Chapter Seventy-Five

By the next morning, as soon as Max woke up, he felt an intense headache and fatigue throughout his body. Realizing that he wasn't in his usual room, Max sensed something was off. Before he could comprehend where he was, Pearl stepped out of the bathroom.

"Max, you're awake? If you're feeling tired, you can sleep a bit longer." She spoke gently, her hands caressing his face.

Max propped his hand against his forehead and gently pushed Pearl away. Only then did he remember that last night, just as he was about to have sex with his wife, Pearl had called him to her room.

"What time is it? Why didn't you wake me up?" Max grumbled. Fortunately, the previous night, when he abruptly left his room, he had made up an excuse about meeting a business partner here, so Bella hadn't called to check on him.

Pearl pouted but didn't show outright displeasure. She had changed clothes and had even carefully prepared a fresh set for Max.

"I saw that you were tired, so I didn't want to disturb you. Breakfast is about to be brought in. Would you stay and have breakfast with me?"

Max, feeling worn out, looked at the clothes Pearl had prepared for him, but he didn't take them; he kept on his outfit from the night before. He needed to return to Bella immediately. As soon as he stood up, he remembered what Pearl had done the night before to lure him into her room.

He felt foolish for believing she wouldn't interfere with his space with Bella. "After breakfast, you should leave. If you stay any longer, Bella will eventually find out."

"But..." Pearl certainly didn't like this, but before she could respond, Max interrupted her.

"Pearl!" Max shouted. He was already irritated because he'd trusted her promise not to disrupt his time with his wife, yet she had done exactly that the night before. But Max didn't forget the proposition Pearl had made the previous night, and he sighed heavily, saying, "I'll think about what you said. After all, we cannot leave a normal woman unable to conceive.”

Though angry and resentful, Pearl had no other choice. She saw that Max's attitude was firm and serious, showing no compromise toward her. Realizing that arguing would only complicate matters and potentially make Max angrier and more resentful, Pearl was forced to accept.

Seeing that Pearl agreed to leave, Max felt a bit more at ease. To hasten her departure, he even asked the hotel staff to book a plane ticket for Pearl and requested room service to help pack her things.

"Do you really have to kick me out like this? I came here just for you, and I told you before that I didn't know you were with Bella." Pearl pouted, her voice sounded extremely resentful.

Max furrowed his brows, acknowledging that Pearl likely didn't know, but that wasn't the issue. However, since she had agreed to leave, Max softened his tone.

"I know, but I'm not trying to kick you out. I just don't want Bella to suspect anything. I'll transfer money to your account, and when I return, I'll buy you that bag you've been wanting." Max stroked her cheek, his voice gentler and more indulgent.

Whenever he needed to console or pacify Pearl, Max would use this approach, and it always worked quickly and effectively.

Pearl instantly brightened up but still didn't want Max to leave without a proper goodbye, so she clung to his arm, looking pitiful, "If you lied to Bella to be with me, she probably won't mind if you're a little late. And now that I have to go back, wouldn't you at least want to give me a goodbye kiss?"

With her seductive posture, sweet voice, and glistening eyes, Pearl's gaze made Max's body heat up. Originally, the previous night should have been a passionate one with his wife, but because of Pearl, he hadn't been able to do anything. Moreover, the morning was when most men were most aroused.

Max lunged in, devouring Pearl's full lips, and they shared a fervent and passionate kiss. Pearl had just showered, so her fragrance was enticing and sensual, making her irresistible to Max.

Max quickly began tearing off both their clothes, and Pearl eagerly cooperated in facilitating the process. Their clothes lay scattered on the floor, and Max aggressively pushed Pearl onto the bed, leaping on her like a starving beast.

In the end, the two of them madly made love, causing the room service staff to wait outside for a long time.

…

"Max, why are you just getting back now?" Bella was having breakfast in her room when Max returned. She knew where he had been and with whom the previous night, but she pretended not to be sure.

Max was used to this, so he wasn't surprised or flustered by his wife's question. Besides, before he left last night, he had told Bella that he was meeting a business partner who was also visiting the area.

"I didn't expect to spend the entire night with that partner and then fall asleep in his room. We even had breakfast together this morning," Max lied with such confidence and smoothness that it seemed like he really had met a business partner here.

Max walked over to Bella and gently took her hand, stroking it softly. "Bella, I'm sorry I couldn't be with you last night. You must be really mad at me. Is there anything you want? I'll make it up to you."

Bella listened to her husband's words from start to finish and marveled at his expert lying skills. If Max was this good at lying, she thought she should play along just as smoothly.

"It's okay. Although I was a bit sad to be alone in the room, I understand that you have work to do. Plus, the person who called you last night must have been a really important business partner for you to rush off like that. Besides, I was so tired last night that I fell asleep right after you left," Bella replied sweetly, her understanding demeanor always pleasing Max.

Max loved most about Bella her understanding and lack of suspicion. If it were another woman, she would definitely be angry and upset. Even though Max had slept with Pearl before returning to the room, he regretted not being able to be with Bella—his wife was right there, yet he hadn't been able to enjoy her company.

Bella saw that Max's face was a bit tired and she secretly smiled. She was sure that Max couldn't do anything last night because he drank water mixed with a large amount of sleeping pills she gave him. It seemed that Max's body was still very tired right now, she showed her concern.

“You should sleep more, I find you look very tired, Max.” Bella caressed her husband's face and spoke gently.

Max also felt that his body was very tired after waking up. Plus, having made love early in the morning, his strength was drained. He didn't think much of it, said a few more words to Bella, then went straight to bed.

Before he slept, Max felt a bit guilty for leaving Bella alone in the room the night before, so he handed her his card. "To make up for last night, you can use my card to buy anything you like."

This was the first time Max had voluntarily given his card to his wife, and in fact, it was the first time since their marriage that he felt like spending money on her.

Even though Bella didn't work before, only Max worked, Bella still had her own money and didn't rely entirely on her husband like outsiders often see. At that time, Bella felt like she had a family, everything was good so there was no need to waste money and she also wanted her husband to focus on his career without worrying about anything.

Also, because Bella rarely went out during that period, she almost entirely spent her time at home and didn't have any reason to spend much.

Looking at the card in Max's hand, Bella would have refused in the past, but now she quickly took it and smiled, saying, "Then I'll buy what I like. You get some rest, okay?"

As soon as she stepped into the elevator, Bella silently thought to herself that she had to buy expensive things and spend as much of her husband's money as possible. She should have done this sooner and felt that spending her husband's money was obvious.

Bella glanced at the black card in her hand and smiled inwardly, thinking that Pearl had probably used it many times before. But before she could leave the hotel lobby, she saw a familiar figure ahead and instinctively stood behind a large column, watching discreetly.

Pearl was directing staff to load her suitcases into a car, with an attitude and demeanor befitting a rich, spoiled young lady. Although Bella didn't know why Pearl seemed angry, many people watched out of curiosity. When Pearl got into the car and left, Bella approached the reception area, pretending to be a curious guest.

"Who was that woman? She seemed really upset," Bella asked, pointing toward the taxi that had just driven Pearl away.

The receptionist smiled and said, "This morning, I received a notice that she wanted to check out, but the one who actually checked out wasn't her, but a man."

"So, who was that man? What was his connection to her?" Bella asked, but the receptionist just smiled, saying she couldn't reveal more details about the guests.

Bella nodded slightly and left. She guessed that the man checking out Pearl's room was definitely Max. Pearl didn't want to leave here, so she got angry and took it out on the hotel staff and the driver. It's easy to understand, but Bella also doesn't think Pearl will leave so easily without receiving any benefits from Max.