The dimly lit street bore witness to Max's calculated act of defiance. Turning his head toward Diana's apartment window, he smirked, knowing that she was observing the dramatic tableau from behind the curtain.
In a sudden burst of raw emotion, a sharp sound shattered the stillness. Max, with a smug smile still lingering on his lips, unleashed a powerful punch at the window of Ben's car.
The glass yielded to the force, shattering into a thousand glinting fragments. The cacophony of breaking glass was punctuated by the unexpected violence, and pieces of glass embedded themselves in Max's palms and fingers.
As the realization of what had just transpired settled in, Ben's brows furrowed in astonishment. He watched Max's bleeding hand, the crimson droplets staining the pavement below.
A mix of shock in Ben's narrowed eyes as he assessed the damage to his car.
Max, seemingly unperturbed, continued to smoke, exhaling a plume of smoke defiantly in Ben's direction.
"You broke my car, Mr. If you want to show your anger, and then fight with me," Ben declared, his eyes locked on Max.
Max, however, responded with an unexpected cheerfulness, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
"I am not you. So whatever I do, there are reasons. Next time, I will crush your car."
Just as Ben prepared to respond to Max's cheerful threat, a stern voice cut through the charged atmosphere.
"What are you doing?"
Diana's presence at the entrance of the gate surprised both men. Max tilted his head with a smile, while Ben met her gaze with an attempt at nonchalance.
"It's nothing, Diana. He came here to threaten me," Ben explained, his voice carrying a hint of defensiveness.
Diana, however, wasn't easily swayed. She walked toward them with purpose, her expression stern.
As she reached Max, her eyes softened as she noticed the blood on his hand. Max maintained his sly smile, basking in the unexpected turn of events.
"Your hand is bleeding, come with me," Diana said, her concern evident as she took hold of Max's injured hand.
Max complied, his gaze shifting between Ben and Diana.
Ben spoke up in a worried tone, "I'll come with you."
Diana, determined to handle the situation on her own terms, dismissed Ben's offer. "No, Ben, it's okay. I can treat it."
Ben hesitated, concern etched on his face.
"But—"
Diana cut him off, her voice firm, "Go home, Ben. I will pay for the damage."
As she led Max away, Ben's gaze lingered on the departing duo.
Max, fully aware of the impact of his actions, turned to cast a threatening look at Ben. It was a silent message, a challenge for him.
Ben tightened his grip, recognizing that Max's deliberate provocations were intended to show Diana.
The elevator descended in a heavy silence, with neither Diana nor Max uttering a word. As the doors opened, Diana stepped out, but Max remained in the elevator, an odd stillness about him. Turning back with a sigh, Diana reached for Max's hand, coaxing him out as they walked towards her apartment.
Inside, Diana closed the door without exchanging words. She headed straight for the bedroom, leaving Max alone in the living room.
His gaze roamed the apartment – a pleasant space that seemed incongruent with the night's chaos. Max couldn't fathom why Diana had chosen this place over the mansion.
Was Diana's decision to stay there a deliberate move to distance her from him and stay with Ben?
Lost in thought, Max pressed his wounded hand, inadvertently causing it to bleed more. The physical pain mirrored the emotional turmoil.
As Max contemplated, Diana emerged from the bedroom, her eyes immediately catching the sight of Max's bleeding hand. Concern etched her face as she questioned.
"What are you doing?"
The room pulsed with an unspoken tension as Max, deliberately intensifying the pain in his wounded hand, watched Diana. She moved with urgency, sitting beside him and swiftly beginning to treat his bleeding palm.
Max, his brows furrowed, couldn't ignore the spread of food on the dining table. The sight stirred a simmering discontent within him.
Unable to contain his thoughts, he blurted out, "Why did you dine with him?"
Diana sighed audibly, her focus unwavering on the task at hand.
Max's impulsive question lingered in the air, demanding an answer that she seemed unwilling to provide. Frustration etched Max's features, and in a moment of defiance, he yanked his hand away from Diana's grasp.
"Max!"
Diana's protest fell on deaf ears as Max, fueled by a surge of conflicting emotions, pulled her close.
In an aggressive embrace, Max pressed his lips against Diana's, an attempt to claim her in a moment of possessive desperation.
The kiss, charged with a mix of passion and frustration, conveyed Max's need to reaffirm Diana's presence in his life. It was a tumultuous expression of emotions, a raw confession of his desire for exclusivity.
**
Simultaneously, on the other side of the story, Diver brought the car to a halt in front of a grand, imposing gate. The bodyguards surrounding Francisco anticipated his exit, ready to open the door for him.
However, Francisco preempted their actions, swinging the car door open himself. A collective step back ensued as the air shifted with an unspoken command.
Francisco emerged, his demeanor serious, and in his arms, he cradled his personal assistant, a striking sight that left onlookers in awe. She rested in his arms in a bridal style, a peculiar display that garnered silent murmurs from the observers. Without acknowledging the whispers, Francisco strode into his mansion, his destination clear.
Inside, the maids stole sidelong glances at their enigmatic boss. Francisco's stern expression fueled their curiosity.
As he approached his bedroom, the air in the mansion crackled with anticipation. Observant eyes followed him, noting the uncharacteristic act of locking the door behind him.
In the wake of Francisco's departure, the mansion's staff began to exchange hushed whispers.
Had their master decided to sever ties with Emily?
The focus of their gossip was Emily.
For these maids, such scenes weren't entirely new. The ebb and flow of Francisco's relationships were a familiar pattern. They had witnessed moments of tension and separation before, only for Emily to return to her place beside Francisco eventually.