004

“Are you sure you’re okay with coming along?”

Xena shook her head slowly. “No.”

Max continued watching her for a few moments, as though making sure Xena was truly all right. Only then did they enter the private club’s lobby in the city center.

Xena usually avoided weekend parties like this. She knew Jacob and his friends often spent their time there. But this time, she wanted to make sure of something once again.

“Then let’s go inside.”

Xena nodded slowly and followed Max toward the room where his friends usually gathered.

As soon as she entered the room, Xena saw Jacob and Hazel. The two were sitting close together, not even trying to hide their intimacy. Hazel occasionally leaned against Jacob, while the man casually wrapped an arm around her waist.

Meanwhile, several of their other friends seemed completely unconcerned with their affection, as though their closeness had long since become an ordinary sight.

Xena could only remain silent. Her suspicion about how long Jacob had been doing this behind her back was finally beginning to be answered. And perhaps because Xena had claimed to have lost her memory, Jacob no longer hesitated to do all of this right in front of her?

“Absolutely disgusting,” Xena said softly.

Throughout her time there, Xena repeatedly saw Jacob being affectionate with Hazel as though she did not exist. Sometimes Jacob whispered something into Hazel’s ear, making the woman laugh softly. Other times, his hand never seemed to leave Hazel’s body.

Xena tried to remain as calm as usual. Even so, the longer she watched, the tighter her chest felt. Her surprise plan had turned out wonderfully. She felt like laughing while crying and asking, who was actually the one being surprised?

Eventually, one of them suggested a game of truth or dare.

The atmosphere, which had previously been filled only with conversation, gradually became livelier. Several people began taking turns answering questions or completing dares. Some chose truth and received embarrassing questions, while those who chose dare had to do various things that made everyone laugh.

Xena simply watched until the bottle finally stopped with its neck pointing directly at her.

“Xena, truth or dare?”

Xena thought for a moment before smiling. “Dare.”

Several people immediately cheered. “All right, then. The dare is simple.”

Someone grinned broadly and said enthusiastically, “You have to kiss your husband.”

Xena turned her head.

Upon hearing the challenge, Jacob, who was sitting not far from Hazel, also turned toward Xena. For a moment, there was a slight change in his expression. It was as though he had just realized that Xena was about to do something involving him.

Jacob even lifted his chin slightly, waiting. Perhaps he thought Xena would walk over to him. After all, in everyone’s eyes, wasn’t he Xena’s husband?

But instead, Xena stood up from her seat and walked toward Max.

The smile on Jacob’s face slowly disappeared.

Max himself looked slightly surprised when Xena stopped directly in front of him.

“Xena?” he called softly.

Xena only smiled faintly, as though there were nothing strange about what she was about to do. Then, before Max could say anything, Xena leaned forward slightly and briefly pressed her lips to his.

The room immediately erupted in cheers.

Jacob froze. He had never expected Xena to actually do it, especially with Max.

“Not like that, Xena! A little longer.”

Xena blinked, looking confused. “A little longer ...?”

One of them laughed. “The dare is one minute, Xena!”

Xena fell silent for a moment.

One minute?

She glanced at Max, who was still looking at her with an unreadable expression. Then, without realizing it, Xena remembered Jacob’s words again, about how she was boring and no longer attractive.

If that was the case, then Xena would find out right in front of Jacob. Did Jacob really think she was unattractive and boring?

Xena smiled faintly. “All right.”

Before Max could ask anything, Xena moved closer again. This time, she even sat on Max’s lap.

The atmosphere, which had previously been filled only with laughter, immediately became even more lively, but Xena did not care. She tucked the strand of hair that had fallen across her face away and moved even closer to Max.

“You ... don’t mind, do you?” Xena asked softly, while Max did not look away at all.

Xena was so surprised by the response she received. Instead, Max pulled her closer by the waist until there was almost no distance between them. Then one of his hands reached for the back of Xena’s neck as he spoke right above her lips.

“How could I possibly mind being kissed by my own wife?”

Meanwhile, Jacob’s expression changed drastically. Just moments ago, he had still been waiting for Xena to come to him. But what was this? His wife was sitting on his best friend’s lap instead.

Jacob’s jaw tightened. His hands clenched at his sides, while his sharp gaze remained fixed on Xena and Max.

As soon as the dare was over, Max had just started to stand when Jacob immediately approached him and grabbed his hand.

“We need to talk outside.”

His tone was firm. Without waiting for Max’s answer, Jacob asked him to leave the private room of the club. Max simply followed him calmly, while Xena watched the two of them from where she stood.

Once they reached one of the open areas in the club, Jacob immediately spoke to Max with a sharp gaze. “You need to know your boundaries, Max.”

Max looked at him impassively. “Boundaries?”

“Xena is my wife.”

Max raised an eyebrow slightly. “So?”

“You know what happened just now.” Jacob’s jaw tightened. “You let her sit on your lap and kiss you in front of everyone.”

Max remained calm. Even his expression barely changed. “Then show me how you expect me to maintain the boundaries you’re talking about.”

Jacob fell silent for a moment.

Max continued, his voice still low but growing firmer.

“How about you, who have been standing right in front of your wife this whole time, kissing and getting intimate with another woman? You don’t even care whether Xena sees it or not.”

“That’s different,” Jacob retorted.

“How is it different?”

Jacob clenched his fists. “You know what my relationship with Hazel is like.”

“Yes, I know.” Max nodded slowly. “And Xena is your wife.”

“Then you should know your boundaries.”

Max stared at Jacob for a few moments before saying, “I’m actually following the boundaries you set yourself.”

Jacob glared at him.

“Xena lost her memory,” Max continued. “And you were the one who handed her over to me.”

“It’s only temporary,” Jacob cut in, refusing to back down.

“Even if it’s only temporary, am I supposed to make her feel rejected?”

Jacob fell silent.

Max stepped a little closer. This time, his gaze was no longer as calm as before.

“You want me to keep my distance from her because she’s your wife. But at the same time, you don’t treat her like a wife.”

“That’s none of your business,” Jacob shot back sharply.

“You’re right.” Max nodded. “But right now, I’m the one taking care of her.”

Jacob grew even angrier. “Don’t make it seem like you’re actually her husband.”

Max looked straight at him. “Isn’t that what you asked me to do?”

Jacob did not answer immediately.

Max then asked, “If she truly never remembers any of this, what are you going to do?”

The question left Jacob silent.

For the first time, the confidence on his face disappeared. He did not answer right away, as though that simple question was something he had never truly thought about.

Max watched him for a few seconds before continuing. “Right now, I’m her husband. Just as you asked.”

His tone remained calm, but every word was perfectly clear.

“I’m not going to make my wife feel rejected just because I have to maintain boundaries with you.”

Jacob stared at him with a furious look.

Max did not budge. “You should also understand where we stand right now until Xena’s memory returns.”

He paused for a moment, then looked Jacob directly in the eyes. “Remember, I’m her husband.”

Jacob remained silent.

“Not you.”