I never thought this day would come—the day when Maximilian and I could finally see a future beyond the contracts, the coldness, and the responsibilities that once weighed us down. The day when we could finally breathe, together.As I stand in front of him now, his hand in mine, I feel the years of tension slipping away. The empire he built—the one I once felt trapped in—is no longer a shadow that looms over us. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I feel free.“Do you ever wonder, Eliza,” Maximilian says softly, his thumb tracing circles on the back of my hand, “what life would have been like if we had met under different circumstances?”I don’t hesitate to answer. “All the time.”I can see the flicker of sadness in his eyes, but it's different now—softer, more vulnerable. It’s not the cold, calculating look he used to wear when he thought about the past. It’s something else—something that makes me want to lean into him, to stay close and never let go.“We’re here now,” h
I had spent so many years feeling as though my life was nothing more than a series of unfortunate events strung together. The crushing weight of responsibilities, the endless fights to stay afloat, all while battling a silent war within myself. But now, standing here, I felt something completely different. A sense of peace. A sense of hope. A sense of belonging.Maximilian stood beside me, his hand gently holding mine, his presence so steady and comforting that it almost felt like a dream. The world outside of this moment had faded, the noise, the expectations, the past—it was all gone. There was only him, and there was only me. Together."I never thought we’d get here," I whispered, my voice shaky with emotion.He looked down at me, his piercing gaze softening for what felt like the first time. "Neither did I," he replied quietly. "But we’re here now. And that’s what matters."I felt a lump in my throat as I looked up at him. There was no fear anymore, no hesitation. Everything that
The late afternoon sun bathed the room in a golden hue, casting long shadows across the wooden floor of the Grey estate’s expansive living room. I sat on the plush couch, my legs tucked beneath me, watching Maximilian as he worked across the room. His brow furrowed in concentration, he flipped through a stack of papers on the coffee table. Even in the most mundane moments, he exuded a commanding presence.I hadn’t realized I was staring until his voice broke the silence.“Do I have something on my face, Mrs. Grey?” He didn’t look up, but the corners of his mouth twitched with amusement.Heat rose to my cheeks. “No, I was just thinking.”He set the papers down and finally met my gaze. “Thinking about what?”“Us.” I smiled faintly. “How far we’ve come.”Maximilian's expression softened. He walked toward me, his steps slow and deliberate. When he reached me, he knelt down, placing his hand over mine. “We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?”I nodded. “I never thought I’d be sitting here, fee
I sat across from Maximilian in the dim glow of the library. The fire crackled softly, casting shadows on the walls, but there was a tension in the room that was impossible to ignore. His jaw was clenched, his gaze distant. Whatever storm was brewing inside him, I knew it was darker than anything he had let me see before."Maximilian," I said gently, breaking the heavy silence. "Talk to me. Please."He didn't respond immediately. His fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair, a sure sign that he was fighting some internal battle."Eliza, you wouldn't understand," he finally muttered, his voice rough."Try me," I insisted, leaning forward. "You keep shutting me out, and it's tearing us apart. Whatever it is, I want to help."His eyes flickered to mine, and for a moment, I thought he would open up. But then he shook his head as if dismissing the thought."It's not that simple," he said. "Some things are better left buried."I stood up, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "You
Maximilian paced the living room, his jaw clenched as his phone buzzed relentlessly on the coffee table. His broad shoulders were tense as if he carried the weight of a thousand unsaid words. I stood near the window, watching the city lights flicker below. The air between us crackled with unspoken tension.He finally grabbed the phone and silenced it, tossing it back onto the table with a frustrated grunt.“Another problem at the company?” I asked carefully, my voice breaking the heavy silence.He didn't meet my gaze. “It’s always a problem,” he muttered. “But this...this is different.”I stepped closer. “What is it?”He ran a hand through his dark hair, exhaling sharply. “An old associate is back in town. Someone I never wanted to see again.”“Who?” I pressed, sensing there was more to this than just a business issue.He looked at me then, his blue eyes colder than winter. “Julian Black.”The name didn’t mean much to me, but the way Maximilian said it made my chest tighten. There was
I sat on the edge of the bed, my heart racing as the air between Maximilian and me thickened with the weight of unspoken truths. His silence was unbearable, a ticking clock counting down to our implosion. My voice was hoarse when I finally broke the stillness."Are you going to tell me the truth, or do I have to keep living with lies?" I demanded, my gaze fixed on the floor to hide the storm brewing in my eyes.Maximilian paced across the room, his usual composure fraying at the edges. "Eliza, it's not that simple.""It never is with you, is it?" I stood up, the adrenaline giving me courage I didn't know I had. "Just once, I want the truth without your calculations or manipulations."His jaw clenched, and I could see the internal battle raging inside him. He wanted to control the narrative, but something told me this time was different—there was no salvaging his iron grip on the situation."I was protecting you," he finally said.I scoffed, my laugh bitter. "Protecting me? Is that wha
I can feel my heart pounding in my chest as Maximilian stands across from me. His gaze is unwavering, but I can see the unease hidden beneath his composed exterior.I swallow, my throat dry, trying to find the right words.“We need to talk,” I say, the words coming out softer than I intend, but they carry the weight of everything I’m feeling.He stiffens but doesn’t move, his jaw clenched. “I know.”His response is brief, but I can tell that he’s been expecting this moment. And honestly, so have I. We’ve both been dancing around the truth for far too long.“Maximilian,” I start, taking a tentative step forward, “I need to know if this—if we—are worth it. Worth the risk. Worth the sacrifice.”He remains silent, his expression unreadable. I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, every word I speak pushing me closer to the abyss.“I don’t want to live like this anymore,” I continue, my voice shaking now, the vulnerability leaking through. “I don’t want to keep pretending like eve
