"Ace"
"Hmm?" Ace answered with both hands in his pocket. For him, it was no big deal. He walked further inside the room and threw himself lazily on the bed.
"Feels good," he mumbled.
Max gave him a glare, and without another thought, he stood up.
"Oh... come on, you're really not going?" he asked.
"What did you take me for? Get out!" he hissed.
Ace rolled his beautiful gray eyes. "Every time, get out! Pff, I am tired of you! You're really difficult to tame," he said, walking casually towards the door.
"Tame me? Am I your dog or something? If it's about the money then I am not changing my mind. You can think whatever you want, I don't care," Max nonchalantly said.
Just thinking about the money, Ace's blood boiled with rage. He walked out quickly.
'That's why nobody cares about him! If he isn't going to give me the money then I am going to take it myself without permission.' With that thought, he smiled mischievously.
He went downstairs and found no one. The large hallway was quiet, echoing with the sound of his own footsteps. The atmosphere in the mansion always felt cold, no matter how beautiful it looked.
"Where is Isabella?" he asked one of the maids who was cleaning.
"They both went outside—" she couldn't finish her sentence as he had already disappeared.
He met Isabella and Ella outside the mansion in front of a black SUV. Ella was brimming with happiness. She couldn't believe she was taking a break from all this stress and anxiety.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the weight in her chest had lifted. The sun felt warmer, the breeze lighter. Even the leaves rustling overhead seemed to whisper something calming.
"Ella, we have to start moving," Bella instructed, and Ella immediately nodded with happiness.
Ace just looked at her and shook his head. She was behaving like a kid. Carefree. He didn't carry anything much, just his black bag. He always traveled light, like someone who didn't plan to stay long.
Ella was wearing her beautiful yellow dress that reached to her knee. She was happy that she had finally taken off that stupid maid uniform and gotten rid of all that suffocating fabric.
She opened the door and bounced into the SUV, only to look beside her and saw Ace.
"All happy, huh?" he asked as he lifted his brows.
She composed herself quickly and straightened her yellow gown, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious.
"Hmm, never knew you were going to come," she said.
"Well why wouldn't I? Isabella is my aunt," he said in a playful tone, and Ella was slightly taken aback.
"What do you just say?" she asked in a surprised tone, unsure if she had misheard him.
"What more do you want me to say? Do you want me to start gossiping about my aunt? If that's your intention then it isn't going to happen," he said with a grin.
"That's not what I meant," she quickly defended herself. 'This kid...'
"By the way, you are just a kid, right?" she asked.
Ace gave her a side glance, his grin widening. "A kid? You sure about that? You might want to reconsider." He leaned back in the seat, making himself comfortable.
Ella rolled her eyes and turned to look out the window. She wasn't going to let him ruin her moment—not today. But deep down, she was curious. There was more to Ace than met the eye.
Ace rolled his eyes and threw his head back against the headrest. "Never underestimate the power of a kid," he said with his eyes closed. "And point of correction, I am 17 and I'm so not a kid." He opened his eyes, fixing Ella with a pointed look. "Tell me, what kind of relationship do you have with my brother?"
Ella blinked rapidly. "Brother's?" she asked, eyes wide in shock. "You two are brothers? How is that even possible?" She gawked at him, stunned.
Ace just tossed his head back against the headrest again with a lazy grin.
"Surprised? I'm a lot prettier than him, aren't I?" he asked.
"Of course you are," Ella replied without hesitation, and Ace's grin widened with satisfaction.
"I'm always prettier than my brother. He never agrees. Pff. I've tried to make him understand, but no matter how I tried, he just—"
"Of course," Ella interrupted coolly. "You're prettier than him, but he's more beautiful than you," she added, her voice dripping with lazy indifference.
The grin on Ace's face vanished instantly.
Silence settled in the car for a while. Ace tilted his head, trying to comprehend her words. 'Does she love Max? Oh, of course she does. Why else would she say he's handsome despite how heartless he is? What am I even saying? Who wouldn't fall for Max at first sight? He's damn handsome—it's natural for any girl to be left spellbound.'
A slow grin crept back onto his face. Should he bring them together? Maybe that'd be fun.
"Do you like him?" he asked suddenly, leaning forward. Ella's face flushed a deep red.
Ace didn't know much about his brother. The age gap between them was too wide, and Maximus was a mystery even within their own home. All he really knew was that Max was feared—a monster who killed for sport. As for relationships, Ace had never seen him in one. The only whispers he'd heard were that girls admired Max from afar. If they came too close, he'd either sleep with them and vanish or… worse. Maximus never kept the same woman twice. He was the kind of man you survived once, and that alone was a miracle.
"Are you blushing?" Ace asked, smirking with satisfaction.
"No, I'm not!" Ella said quickly, turning her face away. Her skin was practically roasting from the heat of her blush, and she knew it wasn't hidden.
"Isabella!" she called out, peering through the window. Anything to get away from Ace—he was absolutely maddening!
"She went to take care of something, so don't even bother," Ace said smugly. 'This is fun! Who would've guessed this girl was so entertaining?' If he'd known earlier, maybe he would've been nice from the start.
"So I was right, huh? You're in love with Max."
"That's enough!" Ella snapped. "Don't you have any manners? Or even a little respect for your elders?"
"The last time I checked, I wasn't insulting you," he replied slowly. "I'm just excited that I finally got a sister-in-law." He laughed as he slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to his chest.
"What nonsense!" she shouted, shoving him off.
"Okay, guys, we'll start moving now," Isabella's voice called from outside.
Ace composed himself and quickly buckled his seatbelt, sneaking a wink at Ella.
Ella stared at him, utterly bewildered. 'Like brother, like brother,' she thought to herself.
Isabella and the driver got into the SUV, and soon they were on the road. They drove through a deserted area and then onto a narrow road that wound through a forest, leading to a small, hidden village. Ella gazed out the window, awestruck. The surroundings were serene, almost untouched, as if nature had preserved this place just for them.
"This place is good," she murmured.
"It is," Ace replied softly. She glanced at him, wondering why he was suddenly being nice.
"Wow!!" Ella exclaimed, pointing excitedly. A waterfall cascaded elegantly down a smooth, tall rock, the bottom forming a crystal-clear pool surrounded by vibrant wildflowers.
All the houses in the area were made of bamboo and wood. The environment was lush and green, practically humming with nature's quiet song. When they reached a small wooden house, the SUV stopped and everyone climbed out.
"Wow, Bella, I love it here!" Ella exclaimed. She had never seen anything like this in her life. The driver unloaded their bags while she took in the cool, refreshing air, inhaling deeply and letting it soothe her nerves.
"So, do you love it?" a voice asked behind her.
She turned to see Ace holding a camera.
"Yes!" she beamed. "Are you a photographer?"
"No, but I can take good pictures," he replied with a smirk.
Buzz—buzz.
Ace pulled his phone from his pocket. It was Max.
"Yo, men," he answered casually.
"Are you there yet?" Max asked on the other end.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Don't do anything stupid," Max warned.
Ace hummed lazily. "Hmm…"
Max was about to hang up when Ace added with a grin, "Daniella and I are now friends, and she's been telling me all her secrets. Do you know what she said? She told me she loves you and misses you terribly. She's looking forward to seeing you here." He paused dramatically. "She says she wants to hug you one more time… wants to be in your arms again."
And with that, he hung up.
Ella stood frozen. "W…what?" she stammered.
She was done for.