The Rhyme of the Depositary

060 - SEASON 2

Alice and Maxen face each other. They were still sitting on the side of the pool with the sound of the background gurgling water flowing. The wind softly sighed, flying Alice's strands of hair that were starting to fall apart.

A minute ago after Maxen made her request, Rachel chose to walk away from the two of them. Give them a chance to talk in private. The woman will come back after checking the cooking in the kitchen, he said. The real reason is too classic.

Without Rachel present, the situation between them felt awkward. Believe this. Facing the man you almost killed is not fun. If Alice did not believe Rachel's words that ensured her safety, she would have been tempted to walk away from this figure before her.

Funny indeed. How could the good Rachel ever meet and fall in love with a guy like Maxen. Could it be that the more evil a person is, the more it has its own charm that is able to attract women? Is there such a theory in psychology?

Alice did not open her voice once as long as Maxen did not open the conversation first. The air between them was getting tense. It was so tense, as if it could be cut by the tip of a knife.

The Manhattan sun is still shining as usual. Clouds also hang. The color of the sky still looks blue and white, not much difference. Alice's mood was no longer the same. Being so close to the man who had killed her husband, made her heartbeat pump blood all over the body at an abnormal speed.

Alice knows life often makes jokes. Those who love each other are separated, those who hate each other are united. Such is the nature play. It makes us smile helplessly.

"You must have known in a moment I'd turn myself in to the authorities." Maxen started to open the conversation. He looked at Alice flat, emotionless. A completely different look to the gaze that Maxen gave Rachel.

Alice nodded small. He had heard this from Klayver and Alice. It is certain that what he hears is the truth.

"As long as I'm in jail, I want you to take care of Rachel. Let's forget this hostility for a moment. Let's make peace for Rachel." Maxen revealed his heart.

The hardest part of her act of surrendering was leaving Rachel alone. Imagining the woman back on her own without anyone supporting her every grief left Klayver gripped with pain.

Indeed, before this even Rachel has been accustomed to living the day in solitude. The woman's struggle was great enough that Maxen inevitably felt amazed.

But since they've been together, Rachel has had a strong reliance on Maxen. It's hard to leave the woman and let her through the day alone. Anna is also busy in college. Her sister was easier to stay in her own flat that she rented not far from the university than to go back to Maxen's mansion. Ever since Rachel married Maxen, the distance Anna had to travel to visit Rachel was getting farther. Makes Anna inevitably take a simple flat for her to rent near where she studies.

"Without asking, I'll take care of him. He was more than a friend to me. We've been through a lot together in life." Alice said what she was. Seeing Maxen's relaxed attitude, Alice got carried away and relaxed too. The tension he felt earlier began to slowly slacken.

"She is an amazing woman. I love her earnestly, if you'd known." Maxen admits the feelings he craves. She wanted to reveal to Alice that no matter what path she walked and whatever she might be, the feeling she had for Rachel was serious. He didn't want to because of Alice's ingrained hatred for Maxen, so it affected Rachel's point of view as well. Broadly speaking, he didn't want to lose Rachel. Because whatever.

Alice remained silent for a long time. He didn't know what to say to Maxen. Indeed Maxen's eyes have spoken everything. The love she confessed to Rachel was the truth. Only, Alice still closed herself to accept this figure. The sins Maxen committed were quite great. He has not fully forgiven.

"Maxen, even though I still hate you right now, but I'm not a petty woman. I'm not going to corner you in front of Rachel or persuade Rachel to hate you."

Hatred is private property. So too with love which is a personal affair. No one can turn the heart around unless the person is quite a plan and easily influenced. Rachel was not the kind of person who easily turned around quickly. Maxen is wrong if he thinks Alice is able to influence Rachel over the feelings of love Rachel has for him.

He and Maxen were two men who stood opposite each other. It is difficult for them to be reconciled and united. The easiest thing they can do is to create a ceasefire within a certain period of time.

"Goodoo. I know we're two people who are opposite each other. It's hard for you to forgive me as hard for me to forgive Anson. The only thing we can do is create boundaries to keep the attitude. Especially in front of Rachel."

