Arianna thought for a moment and said diplomatically, "His family... they run a firm. He’s currently in charge of the business."

"A firm?"

Arianna nodded. "I don’t know the specifics, really. You could always ask him yourself later."

"Oh, no, no," Rosemary waved her hands dismissively. "We’re not exactly close enough for me to ask about something like that."

"It’s fine, really. We’re family now."

The moment the words left her lips, both Arianna and her grandmother froze. Arianna felt a twinge of self-reflection; had she really heard Maxwell use that phrase so often that it had become second nature to her?

Rosemary peered at her expression. "You’ve certainly adapted quickly."

Arianna: "..."

Even though Maxwell carried himself with a humble, polite air, he possessed an inherent, quiet luxury that couldn't be ignored—a calmness that seemed etched into his very bones. From the moment she first saw him, Rosemary had known he was the type of man born into wealth.

Deciding to skip the formalities with her granddaughter, she asked, "Is his family quite well-off, then?"

Arianna gave a silent nod.

Watching her closely, Rosemary saw that Arianna didn't seem bothered by the topic, so she ventured a more probing question: "If he ever… well, you know how it goes in those television soaps. If he tells you to quit your job, stay home, and let him provide for you—what would you do?"

Arianna didn't even hesitate. "He wouldn't do that."

She had a gut feeling that Maxwell simply wasn't that kind of man.

"I know," Rosemary said, her gaze fixed on her granddaughter with stubborn intent. "I’m just asking—hypothetically."

"If it were a hypothetical," Arianna replied, following her lead, "I still wouldn't agree to it."

A look of approval crossed Rosemary’s face. She reached out, took Arianna’s hand, and said with earnest conviction, "I knew you wouldn't, Arianna."

"No matter what happens, you must have the ability to support yourself. In other words, you need your own source of income. That is your foundation in society. Without economic independence, everything else is just talk."

Rosemary’s words were gentle, but the message was clear. No matter how wealthy her partner might be, Arianna needed to work, to make her own money, and to build her own career. She needed to have her own backbone, rather than being a delicate, clinging vine dependent on someone else.

"I know," Arianna said, gripping her grandmother’s hand in return, offering a soft, reassuring smile. "Don't worry about me."

"So, have you two decided when the wedding will be?"

At the mention of the wedding, Arianna straightened her posture, her smile fading slightly. "Actually, I was just about to talk to you about that."

"Oh?"

"Remember how I mentioned I just passed my probation at work?"

Rosemary smiled broadly. "I remember. Go on."

"Our company policy grants ten days of wedding leave, plus any public holidays that fall during that time. If I add it all up, I’d be looking at taking half a month off."

"But I’ve only just secured my permanent position... and if I take leave right away..."

An office worker always has to be realistic. She had to consider every angle.

As it turned out, her concerns were valid. Even Rosemary couldn't help but chuckle after hearing the breakdown. "Don’t you think your colleagues might assume you only went and got married just so you could take two weeks off?"

Arianna: "..."

It... was definitely a possibility.

Aside from Diana James, Arianna hadn't told anyone about her personal life. To her coworkers, she was still single. And now, suddenly, she’d be showing up with a husband.

"So, I was thinking we could hold the wedding a little later—at least until I’ve finished the projects I have on my plate."

"I’m still working in another team’s group, and if I just up and left in the middle of a product cycle, it wouldn't look good for anyone."

She stumbled over her explanation, but Rosemary understood perfectly.

"And Maxwell? Does he agree with this?"

Arianna smiled. "I wanted to talk to you first. Once you’re on board, the two of us will discuss the details."

Rosemary waved her off with a playful scowl. "Why are you consulting an old woman like me? This is your life—you two should figure it out yourselves. You don't need to clear it with me."

"That won't do," Arianna said, latching onto her grandmother’s arm and acting like a spoiled child. "I have to tell you. From now on, I’m going to tell you exactly what I eat for every single meal."

"Oh, stop it!"

Rosemary’s lips curved into a grin, the deep wrinkles around her eyes crinkling further with every passing second.

---

After spending the afternoon together, Rosemary had finally begun to warm up to Maxwell.

After dinner, she turned to him and said, "Arianna’s room only has a single bed. It’s barely enough for one person. You’ll have to see which other room you’d like to stay in."

Both Arianna and Maxwell froze.

They hadn't anticipated this. Back at the villa, it had already been implicitly agreed that they would sleep in separate rooms. But neither had expected Rosemary to so openly address the reason why they couldn't share a bed tonight.

Arianna’s ears burned a bright, fiery red.

When people are embarrassed, they often try to keep their hands busy. She stood up, paced to the kitchen, aimlessly inspected the contents of the fridge, then grabbed a glass and walked back to the living room to pour some water.

Amidst the sound of the running faucet, Maxwell said something, his voice low and clear, but it was lost in the splashing of the water. Arianna didn't catch a word of it.

She filled the glass and downed half of it in one go.

Only when she felt the heat in her ears begin to subside did she turn back with a feigned air of composure. "Have you decided?"

"I have."

"Which room are you taking?"

Maxwell gestured toward one of the nearby guest rooms. "I’ll sleep next door. Is that alright?"

Arianna: "..."

Arianna, who had been trying to act casual, caught herself sneaking a glance at her grandmother.

Rosemary didn't seem to notice anything out of place; it was perfectly normal for a married couple to want to be nearby, after all. "Of course that’s fine. The fresh sheets and pillowcases are in the linen closet. I’ll go get them for you."

Arianna quickly set down her water glass. "I’ll do it. You stay here and watch your show."

This time, Maxwell didn't decline, nor did he offer to help. Instead, he stood up and followed Arianna toward the bedroom.

She opened the cabinet and pulled out the bedding. As she turned, she realized he was standing right in the doorway. He hadn't made a sound. Her heart leaped into her throat, and it took a monumental effort to keep her cool.

"Why did you follow me in here?"

Maxwell had been leaning against the doorframe, watching her retrieve the sheets. He stepped forward and took them from her hands. "I’ll help you make the bed."

He added, answering her question, "I could tell you had something you wanted to say to me, so I came over."

Arianna looked at him, completely baffled. "I didn't."

"Is that so?" Maxwell arched a brow and said directly, "You were staring at me earlier. I assumed you had something on your mind."

Arianna: "..."