Chapter 3

Katniss gave a nod, kinda shocked that Maximilian even knew who she was. She'd only seen him a couple of times; he was Desmond's half-brother on their dad's side. Anything tied to Desmond always grabbed her attention.

Word on the street was that Maximilian had been dealing with some chronic illness since he was a kid, but he had mad skills in business.

The Boleyn family's whole empire was basically in his hands, making him the top dog in the family. Even though he was the oldest son, for some weird reason, he didn't carry the Boleyn name.

Maximilian was drop-dead gorgeous, but those icy eyes of his gave off some serious bad vibes, making Katniss a bit uneasy.

At school, Katniss was always in the limelight, but not for any good reasons. It was all because she was head over heels for Desmond. In her past life, her heart beat only for him.

Desmond was the big man on campus. Handsome, charming, and talented, he had girls falling for him left and right, with Katniss being the most obsessed.

From the moment they met, Katniss was hooked on Desmond, chasing after him like a madwoman, just to get a little closer and feel his warmth.

"Desmond, I like you!" she once yelled in a crowd, getting all sorts of weird looks and laughs.

But Katniss didn't give a damn. Desmond was her whole world; nothing else mattered.

"Haha, look at Katniss, she's lost it!" people would gossip, pointing fingers.

But all that noise didn't faze Katniss. She kept stalking Desmond, obsessed with his every move.

'Desmond, will you ever notice me?' she silently wondered, hoping for a miracle.

But her obsession didn't get her anywhere. Desmond stayed out of reach, like he was on another planet.

One day, Maximilian couldn't take it anymore and spilled the tea to Katniss.

"Desmond doesn't care about you; you're just a joke to him," he said, his words cutting through her fantasies like a knife.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she kept doing her thing, thinking her sincerity would win Desmond over. Even though she failed, she never forgot the rare kindness Maximilian showed her.

To Maximilian, his words were probably no big deal, but to Katniss, they were a lifeline. She suddenly remembered that in two years, Maximilian would die young from his illness.

Thinking about it made her heart skip a beat. She glanced at Maximilian's almost perfect profile, her eyes filled with mixed emotions.

In her past life, she was so wrapped up in the Manners family drama that she didn't know when Maximilian died. When she found out later, she felt a pang of regret.

Katniss looked at the water dispenser, then at Maximilian's wheelchair. She decided to pour him a cup of water and handed it to him.

Maximilian took the cup, saying coolly, "Don't bother trying to butter me up; I can't do anything about Desmond."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the hospital's water room got eerily quiet, with just the hum of the water heater and their breathing filling the space. Katniss felt a wave of emotion and decided to spill her guts to Maximilian.

"Mr. Hamilton, you probably don't know this, but I gave a lot for Desmond, only to realize he wasn't worth it. I'm done being someone else's doormat; I want my independence and self-respect back." Her voice was a mix of helplessness and determination.

Maximilian listened in silence, his eyes showing some deep emotion. He seemed to be soaking in every word, trying to get a read on her true feelings.

Even though he didn't say a word, Katniss felt a newfound respect in his gaze, like a refreshing spring for her parched soul. She looked at him gratefully, finding a sense of peace and reliance in his eyes.

Maximilian's eyes had a profound light. He seemed to see the fire and courage in Katniss's heart, and his impression of her quietly shifted.

Soon enough, it was discharge day.

Outside the hospital entrance, a luxury car was parked by the curb, its windows reflecting the golden emblem of the Manners family. Lucas and Nathan, all dressed up, stood by the car, anxiously waiting for Clara to be discharged.

Finally, the hospital doors swung open, and out walked a girl in a light blue dress, all graceful and poised. This was Clara, the family's precious gem. Lucas and Nathan immediately rushed forward, showering her with warm welcomes.

"Clara, you okay? We're all set; let's get you home," Lucas asked, ready to drive her back.

Meanwhile, Katniss was left hanging, seemingly invisible. She stood silently at the hospital entrance, watching the luxury car roll away, feeling a pang of helplessness and loneliness.

It felt like everyone had forgotten about her. She walked out of the hospital, waiting by the roadside for a taxi.

After a short wait, a black sedan suddenly pulled up in front of her.

Katniss instinctively looked into the car and saw the rear window slowly roll down, revealing a man's deep-set face, his expression cold and indifferent, exuding an extraordinary aura.

Maximilian glanced at her and said slowly, "Get in the car."

Katniss was momentarily stunned, then blurted out a confused, "What?"

Maximilian frowned, his voice calm, "You have blood on your dress."

Hearing this, Katniss's cheeks immediately flushed. She looked behind her in a panic, spotting a small red stain on the back of her blue dress.

Even though it was September, the weather was still scorching, and she only had this dress on.

Embarrassed, Katniss tried to cover the stain with one hand, but Maximilian had already seen it, making her feel even more awkward.

Maximilian's cold voice came again. "Get in the car." At that moment, the driver, Felix, got out, smiled kindly, and opened the rear door, gesturing for Katniss to get in.

Katniss didn't hesitate, awkwardly climbing into the car.

But she didn't dare sit on the seat, afraid of staining it.

With her head down, Katniss could only half-squat, looking helpless and pitiful.