The Queen's Back

Maxwell chuckled lightly at Teddy's words. "You call her your wife so intimately, but I was her boyfriend for four years. Do you really think she could forget me that easily? And by the way, personally paid for that car-over a million dollars. How could I not know about it?" Maxwell frowned, his expression shifting as he said, "If that's the case, why don't you just call and ask who actually paid for my wife's Audi?" He tugged Mona toward the counter, pulling out his sleek black card to hand to the cashier.

But Mona quickly pushed Maxwell's card back into his hand and pulled out her own. "No way! I want to buy this for you," she insisted, her eyes sparkling with determination.

The cashier took Mona's card, glancing at Maxwell's athletic wear, which fit him like a model on a magazine cover. She couldn't help but comment, "This sportswear set also comes in women's sizes. I bet it would look amazing on you, ma'am!" Mona's height and figure were perfect for the outfit. If she and Maxwell wore matching clothes in public, they'd be a walking advertisement for the store, turning heads everywhere they went.

Maxwell's heart raced at the cashier's words. The thought of Mona wearing a matching outfit with him was something he had never dared to imagine. Would she actually agree to it?

To his surprise and delight, Mona nodded decisively, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'd love to try it on," she said, her voice warm. She quickly asked the sales assistant for her size and dashed to the fitting room, eager to see how she'd look in the same outfit as Maxwell.

Meanwhile, Teddy stood to the side, his jaw slack with shock. He'd just checked his phone to find a notification for a bank card refund. Confused and suspicious, he quickly called the car dealership, his stomach sinking as he learned the truth about the situation. As he watched Maxwell and Mona's easy interaction, a sense of crisis gnawed at him. Maxwell was being so good to Mona, but was it just because she held the title of Mrs. Carter, or did Maxwell genuinely like her?

If it was the former, would he really spend so much on someone he didn't love?

As the couple walked past him in their matching outfits, Teddy caught a glimpse of Maxwell's indifferent expression. It struck him then-Maxwell must have real feelings for Mona.

Mona and Maxwell were a striking pair, their good looks amplified by their matching outfits. They became the center of attention in the mall, with Mona's slender frame and long legs complemented Maxwell's tall, athletic build perfectly. They looked like they'd stepped right out of a fashion magazine spread.

Maxwell glanced at Mona, who was beaming in her new outfit. The frustration he had felt earlier melted away. In its place was a look of contentment, even sweetness, that seemed to radiate from within. It was the look of a man falling in love, whether he realized it or not.

On Monday morning, the sun cast a soft, golden glow over the city, making everything feel fresh and new. As usual, Maxwell dropped Mona off at The Designscape, their favorite design studio.

Inside, Mona found her two friends already there, and the three of them dove into their work, designing gowns with a passion that filled the room. Each stitch was a promise of their hard work, and they were determined to make it perfect.

After nearly two weeks of intense effort, Mona finally saw their collaborative designs taking shape. It was exhilarating to witness their vision come to life.

That afternoon, Mona received a frantic message that Ava had been in a car accident. Her heart dropped as panic surged through her. Without a second thought, she abandoned everything she was working on. Grabbing her keys, she sprinted out the door.

19074%u

Anxiety twisted in her stomach. In her previous life, Ava had never been in an accident. Was this new reality a result of her second chance? Had it altered the fates of those she cared about?

With her heart pounding, Mona sped down the highway, her mind solely focused on Ava. The world around her blurred as she pushed the car faster, desperate to reach her friend.

As Mona sped towards the hospital, guilt gnawed at her. These past few weeks, she'd been so wrapped up in her work that she'd neglected her friendship with Ava. Sure, they'd kept in touch through WhatsApp, but it wasn't the same as their usual heart-to-heart talks. Ava promised to tell Mona the moment she met someone special. But there had been radio silence on that front. Now, Mona couldn't help but wonder if she'd missed something important in her friend's life.

Mona's mind raced, her thoughts torn between her friend in the hospital and the road ahead. In a split second of distraction, her foot pressed harder on the accelerator. A loud crash jolted her back to reality as her car slammed into the vehicle in front.

Thanks to her seatbelt, Mona's body only lurched forward briefly before snapping back. But her forehead smacked against the windshield, leaving a dull ache throbbing through her skull.

Wincing, she touched her forehead gingerly and stumbled out of the car. Her heart sank as she saw the crumpled front of her car and the dented rear of the one she'd hit.

Before she could fully process what had happened, the driver's door of the other car flew open. An angry voice filled the air, followed by the sharp slam of the car door.

As the other driver approached, Mona's stomach dropped. It was Gordon, Maxwell's half-brother. Of all the people in the city, she had to rear-end him.

"I'm so sorry," Mona blurted out, knowing full well it was her fault.

Gordon's anger vanished as he recognized her, replaced by a sly grin. "Well, if it isn't my dear sister-in-law," he drawled. "How careless of you. You've put quite a dent in my car. What do you suggest we do about this?" Swallowing her dislike for Gordon, Mona offered, "I'll pay for the repairs, of course."

"Repairs?" Gordon's eyebrows shot up. "But what about my wasted time? No, I'm afraid that's not enough."

"Then what do you want?" Mona asked, trying to hide her growing anxiety. She still didn't know how Ava was doing.

"How about this," he said, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Just one little kiss from my dear sister-in-law, and we'll forget this whole accident ever happened. What do you say? You'd be getting quite the deal."

Gordon stepped closer to Mona, his intentions clear in his smirk. Even from a distance, the overpowering scent of his cologne made Mona's stomach churn.

She instinctively took a step back, pushing Gordon away to maintain some space

between them.

"Very funny, Gordon," Mona said, her voice steady despite her racing heart. "If we can't settle this civilly, we should just call the police. They'll handle it fairly, and I can afford whatever compensation you're owed." Her finger hovered over the emergency number on her phone, ready to dial.

Gordon's eyes flashed with panic as he realized Mona was serious about calling the police. In a desperate move, he lunged for her phone, his long arms reaching out to snatch it away.

Despite Gordon's imposing height of six feet, Mona's own tall frame, enhanced by her high heels, made her nearly his equal. Just as his fingers brushed her wrist, she pressed the call button.

Before the police arrived, Maxwell's car screeched to a halt nearby. He jumped out, quickly assessing the situation. "Get in the car," Maxwell said firmly. "I'll handle this." Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Mona hesitated, her eyes darting between Maxwell and Gordon. A knot of worry tightened in her chest. She knew all too well how manipulative Gordon could be, and the thought of leaving Maxwell to face him alone made her stomach churn.

softened. "Go on," he urged gently. "Your friend needs you at the hospital. Trust

Sensing her concern, Maxwell's express

me, I've got this under control."

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