005 O-Okay...

Mary had always lived a life full of worry and anxiety. She feared her husband and didn't dare talk back to him even after she found out he was cheating on her regularly.

But,

'W-What is happening…?' she mumbled to herself in confusion, as her blue eyes fixated on Max, who was gently massaging her hands.

'W-Why does it feel good?' she wondered as a light blush crept onto her cheeks.

It had been a few minutes since Max had begun massaging her, and his skill worked like a charm as Mary felt as if all her stress was slowly leaving her body.

But she still was sceptical about him, her body still curled into a foetal position on the sofa with only her hands extended to him.

Max continued smiling at her, slowly massaging her hand, "You know, Miss, I can understand your pain…," he started, mumbling in a low voice.

A frown creased on Mary's brows as she listened to his words; she narrowed her eyes, her fingers becoming stiff.

Max noticed this, yet he continued, "You see, my mom loved my dad. They wanted to get married but my grandparents didn't agree."

Her eyes narrowed further; his words grabbed her attention.

"But they got married nonetheless," Max continued, "it angered my grandparents and they disowned my mother."

He then gave her a weak smile, "But you see, my father didn't work. Even after my mother had got pregnant with me, he didn't work."

Mary was so focused on Max's story that she didn't notice her body was gradually relaxing.

A tingling sensation trickled through her rigid arms, which gradually began to loosen.

"But my mother pushed through; she worked even when she was pregnant."

Mary's body loosened, her legs falling from her seat. Her breathing softened while her heartbeat relaxed.

"And after having me, things only got worse….." Mary's eyes trembled as Max took a deep breath; she didn't know why, but she felt as if the air around them had suddenly become heavy.

"My father refused to work even after having me, forcing my mother back to work," Max's voice trembled, as if in anger. His emerald-green eyes glinted as he continued.

"And to add salt to the wound, he refused to look after me, insisting that she hire a babysitter."

Mary's breath hitched; she knew what was coming; she could practically see it.

But what she couldn't see was how she subconsciously leaned forward towards Max.

And Max noticed this; his hands moved a little further, slowly inching towards her shoulders while he continued the story.

"My mom loved my dad, and she didn't want to burden him. So, she hired a babysitter, even if she had to work two shifts to do so."

Max had inched towards her elbow, but he paused as he observed her reaction.

Mary was engrossed in his story, her gaze was glued to his, and her body was leaning toward him. 'Not yet,' he mumbled inwardly.

"For about six months, everything seemed fine, on the surface at least," Max continued in a low voice, his pace gradually decreasing.

"My mom used to go to work at six in the morning, and return well into the night. She would always return exhausted from work and fall right into bed, asleep."

"She worked hard, after all," Max added with a condescending snort.

"But one day—" He paused, his hand clenching Mary's for a moment, causing her to flinch.

Her eyes flickered as she bit her lip; she knew it. She knew what was coming, and yet she didn't want him to stop.

"One day, my mom's boss gave her an early leave. She was thrilled; after many months, she got time to spend with me and my dad."

He then looked her dead in the eye, his emerald green eyes quivering as he muttered, "But when she reached home, everything c-crumbled."

Mary's eyes widened as her body shook for a moment; her gaze became distant as a single tear fell down her eye.

She could see it; she could see what Max's mother saw, and she could see herself in his mother.

Standing outside the house, she could see her man, the man whom she thought was the love of her life, the man who she had given her everything to, with another woman.

She thought they were happy, living a normal life and hoping for some kids.

But when she saw him, fucking another woman right by the window for the whole world to see.

She felt as if the world around her shattered; weren't they happy?

They were supposed to be 'the couple!' The one where everyone would be jealous of them.

What went wrong!?

Did she do something wrong!? Yes, she must have! Or else why would he be with someone else?

Yes, she did something wrong!

Maybe she could apologise!? Try to mean things between them.

But, would it work? What if it didn't!?

….

Max didn't finish his story; he knew he didn't need to.

His eyes glinted as he watched Mary, who was now crying silently.

He could feel her hands trembling as he held her, 'I'm sorry, Mary. That I had to seduce you like this,' Max mumbled inwardly.

He genuinely felt sorry for her, whose circumstances closely resembled his mother.

'Don't worry, I'll take care of you from now on,' he exclaimed inwardly before letting go of her hand and cupping her cheeks.

"Huh?" Mary exclaimed as she fell out of her daze. Her breath heaved up and down while her body trembled as she looked at Max.

"Like I said, Miss," Max mumbled, gently wiping away her tears with his thumb, "I can understand your pain…"

BADUMP

Mary's heart thumped against her chest at his words, "I-I," she tried to speak, but no words came out of her mouth.

Max only smiled at this; he slowly rose to his feet, standing up, "A beautiful woman like you shouldn't cry, Miss." He whispered before walking behind her.

He then placed her hands on her shoulders, which caused Mary to flinch in reaction.

But Max gave her a warm smile and said, "Don't worry, Miss. I won't do something you won't like," he then pressed her shoulders a little, causing a moan to escape her lips.

"Mmhm~"

Mary's eyes widened at this while her entire face turned red; she immediately covered her mouth while her ample bosom heaved up and down.

She then looked up to Max, who had leaned closer, his face a mere few inches away from her. "What do you say, Miss? I'll stop whenever you like."

Mary's heart throbbed against her chest; she had never been this close to another man, and yet, 'W-Why do I want him to be closer?' she wondered in confusion.

Max's eyes glinted at her reaction; he pressed on her shoulders once more, causing her to moan again, "Mmhm~"

A smirk bloomed on his face while Mary's face turned even redder. "Well…" Max asked.

Mary averted her gaze from his; she felt the air around them turn hot before she whimpered, "O-Okay…"