Chapter Seventy

Chapter Seventy

Perhaps Max was so pleased that he didn't know that the expression of joy was clearly showing on his face. Bella couldn't help but feel sarcastic, knowing that her words aligned with her husband's original purpose when marrying her.

But Max still needed some "insurance," and the "insurance" he wanted to discuss most was having a child with his wife. No matter what, he knew that his father-in-law would hand over the company to his wife. However, it was also possible that Bella might choose to manage the company herself rather than let him take charge.

Max's reasoning wasn't based on a high regard for Bella's abilities. It was because, since she started working, Bella had paid less attention to him, to the point of neglect. A child would bring Bella back to being a homemaker, leaving her no time to get involved in the company's affairs.

Having a perfect family, a beautiful, obedient wife, a career, wealth, power, and a company—this could be considered the peak of a man's life. All he had to do was wait for his father-in-law to retire, and Max wouldn't have to lower himself to anyone anymore.

Seeing Bella agree with the idea of having a child, Max cheerfully continued, "You're right, Bella. It's great that you share my thoughts. If your father knew we were having a child, he would be thrilled."

Bella wanted to say that even if she wanted a child, it wouldn't be with a cheating man like him, but the words stuck in her throat. Now wasn't the time to express her anger and frustration—she had more to show Max. In the end, Bella just laughed it off, subtly changing the subject. "Okay, let's not talk about that anymore… Oh, by the way, I've noticed that Pearl has been working for you for quite a while. Does she do a good job?"

Max frowned slightly. "Why are you talking about her? She's just my secretary, there's no other relationship beyond boss and employee. Don't misunderstand."

Bella hadn't mentioned anything about a relationship between them, but it seemed like Max had done so many sneaky things that he reacted as if someone had stepped on his tail.

"I just wanted to say… what do you think about recommending her for a better position? Being a secretary for the CEO is a good position, but Pearl has been in that role for quite some time. Moreover, I think she's quite capable and outstanding. Keeping her as just a secretary would be a waste. Pearl is much more talented than I am—I really admire her," Bella said, pretending to care deeply about her friend, Pearl. Bella herself even felt that she was too talented to say such disgusting words.

After hearing his wife's words, Max realized he might have overreacted, but he thought Bella hadn't noticed anything odd, so he calmed down and replied, “I will consider this… but even though you know Pearl gave you poor-quality things, are you still being so nice to her?

Bella chuckled lightly, "My friendship with her isn't measured by expensive or cheap gifts."

For Bella, at this moment, those burgundy earrings were as cheap as Pearl's morality and integrity. It wasn't that Bella wasn't upset, nor was she overly compassionate—it was just that getting angry or upset would only make her feel worse. Moreover, as Max's wife, she knew exactly what type of woman he liked and hated.

Max had an affair with Pearl, but he didn't like women who worked in bars. Because, like most men, he preferred women who were clean and had value to him, and Pearl fit her husband's standards.

Bella smiled slightly and then excused herself to go to the bathroom.

"Ha… I've never felt someone's words could be so nauseating. How come I didn't realize earlier that Max was such a jerk? Selfish jerk, wanting a wife, a career, and a mistress. Now he even wants me to have his child—it's disgusting." Bella mumbled to herself in front of the mirror, regretting coming with Max.

Bella also suspected that after dinner, Max wouldn't let her leave the hotel room, and she would have to think of a way to avoid what might happen next.

Since she couldn't stay in the bathroom for too long, Bella had to return, but when she did, she couldn't find Max.

She immediately asked a staff member, "Excuse me, where did the man who was sitting with me go?"

The female staff member promptly replied, pointing towards the exit, "I just saw him leaving with a woman who just arrived. Do you need any help, miss?"

Bella waved her hand and shook her head then walked towards the door, but as soon as she got close to the outside, she secretly bowed her head and hid behind the wall.

"Why are you here? What did I tell you before? Can't you understand what I'm saying?" Max said angrily but tried to keep his voice down.

The voice of a woman with whom Bella was very familiar could be heard. Without even looking, she knew that the person talking to Max was none other than Pearl. She seemed to know that Max was having dinner with his wife at this restaurant, which is why she had come all the way here.

“I... I was also planning to have dinner here... I just came by accident... I had no intention of ruining your dinner with her,” Pearl stammered. She didn't expect Max to be so angry. Tonight, she had deliberately dressed glamorously to make Bella feel ashamed and inferior, pretending that it was all just a coincidence.

But of course, Max didn't believe her. Pearl couldn’t afford a dinner at this restaurant by herself, and more importantly, reservations had to be made in advance. Now Max looked at Pearl with disgust and disappointment. To him, she was nothing but trouble.

Fearing that Bella might come looking for him, Max quickly sent Pearl away and returned to the table. Bella knew where Max had been, but she pretended not to and asked, "Where did you go just now?"

