Chapter 16 The next morning , the moment Nancy opened her eyes , she saw Maxwell standing by the bed . His expression was unreadable -half a smile , half a shadow . " You're awake , " he said quietly . A strange chill crept up her spine , but before she could process it , Maxwell pulled her straight into his arms . " I've prepared a gift for you , " he whispered . Her heart swelled with joy . For a brief , blissful moment , she truly believed he had finally realized that she was the one meant to be his forever . Suppressing her excitement , she forced a coy , bashful smile . " What's the occasion today ? " she asked , laughing as she skipped over to check out the so - called surprise . She didn't notice the way Maxwell stood behind her , eyes dark and cold , like a serpent waiting for the perfect moment to strike . " I've thought it through . Since Zoey doesn't want me anymore , I don't need to think about her ever again . From now on , this villa belongs to just the two of us . " Nancy was ecstatic . She grabbed his arm , trailing her fingers flirtatiously . But Maxwell pulled her in first , his grip tightening around her waist . " There's more , " he murmured against her ear . " Don't rush . We've got plenty of time . " Her cheeks flushed with excitement . She leaned in and kissed his left cheek . " Okay , honey . I'll get ready right now . " Maxwell smiled faintly as she walked off to the bathroom . But the moment she disappeared from sight , the smile vanished . He pulled out an alcohol wipe and scrubbed every spot she had touched - once , twice , over and over , until his skin turned raw and red . His veins bulged . His hands trembled . The hatred - towering , suffocating - boiled beneath the surface . His bloodshot eyes still hadn't recovered from the night before . He had stayed up until dawn , rereading those messages . Every single word was like a knife , slicing him open again and again . No. He wouldn't let Nancy off easy . He would make her suffer . For the rest of her life . She would never dare utter Zoey's name again . When Nancy stepped out of the bathroom , hair still damp , she caught him mid - motion - wiping the chair , scrubbing his hands raw Her heart skipped . For a second , pure fear twisted inside her . " Maxwell ? " she called , her voice uncertain . He said nothing . Just grabbed her wrist and pulled her outside . Something was wrong . She could feel it now . Deep in her bones . But she couldn't figure out what it was . Not yet . It wasn't until they were walking down the street , past the same shop they'd passed minutes ago , when a massive flowerpot suddenly came crashing down - missing her by inches - that her whole body went rigid with terror . She spun toward him " Maxwell ... ? " 1/2 Chiccon 15 425 BONUS But Maxwell barely reacted . His face didn't even flinch . Instead , he let out a disappointed sigh , as if the accident hadn't gone the way he hoped " What are you afraid of ? His voice was smooth , eerily gentle . " I'm right here . Why would you be scared ? " He gripped her wrist tighter , dragging her forward . His arms felt like iron bars . That's when true fear finally set in A cold , nauseating realization crept into her mind . ' He's going to kill me ! No. No , that's impossible . It's impossible , ' she convinced herself . Nancy wasn't one to bottle things up . She spun in front of him , standing her ground , forcing the words out between trembling lips . Maxwell ... you ... you still hate me , don't you ? You hate me for getting between you and Zoey ... If you really don't love me ... I.... I can leave ... " The tears fell before she could stop them . She turned to run- But he caught her and pulled her straight back into his arms . " Don't say stupid things , " he whispered against her hair . " How could I hate you ? I love you . I love you so much . " " Look . " He pointed forward . " This is your gift . A private villa . Just for us . From now on , it's only the two of us . " The sheer surprise nearly knocked her senseless . She covered her mouth , trying to suppress the grin stretching across her face . He couldn't see it - the gloating satisfaction in her eyes . Everything was falling perfectly into place . Or so she thought . What she didn't know ... was that the next month would be a living hell . Maxwell's gaze never softened . Not for a second . His eyes were hollow . Empty of anything human . Only seething hatred remained . As he stared at the towering villa in front of them , for the first time , he felt the bitter sweetness of revenge . How could he let her die so easily ? No. He would trap her in this villa . He would make her suffer for the rest of her miserable life . He would make her pay for what she did to Zoey .