Saving the Villain

Meanwhile…

"Her birthday is coming up in a few months, and she'll be officially a lady. Once that happens, do you think you're the only person who will want her attention?"

"Trust me. Not only guys our age will line up for her with customized flowers, exquisite chocolates, and lavish gifts but also those young adults who were looking for a good match."

"Don't give those guys any chance. Cosette might be very annoying, but she can be very mature if she wanted to be. She's sure about you, which means she had seen her future with you, but just like you said, making big decisions in your early teens might end up as a painful scar."

"Be sure that this regret is not something that you wished you could have done, and not something you have done. You gotta step up your game, brother. Because once Cosette slipped away from your clutches, many would try to catch her. Sad to hear if you put it this way, but that's reality. There were many fish in the sea, but remember that there are high-quality fish that people would dive in to search for it underwater. It just so happened she's not just any fish, but a siren."

Luke's words kept repeating in Maxen's head like a broken record. Even when they went to the hospital to visit Remo's grandfather, his mind was drifting elsewhere. Sadly, he couldn't refute everything Luke mentioned.

Many guys will line up for Cosette even if not for her money or the power her family had. They would line up for her because she was Cosette. It wasn't hard to fall for her. Just one smile from her, and it would melt any man's heart.

"Maxen…" Maxen grumbled, hand on the steering wheel while the other propped on his temple. "... why are you suddenly becoming indecisive?"

Deep in Maxen's heart, the only woman he has was Cosette. He couldn't see his future with anybody else other than her. However, why was he being so reluctant about this topic?

There were many small reasons for that. For instance, he didn't want to think that he wanted to marry her just so he could have sex with her. There were still other reasons; small details that once accumulated, it was enough to make him question himself.

Another example was what Luke mentioned. If Maxen hastened things, it only meant because he was scared someone would sway her heart. Not that he didn't know about these things when he first glimpse at the life she had, and the people in the upper echelon.

Cosette was of a different caliber in life. She might be attending a public school, but no matter how she disguises herself, Cosette would always be Cosette Blac. A war would break out just to win her heart.

As Maxen drove slowly, trying to reorganize his thoughts, his brows rose. Up ahead was a car parked outside the gates of the Blac mansion, making him furrow his brows.

"Was there a guess? I haven't seen that car before," he mumbled to himself. Conrad owned several cars for different occasions and tons of vehicles of different types. Maxen knew all of them, but this vehicle outside the gates was something he hadn't seen before.

Maxen slowed down until his vehicle came to a full stop. The car was blocking the path and, not knowing who was inside, he couldn't just honk. Deep lines appeared in between his brows when the front passenger opened up, seeing a very familiar person come out.

"Cosette?" Confusion dominated his face as he confirmed the person who came outside the front passenger seat. But then, his expression turned sour when the driver's seat opened and saw the person who drove her home.

Asher.

Asher called Cosette, making her look back at him. He seemed to have said something that made her smile.

"There were many fish in the sea, but remember that there are high-quality fish that people would dive in to search for it underwater. It just so happened she's not just any fish, but a siren."

Again, Luke's words flashed across his mind. Maxen's eyes turned icy, reaching for something to flash them some light to get their attention. As soon as he did, Cosette and Asher turned their heads to the car near theirs.

Asher furrowed his brows, watching the driver's seat door open. When Maxen came into sight, the smile lines on his face slowly faded.

Maxen darted his eyes between Asher and Cosette, clenching his teeth in annoyance. He was not a saint to understand everything in one look. Maxen was only human. Cosette had been ignoring him for the past several days, but now, another guy was already driving her home.

The feeling was unpleasant.

"Your car is blocking the way," said Maxen coldly to Asher before shifting his piercing sharp eyes to Cosette. "Cosette, come. Let's go home."

Asher and Cosette immediately sensed Maxen's mood was off. Asher glanced at Cosette and frowned, seeing her just stare at Maxen with pressed lips. When she sighed quietly, she faced Asher.

"Thank you for the ride home," she said. "Take care on your way home."

Cosette didn't idle as she marched towards Maxen's car. She took a deliberate pause as she stood in front of the front passenger seat, eyes on Maxen. Nothing was said as she hitched inside without making a fuss.

Meanwhile, Maxen just watched her enter before casting Asher a sharp look. He also said nothing, reaching for the door handle to join her. However, just when he was about to open the door, he stopped.

"Maxen." Maxen slowly lifted his head upon Asher's call, turning it in Asher's direction only to see the latter approach him. "Can I have a moment?"

Maxen let go of the door handle, facing Asher squarely. "I'm afraid it's quite late for that," he refused without a second hesitation. "I don't think there's something we should talk about, anyway. Thank you for driving her home. Please move your car, since it's getting late."

With that being said, Maxen reached for the handle again. He had nothing to say to Asher, but the latter said something that made the ripples in Maxen's heart into waves.

"It's not what you think it is."