"It's nothing, don't worry about it... Do you want to go anywhere after dinner?" Max asked with a smile.

Bella was about to suggest going somewhere else to avoid returning to the hotel, but before she could respond, Max cut her off, “I think we should just go back to the hotel and rest. We have plenty of time here. We just got here today, so I think it’s better to head back to the hotel now.”

In the end, Bella couldn't avoid it, so she had to go back to the hotel with Max. He stayed close to her, tightly hugging her waist, as if afraid she'd escape if he wasn't paying attention. It made it impossible for Bella to find an excuse to go anywhere else.

Returning to the hotel room, Max enthusiastically kissed Bella's lips and caressed her body, but before her husband's touch, Bella felt disgusted and nauseous. She quickly pushed Max away, making him unhappy.

"What's wrong? Why are you pushing me away?" he asked.

"It’s just that you surprised me... Why don't you take a shower first? I still need to remove my makeup and change clothes," Bella made an excuse to avoid him, unable to tell him that his touch disgusted her.

Max didn't like the idea; after all, they could shower after making love—there was no need to shower beforehand. But seeing Bella's insistence, he reluctantly agreed, thinking they had all night.

When the bathroom door closed, Bella breathed a sigh of relief, sat at the dressing table, and began to remove her makeup. After changing clothes, she poured a glass of water and added a large amount of white powder she had prepared beforehand. She sat outside, waiting.

As soon as Max stepped out of the bathroom, Bella obediently handed him the glass of water, watching as he drank it all. She quietly smiled to herself. Max felt invigorated and eager to get down to business. He pushed his wife onto the bed, and Bella's alluring and seductive demeanor made him feel hot all over.

Bella no longer resisted like before. The two kissed passionately and intensely. Max, especially, couldn't stop thinking about how he was the first man his wife had ever been with, and this thought made his whole body tremble with excitement.

Bella intentionally prolonged the deep kiss but deliberately acted clumsy, as if it was her first time. Max held her waist tightly, his hands sliding under her nightgown, touching her smooth, fair skin.

The sweet scent and the passionate kiss made Max's lower region harden, poking into Bella's bottom as a sign of his impatience and don't want to wait. Bella could feel it, but she continued to drag out the moment, even as Max seemed like he couldn’t bear it anymore.

"Don’t be in such a hurry... you’re making me nervous... after all, this is my first time..." Bella pretended to be shy, and her fake timidness and worry made Max like her even more.

Compared to Pearl, who was more experienced and wild, Max liked Bella's anxious and awkward demeanor more. This only further convinced him that his wife had never been with anyone else before him.

Just when Max was almost at the peak of his restraint, he gently pushed her down on the bed and began to take off his wife's nightgown.

“Wait... I...” Bella wanted to wait for the drug to take effect, but it seemed she had misjudged the timing. Max grabbed her shoulders, saying, “Why do you keep pushing me away? Don’t you want to make love with me? I can't hold it in any longer. Stop talking.”

Bella bit her lip but ultimately couldn't continue to resist, letting Max undress her freely. Just as she thought that the drug hadn’t kicked in yet because Max was still acting normally, his phone rang.

Max kissed her, ignoring the ringing phone, but it seemed the caller wasn't going to give up so easily.

"You should answer the phone; what if it's something important?" Bella urged him.

Max felt irritated and angry because he had to stop what he was doing. As soon as he picked up the phone, he shouted loudly, “Who? If you have something to say, say it quickly.”

Bella wasn’t sure who was calling, but she was grateful for whoever interrupted their intimate moment.

After listening to the call, Max’s face, which had been red with anger, suddenly turned pale as he looked at Bella, leaving her confused. Right then, Bella’s phone also buzzed, signaling a new message. Bella didn’t think much about it and reached for her phone, but before she could touch it, Max quickly grabbed it, leaving Bella in shock.

“What’s wrong with you? Why did you take my phone?” Max’s behavior made her suspect that something very serious was going on.

Max quickly waved his hand and laughed. “It’s nothing. I was just talking to an important business partner, and my phone died. I just needed to borrow yours.”

However, since Bella was too familiar with her husband’s lies, she didn't press the matter. “Let me see who messaged me, then I’ll lend you my phone.”

Max didn’t hand it over; instead, he directly opened Bella's phone to read the latest message, which was from Pearl. Pearl had sent Bella a photo of a pair of red earrings similar to the ones Pearl had given her before.

“It's just that Pearl sent you a photo... that's right, a partner just called me and said that he coincidentally saw that I was also here and wanted to meet and talk a bit.” Max quickly dressed and hurriedly left. “I’ll be back later. You can go to sleep first.”

Bella looked at the photo Pearl had sent and smirked slightly.