Marriage is an exercise in torture. — Frances Conroy

( Unedited )

Max's POV

Or course! But I'll keep it discreet.

Her words kept ringing in my head like a mantra as I drove here, and the rage kept growing, swirling within me like a vortex.

Jealousy.

It's like a ticking bomb, ready to explode.

When she said those words, my vision had turned red. Wrath consumed me.

My insides were in turmoil, blood boiling with fury. 

She finally awakened that green-eyed monster I've been trying to tame ever since I impulsively offered my place to her.

I am a private man, and after allowing Angel into my domain, I knew my life was not the same.

I don't know when did she start affecting me. All I know is that she can rankle me in a way where anyone hasn't succeeded, not even Noah or Cyrus, especially when she's flirting with the male department, and that's what alarms me.

"A penny for your thought?" Noah's voice rang in my ears.

I lazily opened my eyes and turned my head to face his approaching lean figure.

Noah Theophilus has been my closest friend since university. He's a cardiologist, and we have also worked together at the Royal Hospital since we started residency. 

Noah sat on the adjacent lounging chair after handing me another beer bottle.

"Thanks," I murmured as I pulled my upper body up and sat upright. I took a swig of the beer.

The bitter taste exploded at the back of my throat, and I welcomed it, anything for a diversion.

"Still thinking of her?" Noah asked causing me to frown.

Noah was staring at me expectantly. 

I shook my head. 

He's talking about Miranda.

"She's dead, man," he reminded me, and I let out a deep sigh.

"You never like her," I commented in a dry tone as I stared at the sparkling blue water of his pool.

I drove here in his place after that blood-boiling talk with Angelik. To blow off some steam. Otherwise, I might have dragged Angelik to her room and proved to her that no one could ever make her scream as I do.

Just thinking of someone touching her made me incensed. My hand clenched tightly around the bottle of the beer.

"She's a manipulative bitch, and I'm sure her brothers had to do with her death," Noah remarked gravely, and I nodded my head.

"Sometimes, it crosses my mind where they could be hiding. I haven't gotten a note from them, not that it bothered me," I said, and Noah just stared at me.

I'm glad I have a true friend.

He was there to save me when Miranda or her brothers set me up. I'm always grateful to him.

I was indebted to him.

"They probably realized their threatening is useless," Noah snorted. He took several swigs of his beer.

"What was the threat, by the way?" Noah suddenly asked, and I just realized Noah had been a close friend, but I've never really divulged anything to him until he arrived that night and took me back to my rented place before the cops came to the scene.

He wasn't the nosy type, the inquisitive one. The reason I get along well with him.

I decided it was time to open up about it. "He threatened to kill every woman linked to me," I said.

The reason no one knows about Angelik, even if it kills me to watch her flirting back with some of the staff, and I'm not gonna start telling Noah about our marriage.

I'd rather her think I didn't care much about her than compromise her safety.

Noah sat upright, turning swiftly and facing me with wide eyes. "So that's why you never dated anyone and avoided being linked to anyone after Raelyn and Payton's accidents?" Noah said incredulously, shocked.

After a short silence, he spoke. "Do you think they did that?" he asked.

"You were seen with Raelyn at the Long Beach bar before she got hit by a car," Noah recalled, and I didn't comment.

I've paid someone to investigate Miranda Morgan's family, and though Narcissistic behavior disorder runs in their family, there was no abuse or violence associated with any one of the Morgans.

And then, there was Miranda's ex.

Miranda was a stunning woman, so it's not surprising if someone obsessed over her. And that's her ex, Reagan Marlowe.

"And then, Payton. I know you two were becoming close," Noah added on, breaking into my thoughts.

"I'm not sure if Mark or one of her brothers did it," I replied and tossed back the rest of my beer, then placed the empty bottle on the round glass-covered rattan table.

My investigators gathered that they were out of the country when the accidents happened.

The Morgans are from Australia. So when Miranda died, they left the country, and a year later, they returned. 

I've got a note from Mark, threatening me that he's still watching me.

I'm not bothered to be honest. 

What can they do to me?

My family is one of the most influential families in Europe and America, if not the whole world.

But then, I got myself involved with Angelik. And the nightmare came back. I'm scared of her.

I dropped my back on the blue cushioned lounging chair, blocking the unwanted memories out of my head. Memories that caused me nightmares most the nights.

Sleeping with Angel had somehow chased those memories away, at least temporarily. I know Mark was just waiting for that moment before he pounced.

I can understand his grudges coming. Miranda was their only baby sister.

"What were you thinking, by the way?"

I frowned at him, confused. I wasn't listening to him the whole time he driveled.

"Miranda," he supplied, and I let out a deep sigh.

I know Miranda was a psycho. "I went to that party to meet with Paul," I explained, "Miranda told me Paul is coming. I didn't know they were related too," I added.

Noah snorted in disbelief. "She's narcissistic," Noah commented, and I agreed with him, but I kept my mouth shut.

"Looks like you need more beers," Noah got up, took the empty bottles, and strolled inside. He came back a few minutes later with more beers.

He opened one with a lid opener and handed it to me.

