Whispers of Destiny: His Belated Love

Maxwell's lips were pressed into a straight line, his eyes coldly fixated on Rosemary as he spoke with a nonchalant tone, "Are you that interested?"

"I was just," Rosemary began, but halfway through her sentence, her face suddenly changed color. She grabbed the handrail tightly and cried out to him in a frantic panic, "Maxwell, watch the road, not me! You're driving, for heaven’s sake - look ahead!"

Her voice was so loud it almost cracked.

Though this road wasn't bustling with traffic, there were still cars around. Maxwell, the madman, was only looking at her and not slowing down one bit. It looked like they were about to rear-end the car ahead. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Rosemary shut her eyes tight and screamed, "Ah, we're gonna crash!"

A piercing brake sound filled the air, but the expected collision never came. Aside from a bit of shoulder pain from the seatbelt's sudden tug, there was no other hurt.

Rosemary opened her eyes to find the Bentley's nose just inches away from the car in front. If he'd hit the brakes even a second later.

She was fuming, her voice taking on a shrill edge, "Maxwell, if you've got a death wish, go find someplace where you're the only casualty. Don't drag others into it, especially not me. I don't want people to think we died in some tragic love pact!"

"Shouldn't you be thrilled to die alongside me?" A smirk played on Maxwell’s lips as he leaned in close to her.

Their proximity suddenly closed to the point where they could clearly see their own reflections in each other's eyes.

Maxwell's gaze landed on her face. She wasn't wearing makeup today, just a thin layer of lip gloss on her lips. He stared at her lips, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, his eyes growing deeper.

Rosemary's lips tightened, "How much must you hate me to do this? Think I'd be happy to die with you? You think I'd be thrilled by that kind of bad luck?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she unceremoniously pushed Maxwell away and scolded with a cold face, "Drive properly. Cut out the sickly-sweet act; it's making me want to smack you."

The man hit the back of the seat, his eyes clouding over with darkness, "Then don't worry about what you shouldn't."

Knowing he was referring to the mess with Victoria, Rosemary opened her mouth to speak, only to be met with a cold glance from Maxwell, "Shut it."

Due to this little episode, it was past six when they got back to the villa. Pearl, hearing the engine, came out of the villa, "Why are you back so late? I tried calling, but no one answered. I was worried sick."

Rosemary pulled out her phone and indeed saw two missed calls. She had it on silent and hadn't heard them.

"I had Wendy make your favorite dishes. You must be starving. Let's eat once you've washed your hands." Pearl hooked her arm with Rosemary's and walked towards the villa, "Wendy, Mrs. Rosemary is back; get the dishes out."

Maxwell watched the two walk away and was speechless. Huh, wondered who was the real kin here.

By the time he went in, Pearl and Rosemary were already seated at the dining table, ready to eat. His place setting was notably absent.

Maxwell washed his hands and sat down, "Wendy, fetch me some cutlery."

Wendy looked hesitantly at Pearl who was serving Rosemary, reminding, "Mr. Templeton, Mrs. Pearl Templeton's not in a good mood."

Pearl huffed without looking up, "Why eat at all? A man as fickle as you doesn't deserve a meal in our house. It's just a waste anyway."

Rosemary let out a snort of laughter, a sentiment she wholeheartedly agreed with.

The man looked emotionlessly at her, and just as she looked up to meet his gaze, recalling the alliance they had struck in the car, she swallowed her food, "Pearl."

Maxwell interrupted with a cold tone, "Mom, who's been spouting nonsense and stirring trouble behind my back?"

Pearl knew her son well; if he found out who it was, that person would be done for. She slammed the table with a stern face.

"If you hadn't done anything, there'd be no rumors to spread. But you did and now you won't even let others talk? Is this what we Templetons taught you, to bully others with your power?"

A deathly silence fell over the dining room. Pearl pressed her lips, silent for a moment before commanding, "Send her abroad. I don't want to see her again."

Everyone knew who “she” referred to.

Maxwell furrowed his brow, "No way."

This was the first time Rosemary saw him so adamantly defend someone. Maxwell was usually unemotional, rarely showing his feelings, and it was rare to see him so protective of another.

Under the quiet lighting, the man sat straight on the dining chair, his handsome features shrouded in a layer of unresolved gloom, and that determination, no one could ignore.

Pearl hadn't expected her son to openly defy her for Victoria; that woman truly was a calamity. She should never have been allowed back in the country!

"So what do you plan to do? Keep her as a mistress? Or divorce Rosemary and marry her?"

These things shouldn't have been said in front of Rosemary. Watching her husband defend another woman must be excruciatingly painful!

But Pearl truly loved Rosemary as her own daughter, preferring her to suffer now than be kept in the dark and stuck in such a terrible marriage. Pearl looked at Rosemary, taking her hand and patting it reassuringly.

Maxwell's gaze followed, landing on the woman sitting quietly, her delicate features radiant and beautiful, as lovely as a porcelain doll without makeup. Her silent demeanor seemed to convey sadness, or perhaps she was lost in thought.

His lips parted slightly, "I."

This time, Rosemary interrupted, "Pearl, don't blame him."

Maxwell's brows instantly drew together, his lips pressed into a thin line, his knuckles turning white as his face darkened to a stormy shade.

Before he could speak, Rosemary continued, "Maxwell and I have decided to divorce. There's a long life ahead, and he's got to find you a daughter-in-law, right?"

Pearl hadn't expected things between them to have reached the point of divorce. Shocked, she looked between Maxwell and Rosemary, "Is it because of Victoria?"

Rosemary let out a resigned chuckle, hugging her arms and pouting, "No, it's something we decided on a long time ago, just got postponed because of some other stuff. Pearl, even if Maxwell and I get divorced, I'm still forever your daughter. And actually, Victoria is pretty awesome. She was the campus belle back in college, and now she's this internationally acclaimed dancer, super dedicated and hardworking, and totally head over heels for Maxwell."

Back in the day, she and Victoria couldn't stand each other, and now here she was, singing her praises. Talked about a slap in the face. And boy, did it sting!

She glanced at Maxwell, but the guy was just staring at her, stone-cold, not even a hint of jumping into the conversation when their eyes met. So she just gave him a little suggestive eyebrow wiggle, like, "Right?"