I sit on the edge of the bed, my hands folded tightly in my lap, my heart thundering in my chest. Maximilian is standing by the window, his back to me, the sharp lines of his silhouette bathed in the soft, dim light of the late evening. The silence between us is thick—more suffocating than comforting."Maximilian," I whisper, my voice shaky, "What aren't you telling me?"He doesn't move at first. His shoulders remain rigid, and his posture is as perfect as always, yet there's something about the way he holds himself tonight that feels different. It's as if he's been weighed down by a burden I don't understand. A burden I've never seen before."You should go to sleep, Eliza," he says, his voice betraying no hint of emotion. But I can tell he's trying to push me away, trying to keep me at arm’s length."No," I say, standing up quickly, my voice growing firmer. "I need to know the truth. I can’t stand this anymore—this feeling that you’re hiding something from me. Something important. Yo
“I can’t believe we made it, Maximilian,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.He turns to face me, his deep gaze holding mine. There’s a softness in his eyes that I’ve never seen before—a warmth, a tenderness, that sends a flutter through my chest. It’s as if all the walls we’ve spent so many years building around us have finally crumbled.“We didn’t just make it, Eliza,” he says, his voice low and steady, but filled with conviction. “We built something.”I let out a breath, feeling the weight of the words settle in my heart. It wasn’t just about survival anymore. It was about thriving, growing, and loving each other in ways we never thought possible.“I didn’t know I could love you like this,” I confess, my voice barely more than a whisper.Maximilian’s lips curl into a faint smile, and his hand reaches out to gently cup my cheek. His thumb traces the line of my jaw as if memorizing the curve of my face.“You’ve always had that potential, Eliza. I just had to see it,” he murmurs.
"I still can't believe this is real," I say, my voice trembling slightly as I look at Maximilian, who is standing before me, his eyes full of warmth and love.He smiles, the kind of smile I never thought I'd see on his face—soft, genuine, and full of affection. “It’s real, Eliza. We’re real.”I swallow, trying to hold back the wave of emotion crashing over me. I can hardly believe how far we've come—how much we've grown, both as individuals and together. The walls Maximilian once built so carefully around himself have crumbled, and in their place is something I never imagined I could have: love. Real, true love."You know," Maximilian says, taking a step closer to me, "there was a time when I thought I couldn’t have this. When I thought I wasn’t capable of it."I reach out and touch his arm, the connection between us steady and comforting. "I never gave up on you, Maximilian. I knew you had the capacity for love. I just had to see it for myself."He looks at me for a long moment, his
Maximilian’s hand brushes against mine as we stand on the balcony overlooking the city. The night is alive with shimmering lights, but none compare to the warmth in his eyes when he glances at me.“You’ve been quiet,” he says, his voice soft, yet probing.I take a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze wrap around us. “Just thinking.”“About?”“Everything.” I turn to face him, searching for the right words. “Where we started, where we are now... and where we’re headed.”A flicker of emotion crosses his face, but he masks it quickly, the way he always does when he’s unsure of his own feelings.“You regret it?” he asks, his tone hesitant, as though the answer might undo everything we’ve built.“Regret marrying you?” I shake my head with a faint smile. “Not for a second.”Relief flashes in his eyes, and he cups my face gently. “Neither do I.”The weight of those words settles between us. For a man who once viewed marriage as a business deal and love as a weakness, his admission feels monum
“We need a plan,” I said, my voice steady as I looked across the conference room table at Maximilian. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the tension in his sharp features. “Not just for the business but for us.”Maximilian leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes narrowing. “Are you suggesting I don’t already have a plan?”I shook my head, refusing to be intimidated by his commanding presence. “You always have a plan. But this time, I want to be part of it.”A flicker of surprise crossed his face, quickly masked by his usual stoicism. “You’re already part of it, Eliza. More than you realize.”“Then show me,” I challenged. “Let me be your partner, not just your wife in name only.”His jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away. The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken truths.“I don’t need protection from the business world, Maximilian,” I added, softening my tone. “I need to stand beside you, not behind you.”He exhaled sharply, running a hand
“Maximilian, we need to talk,” I said, my voice steady despite the nerves clenching in my stomach.He didn’t look up from his desk, the blue glow from the multiple screens casting sharp shadows across his face. His jaw was set the sharp angles of his expression colder than usual. I knew that look—it was the face of a man ready to conquer the world, no matter the cost.“What is it?” he asked, fingers typing furiously on the keyboard.I clenched my fists, grounding myself. This wasn’t the time to cower. Not anymore. “If you keep trying to rebuild this empire on your own, you’re going to lose everything. And I’m not going to stand by and watch that happen.”His fingers stilled. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet mine, those piercing gray eyes assessing me like I was an anomaly he couldn’t quite solve. “What are you saying, Eliza?”“I’m saying you need help,” I said, my voice firmer now. “I’m saying I want to help you.”Maximilian let out a dry laugh, leaning back in his chair. “Help me?