I murmured thanks. Then, I took a swig as I watched him opened another one for him.

"Yes, Paul is her cousin, but Paul never gets along with her. No one of her cousins really likes her or her brothers that I know," Noah started rambling, and I frowned at him, staring at him intently.

Since when did Noah become nosy?

"I know she's wrapped up in herself, and I didn't intend to get involved with her or her life," I explained, "I wasn't involved... until that night," I explained further, shaking the memories away.

"And I'm still bewildered, dumbfounded on how you ended up in her bed?" Noah furrowed thoughtfully.

"As I am, Noah."

No matter how I shake my head, wracking my brains for recollection. Still, it's sending me back to the bar where I was sitting and drinking while waiting for Paul. And then Miranda came to say hi. 

Since I found out, she's related to Paul, snubbing her is the last thing I would do.

If Noah didn't take me that night, I'm probably either dead or in jail, and all my dreams have ended. A disgrace to my family.

My family will surely do anything to get me out of it and clear my name, but then, the social media, the people, won't leave it be.

"Where did you disappear that night, by the way?" I asked, turning my eyes to him.

Noah grinned wickedly. "You know what happened when guys disappeared while a party was well underway?" Noah quipped, his eyes alight with mischief.

I snorted in disapproval. "Well, I disappeared unconscious," I reminded Noah, and he laughed, shaking his head.

"True. I can't still believe how Miranda got you up to her bed," Noah reminded me again, and I let out an agitated sigh.

"Who and how did someone snuck up a drug on my drinks was the question that had been plaguing me," I mumbled in almost a whisper.

The death of Miranda still haunted me.

"Let's not talk about it. I came here to get a break from all these thoughts plaguing me," I stated, and Noah stared at me as he nodded his head.

"So, are you going to work tomorrow?" Noah asked, changing the subject.

"No, I think I'll take some time off. Since I started residency, I've never stopped working," I said, staring at the dark horizon.

"Something must be troubling you. You love your work more than anything in this world. Not even a family party could get you away from it," Noah commented reflectively, and I sighed.

I took a big swig of my beer before I responded. Noah was watching with deep curiosity. And I'm in no mood to feed his curiosity.

"I do," I replied shortly.

Noah was right. Taking a time off from work was like cutting some part of me. However, I can still be part of the team, but not in the operating room, temporarily. 

"I can still work, not just in the operating room," I replied, and Noah nodded his approval.

"You know they need your professional experience. The cardiac team can't function without your approval, your final words, and commands, Max," Noah said in a tone that held so much admiration.

I think he was exaggerating it.

The team does conduct meetings before we start the operation on every patient.

It's like a group study. We review things about the operations. It's not unusual, and it's always done in preoperative preparations.

And one thing most people get wrong is that it's not because we are experienced surgeons; we stopped learning and relied on our knowledge.

No.

We still do google on data that's a reliable, credible source. As a surgeon, you'll know if it's credible or not, whatever is posted online.

We can also look at some things in journals, texts, or credible sources to get more prepared.  

And meetings are mostly done through phone calls or video calls. Meeting in a room was rarely.

Everyone was busy, so the only things that primarily connected us were through phone calls or emails.

"You're a true friend, Noah," I chuckled, and he laughed.

"You're too humbling, my dear friend," Noah teased. 

"Oh, before I forget, George is in town," Noah grinned.

George was another friend of mine, but we lost connection for more than four years. He felt burned out being a Physician, so he worked with a big pharmaceutical company.

He's a year older, the same age as Noah.

"How do you know?" I asked. Excitement bubbled up in my system.

It's been Noah and me, and sometimes, his friend Stark, a tattoo artist, joins once in a while.

"He emailed me last night. He can't wait to hang out with us, like the old days," Noah explained.

I frowned.

"He didn't email me?" I said. My tone couldn't hide the disappointment.

Noah furrowed his forehead.

"I believe he sent it in a group."

I nodded my head. "Perhaps it went to my junk," I commented.

I pulled my phone out of my black jacket and scrolled through my mail. There were thousands unread.

I went to my junk and I was right, I saw his name.

"Was it his birthday the other day?" I asked, and Noah's face lit up.

"Oh, that's why he said we should celebrate at the bar," Noah laughed.

"Don't tell him I forgot!" Noah warned with his brown eyes widening.

I laughed.

"George doesn't even care," I said, stashing the phone back in my pocket.

"Are you staying over tonight?" Noah asked, and I nodded my head.

"I can sleep out here," I said, and Noah shook his head in disapproval.

"Of course not! You can sleep in one of the guest rooms," he offered as he rose from his seat and headed back inside.

I left Noah's house around eight in the morning, and I made calls with my team regarding the two patients I was supposed to operate on today and then the medical administrators about my vacation.

It was past eleven when I got off the phone. I shut off my laptop.

A headache started to grow, and I decided to have a nap.

When I got up from a short rest, I went to the kitchen, thirsty and hungry.

I halted in my tracks.

Angelik has her back facing me, and she has not noticed my presence. She was wearing a loose cotton shirt and lounging white pants. She tied her still damped brown hair past her shoulders in a messy bun, showing her slender neck. She looked freshly showered, and that baggy fabric couldn't hide her curves which always drove me crazy.

