*MAXIMUS*

The next morning, when I walked into my mansion, I was exhausted. Yesterday I received a sudden business cooperation call. I had to cancel my engagement in order to fulfill the order. My father told me that a man must seize his career before a woman can love you.

I have always regarded this sentence from my father as my attitude towards life, and Anna has always accepted it. I am sure that calling off the engagement yesterday is not a big deal, which is why I can accept Anna by my side for five years. She is like a pet dog I have. She needs me, which makes my desire for control extremely satisfying.

When I needed her, she would come running over with a smile. She was so cute.

I tried to move my stiff neck, but the pain kept me from moving. but I had a fast remedy at home.

Anna gives the best neck massages.I especially like how her fingers felt against my skin.

Not that I'm going to ever tell her that though.

"Anna."I called.

"Gianna."I called again as I settled onto the couch.

This was so unlike her.She always comes running up to me to welcome me home,looking all happy.

"Grace."I called out to the housekeeper who walked in almost immediately.

"Where's Anna?Doesn't she know that I'm home?"

"She.she left."

I frowned."Left?"

"Yes,she packed up her things last night and left the house."

I rubbed my temple knowing she must be upset about the canceled engagement party.

What was the big deal?

We could always have an engagement party anytime.

I knew she might have sent me tons of messages so I brought out my cellphone and scroll to her name.

I saw just one line.

"It's over between us"

I frowned in annoyance, how many times has she said it?

Even if the earth is destroyed, Anna will not break up with me. I give her two days and she will come back to my house.

I need to take a shower and get ready for my business trip.

As I went upstairs, I heard Grace's disgruntled voice behind me.

"You went too far last night,sir.It's all over the news.Even a simple apology isn't enough this time,you owe her."

"Grace,don't overstep your boundaries.Anna understands why I had to leave like that last night and she'll be back so mind your business."I warned her that I was going upstairs.

Negotiation time is very urgent, I am sure that a man's favor will make a woman become arrogant and lose her temper without a bottom line. Anna is like most women, which is why I don't like to coax her.

So far, Anna knows this, she can always digest bad emotions quickly.

I'm certain that when I come back, Anna will come back here again.

***********

*GIANNA*

After arriving in Burbank, I went straight to the house where my parents used to live. It wasn't a mansion, just a cozy little apartment, but I spent my entire childhood here. I saw that the flowers in the vase on the front lawn had withered and looked messy. I remembered when my parents were still alive, they always kept the front lawn tidy, and we even won an award for having the neatest garden in the community. Thinking of this, my eyes became moist. My parents loved me very much and raised me well.

It made me question why I had been obsessed with Maxim.

It wasn't as if I had lacked anything growing up.

Was it his charm,his gorgeous look and how good he is in.

But Maxim always believed that I was just a shameless gold-digger, because compared to Nadia, I was just a small-town girl.

Stop!

I had to stop thinking about him.I had left him for Nadia now so he doesn't have to keep canceling on me to be with her.

He can have her now.

I won't be in the way.

I never saw myself as the other woman and I have to work on forgiving myself for begging a man to love me.

Settling down didn't take much time.I felt so much at home and at peace.

Just three days after returning, I ran into my childhood friend Griffin. Griffin lived nearby, and we attended elementary, middle, and high school together, but I went to the capital city of Meloria for college.

He didn't look as skinny as I remembered from childhood. Instead, his muscular physique was evident. He was just wearing a simple striped shirt and jeans, but you could see the results of his workouts, complemented by his tanned hair, deep eyes. God, he really was a perfect hunk.

Griffin was surprised that I had suddenly returned. I smiled and said, "You know, Meloria is always so cold. After living there for five years, I realized I still prefer Burbank."

"Anna...you're always so optimistic and positive. You know I've always liked that about you," Griffin said.

Liked me? Griffin had a crush on me? I didn't know how to respond, especially since I had just ended a long-term relationship. I planned to find an excuse to leave, but Griffin held me back.

"Anna, are you married?"

I frowned, why would he ask that?

I shook my head. Three days ago, I was supposed to get engaged to my boyfriend, but he called it off for another woman. I saw Griffin's eyes light up. Then, his next words made me stare at him in shock.

"Anna, will you marry me?"

*GIANNA*

Marry him? Did I hear it wrong?

"What.what are you saying,Griffin?"

"Please, Anna. I know this is sudden for you, but I'm running out of time. I need to find someone to marry me."

