"Mom? Do you know why Maximus came back?"

Marcelina stopped mincing garlic and turned to Eliz, ready for a gossip.

"Why? You don’t want him here? Did he do something while I wasn't looking again?"

"No, it's not that. I'm just curious," Eliz assured her.

Hearing that, Marcelina was relieved and went back to what she was doing.

"I heard he's working on a feasibility study. I think it's for his own architecture firm."

"So he left his stable job to make his own firm?"

Taking the gossip opportunity, Marcelina dried her hands on her apron and padded near Eliz.

"You can't tell this to anyone, okay?"

"What?" Curiosity boiled in Eliz's blood.

"I heard he was forced to resign."

"What? Why?"

"You know he dated their CEO, right?" Marcelina made a disdained face. "I told him dating his boss was a bad idea. See? He was dumped and kicked out of the company."

Eliz thought for a second.

"I don’t think so," Eliz said. "Knowing Maximus, I'm sure he wasn't dumped. It's the other way around. And if he was forced to resign, why would the company throw a farewell party for him?"

Marcelina thought for a second, internally agreeing with Eliz's point.

"Stop talking about people's lives behind their backs."

Eliz and Marcelina both jerked when they heard Maximus. Like rats caught stealing cheese, the two scattered as if nothing happened.

Maximus kissed Marcelina on her cheek and greeted her, "Good morning. Why do you love to gossip about your son's life?"

Marcelina smiled sheepishly. The entire time, Maximus never gave Eliz a glance. Like she wasn't even there.

Just like how he used to treat her. Invisible.

Moments later, Jenice also joined them for breakfast. The two were still so clingy to each other, and Marcelina watched them with adoration while Eliz fixed her eyes on her food. Saving her heart from any trouble.

"I need to shop for some clothes, and I need a car," Jenice said.

"Let's go together this weekend so I can drive you," Maximus suggested.

"No, I need to shop today. You said you have a family car, right?" Jenice insisted.

"Yes," Marcelina replied. "And I would love to let you use it, but Eliz is the one using it–"

"No, it's totally okay mom," Eliz interrupted. "She can use the car."

"What? What about you, honey? It's hard to call a cab. How are you gonna go to work?" Marcelina asked with genuine concern.

When she turned 18, her mother had attempted every birthday, every Christmas, and other special occasions to gift her with a car. But she was stubborn, and she insisted on never accepting the car. She had to buy it with her own money.

"I'll just find a way," Eliz said, though she sounded unsure.

Right after breakfast, Jenice said she was going straight to the mall, so Maximus led her to the garage.

Eliz, on the other hand, hurriedly fixed her things when she got a text. She placed her phone in her handbag and wore her coat.

"Why are you in such a hurry? You're not even done eating," Marcelina commented.

Eliz drank her glass of water in three huge gulps before answering.

"I gotta go. Preston's already outside. I asked him to pick me up."

Eliz kissed Marcelina on her forehead and ran.

When Eliz arrived outside, she saw Maximus and Preston facing each other as if they were having a quiet battle that nobody else knew.

"Preston…"

As soon as he heard Eliz, Preston dragged his eyes to her and smiled widely. Eliz's heart-shaped face was Preston's breath of fresh air. It calmed him every time.

"Let's go," Preston beckoned.

Eliz walked near Preston, aware of how Maximus was giving her scolding gazes.

'Is he mad at me again? What is it this time? What did I do?' Eliz murmured to herself.

Eliz gasped when Maximus suddenly threw the car key at her, and her body automatically responded by catching it. She noticed it was the key to the car that Jenice was supposed to use.

"I'm gonna drop my girlfriend to the mall," he said.

"How was she gonna go home–"

Eliz couldn't finish talking when Maximus immediately turned around and left. She looked at Preston cluelessly.

"What happened?" she asked.

Preston shrugged.

"Let's go," he said and offered his hand to Eliz.

"But I have a car now," Eliz answered.

Preston sighed in disbelief. "Are you telling me I drove here for thirty minutes for nothing?"

Eliz smiled apologetically. "Forgive me, please? It's better this way. I don’t want to trouble you after work to come and drive me home."

"I don't mind, though."

Eliz chuckled.

"I mind," she answered. "To make it up to you, how about ice cream this weekend at your favorite shop?"

It was an irresistible offer to Preston. It was more than enough.

But he playfully said, "Nope. Not enough compensation."

"Now I feel bad," Eliz said with guilt. "I promise, one day, I'll repay you for everything you did for me."

"Now I look like I'm just trying to ask for returns."

Eliz laughed even more. "I'm just messing with you. So what do you want me to do? Something enough to compensate for the trouble?"

Preston smiled and said, "Smile for me."

Eliz didn't expect that. "Just smile?"

"Yeah. That's enough."

"Weird..." she said. "But okay?"

She smiled awkwardly, which made Preston laugh.

"More than enough," he said while chuckling.

Meanwhile, Jenice pouted as she got inside Maximus' car.

"I thought I was gonna use your family's car? Did your sister make a fuss about it? How was I gonna tour the town without a car?"

"You said you will go shopping, now you're touring the town? Let's do that when I'm free."

"Exactly when are you free, Maximus?" Jenice blurted with dismay. "You always say that, but you never took me on a proper date."

"Let's not fight," Maximus said, unbothered by his lover's complaints.

"So what? Did Eliz make a fuss? Did she complain about me using the car–"

"No, she didn't, okay?" He snapped. "Shut the fuck up, Jenice, and wear your seatbelt. Do you want to go shopping or not?"

Jenice scowled in annoyance and fastened her seatbelt with a heavy heart.

The two never said a word when the engine came to life. When they finally left the mansion's premises, Jenice spoke.

"I'm a bit surprised. You're showing colors I've never seen before."

"What does that mean?" Maximus asked and glanced at his girlfriend quickly.

"You like to do everything in moderation, Maximus. You're neither cold nor hot, you're just in the middle. You don't like showing emotions, but you also don't want to be distant. You always don't go too far in everything. You're always hanging in the middle."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm flustered because I noticed you lose your cool when your sister is involved."

Maximus raked his hair with his fingers.

"That's ridiculous. What the heck are you saying?"

Seeing that the lines on Jenice's forehead deepened, he knew he had to do something to change the topic into something else.

"Are you jealous right now? Of my sister? Not with somebody else but my fucking sister?"

Jenice crossed her arms and stared intently at him.

"Tell me, babe. Do I have a reason to be jealous?"

Her question was followed by a loud screeching of the car. Maximus had stepped on the brake, and the car abruptly stopped.

With his hands on the steering wheel, Maximus stared at Jenice. He declared, with a heavy breath, "She's nothing to me."

As if he was trying to convince himself more than anyone else.