What Maxen said was the truth. It was hard for both of them to reach an apology. The fairest thing is to make a mutually beneficial mutual peace agreement. As long as it was for Rachel's sake, Alice was willing to do anything.

"Finally we have one deal that's just as fair. Peace treaty. Ceasefire." Alice nodded in agreement.

Old problems let them slowly bury. If you can't be friends, at least don't attack each other. The principle that Alice upholds from now on. Rachel was among them. If they attack each other, Rachel is the main victim.

"alright. That's all I want to tell you. For the rest, I'm sure you'll do well to help Rachel later." Maxen is about to stand up but is held back by Alice.

Alice hesitated a little before finally asking something. "How long do you think you've been in jail?"

Maxen stared at Alice as fast as lightning. For a moment they were trapped in each other's net. There is a strong understanding of each other. They have established a fairly effective communication, although there is still much spiced up tension.

"I don't know. But I need to remind you, I have a great lawyer. So if you expect me to spend too long in jail, it doesn't look like it's going to happen, Alice!" Maxen answered with confidence. He knew how much resources he had. Addressing the case must have been easy enough for his lawyer. Money has become everything. Whoever has the money, his life must be spared.

Alice did not feel the need to keep up her talk anymore. Maxen is a rich man who is easily protected by money. It's not fair. But how else. Alice must accept this.

"As a woman, you're too sadistic!"

"As a woman, I am strong enough to protect and demand justice for those closest to me."

"You do not understand the meaning of justice itself. In fact the Anson you're seeking justice for can also act like a demon."

"People like you have no right to judge my late husband. You're no better than him because your own hands are covered in blood."

"I'm not judging, I'm trying to open your eyes to the real Anson. It's just that you're too petty to judge him because you love him."

"I love him or not that's my business. As long as he's good to me, I'll still consider him an angel no matter his bloodied hands!"

"You're not se—"

"Can you stop arguing like a child?" Rachel's stern voice interrupted the heated commotion between Maxen and Alice. The two looked surprised, finding Rachel had returned by their side with a waiter carrying a tray full of food.

Rachel looked at her friend's husband and husband in turn. He chuckled small, feeling astonished at the quarrel of those who were like children.

As they spoke, Rachel watched the two from the direction of the kitchen. He was worried that the two people could not keep each other's emotions so that there was a commotion.

It's true Rachel's instinct. Before long they were left behind, they immediately fought a mouth war. Luckily they are different genders. If they were fellow men surely by now the courtyard of this mansion had already been destroyed due to a fight.

"You act like a child, you realize that?" Rachel reminded. He walked up to them and placed a tray filled with snacks.

The familiar smell of the cake pierced Alice's smell. Alice guessed it must be the waiter who made it based on Rachel's instructions. This aroma is very distinctive like the handmade of his best friend. From the past, Alice knew every scent of Rachel's legendary cuisine.

"Your husband whipped me first. Rachel, it's good that you teach manners so that his actions are controlled." Alice said fiercely, glancing at the hateful Maxen.

"I've learned enough manners, Miss. You're the only one who can't control your social ethics." Maxen said sharply, feeling unaccepted for being cornered in such a way in front of his own wife.

"I can control my social ethics as long as my interlocutors are cultured men."

"That's just an alibi and your defense. In fact, we both know how low you are in terms of politeness."

"Should you remind me of decency while your own actions are dominated by moral depravity? All you're saying is bullshit!"

"You don't make any difference, Alice. Your judgment is always subjective to everyone. Your ego is too big to be the size of a woman like you."

"Originally you know, Maxen. I'm not per—"

"STOP!" Rachel shouted firmly. He looked at them closely and shook his head inexplicably by each other's stubbornness.

"You know what you do like cats and dogs? Goody! Keep fighting your childish quarrels and I'll reward you with the world's most idiots!" Alice clucked in annoyance, turned around slowly and chose to leave them. The tray that he was going to offer them back he took it to the kitchen again.

Both Alice and Maxen, they all became children. Rachel's mind is upset.

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