Page 66 of When Hearts Surrender

“Maxwell, can I ask you a question?”

He grunts in the affirmative, his gaze unfocused and turned toward the sketch. He’s clearly deep in thought.

“Do you believe the curse to be real?”

He whips his head in my direction, his gray eyes sharpening. “Who told you about it?”

“My friends, before we got married. It’s interesting how you didn’t tell me about it, the soon to be wife of theeldestson.”

“If I told you, would you have believed me?”

I shake my head. “I still don’t believe it. It’s the twenty-first century and for a family as large as yours who can trace their lineage to the dawn of time, there are bound to be some unfortunate deaths.”

We continue strolling around the gallery. “My family was in the lower middle class until Grandpa turned it all around with McKenzie Atelier. We lost touch with pretty much everyone other than Grandpa’s younger sister and her family. I’m sure if I could trace my lineage, we’d probably have similar sad stories as yours.”

“So why are you asking me the question then?”

“I’m curious.” I stop and face him and take a fortifying breath. “I wonder where the Silas I met at the race went, and why the Maxwell in front of me is so different—opposite, like night and day.”

Why do you pull away when you clearly want me? When I still feel this pulsing chemistry between us that has only grown stronger over time?

Why are youhiding from me?

Stepping closer, I watch the Adam’s apple in his throat bob, the dark stubble dotting his jawline adding to a rugged appeal.

His breath hitches and a thought occurs to me.

“Are you trying to save me from the curse?” I ask. “Is this why you’re telling me not to fall in love with you?”

“Nothing will ever happen to you, Belle.Nothing.” His eyes flash with determination, as if it’s unfathomable for me to become another victim in the family curse.

He stalks away, a dark cloud looming over his head, and I hasten my steps to follow him.

“That’s why, isn’t it? You believe in the curse so you’re acting like a mercurial asshole to me. The curse can’t be real, Maxwell! It’s not scientific!”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I want to, because this marriage has two people in it. This affects me!”

He spins around, his face mottled. “This marriage is only anarrangementfor us to get what we both want. Nothing more, nothing less. You should remember that.”

He stalks toward the door as I reel from his words.

“Well, I can’t exactly give you an heir if we don’t even share the same bed!” The words escape my mouth before I can stop them.

I don’t know what we are doing, this marriage we agreed to. He saved my family’s company and asked for nothing in return.

“Why did you marry me, Maxwell? Tell me the truth!”

What is he getting out of this? Didn’t my friends say he’s doing this to get an heir and circumvent the curse? But why won’t he touch me? I can’t help but be hurt by his rejection over and over again.

Maxwell pauses by the door and keeps his back toward me. “Fine. You want to start trying? That desperate to get rid of me?” he growls. “Be careful what you wish for.”

With that ominous threat, he walks out the door.

Chapter 24

Fuming, I stomp downthe corridor toward the grand staircase and climb it two steps at a time. On the third-floor landing, instead of turning left, this time I turn right toward the other side of the mansion—the west wing containing the mistress’s set of rooms that have been closed off.

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