"I haven't come here to fight, Axel. I can see you're still into using fresh blood to achieve your goals," Maxi, who's a woman in her late 20s, said as she took in Alethea's face in disdain.

Axel's expression darkened, his voice taking on a sharp edge. "You don't dare talk to me like that, Maxi! What the hell are you doing here!?" he repeated.

Maxi pretended to be scared of his raised voice, and she took a step back before raising her hands in a defensive gesture.

Alethea saw the glint of amusement in her eyes, and she could sense that she was really enjoying the confrontation.

"You really have to take chill pills, Axel. If you know what crucial role I play in your enterprise now, you wouldn't be here yelling at me like you just did," Maxi cooed, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Also, about your nightmare secret... I know the whole story behind it now. Don't you think it's better we reconcile?" she added, with a sly smile playing at the corner of her cheek.

"Stop spitting nonsense, bitch! What are you here for!?" Axel snapped, his patience wearing thin.

Alethea could sense the anger simmering beneath the surface, but she remained silent.

Maxi, however, seemed to be enjoying the scenario, and a wry smile wouldn't stop spreading across her face. "Awww, you still got that in you. Well, the real thing is, I want us to discuss business in my apartment tonight," she said, finally sounding serious.

Her words, like a dropped bombshell, made Alethea's eyes widen in curiosity, mixed with annoyance. She couldn't help but wonder who she was, and why she was being so provocative.

"Did you just say business? You must be sick, Maxi," Axel spat in disgust and turned to leave with Alethea.

But then, Maxi's next words brought him to a halt.

"After you, I now have the highest shares in the company," she announced, her voice dripping with triumph. "I'm the top 2 shareholder of your company, Axel. Your aunt transferred all her shares to me."

Her words hung in the air like a challenge, and Alethea's eyes instantly snapped to Axel's face, watching as his expression changed from anger to shock. There, she realized the woman wasn't totally a stranger.

"Also, about your nightmare secret, I'm serious about knowing the whole truth behind it," Maxi added, her voice dripping with malice. "I know you're not what everyone seems to think you are, Axel. If you don't want me to spill the beans right here in front of all your prestigious business partners, you better cooperate with me, starting from here."

Her words were like a thinly veiled threat, and Alethea could sense the tension between her and Axel escalating.

But then, Axel suddenly dropped her hand for Maxi's, before forcefully dragging her out of the hall.

As Alethea watched both of them disappear into the crowd, she stood frozen, looking puzzled on the spot.

Just then, a man looking mesmerizing in a tailored wine suit suddenly showed up in front of her. "Hello, hot princess," he said, making her snap out of her thoughts.

As Alethea took in his chiseled features and piercing grey eyes, she saw him smiling brightly at her, with his lips curled up in a charming way.

"Uhmm, hello," she replied abruptly, in a daze.

"You seemed to be lost in thought when I got here. You must be curious about her... I mean, the woman your husband walked out with," the strange man uttered in a low and smooth voice.

Alethea couldn't help but be more dazed by his words, but she deliberately kept mute.

The man didn't seem to mind her silence and continued talking. "Oh, sorry, my bad. I'm actually an old friend of your husband. You can call me Carlos," he added with a smile, and then stretched out his hand for a shake.

Alethea's eyes narrowed slightly, observing the man. After so much hesitation to dismiss him outright, she finally waved the thought off and took his handshake slowly.

"Such delicate skin," Carlos complimented, rubbing her palm.

"Can you let go, please?" Alethea muttered, looking into his eyes, as his hold suddenly became firm on her.

But Carlos didn't listen. Instead, his grip tightened the more.

"Axel has always been around beautiful women," Carlos cooed, and his smile suddenly faltered. "I'm sure you don't know anything about that woman in a red dress," he added, with his gaze locked onto her face.

Alethea stared at him, confused, as she wondered what his real concern was.

"If he refuses to tell you about her, you can reach out to me through this," he continued, slipping his business contact card into her hand.

At that moment, Axel stepped back into the hall with Maxi right beside him. As his eyes landed on Carlos and Alethea's joined hands, his jaw clenched in anger, and he strode up to them.

