[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322F482CA-418":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},418,70,"Chapter 70: The Ugly Stray on the Curb","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After dinner, Arianna Stone pulled an elegant shopping bag from the closet and handed it to Maxwell King.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell paused. \"What’s this?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"A gift for you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He seemed momentarily stunned, his arm suspended in mid-air, hesitant to take it. He looked at her, his expression a mixture of disbelief and guarded hope. \"For me?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna nodded.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">In those few seconds, Maxwell’s mind raced. He burned through every possible justification for this gesture, but couldn't find a logical one. He finally just asked, \"Why the sudden gift?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Was there a holiday today? He didn't think so. He had every major calendar event synced to his phone alerts. Then, a darker thought crossed his mind, and the light in his eyes dimmed. \"Is this a thank-you for me showing up last night?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Despite the sudden drop in his mood, he kept his voice gentle. \"You don't have to do this, Ari. I already told you—I don't need your gratitude. You accepting my help without guilt is the only thanks I need.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A smile tugged at the corners of Arianna’s mouth. Her eyes brightened as she pulled a small, exquisite box from the bag. Its lid featured a vibrant, textured oil painting of sunflowers—bright, golden heads held high, reaching for the light. They looked alive.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The box was tied with a silk ribbon, topped with a perfectly fluffed bow.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I bought it on my first day here,\" Arianna explained. \"I was at the mall with some of the team and saw this. I thought it suited you perfectly.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell’s brain seemed to hit a glitch. He struggled to process her words. It took a moment, but the realization finally hit him: she hadn't bought this out of some formal obligation to thank him. She had picked it out specifically for him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His expression cleared instantly, a genuine, delighted smirk tugging at his lips as he took the gift. \"Thank you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You're welcome.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Can I open it now?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The light from the water glass on the table danced in his eyes. There was a desperate, burning anticipation in his gaze as he waited for her cue.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Sure,\" Arianna tilted her head, giving him a soft smile. \"Why not?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His eyes were brilliant, lit up like fireworks on New Year's Eve, sparking with an intensity that refused to fade. She couldn't help but wonder—was he really this happy over a simple gift? It seemed almost absurd.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Once she gave the go-ahead, Maxwell untied the bow. He pulled the silk ribbon with delicate precision, watching it pool into a colorful puddle in his palm. Inside the box lay a pair of stunning silver cufflinks. The edges were polished chrome, while the centers were a deep, midnight blue, speckled with tiny, shimmering points of light that caught the room's glow like a swirling galaxy. It was pure, distilled romance.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell stood as still as a statue. Arianna watched him, her own nerves suddenly fraying. She hadn't expected to feel so anxious. \"What’s wrong? You don't like them?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I love them,\" Maxwell murmured, finally snapping out of his trance. He looked at her, dead serious. \"I really, really love them.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He carefully placed the cufflinks back in their velvet slot, closed the lid, and spent a surprising amount of time re-tying the ribbon into a perfect bow.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When he caught Arianna’s confused expression, he offered a soft, self-deprecating explanation. \"I didn't pack extra dress shirts for this trip, so I don't have a place to wear these right now. I’ll save them for when I get home.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna blinked. \"You know you can just... carry the box, right? You don't have to put it back.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell held his ground. \"This works fine.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He wanted to bring the box home, ribbon and all. It was the first gift she had ever given him, now that they were officially tied together. He wanted to preserve every inch of it.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">***\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The partnership deal was finalized, and the final meetings went more smoothly than anyone had dared hope. By the afternoon, the team was boarding the flight back to London.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell was on the same plane, his seat situated directly behind hers. He had naturally taken care of all the heavy lifting for her luggage.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Two hours later, they touched down at the airport. Colleagues exchanged brief goodbyes, promising to catch up in the office tomorrow. Arianna made a quick excuse to slip away, meeting Maxwell at the car Cole Parker had arranged.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Inside the climate-controlled interior, Maxwell grabbed a peach-flavored seltzer from the mini-fridge, cracked it open, and handed it to her. \"Drink something cold. You’ll overheat.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna was sweltering. It was the height of summer, and the sun was baking the pavement into a shimmering haze. The trees outside stood limp and lifeless, and the air was thick enough to choke on. She took the drink gratefully. \"Thanks.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell took a bottle of water for himself, eyeing her. \"Don't chug it. It’s ice-cold; take it slow.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The ride home was long. The last few days had been grueling. Since they’d landed, Arianna’s nerves had been stretched to the breaking point. She’d been flying solo, coordinating, negotiating, and carrying the entire workload on her own back. It had been suffocating.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But as the familiar skyline of the city crept closer, her heart finally settled. The tension began to bleed out of her muscles.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The route to her place took them right past her old apartment complex. Arianna looked out the window, a flash of nostalgia hitting her. \"I realized I haven't been back over this way in ages.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell weighed his words carefully. \"Do you want to stop by?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As the words left his lips, his eyes shifted to the curb outside the apartment entrance. A flashy, obnoxious red sports car was idling there. He recognized the plate immediately. It was Cameron Hughes.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna was oblivious. \"Should we? I mean, there’s nothing left there really, I’m planning on breaking the lease anyway. But… maybe it’d be nice to see it one last time.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Let's do it another day,\" Maxwell said abruptly.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hm?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He softened his tone, putting on his best 'tired businessman' mask. \"Ari, let’s go together another time. Let's just head home for now. I’m actually wiped out.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Hearing that, Arianna immediately felt guilty, remembering he’d flown in on a red-eye the night before. She dropped the subject instantly. \"Oh, of course. My bad. You should get some sleep.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yeah,\" Maxwell replied, his voice flat.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He didn't sleep, though. He remained locked onto the window. From her seat, Arianna could only see the back of his head. She strained to peek out, but his broad shoulders blocked her view completely.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Minutes ticked by. The car pulled away from her old neighborhood and merged into heavy traffic.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna finally couldn't help herself. \"What were you even looking at back there?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The red sports car was long gone. Maxwell shifted, sitting up straight with a look of utter indifference. \"Just a dog on the side of the road.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna stared at him. \"Oh? Was it cute?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"No,\" Maxwell said, his voice as smooth as silk. \"It was hideous.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna blinked. \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell added, with chilling, deadpan sincerity, \"It was honestly so ugly it actually offended me.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"...\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272908310]