REBORN: MEET MY BROTHERS-Chapter 35: INVITATION LETTER

SONG RECOMMENDED: FALLEN BY GERT TABERNER

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Maximus’s soft eyes turned cold as they zeroed in on the injury on Ava’s arm. His grip tightened around her wrist, enough to keep her from pulling away but not enough to hurt her. He turned her arm toward the light for a better look. The crude plaster barely covered the cut, leaving the raw, red skin exposed. His jaw ticked but he fought to control himself.

Yesterday, when he picked Ava up from school, she had been perfectly fine. His mother had said nothing about Ava being hurt, so the only conclusion he could draw was that she had sustained the injury at home.

"Who did this?" He demanded.

Ava instinctively tried to pull her arm back, but Maximus refused to let go. "It’s nothing," she said quickly. Her voice that trembled slightly only confirmed his suspicion. "I just scratched it on something."

He traced the edge of the plaster with his thumb. Despite the fury that was building inside him, his touch was gentle. He would never hurt her, but the thought of anyone else doing so made him seethe. "Do you really expect me to believe that?"

Ava swallowed, suddenly feeling very small under his gaze. Even if her voice lacked conviction, she managed to say, "It’s the truth."

Maximus tilted his head, a little surprised by the little lie. His silver hair that caught the faint glow of the overhead light made him look both angelic and terrifying at the same time. His eyes narrowed as he studied her face. "Do you think I’m a fool, little one? This wasn’t some accidental scratch. Tell me who did this to you."

"No one," Ava insisted, yanking her arm free with a force she hadn’t intended. "Why do you always have to turn everything into a scene?"

"Because everything about you is my concern, Ava," his voice dropped. "And when I see someone has hurt you -- physically or otherwise -- you can’t expect me to stand by idly. I protect what’s mine. And you, Ava, are mine. That’s not up for debate."

Ava clenched her fists. "I don’t want your protection, Maximus, or anyone else’s. I can protect myself just fine."

"I can see you’re doing a very fine job at that given your injured arm," he mocked.

Ava glared at him. "Weren’t you about to leave?" She smoothly changed the topic. "You should go. I’m tired. I need to rest."

Maximus let out a frustrated smile, but he didn’t argue. He had no idea who Ava was protecting, but the thought of it made his blood boil. Clenching his fists, he tried to push the thought away. It would only piss him off even more, and if he gets more pissed, he may storm back into the house to get the answer he wanted, even if it involved making someone bleed.

"Evelyn’s party is in two days. She asked to specially invite you," Maximus said calmly, even if his eyes occasionally flickered to her injured arm.

Ava’s face softened at the mention of his mother. Despite the brief time they’d spent together, barely a day, she had grown fond of Evelyn. "How is she?"

"She’s fine," he said warmly, "And she has not stopped talking about you since yesterday."

Ava smiled softly. "She’s really nice," she said.

Maximus smirked. "She doesn’t have a choice. You’re her daughter-in-law." But when he saw the guilt that started to form on Ava’s face, the smirk faded. He wasn’t sure what was troubling her, but something was. It worried him, but he didn’t push it. Not yet.

Clearing her throat, "Have a safe trip, Maximus," she said quietly.

Maximus raised an eyebrow and a small smile tugged at his lips. "Are you worried about me right now, little one?"

Ava paused, caught off guard by how the conversation led to where it was. "You’re something else, Maximus," she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.

"And you’re stubborn," he teased with a small smile still playing at the corners of his lips. "But I’d take that over meekness any day."

Maximus took a step closer and gently tugged some strands of hair behind Ava’s ears. His touch was soft, yet the intensity in his eyes made a shiver run down her spine. Before she could react, his lips brushed against her ears. "Take care of yourself, little one," he whispered.

Ava froze as his hot breath fanned her ears. Her cheeks flushed instantly at the closeness, but before she could push him away or say anything, he stepped away from her and walked toward the door.

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When Ava returned into the house, the mood in the living room had changed from a dark one to a rather excited one. She paused at the entrance, confused. For a moment, it felt like she’d walked into someone else’s home.

Her brows furrowed as she observed their unusually jovial mood. Given how Maximus had spoken to her family, she had expected angry rants, bitter muttering, or at the very least, glares. Instead, they were all talking about something entirely different. Curious, Ava paid attention as she stood by the side of the room.

It didn’t take long for her to figure it out. They were talking about a party. Of course. If there was one thing her family could bond over or one thing that could suddenly put them in a good mood, it was parties. She noticed the invitation on Sasha’s hand, and sighed softly.

At least they weren’t talking about her or Maximus anymore. That was a small relief. Losing interest, she turned to head upstairs. But then, a name stopped her cold.

"The most exciting thing about this party," Sasha said, grinning like she’d just uncovered the world’s biggest secret, "is that the Quinn’s only heir will be there. No one’s seen him in years!"

Ava froze mid-step, and her hand gripped the banister. Quinn? Her heart skipped a beat. Why were they talking about Evelyn’s party?