The Queen's Back

Chapter 10 41%2 Maxwell let out a quiet sigh and gently adjusted the strap of Mona's dress, covering a bit of her chest that had shown. Mona looked at him puzzled, wondering what he was doing.

"You were showing a bit. I just fixed it for you," Maxwell explained calmly, though his ears turned a bit red.

Mona adjusted her dress and said with a coy smile, "Thanks, honey. I'll be more careful next time." Mona saw Maxwell's gesture as a sign he was getting closer to her.

Hearing Mona call him "honey" so warmly, Maxwell felt like he could give her his heart. "No, no problem," he replied.

Gordon, clearly uncomfortable with their flirting, immediately urged the servants to serve the dishes. Maybe because it was a rare family gathering, the Carter family had prepared a lavish feast, with each dish carefully crafted and looking incredibly delicious. Richard and Stephanie couldn't eat much because of their age but enjoyed the lively atmosphere and the family reunion. The conversation at the table focused on Maxwell and Mona's wedding plans.

Maxwell mostly nodded and let Mona do most of the talking. To make a good impression on Maxwell's grandparents, Mona carefully chose her words, filling the table with laughter.

After lunch, Juliet helped Stephanie back to her room to rest, and Richard called Maxwell into the study. Donald was also called away by a phone call. With everyone gone, Mona was glad to enjoy squiet time. She relaxed on the sofa, playing on her phone and munching on fruit that the servants had prepared.

"Well, well, Mona, enjoying sfruit? Are those strawberries sweet?" a voice asked. Mona turned and saw Gordon sitting beside her.

She nodded. "They're alright. If you want some, just help yourself." Gordon chuckled and grabbed a strawberry from the fruit tray, but he thought the ones Mona was holding looked sweeter. "Mona, is Maxwell treating you well?" Mona frowned slightly, thinking he was just making awkward small talk. "He's pretty good." "Pretty good, huh? So, not the best. There's something I'm not sure if I should tell you or not. Not saying it feels like I'm keeping something from you, but bringing it up is... awkward," Gordon said, hesitating.

"Then don't say it," Mona replied, clearly not very impressed with Gordon.

Gordon suddenly slapped his thigh, startling Mona. "I should just say it, or my conscience will bug me. Do you know why Maxwell hasn't had a woman by his side all these years?" "Because he's got great self-control and isn't into chasing women," said Mona.

"Bull. It's because he really isn't... good in bed. He can't get it up. His ex left him because of that." Mona mulled over his words in her head. 'Can't get it up? Really? And wait, Maxwell had an ex?' she wondered. But in front of Gordon, she still defended Maxwell. With a mocking smile, she said, "Where'd you hear that nonsense? I'd know better than anyone if my fiancé has any issues." "Well, in that case, I must've been misinformed. But Mona, if you ever feel lonely or... unsatisfied, you know where to find me," Gordon replied with a sly grin, slipping a business card into her hand before sauntering away.

Left alone, Mona quickly tossed the business card into the trash, staring blankly for a moment. 'Could it really be true that Maxwell's impotent? But even if it is, I wouldn't hold it against him. I'd support him through treatment, and if that didn't work, we could always adopt,' she thought to herself.

1/2 ||| 15:16 Sat, Chapter 10 In the evening, at Richard's insistence, Maxwell and Mona stayed the night. After dinner, the servants showed them to their room, wished them a good night, and left.

Mona glanced around. The decor was elegant, exactly Maxwell's style. Then her eyes landed on the bed, where her nightgown was laid out. Mona's cheeks flushed as she stared at it. It was the sbright red as her dress, but way more revealing. The barely-there fabric made it clear the gown was designed to be more sexy than practical.

Maxwell quickly grabbed the nightgown and shoved it into the wardrobe, pulling out one of his shirts and handing it to Mona. "Wear this to sleep. It's new. That nightgown was probably prepared by Grandpa," he said.

Mona looked at the white shirt in her hands and nodded. She was just as uncomfortable with the nightgown and was relieved to have a more modest option.

The bathroom was fully stocked with toiletries, and Mona quickly finished her shower and stepped out, drying her hair. She noticed Maxwell's intense gaze fixed on her. "I'm done. You can go shower now," Mona said. Maxwell took off his glasses and nodded, but the image of Mona fresh out of the shower stayed with him. Her figure was stunning, with her long legs completely exposed-slender and smooth. He swallowed hard and quickly headed to the bathroom.

As soon as he walked in, the steam and lingering scent of Mona's bath hit him. Maxwell cursed under his breath. Agreeing to stay the night to spend a bit more twith Mona was turning out to be a huge mistake. Now he was just making things harder for himself. Meanwhile, Mona had let her grandmother know she wouldn't be coming hthat night and was now staring at the large bed. She'd be sleeping with Maxwell tonight.