Chapter 313
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After returning home, Mona felt utterly exhausted. She took a quick nap and got up in the late afternoon to start preparing dinner.
When she picked up her phone, she noticed Maxwell hadn’t replied to the message she’d sent him earlier.
A familiar sense of helplessness washed over her. She wondered when this kind of life would finally come to an end.
Mona said: [Maxwell, I’m getting dinner ready now. Let me know when you see this.]
Mona knew Maxwell wouldn’t reply right away, so she didn’t keep checking her phone.
Hattie prepared fresh vegetables and meat daily, so Mona glanced through the fridge before deciding on the evening meal.
She spotted her favorite steak and, given the cold weather, decided to make beef vegetable soup.
She also saw some tomato and remembered that Maxwell used to say he loved it. So, she planned to include it as the vegetable dish for dinner
As the food neared completion, the soup was already filling the kitchen with its aroma, leaving only the vegetable dish to prepare.
Thinking of Maxwell again, she washed her hands and went to the living room to check her phone.
There were several messages, mostly from her grandparents and her best friend, but nothing from Maxwell.
Mona couldn’t help but open the chat with Maxwell first. Since his memory loss, it had become a one–sided conversation, filled almost entirely with her own words.
Maxwell’s responses were brief, with an occasional “okay” or “Not bad,” or sometimes he didn’t bother replying at all.
Reading through their chat history, Mona felt her eyes well up.
She realized she had become what people online now called a “simp.”
She was clinging to Maxwell shamelessly, just as she once had with Teddy. It was as if everything had come full circle, only this time with a different person.
Without thinking for too long, Mona dialed Maxwell’s number.
The phone rang for a long time before an automated voice informed her that the call could not be connected.
Mona hung up silently, wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye.
Despite everything she had been through, she still hadn’t fully matured. She couldn’t be completely rational. When things upset her, she still cried. Somehow, crying seemed to be the only way to release the sadness.
Returning to her phone, she saw messages from her grandparents asking what she planned to have for dinner and some words of care from Ava.
Her heart felt a bit lighter.
Maybe Mona wasn’t particularly lucky in love, and her relationship with Maxwell had been a bumpy ride. But she had treasures she could boast about without hesitation, her grandparents‘ love and a decade–long friendship with Ava. These were her most precious gifts.
After another attempt to call Maxwell went unanswered, Mona turned on the TV and sat on the sofa, half–watching and half-
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lost in thought.
Dinner was nearly ready. Mona was waiting only for Maxwell to return.
She sat there as the clock’s hands moved round and round, Outside, the sky grew darker, the faint rumble of thunder hinting at an approaching storm.
By the time Mona snapped out of her thoughts, it was almost eleven. She felt physically drained, so she tried calling Maxwell one more time. Still no answer.
She let out a bitter laugh, wondering when Maxwell would remember his wife was waiting for him.
Without much appetite, Mona decided to go upstairs to freshen up. Just as she was heading up, her phone rang.
The caller was Maxwell.
Though Maxwell often ignored her calls, Mona never hesitated to pick up his.
The phone had barely rung twice before she answered.
Maxwell’s voice came through the line. “Mona, come pick me up from the club. Bring some cash. I’ll send you the address.”
Before she could ask how much to bring, the line went dead.
As she listened to the dial tone, Mona’s face fell.
It was already five past eleven, and she had to go pick Maxwell up.
Apologetically, she woke up Haley, brought two bodyguards, retrieved her bank card, and had Haley drive her to the address Maxwell had sent.
At some point, a light rain had started outside, and the wind was bone–chilling. Mona wrapped herself in a down jacket before heading out.
The quiet streets seemed especially empty at this hour, the car moving smoothly along the road.
Mona leaned her head against the window, watching the streetlights cast a warm orange glow over her pale face, which highlighted her delicate features.
Outside, the light rain danced in the air. Mona gazed at the drops on the window, feeling a fresh wave of confusion. She no longer knew how to relate to Maxwell.
The car wound through the streets until it finally arrived at the illustrious club. The club’s bright lights stood out among the buildings, its lavish decor radiating luxury.
Haley got out, opened an umbrella, and helped Mona out, with the two bodyguards following behind.
The night was dark, and the rain fell in a steady drizzle.
Mona’s group walking in the rain caught attention.
Before they even entered, a club attendant was already at the door, taking Haley’s umbrella.
Haley mentioned Maxwell’s name, and the attendant quickly smiled at Mona. “Oh, Mrs. Carter, Mr. Carter has been waiting for you. Please, let me take you to him.”
Mona gave the attendant a polite smile.
The attendant, a young man who looked fresh out of school, was flustered by her smile, immediately ushering her through
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the club.
Inside, Mona noted that the club offered an array of entertainment rooms, game rooms, coffee lounges, dance halls…
The attendant led them up several floors, finally stopping at the top level.
“Mrs. Carter, Mr. Carter is in the largest private room here,” the attendant said.
“Thank you,” Mona said.
“It’s my pleasure to serve you, ma’am.”
Mona couldn’t help but feel a pang at those words. Once, Maxwell had told her, “It’s my pleasure to serve you.”
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After the attendant left, Mona stood facing the closed door, listening to the loud music and voices from within. Amid the noise, she heard Barbara’s name mentioned.
A bad feeling washed over her.
She raised her hand, knocking on the door.
SEND GIFT