I immediately brought him to my villa. Griffin didn't seem like a casual guy, so I had to know his reasons for this. I got him a cup of coffee, then sat down looking at him. "Listen, Griffin, I want to know why you're doing this."

Griffin took a sip of coffee, then took a deep breath and began telling his story.

Griffin told me that he had just returned to our small town as well. He had married the daughter of a wealthy family overseas. Unfortunately, Griffin's wife passed away about a year ago. After that, his in-laws had been fighting him for custody of the child. His in-laws insisted that their daughter's death was related to Griffin, but the truth was, his wife was willing to marry him because she wanted to escape her overly controlling parents. She had no freedom and felt like a corpse.

In their first year of marriage, his wife told him she had never been happier, but soon illness struck her.

He loved his wife dearly, and before she passed, she made him promise to be involved in the child's life. She didn't want their child to become another version of herself.

But his in-laws refused to believe Griffin's account. They even filed a restraining order against him in court, and Griffin was expelled.

The court told Griffin that he had to prove he was married, otherwise they would never allow him to take the child, because his in-laws never supported his marriage to their daughter.

I frowned. Married? I had only ever thought of marrying Maxim.

"Anna! Please. This is my only hope. I feel like if it's you, the court will believe we're actually married. We've known each other since we were little, so they probably won't have any doubts about the legitimacy of our marriage."

"Griffin, marriage is..."

Griffin cut me off. "It's just a marriage of convenience, Anna. I just need to get Emmett back, and once everything is resolved, we'll get divorced."

I ran my hand through my hair as I sat on the couch.

"Still,I.I don't think this is right."

Griffin bent in front of the couch and held my hand.

"Please,Anna.I'm desperate.My in-laws are filing for full custody.If they succeed,Emmett might think I abandoned him.He's barely coming around to never seeing his mother again.I can't leave him with the thought of never seeing me again too.I don't even know if they would take good care of him.And that is why I need to take care of him myself.Please,Anna.Lily always talked about how toxic her family was,I'm sure she would want Emmett to be with me."Oh God.

Recalling how sweet Lily was made me tear up.

But this isn't going to hurt,right?

I just needed to pretend to be married to him for a short while.

He gets his son back and everything will be fine.

"Okay,then.Let's get married."

And that was how Griffin and I got a marriage certificate the following day.

We didn't do much.We only went to court and took some pictures to show as our wedding pictures and he was sure that would help with his case.

*****************

*MAXIMUS*

Three days passed.I stared at the jewelry boxes beside me on the back seat as we headed for my mansion.

I had just landed from my business trip and I was sure that Anna was waiting for me at home.

She must be over that canceled engagement party now.

I instructed Jacob,my secretary.

"Give Grace a call and ask her if Anna has gotten glammed up.The stylist must be done by now so I can take her to the seafood restaurant she loves a lot."

"Yes sir."

After a few minutes,he said to me."Grace isn't answering."

I rolled my eyes.

I had no idea why Grace was so mad about this canceled engagement.

She literally isn't Anna.Just my old housekeeper.

It practically can be done anytime.

Women just love throwing tantrums.

Fine.I fucked up with the engagement party and I was making an effort to apologize tonight so this should be over with already.

**********

Jacob opened the door for me when we got to my Manor.I got down from the car and walked into the house.

There was an odd vibe around the house like the last time I was home.

There was still no Anna running up to the door to hug me.

I tugged off my jacket and called.

"Grace!"

Grace hurried in.

"Welcome home,sir."

"Where's Anna?"

"Miss Weston hasn't been home since that night,sir.I've called her so many times but she didn't pick up."

I frowned.

"I'm so worried about her.She looked so hurt that night and I'm scared something bad might have happened to her."

My teeth clenched.

Anna was always so bright and sunny,I'm sure nothing would have happened to her.

I can't believe she's still mad about the engagement cancellation.

I had thought she might've come back home by now.

Why was she suddenly being so difficult?

I brought out my cellphone and shot her a text.

"I'm sorry.Come back home and I'll throw as many engagement parties as you want."

She should be glad that I'm apologizing to her.

I rarely apologize to anyone!

I was stunned to see that my message didn't deliver.

Did she.

She blocked me?!

What has come over her?

She has always been docile and rarely gets angry with me, but this time she rejected my text messages?

My brows furrowed again, and I felt angry inwardly.

What was she playing at?

I found this very funny for a woman who literally worshiped the ground I walked on.

I need to know what's going on in that head of hers.

