"What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Max's POV

The excitement in her tone had my brain unable to function well. Forgetting we could get spotted by any media and let the whole world know that the only daughter of the Mailov linked with me. That would also give Morgan, or whoever that man determined to drag me to hell, the next target just to hurt me.

You're overthinking it again, Max. It's been ages. Probably he's forgotten you existed.

Or perhaps, whatever happened in the past was purely an accident. It was coincidental.

I quickly shook the thoughts off and willed myself to stop reminiscing or ruminating about the past. I don't know why I should let my past ruin what we have right now.

I smiled unconsciously. Just thinking about my wife made me feel wonderful, to be honest. My whole life has been revolving around my career. And now, all I could think of was her.

Unconsciously, I shook my head as I changed into blue jeans and a white polo shirt, then quickly gathered my wallet and car keys. I stuffed them in my jeans and headed out.

When I got to the living room, my wife was not there waiting.

"Angel!" I called, but no answer. I called once more, but the quietness of the house told me she must be out now and waiting. Angel is not the type who will sit and stay quiet. She's chirper and loud.

I quickly grabbed a black baseball hat and strode outside. My wife was already out in the driveway, leaning against the side of my truck, waiting.

I shook my head as I locked the door, then walked over to her, my eyes scanning her mindlessly.

She's wearing a baby blue tank top, topped with a thin, long dusty pink trench coat that reached her shin, and pairs it with tight-fitting black jeans. The sleeves of her pants folded until her ankle. She looked so comfortable with her white converse sneakers.

Her hair was tied in a bun on top of her head, with a few tendrils loose and teasing her cheeks, framing her small delicate face. And she was wearing her flirty grin that always makes my knees weak and my cock stiff.

"Well, you look scrumptious, hubby," she smiled as I approached her closer.

She stood straight, and she still just reached my shoulder, barely. I winked at her as I leaned down, my lips so close to hers. She closed her eyes, and I laughed as I reached the passenger door and opened it for her.

"Wifey, you're scandalous. People are watching us," I murmured against her lips, and she snapped her eyes open and craned her head around her before she rested it on me.

The flirty smile died down, and she glared at me.

"It's just an old man. I am sure if he sees us kissing lovingly, he'll start checking what he is missing in his life. And perhaps he'll start losing his grouchiness," she laughed at the last words, and I subtly glanced at our neighbor, Mr. Smith, the most hated in the neighborhood. A bachelor, a single man who spent all his life defending justice, he had forgotten women existed.

He just nodded his head at me before striding back into his house, and I chuckled as I trained my eyes back on my wife, who was also watching him.

"What a waste of genes," she murmured, and I chuckled.

"Be good, wifey. You're starting to become nosy," I playfully glared at her. She only chuckled. My head bent lower and claimed her tempting full lips for a brief kiss.

"That is unfair!" she slapped my chest, and I chuckled again. "You gotta let me know if you kiss me. Honestly, you're the only one enjoying it," she complained, and that's when I burst into waves of laughter.

"We will never get to the store if I start kissing you here, sweetheart. So get that little ass inside, then we can get home quicker. Then we can eat each other again," I playfully murmured the last words in her ears, and she perked up and gave me her cheeky, knowing grin.

She even batted her long, thick, and dark lashes, and it reminded me of that doll that Sasha Beth used to shake when she played with them when we were just kids. She used to tell the dolls to stop batting their ridiculous lashes.

"You should have told me right away," she giggled, and I shook my head, smiling like crazy.

When she got settled, I closed the door I'd been holding open, then climbed into the driver's seat.

When we got to the store, my wife had almost filled the cart with a different flavor of chips. I had to put back some of it as soon as she turned her sexy ass away cause arguing with her wouldn't work. Her wit and reasoning are unbelievably working all the time. Perhaps I'm too putty in her hands.

I followed her like a pup as she slowly walked along the aisles. She suddenly stopped in front of the bottled pickles of different kinds.

"We still have those artichokes, sweetheart," I reminded her.

"I thought I've used them all?" her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at me, and I shook my head.

I looked down furtively when young girls passed by, staring at me not too subtly, and I caught them throwing curious glances at my wife. I noticed they came back not just twice on these aisles, and they did not seem to look at the products on the shelves, but they were scanning us.

When they passed by, I controlled that anger starting to rise.

"Sweetheart, let's get going," I murmured, and she nodded her head —unaware of the looks we get— without looking at me. Her eyes trained on the bottles on the shelves, perusing.

I don't know if there is still room for anything.

Before we passed the vinegar area, I stopped quickly, almost running over her. She was in front of the cart when she suddenly halted.

"Oh, we are out of balsamic vinegar," she remarked, and I grabbed a bottle cause it was closer to me, and the vinegar are on the top shelves. She may have to step on the first shelf so she could reach the bottle.

We finally reached the cashier, and Angel unloaded the groceries and placed them on the grocery conveyor belt. When she noticed half of her chips were gone, her thinning eyes directed at me.

I looked away, feigning I didn't get what her eyes were sending me, a threat.

Well, she's gonna kill me when we get home.

At some point, I got scared.

I saw my face on one of the magazines, and I pulled the offending paper, flipped it back, then placed it back, covering the rest of the magazines with my face on the cover. I quickly pulled the visor of my baseball hat to hide my face.

I paid for the groceries, avoiding looking at the cashier lady when she stared at me with curiosity. It's hard to hide when you towered over almost everyone in the store.

My height already was catching a lot of attention, if not all.

As soon as we got all the groceries in the back of my truck, we left the place. On our way, Angel didn't wait to confront me.

"What happened to all the chips?" she inquired. Her eyes spat fire as she directed at me.

I let out a deep sigh and cautiously glanced at her briefly. She doesn't look amused.

