Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Indeed, a Joyous Occasion Brings High Spirits

###Chapter 61: Good Fortune Brings a Cheerful Spirit

「The next morning.」

After waking up, Maxine Rhodes left her bedroom to find the lights on in the dining room. A steaming hot breakfast was laid out on the table: perfectly cooked shredded chicken congee, a few refreshing side dishes, and a plate of golden-brown scallion pancakes.

As she drew closer, she noticed a note tucked under a glass of water, written in a forceful yet elegant script:

Maxi, eat your breakfast while it’s hot. I have an early meeting, so I’ve gone to the office.

The note was signed simply with "Hawthorne."

In the quiet morning light, the name "Maxi" seemed to carry the lingering warmth of his deep voice, making her heart flutter once again.

She recalled yesterday evening in the car, how he had softly called her name, both testing the waters and seeking confirmation, and her own response, which had feigned reluctance but was, in truth, indulgent.

The shredded chicken congee and scallion pancakes... On the way home last night, she had seen a small streetside shop and casually remarked that it had been a long time since she’d had a homestyle breakfast. He hadn’t responded at the time, so she never expected this...

Maxine Rhodes sat down and scooped a spoonful of the warm congee into her mouth. A light, savory flavor spread across her palate.

She picked up her phone, opened their chat, and after a moment’s hesitation, sent a message.

Maxine Rhodes: "The shredded chicken congee and scallion pancakes were delicious."

Maxine Rhodes: "[Cat Thumbs Up.jpg]"

The instant the message was sent, the typing indicator appeared at the top of the screen.

Ethan Hawthorne: "Mm."

A few seconds later, another message popped up.

Ethan Hawthorne: "I’m glad you liked it. What do you want for dinner tonight?"

Maxine Rhodes stared at the screen, her thumb hovering as she debated typing "whatever" or "anything is fine." In the end, she deleted them both and sent a different reply.

Maxine Rhodes: "Sweet and sour pork ribs?"

Ethan Hawthorne: "Okay."

Putting down her phone, Maxine Rhodes went back to her congee, the corners of her mouth curving into a smile she didn’t even notice.

Later that morning, just as Maxine Rhodes stepped into her office, Coco and Bubbles slipped in behind her like two mischievous cats and locked the door.

"Max Darling!"

Bubbles was the first to break, rushing to her desk with his eyes shining brightly. "Quick! Spill it! When did you and Mr. Hawthorne... hm?"

He made an exaggerated, knowing gesture.

Coco, though more composed, couldn’t help but lean closer and whisper, "We saw you from behind the glass door yesterday, Maxine. Are you two... together?"

Maxine Rhodes looked at the two pairs of eyes before her—filled with concern, curiosity, and absolute loyalty—and felt a warmth spread through her.

In her career, they were her sharpest spear and her sturdiest shield—people she could trust to watch her back.

She considered this for a moment, her fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of her mug.

’Should I tell them? Tell them about a marriage that started with a contract?’ But now, the word ’contract’ sounded jarring. Her relationship with Ethan Hawthorne had already evolved into something different, completely unbeknownst to her.

"Don’t worry!"

Bubbles immediately shot up three fingers with a solemn expression. "I swear on the handsomeness of my future boyfriend, the second I walk out that door, I’ll know nothing!"

Coco also made a sincere promise. "Maxine, we only care about whether you’re happy. As for the rest, if you don’t say it, we won’t ask."

Looking at them, Maxine Rhodes suddenly felt that since they had been with her through her miserable past with Benjamin Sterling, perhaps they also deserved to know about this new beginning—one that had arrived so quietly, leaving her feeling both uncertain and hopeful.

She took a deep breath and looked up at them. Her voice was soft, but it landed with stunning clarity in the quiet room. "We... got married."

"..."

The office plunged into a dead silence.

Bubbles’s eyes were as wide as saucers, and his mouth was open wide enough to fit an egg.

