Saving the Villain

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Maxen glanced down at Cosette, caressing her bare back while she was resting her head on his chest. After driving for about thirty minutes, he offered for the two of them to stay in his suite where he was staying. Cosette was someone who had an image to protect, and if anyone saw her with him, it would be over for her. Hence, it took them two hours before rolling under the sheets.

"I'm tired," was all she said.

Maxen remained silent, looking up at the ceiling. "How was your business with the Quinns?" he asked out of plain curiosity.

"It's not bad," Cosette answered, keeping it short and simple.

"Hah… is that so?"

Cosette fluttered her eyelashes ever so slowly, smiling subtly. "You never asked me about anything." She propped her elbow on the space between them, adjusting her position to look at him.

"Neither were you ever curious about who I meet. Is this what you call jealousy?" she humored, staring at his sinful beauty.

"Jealousy, huh?" He smirked, pondering about that matter. "Nah, I don't think I am. Just curious."

"And why is that?"

"Because…" Maxen tucked her hair behind her ear gently, looking at her straight in the eye. "Because you and him… suit each other. You two were both well-born to boot, successful leaders of your family business at a young age, and lucky."

"Lucky… what an odd mix."

"But I made a decent point in that, did I not?" he shrugged nonchalantly as if they weren't talking about another man that could be linked to the woman who was in his embrace. "What do you think about him?"

Cosette pressed her lips into a thin line while humming a long tune. "What I think about him, huh? Well, he's smart, a bit distant and cold, and handsome. Very handsome."

"Well, that hurts. I don't think my looks are way less than his."

"You look way more handsome. Don't worry." She winked at him, giggling, before resting the side of her head on his chest once again. "Mister Asher Quinn is an overall interesting man. No wonder people used to compare him to me — or what it seemed it was actually the other way around."

Maxen rocked his head in understanding, listening to her voice. He should feel angry since she was talking about another man, but he wasn't. If anything, the feeling in his heart was bitterness. Because at the end of the day, Cosette would need to marry and Maxen was aware it wasn't him who would stand at the altar with her.

And that thought… Maxen hadn't known what to do with it. He was still undecided whether to abduct her and take her to an isolated island with him or just let her go. Perhaps become a third party too, if she wanted him around. It was not like he had some conscience left.

"Any talks regarding marriage?" he blurted out, biting his tongue.

"No."

"Why not? The elders of both parties are slacking, I see."

Cosette chuckled and shook her head. "You're hurting my feelings, Mister Devilsin."

"I am trying to be supportive here."

"You're doing more damage. How can you push me to another man when I am literally naked while lying beside you?" she humored without looking at him, smiling, yet her eyes were… empty. It was almost like she wanted to cry, but she didn't know how.

"I'm just curious, Cosette." Maxen breathed out, pausing for an entire minute. "So I can estimate how many times I can still fuck you."

"Is all you can think of is your dick's welfare?"

"Yes. My dick takes care of me very much."

"I hate you." She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "But no, no one's getting married. I don't like arrange marriages."

"That sounds like you."

"Also… he already has someone special." Cosette smiled subtly, as if recalling a memory that only she could remember. "She's beautiful, fun, and has a captivating smile. They might get married."

Maxen remained silent, feeling slightly glad to hear that. However, for some reason, there was a part of him that wouldn't allow him to feel that certain positivity in it.

"You're beautiful, fun, have an alluring smile, and a sexy mind and body," he argued in a quiet voice.

"I have a sexy mind and body… sure, but you forgot to add I had a cold heart, Mister Devilsin."

"Well, true. Your heart is so cold it's impossible to break it. I always shiver whenever you leave without looking back." They both chuckled at his response. Maxen lowered his head and planted a kiss on top of her head. "Do you like him?"

"I just told you…"

"You told me he already has another woman. However, you never told me what you feel about him."

"You make me sad," she whispered, smiling bitterly. Cosette didn't answer his question for a long time, keeping her head on his chest.

'Do I like Asher Quinn? What a stupid question to ask, Maxen.' She thought, mentally shaking her head. 'You know me more than anyone, and for sure, you know the answer. Seriously, he is already punishing me by pushing me to another man just because we both know we… will never work out.'

"No, I don't, sadly. He isn't my type." Cosette snapped her eyes and looked up at him. "I like someone else."

"Oh?" he arched a brow.

"He's handsome — sinfully handsome. He had a very broad shoulder and a muscular arm. Every time he embraces me, I feel safe. Each moment I'm with him, nothing matters. I forget everything and I don't think about anything; not the mess I'm in or other people's mess." She planted her hand on his tatted chest, resting her chin on her knuckles, eyes on him. "Although he's a mess himself, he somehow makes things better for me."

"However, he's a cruel man," she continued solemnly, lowering her eyes as her smile lines faded slightly. "Very cruel."

Maxen let out a shallow breath. "Let's… end this."

"See how cruel he is?" she looked up at him and chuckled. "No, Mister Devilsin. I don't want to."

"You do not have a say in it." He pinched her cheek mildly. "Let's break up and end this shit."

"I hate you."

"If you hate me so much, stop clinging to me." Maxen narrowed his eyes and tapped her arms, signaling her to let him go.