Olivia Sparks

The general who was holding his phone pocketed it in a beat after hearing Wyatt's warning about keeping Maxen and Olivia's marriage under wraps. 

Even with the big age-gap between the rest of the decorated officials in the room and Wyatt, they still showed their respects to the heir of the Wan and Ang families. They held the two families in high regard for having sons and daughters who served the country's military since time immemorial.

Knowing Wyatt's family background meant it was easy for the older generals to feel how heavy every single word that Wyatt uttered weighed. Add to that the young lad's accomplishments. Everyone knew how he never used a single connection to climb up the ranks, although using his name could easily propel him to.

Flashing a huge cheeky grin, Wyatt clamped a hand over the general's shoulder and said, "Relax, Uncle. I just get overprotective sometimes with my friends. Didn't mean to scare you or anything." He then released his hand and patted the general's back, who nervously laughed and nodded his head. 

After what seemed to be a temporary relief from the tense situation, all eyes trained back in the center of the room where Maxen was still negotiating with his wife.

"I already told you, even if he sees you, he won't talk. He'll just mess with your head, which I don't want to happen." Maxen held a finger up and switched the speaker off. 

He didn't want anyone to hear Olivia arguing with him because his wife knows how to cook up a suggestion that could easily sway a person into agreeing with her.

"My brain was messed up a long time ago. I can handle anything, Max. And you shouldn't be worried about my safety because you will be right there beside me all the time. Right, baby?"

Taking a sharp breath, Maxen's c.h.e.s.t rose. His eyes darted to Lance Go who was babbling words Maxen couldn't make out of. Scratching the skin above his eyebrows, Maxen offered a deal.

��Okay, okay. I will let you join me for some fun in one condition."

"I'm all ears."

Maxen smiled upon hearing a hint of excitement laced in Olivia's voice. "You can ask him one question. If he says the truth, then you can't join me. You know it will get boring if Lance easily gives you the answers. But… if he keeps his mouth shut, then you can pull all the fingers and toenails you want from him until he gives us what we want."

"I can do that," Olivia trailed off. "I can ask him anything, right?"

"Anything," Maxen confirmed. Peeling away the phone from his ears, he tapped the speaker button again and spoke, "What's your question, baby?"

"Wait," Olivia's shaky voice echoed in the room. "Promise me first, Max."

"What?" Maxen's eyes dilated, caught off guard with Olivia's demand.

"You heard me. I said, make a promise that you will honor our deal."

"Baby? Of course, it is a promise. But if it's up to me, I don't like you seeing this mess. You're too beautiful to be in this room."

"Maaax, but it's you who I wanted to see. You look s.e.xy when you get all worked up."

Wyatt cleared his throat to steer the conversation back to the matter at hand when the husband and wife started flirting. 

Maxen pivoted on his heel and stuck his tongue out for his brother to see. 

"Priorities," Wyatt mouthed, and rolled his eyes.

Maxen chuckled. "You should have seen Wyatt's face. It's golden," he narrated. He then placed the phone on the steel table and let his hand hover above the set of tools laid on top of it. He picked up a long-nose plier and a strip of cloth.

"Let us know when you're ready to ask anything that you want, baby," Maxen spoke, urging Olivia. He then walked behind Lance Go, towering over the latter.

Lance Go was suddenly on high alert. He tried to squirm in his seat, fighting against the chains that bound him on the chair. Earlier, someone tied his wrists on the armrest and his ankles to each leg of the chair, limiting his movements.

Deep inside, he knew he's a dead man no matter which option he picked, but the businessman's side of him whispered in his ears.

It told him that if he picked to answer truthfully, he would lose the opportunity to see Olivia one more time. Thus, it's better for him to lie through his teeth no matter what. 

If he lied, Maxen would bring Olivia in the room, giving him a chance to sway Olivia, changing her mind and giving him another chance. After all, he was her first love, and first love never dies, right?

"Okay. I'm ready," Olivia announced, puffing out air through her mouth which could be heard on Maxen's side of the line.

All the bystanders felt a crippling power nail them on their spots as they waited for Olivia's question. Their mind was in a haywire as they came up with endless questions that Olivia might ask.

"He mentioned taking me to a boat. What's the name of the boat, Mr. Go?" 

Maxen rolled his tongue over his teeth. The thought of Lance Go's elaborate plan of stealing his wife didn't sit well with him. He didn't need to hear the answer. He would just torture the guy to let out all the pent-up frustrations he bottled up for the past few days.

"Do you want me to repeat my wife's question?" Maxen bowed, his mouth leveled beside Lance Go's ears as he asked.

Against his initial plan, Lance Go answered truthfully, avenging himself by snitching out the men who left him to die and rot under the hands of Maxen. "M/V Catalina," he uttered, his lips quivered in disdain.

The room fell silent as they listened to soft clicks of what they guessed was someone doing a search on a computer.

"Why do you have to be so boring all the time, Lance?" Olivia commented, further stomping on Lance's ego. She huffed. Now she couldn't join Maxen and watch him. She was willing to stomach all the gore just so she could get a glimpse of her husband work 'on the job'.

"He's telling the truth, by the way. I can still see some movements in the dock. Maybe you can catch some of his accomplices if you dispatch your men."

Maxen nodded as he listened to Olivia. He then glanced toward Wyatt and exchanged knowing looks. In a beat, Wyatt and half of the people were out of the room.

"Max?" Olivia's voice reminded him she was still on the line. 

"I'm still here," Maxen trailed off, sitting back to his throne. "Thank you for your help, baby," he gently spoke, balling the strip of cloth in his hand. He didn't know whether to rejoice over the fact that Olivia pulled out an information from Lance Go without the use of force. 

He thought maybe his wife could really sit in with him and do the interrogation so they could leave early for their dinner date.

He paused and shifted his gaze to his phone to remind himself that Olivia still didn't hang up on him. She could drop the call earlier, but she chose not to, and he knew why—she was waiting for him to reconsider his deal. 

Gagging Lance Go's mouth with the ball of cloth, Maxen clipped the pliers on the former's pinky nail, pulling it out with little effort.

Saliva pooled in Lance Go's mouth and dripped on the corner of his mouth as a wave of pain sn.a.k.e.d through his veins. He wanted to ask himself if it was all a dream after hearing his muffled screams. The reality of it all sank into him as he felt another round of searing pain on his finger. This time, a soldier dripped a candle wax over his exposed flesh, keeping it from bleeding.

"That's for scaring my wife," Maxen said, standing up to his full height. He gingerly placed Lance Go's nail on a petri dish and covered it. Holding the petri dish up, he directed, "Have this examined and traced. I want to know all of this bastard's ancestors."

"Sorry for the holdup, baby," Maxen then spoke. He was thankful Olivia behaved the entire time. He guessed she was eavesdropping and he couldn't help but smile thinking about her reactions over the stimulating experience of hearing but not seeing what was going on the other side. 

"Get ready. I'll let you play for a bit," he said as he wiped his hand clean. His smile broke into a wide grin upon hearing Olivia squeal.

"Heol! My husband is the best!"