Coco was completely floored, her mind racing. In a hushed voice, she asked, "Married? As in... with a marriage certificate?"

Seeing their petrified expressions, Maxine Rhodes couldn’t help but chuckle and nod.

"AHHH!!!"

Bubbles let out a fiercely suppressed shriek. He rushed forward as if to hug Maxine, then stopped himself, afraid of being too presumptuous. Instead, he grabbed Coco’s arm and shook it wildly. "They’re married! It’s legal! Oh my god!"

Coco snapped out of it too, the sheer joy of the surprise making her eyes well up. "Maxine! This... this is wonderful! It’s truly wonderful!"

She knew all too well what Maxine had been through in the past, and right now, she could feel nothing but happiness for her.

But once the initial shock wore off, the perceptive Coco quickly seized on the crucial point. "But... why keep it a secret? This is a huge celebration!"

Maxine Rhodes’s expression regained its usual calm and sharpness.

"Now isn’t the time to make it public," she explained. "Benjamin Sterling and Lydia Thorne are feeling smug right now, thinking they have leverage over me. Ethan Hawthorne’s identity is too prominent. If we announce it, all eyes and all the pressure will be on us, and it will only hinder our plans."

Bubbles immediately slapped a hand over his mouth and nodded vigorously. "Got it! Don’t you worry, from now on, I’m a handsome mute!"

Coco also nodded seriously. "We’ll act the same as always. We won’t give anything away."

Maxine Rhodes looked at them, a relaxed smile gracing her lips.

"Alright, gossip hour is over." She clapped her hands, her entire demeanor shifting in an instant. "Time to get to work. Coco, sort out the latest data on the South District project. Bubbles, get the creative proposal for the new quarter ready."

"On it!"

During the lunch break, the office gradually emptied.

Through the glass window of her office, Lydia Thorne saw Maxine Rhodes head to the restroom alone. A cold, calculating smirk formed on her lips, and she immediately stood up.

She walked at an unhurried pace down the hallway, where she "coincidentally" ran into Sonny and Ron, the office’s biggest gossips.

"Perfect timing, I needed to ask you two about something," Lydia Thorne said casually, adopting the effortless tone of a superior. "Let’s talk on the way." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

She skillfully kept the conversation going, guiding the two of them as they followed Maxine Rhodes into the restroom.

Just as the soft click of a stall door locking was heard, Lydia Thorne positioned herself in front of the sinks.

She pulled a lipstick from her handbag and began to slowly, deliberately reapply it in the mirror.

The atmosphere in the humid restroom grew tense.

Lydia Thorne’s eyes met Sonny’s and Ron’s in the mirror, and they exchanged a knowing glance. Then, feigning an idle observation, she said, "Director Rhodes looks so radiant lately, her skin is just glowing. Looks like she’s being well taken care of. It’s true what they say, good fortune brings a cheerful spirit."

Sonny immediately chimed in, eager to please. "It’s true, President Thorne. And have you seen Director Rhodes’s new purse? It’s gorgeous, a limited edition! Completely out of our league."

Ron picked up the cue, his tone dripping with malicious insinuation. "That ’good fortune’... Looks like Director Rhodes has found herself a new long-term meal ticket! Wow, I could never be so lucky."

Lydia Thorne let out a soft laugh, her tone forgiving but every word laced with venom. "Now, now, you shouldn’t say that. One must have a conscience. I heard from Rose that Maxine Rhodes was with President Sterling for five years—gave him her youth, her body, everything. Now that she’s been cast aside, it’s good that she’s found a way to move on... you know, with someone older, but willing to spend money on her. It’s a way out, I suppose. After all, not all of us can stand on our own two feet and earn money with our own abilities."

Her words not only solidified the rumor that Maxine Rhodes was a kept woman but also smeared the last five years of her life. Her intentions were utterly despicable.

"CLICK—"

The stall door was flung open. *****