The moment Carlos noticed his approach, he dropped Alethea's hand at once and awaited him.

"I'm sure you're aware she's mine, Carlos," Axel seethed upon reaching them, and without hesitation, his arm slid around Alethea's waist, pulling her forcefully against his body.

Alethea's eyes widened slightly as she felt her backside bounce hard against his torso.

"Chillax, man. I was only sending my greetings as your old pal," Carlos replied, flashing him a wink.

Axel's gaze locked onto his, annoyed. "Don't make it seem like you're still important, Carlos. We're nothing but business rivals now. And mind you, I wouldn't want you a metre near whatever is mine from henceforth," he warned.

With that being said, he released his grasp on Alethea and walked out of the party with her.

"You didn't have to provoke him that much," Maxi said to Carlos the moment she walked up to him.

"Not like I was even close to what you did tonight, bitch," he said, smirking.

~

The drive back to the penthouse was utterly silent. The moment the car halted, Axel was the first to step out of the car.

As he retreated, Alethea watched him from the car, realizing he wasn't himself yet. Taking a deep breath, she glanced at Carlos' business card in her palm and slipped it into her purse before stepping out of the car.

Stepping into the living room, she found him sitting on one of the sofas with his gaze fixed at the entrance, as if awaiting her presence.

"I was thinking you decided to sleep in the car tonight, or probably elope with your charming prince, Carlos," he said in a deep, husky voice.

Alethea stared at him in silence, his words leaving her dumbstruck.

Just then, he stood up and moved to stand in front of her. "I'm sure you can recall rule 2. Till the deal is off, my wife shouldn't be seen in such close contact with another man," he uttered calmly to her face.

Alethea scorned inwardly before replying. "He wouldn't let go of my hand after shaking it," she muttered.

Axel chuckled softly as he stared at her face. "Well, next time, don't even bother to shake a man," he said coldly, glancing at his wristwatch. "I'll be heading out to meet Maxi. Prepare to bring your daughter here tomorrow," he ordered, then turned to leave.

Alethea's eyes snapped up in shock as the second sentence echoed louder in her head. "Bring my daughter for what!?" she snapped.

Her sudden outburst made Axel stop dead in tracks, and his eyes flickered in surprise. He had never spoken to him in such a manner before, and for a moment, he realized just how fiercely protective she could be over her daughter.

Facing her, he responded, "If you want to continue keeping your daughter safe, you'd do just as I say. Maxi won't stop at anything to get to me now, and trust me, you're already her first target."

Alethea's face became livid. "And who the fuck really is this Maxi!?" she snapped again, her patience finally slipping off completely.

Axel sucked in a breath, his gaze on her furious expression. "Maxi is no one important, Alethea. But kindly be rest assured, your daughter will be safe right here with us," he managed to reply calmly.

"How did you know I birthed a girl?" Alethea muttered, finally calming down. "And if Maxi isn't someone important, why would you hastily drag her out of the hall?"

Axel's brows suddenly furrowed in displeasure at her last question. "Remember I'm still your boss, Alethea. Maxi is no one, and that's final!" he seethed.

"And about your child, I had to know more after the single mother revelation," he added.

Alethea swallowed her words as she realized he was back to overpowering her as the boss.

Taking in her silence, Axel sighed in frustration and then spoke again. "I'll go deeper into more details about other changes probably tonight if you're still awake. I'll be heading out now," he concluded, and with this, he used the door.

Left alone, Alethea's mind whirled with concerns, unable to stop thinking about her child and the identity behind Maxi. What Axel had told her about being her first target really scared her, and she couldn't help but truly agree with him that her child would be safest with her.

But either way, she's still determined to find out about Maxi, even if it has to be through the hardest way.

Feeling so restless, she decided to take a cool shower and then stay awake till her boss came back from his outing.

Right in Maxi's place. "He's here, finally," Maxi purred and approached Axel the moment he stepped into her living room.

Standing close to the door, Axel's eyes fixed on her.

