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Hazel’s question made Xena turn around. She looked between Hazel and Jacob. Her friend was resting comfortably against Jacob’s shoulder. It looked so natural, as though their closeness had been there for a long time. Then Xena turned toward Max, who had been waiting all this time.

“No,” Xena said with a faint smile. “Why would I mind?” She then linked her arm through Max’s. “No matter where my room is, as long as I’m with my husband, I don’t mind.”

Max glanced at her, a faint smile touching his lips.

“Come on, Hubby. I want to rest for a while. The trip here was tiring.”

Max raised an eyebrow at the affectionate nickname, but said nothing. He simply placed his hand over hers and led her toward the elevator.

Behind them, Jacob's expression darkened. His eyes remained fixed on their intertwined arms.

Once they reached their room, Xena chose to unpack their belongings. She let Max attend to his own matters because as soon as they entered the room, Max’s phone rang. The man asked Xena’s permission to step out for a while because it was related to work.

Not long after, a message came in from Hazel.

[Hazel: Xena, could you come to my room for a moment? I need your help.]

Xena stared at the message for a while.

A sudden request from Hazel? Xena didn't believe for a second that her friend genuinely needed help.

Still, she wanted to see what Hazel was planning.

Xena picked up her phone and headed toward Hazel's room.

Her steps stopped when she was almost in front of Hazel’s room. The door was not fully closed. Xena was about to knock, but the voices coming from inside made her hand stop in midair.

She heard Hazel’s voice, followed by Jacob’s. Slowly, she turned toward the gap in the open door. And what she saw made her body freeze.

“Darling ... faster,” Hazel whimpered, accompanied by a moan.

“Of course.” Jacob continued moving his body without hesitation. “You really know how to satisfy me, Honey.”

“Ugh!” Hazel moaned.

Xena’s heart began to race. Jacob and Hazel were locked in an intimate embrace, their clothes scattered carelessly around them. Their whispered words, breathless sighs, and lingering kisses filled the room, leaving no doubt about what had been happening between them.

Xena stumbled back, her fingers tightening around her phone. For a moment, she thought of taking a picture, but she couldn't bring herself to look inside that room again.

She turned and hurried back to her room. Even her steps felt unsteady as she closed the bedroom door behind her.

As soon as the door closed, Xena's composure finally collapsed. She covered her mouth with both hands, but the tears came anyway.

Xena walked over to the bed and sat on the edge. Her shoulders trembled, while her hands still covered her face.

She wanted to get angry, scream in protest, and confront Jacob to ask why he could do all of this to her.

But she could not, because in front of everyone, she was nothing more than a woman who had lost her memory.

And she wasn't ready to reveal the truth just yet.

Not long after, the door to her room opened. Xena hurriedly wiped away her tears, but it was already too late.

Max stood in the doorway and immediately realized Xena’s condition. His gaze turned concerned. He walked toward her without rushing, then stopped in front of Xena.

“What’s wrong?”

Xena did not answer.

Max looked at her face for a few moments before asking again in a calm voice, “What happened?”

Xena slowly shook her head. “I don’t know.” Her voice sounded unsteady. “I just feel so sad.”

Max fell silent for a moment. He did not pressure Xena to explain. He simply looked at her with an attentive expression before finally asking gently, “What can I do to make you feel better?”

Xena lifted her face and stared intently at Max. There were still traces of tears in her eyes, but this time, there was something different in them.

Without realizing it, she reached out and touched the face of the man who was her husband’s best friend.

If Jacob could do something like that with someone else, why couldn’t she?

And ... was Xena really no longer attractive in other people’s eyes?

“You said you really wanted to touch me,” Xena said softly. “But these past few days, I was still recovering.”

Max fell silent.

Xena looked at him without breaking eye contact. “Now I’ve recovered. So ... do you still not want to touch me?”

The question left Max completely silent.

He knew what Xena was doing. She was testing him, but at the same time, he also knew that Xena was off-limits to him, yet ...

Max let out a quiet sigh. For a moment, the man truly seemed to be standing at a crossroads. He could step back and keep his distance as he usually did, or accept what Xena herself was offering him.

His gaze lingered on her face. The tears in her eyes hadn't completely dried, but Xena reached for his hand, drawing him closer.

In the end, Max looked at Xena with an unreadable expression. “If the temptation is this strong,” he said calmly, “what can I do?”

Xena did not have time to answer before Max moved closer.

The kiss Max gave her landed softly yet deeply on Xena’s lips, as though all the restraint he had built up collapsed in an instant. Max cupped both of Xena’s cheeks with his warm palms, tilting his head to deepen the kiss as it slowly turned into desire.

Xena held her breath for a moment before finally returning the kiss, curling her fingers around the curve of Max’s neck and pulling him closer.

Max's hand settled at her waist, drawing her closer as his kisses moved along her jaw before trailing down to her neck.

Xena tilted her head back, a soft gasp escaping her lips.

When Max briefly pulled away, Xena caught his shirt.

“Don't stop,” she whispered.

Max's gaze darkened, but he paused long enough to look into her eyes.

“Are you ... sure?”

Xena smiled faintly. “Yes.”

Max slipped an arm around her waist and drew her against him. Xena instinctively wrapped her arms around his shoulders, feeling the warmth of his body against hers.

Jacob had crossed the line. Why should she be the one to hold back?

And the man before her, Maximilian Gareth, was far more captivating than she had ever expected.

Why should she deny herself the chance to experience something different?

Xena slipped her fingers into his hair, drawing him closer until their foreheads nearly touched.

Max's hand tightened briefly around her waist. For a moment, he seemed about to say something, but when Xena reached for him again, whatever he had intended to say was forgotten.

He reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head before setting it aside. He then removed his belt and trousers, leaving them carelessly beside the bed.

Xena stared at him, momentarily speechless.

His broad shoulders, defined chest, and sculpted abs were now fully exposed. She hadn't expected such a well-built physique beneath his usual tailored suits.

Max stepped closer. This time, Xena reached out, resting her hand against his bare chest.

He caught her hand gently and pressed a kiss to her fingertips before drawing her into his arms.

“Please ... be gentle.”

A faint smile touched Max's lips.

“I will.”

Max lowered her onto the bed, one arm supporting her back. Xena held on to his shoulders, drawing him down beside her.

He leaned over her, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face. Xena reached up and touched his cheek before pulling him closer.

Max was gentler than Xena had expected, but there was nothing indifferent about the way he held her. Beneath his usual composure, she could feel how much he wanted her.

Xena couldn't tell whether she was simply trying to escape her pain or had genuinely begun to enjoy having Max by her side.

For once, however, she chose not to search for an answer.

She wanted to erase the image of Jacob and Hazel wrapped in each other's arms. Just for a little while, she wanted to lose herself in the warmth and comfort Max offered her.

Max leaned closer. Xena closed her eyes and drew him toward her, ready to let things go further.

Until suddenly—

The bedroom door burst open.

Xena startled, immediately turning toward the doorway.

Max instinctively moved in front of her, shielding her from whoever had entered.

Jacob stood frozen on the threshold, his eyes wide with disbelief. The color had drained from his face as he stared at them, as though his mind refused to accept what he was seeing.

“What are you doing, Max?”