Whispers of Destiny: His Belated Love

As Maxwell leaned in, Rosemary snapped back to reality, her refocused gaze landing on the man’s handsome lips. Instinctively, she tried to lean back, but before she could make a move, she was pulled into an embrace, his arms wrapping around her waist. “Ten minutes.”

Resting her cheek on her hand, Rosemary watched him lost in thought.

The scent of the man was all too familiar to her. Even without any intimate contact, they had been practically inseparable for three years. Rosemary found herself pressed against his chest, his heartbeat steady and reassuring in her ear.

Beyond that, the world was dead silent.

At that moment, Rosemary could not find it in herself to push him away. The draining argument they had just come out of must have exhausted her both physically and emotionally.

She relaxed into him, letting her full weight rest against Maxwell, “He used to treat me like this too.”

It was probably due to the immense passage of time that she had to recall the details at a slow pace. Rosemary spoke slowly, but Maxwell didn’t interrupt her, not even a hint of impatience showed on his face.

If the senior executives at the Templeton Group, who were recently berated, saw this, they might think they’d seen a ghost in broad daylight!

“Back in elementary school, I was framed by a classmate for stealing his stuff. We argued, and he pushed me down, and I hit the back of my head on the corner of a desk. It ended up with the teachers, and the parents were called. He brought his parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents—a whole crowd of over twenty people stuffed into the teacher’s office. He stood up for me all on his

own, beating up the classmate who accused me and still wouldn’t admit his wrongdoing. He even scratched the boy’s face up.”

Thinking back, she couldn’t recall the specifics anymore. What stood out in her memory was him punishing her for the sake of Stacey over and over.

Maxwell kept silent but patted her head gently.

Looking down, he could see the woman’s pale, delicate skin and her rosy lips. She looked so tame and docile now, significantly more lovable than the usual, fierce, bristling self.

Which made someone want to kiss her.

But that thought just flashed through his mind; he wasn’t that desperate.

When the ten minutes were up, Rosemary flipped her mood, pushing him away and rubbing her growling stomach, “Why hasn’t the food arrived yet? I’m starving.”

Maxwell let out a cold chuckle, “I’m surprised you didn’t starve to death.”

It wasn’t long before the waiter started serving the dishes, the table filled to the brim.

In the end, Rosemary who claimed she had no appetite ate more than anyone. Maxwell, who had insisted on eating, barely touched his food after a few bites.

Having eaten and drunk her fill, Rosemary soon grew drowsy. Sitting in the car with the heater at just the right temperature, she quickly dozed off, leaning over to the window. As the car bumped along, her head knocked against the glass with thud noises.

Maxwell closed his eyes for a moment. After a moment of patience, he reached out and pulled her to lean against his shoulder.

Her soft body against him stirred up the urge he had suppressed in the restaurant. He looked down at her for a moment and finally lowered his head, planting a kiss on her lips, now even more tender and flushed from the warmth. All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

The kiss made him lose control. If it weren’t for his reason reminding him that they were in a car, and Jason was there, he might have crossed the line.

Maxwell let go of Rosemary, turned his head towards the window, and half-closed his eyes to quell the urge of desire.

In the front seat, Jason’s tense back finally relaxed a bit. It was too much to put this close to the grave man through all this!

The following week, Rosemary’s life was exceptionally calm, without a hint of fluctuation.

Larry went back to his country, but it wasn’t clear whether it was Maxwell’s warning that had effect or Larry saw her cold-blooded ruthlessness, knowing he wouldn’t get any benefits, stopped wasting time on her, thus, he hadn’t sought her since then.

She paid no further attention to Stacey’s situation, not knowing if it had been dealt with, but considering Larry’s determination to protect her at all costs, she guessed it wouldn’t be a big deal.

One day, Pearl invited her to accompany her to an auction, and though Rosemary wasn’t keen, Pearl was already downstairs waiting.

Before heading out, Rosemary grabbed the car keys from the drawer - the ones for the car she’d driven from Meadowlark Retreat. The car was too flashy and costed fees when parked, yet she couldn’t sell it because she wasn’t the owner.

Rosemary planned to return this hot potato to Maxwell, considering it settling the debt he’d paid Larry to sever their ties.

Pearl’s car was parked in plain sight, and Rosemary spotted it immediately. Once she opened the car door and got in, she noticed that Pearl looked despondent and not in high spirits. She asked in confusion, “Mom, what’s wrong? Are you feeling ill anywhere?”

Now that she was publicly divorcing from Maxwell, what concerned her most was Pearl’s health.

Pearl glanced at the apartment Rosemary had just exited, hesitated, and then shook her head, “No, I’m quite fit; don’t worry about me.”

She knew about this place; Martin had even consulted Maxwell when buying it, and she had been right there at the time.

So they were living together now?!

Rosemary: “How did you know I was living here?”

“I asked Maxwell; he told me,” Maxwell knew she was living here with Martin, and didn’t feel a bit jealous. It seemed like his wife is really going to become someone else’s.

Sigh, best not dwell on it, it only brings heartache.

After pondering for a moment, Pearl spoke up, “Rosemary, even though you are very fond of each other for now, don’t be too hasty. What if he takes you for granted once he gets you? Though that kid does not seem like a person who indulges into irresponsibility, you can’t let your guard down, when you and Maxwell,”

She paused, unable to utter the word “divorce”, “Later, I’ll talk to him, make sure he marries you off with full honors.”

Rosemary was totally lost, “What are you talking about?”

“You and Martin are dating, aren’t you?”

“Where did you hear that from?” Rosemary couldn’t help but laugh, “Martin and I are just friends. I’m temporarily renting here; I’ve paid the rent.”

Pearl was instantly exhilarated, her gloom from the past few days scattered to the winds. “Paying extra for the rent is good, especially since the place is in a prime location, so we don’t owe them anything. Mom will wire you a few million later, keep it for spending.”

The auction this time was mainly jewelry, taking place at a swanky five-star hotel. The ones invited were all prestigious individuals from various sectors.

Rosemary darted off to the restroom, while Pearl waited for her at the entrance, chatting with her friend casually. Suddenly, she overheard someone nearby exclaim in surprise, “Hey, isn’t that the dancer? It seems like she’s holding Mr. Templeton’s invitation card!”