[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322F482CA-374":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},374,26,"Chapter 26: \"How about this, Mrs. King?\"","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell King stood at the villa entrance, his frame tall and imposing.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A few loose strands of hair fell over his forehead, and his dark eyes were locked onto her. She couldn’t tell how long he’d been watching. The top two buttons of his white dress shirt were undone, baring his collarbones. It was the kind of crisp, formal attire that usually screamed \"high-powered executive,\" yet it was completely undermined by the cartoon apron tied around his waist.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell was objectively handsome, with sharp, angular features that usually projected an aura of cold, untouchable discipline. But with that apron—which featured a goofy, buck-toothed bunny—all that restraint vanished, replaced by something strangely, disarmingly cute.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna stood frozen, staring at him, her mind momentarily short-circuiting.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell waited for a long beat. When he realized she wasn't going to move, he let out a soft, amused sigh and walked toward her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What’s the matter?\" Maxwell leaned down, his voice low and gentle. \"Why the blank stare?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna looked down, her gaze landing squarely on the buck-toothed bunny on his apron. It was tilted to the side, as if grinning right at her. She swallowed hard and whispered, \"N-nothing. I'm fine.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell had seen everything from the doorway. He chuckled, took her hand, and began to walk. \"Are you not used to being called 'Mrs. King' yet?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*I knew it!* she thought, her face burning. *I knew I looked like a frantic, bug-eyed mess and he caught every second of it!*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She felt the crushing weight of public humiliation. Closing her eyes in silent despair, she murmured, \"A little. It’s… it’s going to take some time.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I told him to go back to calling you Ms. Stone if you prefer,\" Maxwell said. \"But this morning, after you got out of the car, he asked me how he should address you. Since we’re married, I thought it was time he switched.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*That explains it.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It made sense. He’d been \"Ms. Stone\" all morning, but by the afternoon, the driver had become unnervingly enthusiastic with the title \"Mrs. King.\" But Maxwell wasn't wrong. They were married, and they had no plans to keep it a secret. Being addressed as a couple in front of staff was, well, perfectly normal.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna weighed the thought for a moment. \"No, keep it. It's fine.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her ears were glowing scarlet, the color creeping up her porcelain cheeks. She kept her eyes down, lashes fluttering as she stared at the ground, a portrait of youthful shyness. Even though she’d mumbled the words and practically swallowed the key syllables, Maxwell caught her meaning perfectly.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">[Keep it. Let him call me Mrs. King.]\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His lips curved into a smirk. He raised an eyebrow. \"Are you sure?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yes.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell gave her hand a gentle squeeze, then paused, as if pondering something deeply. \"Then… do you want me to help you get used to it?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"How?\" Arianna asked.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Mrs. King,\" Maxwell’s voice was a low, velvet hum that seemed to vibrate right against her skin. \"Watch your step.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The sudden shift in address caught her so off-guard that she nearly tripped, missing three steps in a row. If Maxwell hadn’t caught her by the waist just in time, she would have face-planted.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I’ll call you that more often,\" he said, his tone perfectly serious. \"We'll get you desensitized in no time. How does that sound, Mrs. King?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She really didn't need him to be this efficient.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was only then that she realized they hadn't walked toward the house at all. Looking around, she noticed they were heading in a completely different direction. \"Wait, where are we going?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I’m taking Mrs. King to see my garage,\" Maxwell replied, perfectly deadpan.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The garage was far larger than she’d imagined. The lights were dimmed, but in the gloom, over a dozen multi-million-dollar supercars sat like predatory beasts waiting in the dark, silent and imposing.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Multi-million-dollar cars.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna thought of her department manager’s sedan; it wasn't even worth half the price of the tires on these machines. If she drove one of these to the office… she didn't even want to picture the fallout.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Just as she was spiraling, she heard Maxwell chuckle. He kept her hand locked in his as he led her deeper into the space, his voice echoing with a magnetic, melodic quality.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Mrs. King,\" he said, taking his time, \"I want you to know that these are all yours to drive whenever you like.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The car bodies were polished to a mirror sheen, reflecting their two blurred silhouettes. It was obvious how meticulously he maintained them. Each one looked like it had just rolled off the showroom floor, and the maintenance costs alone were enough to make her head spin.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna quickly waved her hands. \"No, really. I don't even like driving that much.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell seemed to read her mind. \"Don't worry about the money.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"And certainly don't worry about the cars,\" he added, his voice smooth and deliberate. \"It is their honor to be of service to Mrs. King.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She snuck a glance at him. How could he say such things with such a straight face? He sounded like he was stating a basic, undeniable fact, laced with a hint of dry, sophisticated humor.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She scanned the room and noticed something odd. \"Where’s the car you usually drive? It’s not here.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It’s just up ahead.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As they rounded the corner, she saw his signature limited-edition Bentley parked in the shadows. Before she could comment, Maxwell pointed to a modest vehicle tucked right next to the Bentley. It was a simple, mid-range sedan, its lines unremarkable, its badge completely ordinary. Among the lineup of roaring luxury, it looked like a total misfit, almost comical.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Yet, Arianna was delighted. She walked over to it, her eyes lighting up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell opened the door for her and gestured with his chin. \"Go on, try it out.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna slid into the driver's seat. She leaned back, gauged the visibility, and tested the steering wheel. It felt just like the cars she’d used at driving school. The only issue was the seat—it was set too far back. She started fumbling around the side of the seat, trying to find the manual adjustment lever.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She hadn’t driven much since getting her license, so her movements were clumsy.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">While the door was still open, Maxwell leaned in. \"Need help with the seat?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His cold, crisp scent enveloped her instantly. He braced one hand against the back of the seat, the other reaching down to help her adjust the lever. Arianna froze, her hand still hovering in the air. Their arms brushed, and the jolt of contact felt like a live wire sparking through her skin.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Time seemed to grind to a halt.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She could hear her own heartbeat—a frantic, rhythmic thumping against her ribs, loud enough that he had to hear it too. But Maxwell acted as if nothing at all had happened. He remained hunched over, his position creating the distinct, heavy impression that he was pinning her against the seat.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They were so close that when he spoke, his warm breath brushed against her sensitive earlobe.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Forward or back?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Is this better?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"All set?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna was so flustered by his proximity that she couldn't get a word out. Her face was turning a vivid, frantic shade of red. Finally, Maxwell pulled back just enough to look at her, his eyes dancing with amusement.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He leaned in, whispering one final time against her ear, \"Mrs. King?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Why are you so quiet?\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272905752]