REBORN: MEET MY BROTHERS-Chapter 39: I’LL MAKE IT GO AWAY

The cold breeze on the balcony nipped at Ava’s skin, making her shiver slightly. She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to shield herself, but even that did little to stop her from freezing.

It was almost winter, so the cold was expected. What Ava didn’t expect was standing half naked in her sleeveless gown without a coat on this balcony. Beside her was Maximus whose eyes were fixed on her.

"You’re cold," he said softly, breaking the silence between them. Without waiting for her response, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Ava shifted uneasily from his gesture that only made her angry. "I don’t need your jacket. I never asked for it," she muttered, but made no effort to take it off. The cold wouldn’t let her.

Maximus smiled faintly as he glanced at her. "I know. But I’m not going to stand here and let you freeze, little one."

Ava rolled her eyes and turned her face away. "Why did you bring me out here, Maximus?"

He was startled by her tone, so he leaned into the rail beside her. Quickly studying her face, his eyes slowly moved down her body, before settling on her face once more. "Did you get my package?"

Ava frowned. Of course, she did, after retrieving it from Sasha. When she took it back to her room, and finally opened it, she’d been shocked by the cloth, jewelry, and bag she found inside the box. She’d recognized the dress immediately.

It was the same one she admired on a billboard the first day she went to his place. And the jewelry was the only piece in Lebron City, auctioned for a good thirty million dollars only the day before. The matching bag and shoe were no different. They were all so expensive that it irked her.

Now that Ava thought about it, she wished she hadn’t retrieved it from Sasha because it had only ruined her mood, even now. She looked away from him to the lights below. "I did."

Maximus turned to her fully, surprised by tone once more. He couldn’t fathom why his little wife was mad. Once, he thought it was her family that made her angry, but now, it felt like it was directed at him. "Was it not to your liking?" He asked further, contemplating on whether or not to ask her the reason for her foul mood.

Ava met his gaze with an almost run-out patience. It was one thing following him out of the party, and another listening to his little act. Her patience couldn’t take this. "What do you want from me, Maximus?" She blurted.

Maximus arched a brow. "What do you mean by that?"

"What’s with the whole act?" His perplexed face just made Ava angrier. "Why did you try to get close to me when you already have a fiancee who’s royalty?" She gruffed, not mincing any word.

For a moment, a flicker of confusion crossed his calm face, but in the next, it disappeared like it was never there. His usual, calm expression returned. "Is that what this is about?"

Ava scoffed, wrapping the jacket tighter around her. "Is she here? You’re supposed to give a big reveal tonight," she mocked. "I just wonder why you had to lie to me."

Maximus leaned against the railing even more, still studying her face. "I didn’t lie to you, Ava. I would never lie to you," he explained, but his explanation just riled her even more.

"You’re still lying!" She snapped, startling them both. This was supposed to be a normal conversation where she’d ask him to stay away from her and probably break off the engagement, but why was she so mad?

Ava turned away from him, but Maximus pulled her chin until she was facing him, staring into his deep blue eyes that froze her in place.

"The only fiancee I have is you, little one. I don’t even know why you’ll think I have anyone besides you when you’re all I need."

Ava couldn’t explain why her heart started thudding in her chest. She blinked to stop herself from getting affected by his words. "That’s not what everyone is saying."

Maximus’s jaw tightened. "Who’s everyone, Ava?"

Ava paused. She couldn’t say she heard it from her family, or looked him up. That’ll mean she’s interested in him. "The rumors are everywhere, Maximus," she only said.

Maximus stepped closer, closing the gap Ava tried to create between them. His voice dropped to a husky whisper. "I am so sorry, little one." His apology had Ava’s brow furrowing.

"I’m sorry you had to hear a rumor like that," he repeated. Stepping even closer, he invaded her space, until the heat of his body burned through her thin gown, making it impossible for her to focus on anything besides him. "But none of it is true. Not a single word. Except if you’re royalty," he said, his lips curling into a half-smile that made her heart flutter unexpectedly.

Ava’s breath caught in her throat as he reached for her face, tugging away the strand of hair that the breeze blew to her face. "I’ll make it go away. All the rumors. I promise," he said sincerely, softening her anger. His hand lingered near her jaw, as if he was testing their closeness, but his eyes never left hers.

Ava was still skeptical about Maximus, but she hated that his words were enough to make her believe that he had no one besides her. In truth, she’d never seen Maximus like this.

As she stared at him, she remembered her earlier outburst, and heat crawled up her face from embarrassment. With a quick, awkward motion, she turned away from him and focused on the lights below, anything to avoid his penetrating stare.

Maximus noticed the flush creeping across her cheeks, and a small, teasing smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He couldn’t resist. "Were you jealous, little one?"

Ava paused, praying the ground would open up and swallow her whole.