I Chose Me Over My Marriage novel Chapter 24

For the first time, Maxwell didn't immediately validate her, instead turning to look quietly at Aria.

In his mind, Aria had always been that innocent girl in a white dress with a high ponytail, the one who happily chased after him.

Standing before him, she looked exactly the same, but there was something hidden in those eyes that he couldn't quite read anymore.

Aria panicked under his intense stare and quickly added, "Max, you know me. I take my work so seriously, and I really want to prove myself. I know my headspace has been awful lately because of what happened, but I apologized right away! He was the one who wouldn't let it go!"

Ding—

Maxwell's phone chimed again.

He glanced down. Another message from Silas.

[Mr. Sterling. Decide the truth for yourself.]

"Max?"

Maxwell looked up, meeting Aria's tear-reddened eyes, and an inexplicable surge of irritation twisted in his chest.

"I will look into this. Go home for now. I'll let you know when I have an answer."

"But..."

Aria tried to protest, but Maxwell held up a hand to silence her.

"Aria, I have work to do. But don't worry, I'll take care of it."

Whether for her sake or for the sake of his relationship with Silas Chambers, as the middleman, he had to manage the fallout.

Aria didn't dare push further. As she walked to the door, she couldn't resist throwing one last glance over her shoulder.

Seeing that he truly wasn't going to stop her, she ground her teeth and stormed out, slamming the door like a petulant child.

Maxwell's brow furrowed deeper.

Even if he had been on set himself, he would never have dared to speak to them like that.

More importantly, Aria had brought up the fire.

He had carried her out of that building immediately; she didn't have a single scratch on her.

It was Lyra who had actually walked through hell, who had genuinely almost lost her life.

The mere thought of that incident brought Lyra's increasingly cold, indifferent face to the forefront of his mind.

A sharp ache pierced his chest, so intense it actually made his breath hitch for a second.

Realizing where his thoughts had drifted, Maxwell's expression froze.