"C'mon, don't just stand there. Aren't you happy to see me?" Maxi cooed, stopping a few metres from him.

"We planned to talk about the business over dinner, Maxi. Let's get on with it," Axel snapped.

"Ouch! That really hurts," she muttered in disappointment and then gestured to the dining table.

Axel simply walked to the dining area, and they both settled down.

"I think we should eat first, don't you think?" she murmured, picking up her cutlery.

But before she could take a bite, Axel's fists hit the table, making the fine china rattle.

Taken off guard, her gaze on him faltered for a second before focusing back. "I'll go straight to the point while we eat then," she finally said.

Axel's flicked leashes answered, giving her the go-ahead.

"I noticed how your Aunt is bent on ruining you, so I asked her to sell her shares to me, so you don't suffer from her wrath anymore," she began.

"As an old business partner, and something more, I've actually come back to support your company, despite having bought the shares. That's the business talk," she concluded and sipped from her wine glass.

"Don't tell me you made me come here just because of this? I think I'm done here," Axel uttered coldly and immediately sprang to his feet.

But then Maxi's next words made him stop dead in his tracks.

"Do you know your wife has a child somewhere?" she uttered calmly and smirked.

Axel let out a low chuckle and then settled back into the chair. "Well, for your information, I'm the father of that child," he stated bluntly. "You know how carefree I became after you left. I didn't know she was pregnant for me until recently, and that was part of why I married her."

"Why do I feel you just told me a lie?" Maxi seethed.

"A lie?" Axel muttered with an arched brow. "Perhaps you're finding it hard to accept the fact, since you had the opportunity to carry my child, but you chose not to," he added with a smirk.

"Watch the way you talk to me, Axel!" Maxi spat, anger simmering beneath her voice.

"You only have to accept the truth in your face," Axel smirked again.

Maxi scoffed and then rolled her eyes. "Even if somehow you managed to knock her up, don't ever forget I know everything about your nightmare secret," she threatened.

Axel remained calm, his expression unreadable as he leaned back in his chair. "I need evidence, Maxi-evidence that proves you're really aware of what happened that night. After that, I'll agree that you really know about my nightmare secret," he muttered.

With this, he stood and walked towards the door.

Maxi's face contorted in anger and frustration as she watched him leave. "This is just the beginning, Axel! I'll surely take back all that's mine!!" she yelled, standing up, before glaring hard at the untouched meal in front of her.

~

Back in Axel's penthouse at exactly 11:23 PM, Alethea rolled sideways in her bed, lost in thought about what Maxi might be capable of plotting against her and her child. But then, the sounds of approaching footsteps from the hallway interrupted her thoughts. Instantly, she got out of bed and stepped out.

"You haven't slept," Axel muttered, with his eyes solely on her figure the moment she showed up in the corridor.

"Yes, I..."

"Follow me then," he said, cutting her off.

Alethea let out an inward scorn before following him into his bedroom.

The moment Axel stepped deeper into the room, his hands drifted to his shirt and began to unbutton it. Alethea's eyes subtly on his broad back, she remained silent, watching him from where she stood near the door.

But then his voice suddenly broke the stillness. "This will be your room from henceforth," he announced, still backing up.

"What?" Alethea blurted in disbelief. Before she could say anything further, Axel turned to face her with a bare chest, and her words abruptly caught in her throat.

Taking note of every one of her reactions, Axel let out a smirk and decided to approach her while still half-naked.

Stopping right in front of her, he lifted her chin and stared down into her brown eyes. "I wouldn't want you to be an addition to my problem," he whispered, his hot breath fanning her face.

"I know Maxi pretty well. She doesn't give up easily. She wouldn't stop at anything to find solid evidence against me," he added, and suddenly drew her closer to him by her waist.

Alethea's pulse quickened the moment she felt her breast press hard against his bare chest through the thin fabric of her nightie. But yet, she remained silent and didn't push him off.

"We need to start acting like a real couple now, Wifey," Axel continued in a whisper. "Especially now that I have lied to Maxi about being the father of your child," he declared.