Whispers of Destiny: His Belated Love novel Chapter 157

After Maxwell left Rosemary's apartment, he intended to head straight back to the office, but a call from Pearl redirected him home.

Once he parked the car, he pinched the bridge of his nose and smoked a cigarette before stepping out.

The living room was thick with tension.

Wendy was nowhere to be seen, and his parents were sitting on the couch with icy expressions, not even turning to acknowledge him as he walked in.

Maxwell grabbed a pair of shoes and switched them out, “Dad, Mom.”

He was about to sit down when Pearl shot him a look that could kill, “Who said you could sit? But then again, Mr. Templeton here is such a big shot now, isn’t he? Divorce is like chop first, report later with you, so what’s sitting on a sofa, right?”

Maxwell: “…”

He anticipated that Pearl would be furious when she found out, and he had planned to break it to her in a calm moment, but then the whole trending fiasco happened.

With a sigh, he said, “Mom, you can take your anger out on me, no need for all this passive-aggressive stuff.”

“Me, passive-aggressive?” Pearl was so mad she could twist his head off. “What did Rosemary ever do to you? She’s been nothing but hardworking and patient since she married into our family, never complained about your lousy skills, your cold face, or your lack of sweet talk. And you ditch her for Victoria, that woman who can’t even show her face in public?”

Since the divorce, Maxwell's ears had been bombarded with ‘Rosemary’ non-stop, and he massaged his throbbing temples, turning to Norton.

Norton gave him a ‘can’t help you’ look; the dude was just there to make up numbers, small stuff didn’t need his say, big stuff he couldn’t decide on.

Maxwell: Man, you’re letting the side down.

Norton: I'm prepping your alimony for the ex’s wedding.

Maxwell: “…”

Pearl's voice got louder, jolting him back to reality, “So, got any regrets?”

He was so done with the nagging, he brushed her off, “Mom, we’re divorced.”

The moment he said that, the room went dead silent.

Pearl realized he wasn’t just talking trash out of hurt feelings but truly felt done with it and didn't want to keep dragging it. Her anger simmered down, “Alright, if that’s your decision, I won’t push you. I liked Rosemary, but it's your life. You can't force sweetness from a twisted melon. Forcing it could just breed more resentment…”

Maxwell’s face darkened, and he kept his lips sealed.

Pearl went on, “No love lost between you two, I get it, but I really took to that girl. Let me adopt her as my goddaughter.”

Maxwell couldn't help but facepalm, “She was my wife.”

“Ex-wife,” Pearl glared at him, “From now on, you're her big brother. Keep an eye out for any eligible bachelors for her.”

Something seemed to click for her, “Did you ask about what I mentioned before, if Martin's parents would mind him marrying a divorcee?”

It was Hogan on the other side, sweating buckets despite the winter chill. Seeing Rosemary, he breathed a sigh of relief, but his tone was fierce, blasting her right away, “Why the heck was your phone off? No answer to the door, I thought something happened to you!”

Rosemary felt like she was his soldier, instinctively standing at attention, hands glued to her seams.

Hogan paused, realizing he might’ve come on too strong, coughed and mumbled, “I was just worried.”

Rosemary was still a bit dazed, probably from the scolding, “You need me for something?”

“With all the drama online yesterday, and you dropping off the grid,” concern hadn’t left Hogan’s stern face, suddenly he opened his arms and pulled Rosemary in tight, “Scared the hell out of me. Promise me, no matter how tough things get, you can’t lose hope.”

Rosemary felt something off in Hogan’s tone and was about to ask when there was a ‘bang.’

They both turned toward the noise—

Pearl and Maxwell stood not far off, staring at them. The bang came from the durian Pearl had been holding, now on the ground.

Maxwell had a dark, deadpan look, while Pearl was all shock, glancing from her to Hogan.

Rosemary locked eyes with her, and in a hot second, tried to wriggle free from Hogan's embrace.

But with Maxwell right there, Hogan wasn't about to let go. Nope, he doubled down, hugging Rosemary tighter and pulling her in close, "Hey there, ex-hubby, good morning!"

While saying this, he nodded his chin towards the durian on the ground, "So, what's this? A peace offering or a mea culpa?"