Chapter 126 - Completely Honest (2/2)

She beamed at Maxen's reaction—a face that nobody could paint as he held into his emotion, afraid to offend her. Olivia shook from glee upon seeing his bushy brow rise and fall, the one thing that moved in his stoic face.

”Are you sure that's your cat?”

”Yes. She's beautiful, right?”

Most of the time, if Maxen sees something absurd, he would hold off his judgement and his face would paint nothing but neutrality on it, but not today. Not with her baby. His face said it all, and Olivia saw through it, beaming at him as she waited how he'd react to the photo on the screen.

”Baby… Ha-ha! Ha-ha! I don't know.” He scratched the skin atop his eyebrow. Right in front his eyes was a photo of a grey Peterbald cat. ”She looks scary to me. Ha-ha! Oh good Lord, please don't be mad at me, baby. It's just. That cat breed looked ridiculous.”

”Do you know what looks ridiculous? You sleeping on the sofa tonight!”

…..

Notios Estate

Two days away from the auction night and Maxen woke up alone in the bed. When he palmed Olivia's side of the bed, it was empty and cold telling him she woke up earlier than her usual wake up time.

He knew just where to find her so he quickly changed and followed the trail that Olivia took ever since they moved to his private Estate earlier that week.

”Catch!” He heard her say, her jazzy voice made the eagle tilt its head to the side, questioning if it should keep listening to her voice or follow her command.

He smiled upon seeing Olivia happily toss another fish to Aqui the eagle who now flew, albeit low, catching the fish mid air.

Olivia clapped her hand in delight. ”Good boy! Let's train your wings again tomorrow morning, okay little guy?”

A waiting servant stepped forward, pumping a soap on her palm. She rubbed it clean together when another servant stepped forward holding up a basin filled with lemon water. She dipped her hand, rinsing it before wiping it dry with a towel.

And just like the other mornings since they moved, Maxen stood silently on the sidelines, drinking Olivia's jolly air. However, to his shock, something slithered on his feet. Ever on high alert, Maxen stood frozen, breathing ever so lightly so as not to surprise the cheesecake that coiled on his leg.

”Oh, Max! He likes you.” Olivia was all smiles as she approached Maxen. She hunched down and was about to pet the python when she remembered she already washed her hand, so she gestured for a servant to come and get the serpent off of Maxen's leg.

Standing up to her full height, she planted a morning kiss on his lips, patting his cheeks twice. ”Maxen, relax. You're as stiff as a log. You're upsetting him when he's just saying good morning to his daddy.”

”I don't remember you giving birth to a python.” His tone was flat yet his eyes darted to her belly. Subconsciously, his hand reached for it, hugging her from behind as their eyes roamed on Olivia's mini safari in his estate.

He sighed, knowing full well that marriage between them wouldn't happen soon, and that includes babies too.

He saw it every day how Olivia would drown herself with work, hellbent on carving a name for herself and he didn't want to take away what she worked hard for, so as much as he wanted to bring their relationship into the next level, he'll just find contentment with those animals for the meantime.

”What are you thinking?” She asked, lifting her head to see the look on his face.

”You know what I'm thinking.”

”Yes, that's true, but I want to hear it from you.” She twisted in his caging embrace, turning around to face him. Her b.r.e.a.s.t got squished in the process that her cleavage was in full view for Maxen who eyed it with feral possession.

Clearing his throat, he trailed off, ”I was wondering what your end goal in Pyxis is.”

”Oh. That's...” Olivia paused, caught off-guard with his question. She didn't expect him to mention the name, and she didn't expect him to even broach the subject.

”If I will be completely honest with myself, I don't know what I wanted to do anymore.”