"Jacob,find her now!"I ordered.

*******

Almost thirty minutes later,Jacob Brought back news of Anna.

"Miss Weston traveled back to her hometown,sir.She's at her family house now."

My teeth clenched.

This woman could barely stay days without me and now she travelled back to her hometown cutting off communication with me?!

What a joke!

I grabbed the iPad from him,wanting to confirm how she looked.

To my surprise,she seemed to be taking a walk and she looked so relaxed.

Relaxed without me?!

How could she?!

"Jacob, go bring her home!"I ordered.

*GIANNA*

So far,I've been having a good time settling down except for my sudden marriage.Griffin has gone to Country B since he registered with me, and I'm sure he can't wait to bring back his children. I hope he succeeds.

Maxim, my lips keep popping this name in my spare time. It's been almost a week now, and I've blocked anyone or news related to Maxim, and I'm sure he won't be uncomfortable with me leaving because I'm just a cheap toy for him, and he can always find a replacement.

I read some books and mostly spent the time at the garden.

I planted a lot of flowers and vegetables and while working on the garden,I realized what I wanted to do for work for now.

I wanted to be a florist.I quickly made a mental note to immediately start looking for a store.

This house was beginning to take shape again and feel like home since I was back to look after it.

My doorbell rang.

I quickly set aside my shovel.I had ordered some takeouts and I was starving.

I washed my hands in a rush and headed for the door.

As I opened it,I was surprised to see Jacob.

I stood by the door not wanting him to enter.How did he figure out my home address?!

I had wanted to be far away from Maxim,to never see him again so the least I expected was seeing his secretary at my doorstep.

"What do you want?"I asked.

"The boss sent me to bring you home."

I laughed."I am home."

"Don't be stubborn,Miss Weston.Go get your things and let's go."

"I think I made it perfectly clear to Maxim that we were through.He should check his text messages."

"He wants you back."

"To humiliate me further?"

"Stop making things so difficult,Miss Weston.Mr Lewis is a very busy man and I have a lot of paper work to attend to.I don't have time for this."

"Jacob,you do not get to talk to me this way anymore.I am not your boss's pushover anymore so I would not tolerate your attitude."I warned.

Because Maxim wasn't very respectful of me,most of his employees treated me like trash.

It was only Grace who treated me like a human being.Jacob was particularly mean to me.

Whenever I couldn't reach Maxim and would reach out to him instead to know where Maxim was,he was harshly tell me to know my place in Maxim's life!

It had hurt so much to be treated without respect but I was willing to endure because Maxim still wanted me around him.

Now,I didn't care anymore.Even if he was going to treat me with respect,it was too late.

I didn't need his love or his respect anymore!

"Mr Lewis would not be happy if you don't come back with me."He warned.

I laughed."Who cares if he's happy or not?To hell with him."I made to lock the door but he blocked it with his foot.

"Jacob,there are CCTVs everywhere so you better respect yourself!"

"Why are you playing hard to get all of a sudden?"He then laughed."Do you seriously think that this would make Mr Lewis finally love you?If he love you,even a little bit,he wouldn't have canceled the engagement party!"

I tried not to let his words get to me.

I already knew this and since he was reminding me of it,it only gave me more determination to never degrade myself again.

"Well,thanks for the reminder.You know,anytime I reported your behavior to Maxim,he always defended you because you're his efficient and incredible PA.But look up."

He looked up to see the front door camera and I could see his teeth clenched.

"Now that I have evidence about how despicable you are.I wondered how he would feel when he hears this,plus,you're doing a very bad job in convincing me to go back to him."

I moved closer to him.

"Now go back and make Maxim understand this.Him and I are over.I do not want to have anything to do with him as well as with anyone around him.Scram!"

He scoffed."I hope you keep playing hard to get like this.You do not deserve him.Did you seriously think you could compete with Nadia.You stood no chance from the beginning and it was funny to."

Before he could finish speaking,I slapped him hard on the face.

He held his cheek,looking shocked that I had slapped him.

"I warned you not to talk to me like that ever again!"With that,I slammed the door on his face.

I leaned against the door,fuming.

The nerves of him.

To compare me to Nadia?

Even if Maxim had chosen Nadia,she wasn't better than me and I wasn't inferior to her or any other man.

I am Gianna Lewis.I'm beautiful and I'll have a beautiful life.I am going to love myself and let no one break me ever again.

Now I have to ask the property management to upgrade the security level of my apartment so that no more unrelated people can break in.