Chapter 212: The Decision
Catherine woke, as always, curled against Maximilian’s chest.
Her fingers moved absentmindedly over his skin, tracing slow, lazy patterns, but her mind wasn’t as calm as her body. Sleep had come, but not rest. Something lingered—uneasy, quiet, persistent—coiled deep in her chest, refusing to loosen its grip.
Maximilian felt it before she said anything.
"Is something bothering you?" he asked softly, his voice still thick with sleep.
She had been pushing herself for days—work, emotions, everything tangled together. Maybe it was finally catching up to her.
Catherine’s gaze drifted to the bracelet on her wrist. Her fingers stilled.
"We’ve been together for a long time," she murmured.
"Mmm... a few weeks," he replied lazily, his lips curving. Compared to the years they had lost, it was nothing. "Already bored of me?" he teased.
"No," she said immediately.
His hand slid to her waist, warm and familiar, and she let out a small giggle despite herself.
"Are you on vacation?" she asked, lifting her head to look at him. "Don’t you have classes to teach? You’re with me all the time... what about your career?"
The guilt crept in as she spoke. She hadn’t even thought about it until now.
Maximilian studied her for a moment, something soft flickering in his eyes. Then he smiled.
"You look adorable when you worry about me."
Catherine huffed, though she couldn’t help the small laugh that followed, pushing at his shoulder when he leaned in to kiss her neck.
"Not now," she said, squirming. "Just answer me."
"Well..." he began, not stopping entirely—just pausing between kisses, as if that counted as cooperation. "I’ve never taken a vacation in my life."
She raised a brow.
"For precisely this situation," he finished, his lips brushing along her collarbone.
Catherine laughed. "For kissing me?"
"For kissing you," he agreed without hesitation.
"You’re unbelievable, Moosemilian..."
She tried to push him away, but there was no real strength in it. He caught her easily, far too quick, pulling her back into him.
What followed wasn’t resistance so much as play.
She twisted, trying to escape his relentless affection, laughing as he chased after her movements, stealing kisses wherever he could—her cheek, her jaw, the corner of her lips. Her hands pressed against him, half-heartedly holding him back, half-pulling him closer.
"Stay still," he murmured, amused.
"No," she shot back, breathless, her laughter spilling freely.
He shifted, trapping her again with effortless ease, his arms firm but gentle around her as he leaned in once more.
Her protests softened into giggles, then into quiet smiles, her fingers once again finding their way into his hair.
In the end, she gave up, resting against him, still warm with laughter, still held close.
And just like that, whatever had been troubling her... faded, if only for a little while.
"Hey, Catherine..." Maximilian murmured, his hand moving in slow, gentle circles along her back. "You’re so pretty. Have I ever said that?"
"Maybe..." she replied with a soft chuckle, her fingers still resting against his chest.
There was a subtle shift in him then; something warmer, deeper. She felt it in the way his arm tightened around her, in the quiet intensity that slipped into his voice.
"I can’t wait to have you," he said, low and honest.
Catherine lifted her gaze to meet his. "Is there a but?" she asked, studying him closely.
He held her gaze, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Do you want a but?"
For a moment, she said nothing. Just looked at him, really looked at him, as if trying to convince herself that this was real. That this... this warmth, this closeness, this love... was hers.
Life had twisted in ways she never expected. And somehow, she had ended up here... happier than she had ever been.
She leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
"Shall we wait until our wedding night?" she asked quietly.
There was a vulnerability beneath the question. Too many moments had been interrupted, broken before they could become something more. She didn’t want that again. Not this time.
Maximilian stilled for a brief second, understanding flickering clearly in his eyes.
Then he nodded.
"We wait," he said.
It wasn’t reluctance. It was a promise.
Catherine smiled, relief softening her features, and leaned in again. The kiss deepened naturally, unhurried but full; warmth meeting warmth, breath mingling, something steady and certain building between them.
When they finally pulled apart, it was only slightly, foreheads resting together.
"This is going to be hard," Maximilian muttered with a quiet laugh.
Catherine laughed too, light and bright. "Very."
And then, before he could pull her back in again, she slipped out of his arms.
"Hey—" he started.
But she was already on her feet, grinning, taking a few quick steps back as if putting distance would help her keep that decision.
"You agreed!" she teased.
Maximilian just shook his head, a helpless smile tugging at his lips as he watched her retreat.
"Dangerous woman..."
Catherine only laughed, turning as she walked away, her laughter echoing softly in the room.
And Maximilian stayed where he was for a moment longer, watching her, memorizing her, knowing this wait... would be worth it.
-----
They returned to Catherine’s home to exactly what she had expected.
Her family had been waiting.
Even before stepping out of the jet, she pulled off her ring, carefully wiping it with a soft cloth before slipping it back onto her finger. The way she handled it... gentle, deliberate, made Maximilian pause for a second.
She took care of it the same way she held onto them... to them.
A quiet pang of guilt brushed against him. In another life, he hadn’t given her this. Hadn’t given her something so simple, so important.
But he didn’t let himself linger there.
That life was over.
This one... this one was theirs.
The moment they arrived, the welcome began. Workers from the ranch, familiar faces, warm smiles—congratulations poured in from every direction. Catherine smiled, thanked them, accepted their blessings with an ease that came naturally to her.
But she didn’t linger.
"I want to see Dad first," she said softly, already moving toward the main house.
Maximilian walked beside her, their hands brushing, then settling together naturally.
The moment they stepped inside, something felt... off.
Too heavy.
Catherine’s steps slowed.
Her brothers were already there.
All of them.
And none of them looked relaxed.
Her fingers tightened instinctively around Maximilian’s hand. She didn’t look at him immediately, but when she did, it was brief, searching.
He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
Whatever it was... they would face it together.
They stepped further in.
And then she saw him.
Alexander.
Standing at the center of the room, cornered.
The tension in the room made sense now—sharp, suffocating, pressing in from every direction.
Catherine’s breath hitched.
Her heart dropped.
Something was wrong.
And Alexander... was in trouble.
