Chapter 323

Stepping out of the bathroom, Giselle put on a real silk robe, her hair half-dried. She sat down on the couch and took out a tube of scar repair cream from under the coffee table. There was hypertrophy in the wound on her wrist. A shallow knife cut had left a scar that stood out conspicuously. It felt bumpy upon touching, yet was quite numb, with little sensation. Only before heavy rain, it would feel itchy. Unsure why, sometimes, Giselle found it to be more accurate than the weather forecast. She applied the medicine on herself, being meticulous and careful not to miss any spot. Once she had spread the cream, she cut a strip of cling film with scissors and applied it on top to let the cream be fully absorbed. Just as she put the cling film on, the doorbell rang from outside. Giselle didn't move. In her apartment at the Jinjiang Residence, only a few people knew the floor number. Harper was in Frystonia. Knowing this excluded all others, leaving just one person. Why would he come? Giselle had never been able to fathom Maverick's intentions before. And even less so now. Shouldn't he be giving her the cold shoulder to the extreme??? This is the proper Maverick, who never minces words in his actions. Like when they divorced back then, he was so decisive and swift... It left her, unable to find even a chance to explain and ask for forgiveness. She knew, she was the one at fault. So, she doesn't blame Maverick. She didn't feel wronged when Maverick divorced her. Later on, when she fell ill and tried to kill herself, it was all because she was too fragile. She doesn't blame anyone, only herself. It was her, whose will was lacking. Knowing very well that she shouldn't have lit a spark in her heart, she did it anyway. It's only right to bear the consequences. But even if she committed a severe mistake, dying once should be enough, right? She finally managed to move on, so why does Maverick keep disturbing her? The doorbell keeps ringing, blending with some of her thoughts and making Giselle's mind restless. Annoying! It's making her incredibly restless. She finally could not sit still, she got up from her chair, and as she arrived at the door, something suddenly came to her mind. She turned back, picked up the watch on the table, put it on, and then Giselle opened the door with one swift move. The person standing outside the door was exactly who she expected. It was Maverick! His whole body was filled with an chilly and aloof aura. Looking at Giselle, the emotions in his eyes couldn't be immediately concealed: his impatient anxiety, his nervousness... Giselle wondered, what was he nervous about? Even if Nolan was indeed her boyfriend, and even if she let him stay over tonight, it had nothing to do with Maverick. Maverick only glanced at Giselle once. The next second, his gaze directly passed Giselle and looked into the room. Why did he come up? Maverick had to admit that he could not suppress his feelings. The thought that Giselle might bring Nolan home, the things they might do... He admitted, he couldn't bear it. That kind of feeling that could drive him crazy with just a thought, made him put aside his pride and dignity, and go upstairs to knock on the door. Maverick looked inside, Giselle let him have a good look. She even moved slightly to the side, giving Maverick a full view. "Did you see clearly?" She asked him, her tone icy and devoid of warmth. Maverick's gaze immediately shifted towards her. As their eyes met, Giselle gave a faint smile and continued, "If Mr. Hyland is done, I'll close the door. It's quite late, and I need to rest." It was an obvious eviction. Maverick was no idiot; he understood perfectly, but he remained unmoved, his deep, dark eyes staring intensely at Giselle. It seemed as if he was accusing her. Such a gaze was truly laughable. Giselle had no intention of wasting her time with him. She reached out to close the door, but Maverick was faster. Pushing his hand against the door frame, he held it in place. Because of his force, there was a 'creak' from the door. "Are you with him now?" Accompanying that statement was Maverick's voice, hidden with restraint, deep, and with a probing undertone. Giselle opened the door, feeling it necessary to be clear with Maverick. She looked at him, her emotionless calmness undisturbed, "Maverick, we're already divorced. Why do you feel entitled to ask me this?" She continued, "No matter your reasons, I believe you should understand this - you have no right, no place to meddle in my affairs. Regardless of whether I'm with Nolan or not, even if he slept here tonight, and I marry him tomorrow, it has nothing to do with you." Giselle's calmness perfectly pierced through Maverick. He tugged at his lower lip, as if he was laughing, but without the humor, the expression on his face was exceptionally cold - it was chilling to the bone. "I just want an answer from you," he said, "Are you with Nolan... or not?" Giselle looked at Maverick, remained silent for a long time, finally she said, "Does it matter? Why do you even care to know this?" Maverick sternly stared at Giselle, "I want to know, just how cheap your love can be." A second passed before Giselle managed to react, thereafter she laughed, her eyes beaming with humor. After a while, she looked up directly into Maverick's eyes, her red lips moved to say, "However, I don't want to tell you. As you know, Nolan is an actor, his affairs are private, and I can't just disclose them." She didn’t deny anything, and every word she spoke was in consideration of Nolan. Maverick felt an uncomfortable knot in his stomach, almost suffocating him. "Why did you come back!" He lowered his voice, it was extremely suppressed. It seemed like he was questioning Giselle, and yet, not really. But Giselle still answered him, "I came back for the Hawk family, not for you, Maverick. You should be able to tell, I've always been clear about my goals. If it was for you, it wouldn't be like this." Maverick let out a soft chuckle. How could he possibly think that Giselle came back for him? She has Blossom Avenue, she has the means to survive, she doesn't need his power or his money; it’s natural that she would find even a glance at him distasteful. But wasn't she deeply in love with Patrick? Didn't they make promises for the next life? Why can she be with someone else then? That Nolan, he merely took a few hits for her. Since when was she so easily moved? "Giselle." Suppressing the tumultuous emotions roiling inside him, Maverick closed his eyes, then opened them. He sneered, "You truly... are not worth it!" .. Maverick left. After dropping these harsh words, he turned and walked away. His departing figure was neat and decisive, but only he himself knew the defeat he felt inside his heart. That night, he didn't return to the hotel, instead—he went back to Shallow Bay. For a long time, he didn't dare to come back here. Because here, it held too many memories of him and Giselle. Once he returned, he felt—how vast it was. He clearly remembered, when he bought it, he wondered if it might be too small. Back then, everything he constructed in his mind was the future with Giselle. He thought far, far into the future—up to their old age. Hence, he always felt it was a bit small, not enough. But now, he only feels it's too big. So big that there's nowhere he could settle himself in. From the entrance to the stairs upstairs. Maverick didn't turn on the lights, not until he reached his study, where he turned on the desk lamp cast a dim light. The study desk had a hidden compartment. The reason for buying this desk was in part due to it. There was a small hole on the side of the desk. All you needed to do was to poke something into it, and a small compartment would spring open on the side. Inside the compartment, a stack of things were lying quietly. It was something Maverick had specifically brought over from the Bo's Villa after the redecoration of Repulse Bay was completed.