The Queen's Back

Mona lay in bed, watching Maxwell huddled on the couch. He looked so pitiful, like a big dog abandoned by its owner. Her heart ached, and she wanted to pull him into her arms. After what felt like ages, Mona whispered, "Maxwell, are you asleep?" "No." Maxwell's deep voice came from the darkness.

"I'm having trouble sleeping," Mona said softly. "I just can't seem to fall asleep."

"Close your eyes, clear your mind, and take deep breaths," Maxwell suggested. He turned his back and glanced at the bed. In the dim light, he could just make out Mona's silhouette under the covers.

His heart warmed with a strange feeling. Mona was lying in his bed-the very bed he usually slept in. The faint scent of her perfume hung in the air, a soft fragrance that made it hard for him to sleep as well.

With a sigh, Mona said, "It's no use, I still can't sleep. Are you sure you don't want to come up here? My sleeping position is pretty good."

In the dark, her courage grew. Despite Maxwell turning her down once, she found herself asking again. Feeling a bit shy, she remembered that the closest they'd ever been was the kiss Maxwell gave her at their engagement party. They hadn't had much chance to get close since then.

Suddenly, Mona felt the bed shift slightly as Maxwell lay down next to her, and his deep voice said, "Go to sleep" The warmth of his body and his masculine scent made Mona's heart race. She slowly moved closer to him, drawn by his heat.

Mona thought about everything Maxwell had done for her in her past life, and a wave of love filled her chest. She wanted to tell him the truth, but who would believe such a strange story? He'd probably think she was crazy.

Being close to Maxwell made Mona feel at ease, and she soon drifted into a deep, restful sleep. Maxwell, however, couldn't sleep at all. The soft scent of her filled the air, wrapping around him like a gentle web. He felt a strong pull to give in to the warmth and comfort she brought.

Suddenly, Mona's smooth leg draped over his, sending a tingling sensation through him. Maxwell's heart raced as he looked at her, now curled into his arms. So much for her claiming she had a good sleep position.

Gently turning onto his side, Maxwell faced Mona, their faces now just inches apart. He could feel the warmth of her soft skin and imagine her plush lips close by. His throat went dry as he swallowed, his hand instinctively sliding around her slim waist. Her waist was so tiny, he could almost wrap one hand around it.

'She's my fiancée. It's okay to hold her, right?' Maxwell thought, trying to justify the embrace. But now that he was holding her, other thoughts started to creep in. He reminded himself that he was a gentleman, not someone who'd take advantage, and fought to keep his wandering hands in check.

For Mona, it was the best night's sleep she'd had in a long time. With Maxwell beside her, she slept through the night without waking up from that unsettling feeling of weightlessness that had been frightening her for the past few days.

When Mona woke up the next morning, Maxwell was already gone. The only sign he'd been there was the crumpled bedsheets next to her. Mona wondered if she'd done anything embarrassing in her sleep last night but quickly shook off the thought. She'd always been a pretty calm sleeper.

Mona sat on the bed for a moment before getting up to get ready. A dress had been set out for her on the bedside table. It fitted perfectly, making her smile. After her bold request for Maxwell to share the bed last night, she was relieved to see he didn't seem annoyed. Come on, Mona, be braver. Maxwell's practically yours already! she whispered to herself. If anyone had walked in then, they would've seen her grinning like a fool, lost in happy thoughts.

Mona had to admit, that Maxwell had great taste. The light blue dress fit her perfectly, showing off her slim waist and long

15.16 Sat,

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When she went downstairs, Maxwell was already sitting on the couch. She greeted him with a smile and sat next to him. "Thanks for the dress, it's gorgeous. I really love it."

Maxwell responded calmly, "I'm glad you like it." But even as he spoke, his eyes couldn't help but linger on her. The dress, which seemed ordinary before, now looked even more stunning on her, perfectly showing off her slim waist.

After breakfast with his grandparents, Maxwell was eager to leave, still fuming about how Gordon had been eyeing Mona with that sleazy grin. "Want me to drop you home?" he asked.

"Yes, please," Mona said, sighing at the thought of facing her enemies.

Sure enough, as soon as Mona walked in, Barbara was there with a sugary-sweet smile, fawning over her. "Mona, how was your time with Maxwell? I'm so jealous! He must spoil you so much-he's perfect! How lucky you are!" Barbara gushed, clinging to Mona's side. Mona could barely tolerate her fake cheerfulness. Just hearing Barbara's voice made her stomach churn. 'Has she already forgotten she slept with my ex-fiancé? Stop faking this sisterly act just for the grandparents, Mona thought.

Mona took a step back and replied coolly, "What's going on? One fiancé wasn't enough for you-now you're aiming for the second one too?" Her words were cutting, and her gaze was icy, boring straight into Barbara.

For a moment, Barbara felt like Mona must have some deep grudge against her. But then she thought it through and realized all she'd done was just sleep with Mona's fiancé. Spotting Jane on the couch, Barbara quickly tried to explain, "No, Mona, you've got it all wrong. I really didn't mean it last time. Can't you still trust me?"

"Whether you meant it or not, it takes two to tango. You did it, so own up to it," Mona said sharply, then walked over to Jane, taking her arm warmly. "Grandma, I missed you."

Jane chuckled. "Oh, you silly girl, what's there to miss?" She then asked, "How's everyone at the Carter family?"

Mona filled Jane in on everything about Maxwell's family, making sure to highlight how Juliet looked down on her. She knew Jane would definitely get Bernard involved once she heard about it. "Overall, Maxwell's not bad," Jane said, smiling. "He even slept on the couch last night-a real gentleman!"

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