"I noticed you never check what groceries we have, just like that pickled artichokes?" I said in an amused, lighter tone.

She glared at me. "I'm talking about the chips," she hissed. "Don't try to deflect my question."

"Sorry, but you still have three bags of chips left at home," I reminded her, then her face softened.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

Suddenly, I felt unsure. I know I saw three bags of Miss Vickies in the pantry a few days ago unless she gobbled them up in one sitting. But then, I know she can eat the whole bag in one sitting.

"I saw three bags a couple of days ago," I murmured, a little unsure as I gave her a small smile.

"You know I eat them a lot," she furrowed, and I nodded. "You should also refrain from eating way too many chips, sweetheart," I cautiously chided. "Too much sodium," I added, and she just rolled her shoulders in nonchalance.

"It's not gonna kill me," she reasoned out lamely.

I shook my head. "I am serious, sweetheart," I reprimanded, and she smiled at me. That cheeky grin was back on her face.

"I'm sure I'm gonna excrete whatever extra sodium I intake 'cause I'm a healthy person," she grinned cheekily, and I shook my head.

It is true, but over time, when the kidney can't keep up, it will lead to a lot of undesirable effects on her health.

"Sweetheart, just eat it moderately," I sighed.

She smiled, an amused smile causing me to frown as I stared at the road, glancing at her once in a while.

"Are you scared if I get sick?" she asked thoughtfully.

And the thought of her lying on one of those beds in the hospital made me sick. I didn't even want to think about it.

"Wifey, you know what it's like... Please stop talking about it. It scares me," letting out a deep sigh.

"I'm glad you cared about me," she joked, and I shook my head, frowning at her.

"Of course I do. You still need to provide me with babies," I said without thinking. I don't know why I ever said that. Not that I'm thinking about it.

But seeing a mini Angel shrieking, running around the house while I chased them, suddenly made my insides soft, and a broad smile unknowingly graced my face.

"Babies? Like how many babies are you thinking?" Angel was now facing me, frowning.

I pulled into the driveway, then turned the engine off. I faced her. She looked at me with genuine interest.

"I don't know?" I replied, and she smiled with pure delight.

"I never thought you wanted kids," she said thoughtfully, and I stared at her face.

She looked so happy, and I suddenly regretted that I ever mentioning kids. The looked on her face says she's ready to have babies soon.

I would love to have our own, but not now until I make sure she's not in danger.

I may sound selfish, but it might kill me or lose my sanity if she's pregnant and someone out there was waiting for the right time to attack.

I hastily erased the chilling thoughts from my head and replied, "I do, but I don't think it's the right time, no?" I said, watching her face transform as she nodded her head.

"You are right. I would like to enjoy your attention first," she grinned at me. Her eyes danced with joy, and my heart swelled with happiness.

"Glad we agree on this matter," I murmured before giving her a quick peck on her lips, and then she moaned with disapproval.

I chuckled as I got out of the truck, and then before I could even reach her door, she jumped out and huffed.

She helped me carry some of the groceries to the door. With her free hand, I asked her to grab the key out of my right pocket, and while she happily obliged, grinning like a Cheshire cat, she intentionally ran her palm, brushing over my crotch, and I groaned deeply, hissing like a wounded animal. My blood rushed down to where she touched so intimately, and I shivered delightfully. My cock ached as it hardened painfully.

"You are wicked!" I grunted as I held the grocery bags tightly, almost dropping them when I felt her warm palm, like a feather that ran ever so lightly over my crotch. I'm painfully aware of the heat of her palm across my crotch.

She chuckled as she pulled the key out of my pocket, deliberately touching my throbbing cock.

"That's your punishment for taking away my chips!" she flirtatiously murmured before she blew me a kiss and then pushed the door open.

She strutted in, and my eyes trained on her toned, rounded buttocks.

I groaned as I walked in and watched her back as she deliberately teased me by thrusting her butt outward and strutting like she was on a runway.

As I headed to the kitchen and couldn't take my eyes away from her behind, my crotch had never been so tight, and it was not the best feeling.

Her tight jeans molded like a second skin, and damn her behind looked delicious.

After I brought in all the groceries, I left her in the kitchen, putting the items away while I took a shower to cool down my arousal.

It seems that I'm beginning to get more acquainted with my washroom since I got married to a wicked woman.

The next day, Sasha Beth came, and I gaped at her as she stood on the door frame.

Hair that was cut in a straight bob, as red as blood, wearing a pink hanging top, her belly bare. A diamond stud stood out, drawing your eyes directly to her pierced belly button. Her wrists and neck wrapped with different ornaments, she looked like a little Christmas tree.

When she told me she was going to try to be responsible. I didn't expect her to carry the same habits of dying her hair every month or more often than that, not that I'm judging her, but the way she held herself, it was the same Sasha Beth who disappeared God knows when, and whenever it suited her.

"Sasha!" Angel cheerily cried out as she rushed towards us. She didn't pay attention to her outrageous hair and fashion trends as she giggled happily upon seeing my sister.

"Why are you not letting her in?" she frowned at me as she pulled me to the side, then gushed over my sister.

Sasha Beth grinned as she dropped her duffel bag and a small piece of luggage, then pulled Angel in her arms, almost crushing her.

They were laughing, and I unconsciously looked heavenward and heaved a deep sigh.

Why am I being punished?

"Oh my! It's been a while since we saw each other. I want to hear all your stories!" Angel chirped giddily, and I shook my head, grabbing the damn luggage that looked like it had seen better days and her duffel bag.

"How can you live with my miserable brother?" I heard my sister asked my wife.

And then their laughter followed, and I shook my head as I strode inside and closed the door.

God help me!

...............