REBORN: MEET MY BROTHERS-Chapter 18: HIS LITTLE WIFE

"What the—Maximus! Put me down!" Ava cried out, flailing in his arms as he carried her toward the building.

"You gave up your right to negotiate the moment you decided to test my patience," he replied softly.

"You can’t just manhandle me like this! I’m not some damsel in distress!" she snapped, pounding her fists against his chest. Even if she hit him hard with all her strength, Ava was disappointed that her efforts seemed to have about as much effect as a fly buzzing around.

Maximus didn’t flinch. "Believe me when I say I don’t see you as a damsel. You’re very far from it. You should be comparing yourself to a monstrous storm that refuses to calm."

Ava’s jaw dropped. She fell into silence for some seconds before she became angry again. "How dare you—"

"Try yelling and see if I don’t throw you over my shoulders," Maximus threatened as they crossed the threshold of the building.

The massive doors swung open to reveal the household butler, an aged man in his fifties. At the sight of Maximus walking in with a furious young woman wriggling in his arms like a cat unwillingly taken to the vet, his brows arched as he tried to process what was going on. He had been informed of Maximus’s early return but not of this dramatic entrance.

Fiddlestick quickly composed himself and bowed as Maximus walked past him. "Young master," he greeted.

Maximus barely concentrated on the man with Ava pounding her fists against his chest like an enraged gorilla. All he cared about was making it to the living room without dropping her. "Let me down, Maximus! You’re impossible! Completely, UNBELIEVABLE!" She growled.

Maximus smirked. "This isn’t news," he said with a maddening calm that almost drove Ava insane.

Behind him, Ethan tried not to laugh, while Fiddlestick could barely control his astonishment from the girl’s outburst. He didn’t say anything, but he couldnt stop asking himself who the girl was and why she was at war with his young master.

Even with Ava’s wrigglings and writhings, Maximus managed to set her down on the couch carefully. Immediately, Ava scrambled to the farthest end of the couch. She nearly tumbled over the armrest, but she didn’t care. Anything to get away from Maximus.

Smoothing the hair from her face, "If it weren’t for this stupid couch, I’d have thrown myself at the floor just to get away from you," she hissed.

Maximus leaned on the armrest opposite Ava, and crossed his arm on his chest. He looked utterly unbothered by her rants which only made her angrier.

"What is wrong with you?!" Ava snapped. "Are you mad or something?!"

Fiddlestick and Ethan both froze at her audacity. Very few people had dared to speak to Maximus Quinn like that and lived to tell the tale.

But Maximus surprised everybody. "I’m sorry, Ava," he said sincerely.

While Ethan’s jaw dropped slightly, Fiddlestick nearly dropped the silver tray he was holding. Had they both just heard an apology from Maximus?

An apology wasn’t something Ava expected, so she was momentarily stunned. "You’re what?"

"I said I’m sorry," Maximus repeated. "But to be clear," he added, "I’m not sorry for bringing you here. I’m sorry that I had to resort to carrying you like a sack of potatoes. You left me no choice."

Ava didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry. "Do you know bringing me here against my will is considered kidnapping?"

Maximus chuckled softly. "I didn’t kidnap you, Ava. I brought my fiancee somewhere private so we could talk without you storming off or causing a scene."

"Oh, so now I’m the one causing a scene?" Ava angrily asked. "You dragged me into place, and I’m the problem?"

Fiddlestick cleared his throat discreetly. "Would the young miss care for some refreshments?" He asked politely.

Ava glanced at him. She was a little bit thirsty. She would have turned down the offer since she was really pissed with Maximus, but with the old man’s impeccable manners, she decided a little refreshment wouldn’t hurt. "Tea," she said after a pause, "with honey."

Fiddlestick bowed slightly. "As you wish, Miss." He turned to Maximus, "Anything for you, Sir?"

Maximus shook his head. "I’m fine." Turning to Ava, he smiled politely. "Now can we talk like civilized adults?"

Ava snorted. "You? Civilized? That’s rich."

Ethan smiled again. He wasn’t enjoying the frustration on Maximus’s face, but Ava was an interesting woman. She was the only person who Maximus surprisingly tolerated. In less than two hours, the aloof billionaire had gone through series of emotions no one had been able to make him show. The sudden buzz from his phone made him leave the room to answer the call.

"Are you going to keep behaving this way?" Maximus massaged his temples slightly.

"I’m sorry, am I supposed to act calmly when I’ve just been abducted?"

Maximus fought the urge to punch the wall. He couldn’t get through to this girl that was as stubborn as a mule. "No one’s abd--"

"Maximus," Ethan’s interrupted apologetically. "Can we talk?" When Maximus’s face hardened, "It’s important," he pointed out. Ethan knew too well how this man hated to be interrupted, but the situation wasn’t one he could leave.

Maximus looked at Ava. "I’ll be back," he said, and left the room.

They barely spent twenty minutes outside the living room, but when they returned, Ava had fallen asleep. The sight was almost too otherworldly for Maximus who was already beside her before Fiddlestick could tell him about how he found her sleeping when he walked in with her tea.

Maximus studied her face, brushing away a few strands of hair from it to get a clearer view of it. Ava had finally exhausted herself. He knew it would come to this, that was why he tried his best to calm her down, but his little wife was very stubborn.

Inhaling deeply, he picked her up from the couch, cradling her in his arm as he left the living room. "Should I prepare the guest room, young master?" Fiddlestick asked, but Maximus’s reply rendered him speechless.

"There’s no need. She’ll be sleeping in my room."