Usually, I don't just stand here like a pervert stalking her. By this time, I would scoop her up and already ravished her.

I adored her so much and marrying her, though I was caught unprepared, was not abhorrent as she thinks it was.

And if the Morgans found out she's my wife, god only knows. My heart clenched at the thought of her ending up in the same fate as Payton and Raelyn. My gut churned just thinking about it.

I quickly erase the thought from my head.

"Are you cooking?" I asked as I strolled closer, announcing my presence.

She looked deep in thought while cooking and making coffee simultaneously. I stopped a few paces away from her.

She swiveled, startled, and then rolled her eyes when it rested on me.

"No. I am dancing," Angelik quipped sarcastically, and I chuckled.

There goes the spitfire I adored. Her dry humor was one thing that drew me closer to her.

"Well, I thought you're starting to grow roots on where you stood," I retorted drily, and she huffed.

"Would you like some coffee?" she asked sulkily.

I smiled. "Sure," I replied, crossing my hands over my chest and staring down at Angel. Her fresh soap scent tickled my nostril, mixed with her natural female scent. She smelled like flowers that just bloomed in the spring, sweet and stimulating.

"Are you not scared I'm gonna poison you?" she raised her well-defined eyebrow, and I stifled my amusement.

Angel, with her petite stature, she's not the kind of a woman who backs down and doesn't give a fight.

She'll fight you until her last breath.

I smelled the burning egg, so I moved closer to her, dragging her backward until her back hit the stove's edge. My eyes held hers, and as soon as our body touched, she sucked in her breath.

It felt like time had stopped.

Angel's eyes widened, and I loved how her body reacted, just how she affected me. My cock just as arouse as she was, hard and painfully restrained underneath my trouser. And now, standing so close to her, my body sang, blood rushed downwards, and I ached to possess her.

I willed myself to tear my eyes off her smoldering eyes and turned the stove off, touching her bottom intentionally, and she gasped softly.

I leaned down and smiled when I felt her body stiffen. I curled my hand around her waist, pulled her closer to me, and she melted in my arms.

Soft and pliant.

"It's burning," I whispered against her ear, nuzzling my nose against her neck and filling my lungs with her intoxicating smell. 

"Well, thanks! I intend to burn it. That's your lunch," she retorted grimly and then tried to push me away.

I laughed and stepped back, giving her back her personal space, though it was a hard fight. 

"At least you're not gonna poison my coffee," I teased, and she was still angry at me.

"Why would I do that?" she frowned—no traces of humor on her beautiful face.

A face of a doll.

She has a small, almost heart-shaped face, with dark well-defined brows, a small pert nose, a stubborn chin that was slightly dimpled, and a naturally red bow lip. She has the fullest, luscious lips I've ever kissed, not that I've kissed a lot.

"I would rather want to see you annoyed to no end every day," she added, then turned sulkily, facing the stove, and grunted softly when her eyes rested on the pan with two eggs burnt.

I shook my head.

"You're going to work soon," I reminded her.

She turned to me and huffed, her eyes perusing me like I'd lost my mind.

"I'm off today," she reminded me, her eyes accusing.

Oh yes.

She can't blame me when all I could think was my cock and what I'd do to her, but I won't tell her that. 

"Right," I tried to smile, guilt tugging at my heart.

Angel looked at me thoughtfully, her eyes hard and no ounces of fondness I'm used to when she directed her gaze to me.

"I'll order some food for us," I said and looked away, unable to meet her stern, cold stare.

My chest tightened painfully at the thought of losing her slowly.

I missed the flirty, sweet, and chirpy Angel. I missed her giggles, her loud laughter, and her dry wit.

"No, thank you! I've lost my appetite," she replied in a frosty tone, and then she left me, gawking at her retreating back.

Lost and, at the same time, furious.

Her words rang in my head.

Or course! But I'll keep it discreet.

Did she already found a lover?

The thought of someone touching her caused my blood to boil. Rage filled me instantly. My hands unconsciously curled into a tight ball as I drifted my dark gaze back on the burnt egg mindlessly. My mind was racing with thoughts of her smiling, laughing with another man. My vision turned red as the image of her and another faceless man circled my thoughts.

I ran my palm across my face in frustration, and my hands dug into my waist as I stared back at the hallway where she had disappeared.

And she had driven me up the wall, yet again. My jaws stung at how tightly clenched.

She's going to be the death of me. 

For fuck's sake. 

She's not going to change my mind. Not until I find out the Morgans had finally left my back.

I let out a long, deep sigh, trying to calm my raging temper.

I decided to order over the phone our lunch and get it delivered.

I turned when my eyes caught her phone flashing light. I took it and saw the name Jo was calling her.

I can't remember anyone from the cardiac operative team named Jo. My heartbeat, however, picked up speed at the realization that she was talking to a man.

And she already found me a replacement?

Gritting my teeth, I canceled the call. As much as I wanted to tell the man to stay the fuck off, I couldn't compromise her safety.

"What are you doing?" Angel's livid tone snapped me out of my racing thoughts.

........

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