone blinked, momentarily stunned.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She didn’t know how to respond to that. Maxwell King seemed entirely unaware that he had just said something earth-shattering. He acted as if nothing were amiss, calmly slicing his steak while pushing the appetizers toward her, his voice low and warm.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Eat while it’s hot. It won't taste as good if it gets cold.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna managed a soft, \"…Right. I know.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell wanted to continue, but his phone buzzed on the table, cutting him off.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Spencer Miller: [Heard the big-shot Mr. King booked out the entire amusement park for the night.]\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell: [Who told you that?]\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Spencer: [Do I need to be told? I saw the midnight fireworks show with my own eyes. Not bad, kid. You’re really pulling out all the stops.]\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He didn’t bother replying.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Spencer, likely bored, called him a few minutes later. Maxwell glanced at the screen, his expression neutral, and hung up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A moment later, the phone buzzed again. After the second persistent ring, the noise was giving Maxwell a headache, so he finally answered.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Before stepping away to take the call, Maxwell looked at Arianna. \"No rush on the gift. Take your time thinking about it; just tell me whenever you’ve decided.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">With that, he turned and walked away, giving Arianna no room to decline. She sat there in a daze, watching his back disappear from view.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna’s parents had divorced back when she was in grade school. Because of that, she had always harbored a deep-seated resistance to celebrating her birthday. Unlike other kids, she didn't have the typical family dynamic, and her birth itself had never been a cause for celebration.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But her grandmother had always made sure to mark the day.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She would prepare a table full of Arianna’s favorite dishes and a bowl of steaming, homemade noodles topped with fresh, vibrant greens and two perfectly round, fried eggs.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Once, when she was younger, her grandmother had caught a glimpse of her diary left open on the table. That day, the old woman had pulled her into a tight embrace, her hair, white as mountain mist, tickling Arianna's skin.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her voice had been thick with emotion.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Don't listen to their nonsense, child. Whoever says those hateful things doesn't know a thing. You are one of a kind. The day you were born, the whole family waited outside the delivery room. We had diapers, clothes, and blankets ready—we were all just waiting for you. When we heard you cry, your grandfather, your father, and I were so happy we were in tears. Everyone was fighting over who got to hold you first.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When she was a child, Arianna had a very rigid way of viewing herself. It was a self-preservation tactic. In this world, only her grandmother loved her—a selfless, unconditional love. Anyone else was merely superficial. Their affection was never pure; it was calculated, transactional, and had a price tag attached.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">While this outlook was cold, it had kept her safe from bullying. Without parents to shield her, it was the only way she knew to survive and grow up in peace.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Even with Cameron Hughes, she had never truly believed he loved her deeply. He liked her, certainly, but \"love\" was far too strong a word. Before Arianna, he had cycled through several girlfriends. Cameron was a man of passing whims, and his approach to relationships was exactly the same.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna knew this clearly. That was why, on the day she agreed to date him, she set a clear boundary: they could hold hands and hug, but nothing more until marriage.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She had truly liked him back then. Her request wasn't born out of being old-fashioned; she just wanted a pure, honest relationship—a bond of true sincerity that would last.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Who could have known it would end the way it did?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Back then, Cameron’s kindness was standard boyfriend fare. Sometimes, when he was trying to get her to drop her boundaries, he would turn on the charm even more.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">And yet, in just these last two days, Maxwell’s kindness toward her had already far surpassed what Cameron had shown her in two years.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">So, what was Maxwell’s angle? What did he want?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna found it baffling. Nobody in this world was kind to a stranger without a reason.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">***\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"So, I heard you brought a date to the Henderson birthday gala today?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">On the second-floor terrace of the restaurant, Maxwell leaned against the railing, his silhouette sharp against the night sky, his shirt fluttering in the evening breeze.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">At the question, he let out a faint laugh, not bothering to deny it. \"Where did you hear that?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hey, never mind where I heard it,\" Spencer replied, sounding even more intrigued on the other end. \"I also heard the girl is a distant relative of the Hughes family?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell: ...\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">What nonsense was this?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"If that’s all, I’m hanging up.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Wait, don't! Can you stop hanging up on me for once?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell said calmly, \"I don't have the patience for your rumors.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"This isn't a rumor! Cameron Hughes said it himself. If you don't believe me, ask him. But...\" Spencer left the sentence hanging, clearly enjoying the suspense.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell, playing along, didn't disconnect. \"But what?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Spencer lowered his voice, acting mysterious. \"Word is, the girl is actually Cameron’s girlfriend.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell: \"Hmm.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What do you mean, 'hmm'?\" Spencer paused, finally sensing something was off. \"Wait, what is that supposed to mean?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell corrected him coolly. \"Not his girlfriend. His ex-girlfriend.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Spencer: \"??\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell added, \"She’s single now.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Spencer went silent for a few seconds before letting out a sharp curse. \"Damn, so she really is his girl?!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell narrowed his eyes, his patience wearing thin. \"I’ll say it one more time: *ex*-girlfriend.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He emphasized the \"ex\" with precise intent.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Having been friends with Maxwell for years, Spencer could hear the simmering, restrained annoyance in his tone. He quickly backpedaled. \"Fine, fine. Ex-girlfriend. It’s an ex-girlfriend. My bad.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell finally seemed satisfied. \"She has nothing to do with Cameron anymore, and she won't have anything to do with him in the future.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Though he was his best friend, Spencer couldn't hold back his true thoughts. \"Hey, don't be so sure.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Why not?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">There was a dangerous edge to Maxwell’s voice now.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Spencer licked his lips, offering some unwanted advice. \"Girls are easily swayed, you know? You need to have some situational awareness. What if Cameron sweet-talks her and she ends up going back to him?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"She won't,\" Maxwell said with absolute certainty.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It’s not about her—it’s about how silver-tongued Cameron is. You know he’s a pro at charming women. And they did actually like each other once. It’s not rare for old flames to spark up again.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Spencer kept babbling. \"That girl looked so sweet and gentle; she seems like the type to be easily swayed, especially if Cameron plays the victim... Anyway, good luck, brother.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell suddenly shifted the subject. \"Where did you get her photo?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Spencer rolled his eyes. \"Is that the point? Someone sent it to me tonight. I just glanced at it.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Send the photo to me.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Spencer: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"And delete the copies you have saved.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Why?\" Spencer protested. \"Can't I have a photo of a pretty girl?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell’s tone left no room for negotiation. \"I’m coming over to see you in a bit. I want to watch you delete them personally.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"...Damn, are you out of your mind?\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272904773]