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As soon as Jacob left Max’s study, Xena quickly stepped back and hid behind another corridor. She held her breath, making sure Jacob did not see her. A few moments later, the sound of approaching footsteps grew closer until Max finally emerged from the study. The man stopped when he saw Xena standing alone in the hallway.

“Why?” he asked calmly. “Having trouble sleeping?”

Xena had just been about to answer when Max’s gaze dropped to her feet. His brows furrowed slightly.

“You’re not wearing any slippers?”

Xena looked down as well. She had indeed left her room without putting anything on her feet.

“You could get cold,” Max said.

Before Xena could say anything, Max had already approached and simply picked her up. Xena instinctively grabbed his shoulders. Her body tensed in surprise as Max walked calmly toward the bedroom.

Xena felt so sad. Somehow, that simple act of concern felt painfully overwhelming. How could another man who was not her husband treat her with such gentleness? During the three years she had been married to Jacob, she had always hoped to receive this kind of attention from him.

Yet tonight, it was Max who did it without saying much.

After all, at the various gatherings they often attended together, Xena had always thought of Max as a cold and rigid man. He rarely spoke more than necessary and almost never showed her any particular attention. But now, the man had even carried her simply because he saw her walking barefoot in the middle of the night.

Xena slowly shook her head, trying to get rid of her strange thoughts. This was all part of the act. Right. Max must be doing all of this because he was following the role they had been given. There was no way Max would do all of this without a reason.

Once they reached the bedroom, Max gently laid Xena down in the middle of the bed.

“Get some rest, and next time, don’t forget to put on your slippers.”

After making sure she was lying comfortably, the man was about to stand again.

However, Xena remained silent. Jacob’s words from earlier kept echoing in her mind. About how she was boring, no longer attractive, and how Max certainly could not possibly be interested in Xena.

She did not know where the idea came from, but the overwhelming sense of desperation seemed to have clouded her judgment. And that prompted Xena to make sure of something.

“Max.”

The man stopped and turned toward her. “Yes?”

Xena stared at him for a few moments. Then, without giving herself a chance to change her mind, she pushed herself up slightly and pulled Max closer before pressing her lips against his.

Max’s body instantly froze.

Xena herself could feel her heart pounding hard. She knew what she was doing. She was provoking Max. She wanted to know whether everything Jacob had said was true. Was Max really not attracted to her in the slightest? Was Xena truly unattractive and boring as a woman?

But Max’s reaction left Xena breathless.

For a moment, the man truly lost control. His hands, which had initially been at Xena’s sides, moved as though he were about to pull her closer. His gaze changed, and his breathing sounded much heavier than before.

Xena almost thought she had gotten her answer. But Max quickly pulled himself back. He turned his face away and took a deep breath, as though he were trying to control something within himself.

Xena could only look at him sadly. So what Jacob had said was true. She ... wasn’t attractive. Not even to a stranger like Max.

For some reason, that thought only made her chest hurt even more.

“Max,” she called softly.

Max turned toward her.

“I’m not attractive, am I?”

Max’s brows immediately furrowed. “What?”

“That’s why you stopped touching me?” Xena’s voice grew softer. “Is there really something wrong with me?”

Max stared at her in disbelief, as though he could not believe such a question had come from Xena’s lips. Several seconds passed before he finally let out a long sigh.

“You just recovered from an accident,” he said calmly. “How could I not be attracted to my wife?”

Xena fell silent.

Max looked at her for a few moments before continuing, “I just have to be patient.”

“Patient?”

“Yes.” His voice remained low, but this time it sounded heavier. He moved closer until their foreheads touched, looking at Xena with an unfathomable gaze.

“I really want to touch you, Xena. But I don’t want to make you feel pressured after what you’ve just been through.”

Xena blinked several times, as though she still found it difficult to believe his words.

Max then reached out and gently caressed Xena’s cheek. Then his hand moved down to take hers. His movements remained calm and unhurried. He guided her hand closer to him, making Xena realize clearly that Max’s restraint all this time had not been because he was not attracted to her.

“If you still don’t believe me,” Max said, holding her gaze.

When Xena’s hand touched what Max desired, she gasped.

Max was tense, and this time Xena could clearly see that his breathing was beginning to grow uneven. Even the gaze that was usually so calm was now starting to be clouded with desire.

“You’re very attractive to me, Xena. But I’m really holding myself back.” Max pressed a kiss to Xena’s forehead, slowly, hesitantly, and so gently, as though he were afraid Xena would reject him.

For some reason, those words brought tears to Xena’s eyes.

“So ... do you believe me now?”