“You didn’t even come after me,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The cold night air bit at my skin as I stood on the balcony of the hotel suite I’d rented after leaving Maximilian. The city lights below blurred through my tear-filled eyes.“I thought you wanted space,” Maximilian’s deep voice broke through the silence behind me. I stiffened, not expecting to hear him tonight.Turning slowly, I found him standing in the doorway, his usually composed expression shadowed by something raw—something close to regret.“You have a funny way of interpreting things, Maximilian,” I said bitterly. “Space doesn’t mean abandoning me when I’m breaking.”He took a tentative step forward. “I didn’t know what to say.”“Of course, you didn’t.” I crossed my arms, my heart thundering in my chest. “You always hide behind silence when things get hard.”“I’m here now.” His voice was rough.“That doesn’t fix anything.” I blinked back fresh tears. “I poured my heart out to you, and you stood there lik
“You’re late again.” My voice trembled, though I tried to keep it steady. Maximilian’s towering figure stood by the doorway, his expression blank. The suit jacket he wore was wrinkled, and his tie hung loosely around his neck. His eyes were devoid of the sharp intensity that usually defined him.“I had meetings.” His tone was clipped, dismissive. He loosened the knot of his tie, his gaze avoiding mine.“Meetings that run until two in the morning?” I crossed my arms, trying to hide the ache in my chest. “This has become a pattern, Maximilian.”He sighed heavily, tossing his tie onto the couch. “I don’t have time for this, Eliza.”“There it is again.” My voice cracked. “You never have time for me, do you? Or for us.”He finally met my gaze, his blue eyes cold. “I’m building an empire, Eliza. That doesn’t come without sacrifices.”“And I’m just one of those sacrifices, right?” My throat tightened. “Do you even realize how distant you've become? I can't keep pretending that this—whatever
"Eliza, stop running from this conversation," Maximilian’s voice was sharp, cutting through the heavy silence in the room.I whirled around, my chest heaving. "I'm not running! I'm trying to breathe, Max. Is that too much to ask after what you just said?" My voice cracked despite my efforts to sound strong.Maximilian’s jaw clenched. "We can get through this together. Why can't you trust that?""Because you kept something from me!" I snapped, my words echoing off the walls. "Do you even understand how humiliating it was to hear about your past from someone else?"His eyes darkened. "I was trying to protect you.""No." I shook my head vehemently. "You were protecting yourself. There's a difference."He took a step toward me, his presence commanding as ever. "You're right. I was selfish. But that doesn't mean I don't care about you, Eliza. Everything I've done—every decision—was because I couldn't risk losing you."My heart twisted painfully at his confession. "Then why does it feel lik
“You’ve been unusually quiet all morning,” Maximilian said, his tone sharp as he glanced at me from across the breakfast table.I clenched my fork tighter, pushing the scrambled eggs around my plate. “Just thinking.”His eyes narrowed. “About what?”I debated whether to answer or deflect. But the weight in my chest wouldn’t let me stay silent. “You.”Maximilian set down his coffee cup with a deliberate clink. “What about me?”I met his gaze, refusing to look away despite the unease tightening my stomach. “About what you’re hiding.”His expression hardened. “Eliza—”“You’ve always been a fortress, Maximilian,” I interrupted, my voice trembling. “I’ve respected that. But there’s something different now. I can feel it.”He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “You’re imagining things.”I shook my head. “No, I’m not. You’ve been distant, even after everything we’ve been through. And then there’s that phone call last night—”His jaw tensed. “What phone call?”“The one you took in t