Outside the door, Kaytlyn was using all her strength, ringing the doorbell and yelling. Even though the door had excellent soundproofing, seeing her wide mouth exposing ten large teeth, it was clear how terrifying the noise outside must be.
“Max, open the door! It's freezing out here. Max... what's wrong with you? Are you really going to leave me out here?”
Despite the wolf-like howls outside, Maxwell Thornton didn’t bat an eye, showing no interest in responding. At that moment, Lily Bennett could confirm that the girl outside wasn't his fiancée, but just someone infatuated with him—a one-sided crush.
Kaytlyn kept pounding on the door and screaming, but Max remained indifferent. Finally, she pulled out her phone and played her trump card, threatening him.
“If you don't open this door for me, I'll tell Aunt Lida that you bullied me. If I catch a cold…” Before she could finish her sentence, the door swung open. Seeing her shivering from the cold, Max smirked. “Don’t keep threatening me with my mom. Do you really think I’m interested in a good-for-nothing like you?”
Kaytlyn rushed inside, stamping her feet. “I’m not useless!” She blinked her large, innocent eyes at Max before casting a glance at Lily. “So, is she the sly fox who’s been seducing you?”
Being called a "fox spirit" repeatedly was starting to irritate Lily. But before she could say anything, the rogue beside her turned and stared at her. In front of Kaytlyn, Max chuckled, full of amusement. “How does it feel to be a fox spirit?”
Kaytlyn’s brows furrowed even deeper, and she angrily demanded of Lily, “Didn’t you say you didn't know him? A fox spirit? And you even claimed to be a housemaid in this home!”
The innocent expression on Kaytlyn’s face, paired with her venomous words that could rival a jealous wife confronting her husband’s mistress, made Lily feel disgusted with herself. In the face of Kaytlyn's accusations, all she could do was lower her head and remain silent.
Watching Lily endure everything without uttering a word, Max understood that she was feeling guilty and blaming herself. He pointed to Lily and explained to Kaytlyn, “She’s indeed the housemaid here. Her primary function is to warm the bed, and her secondary function is to manage the household—basically, she’s like a wife. Do you understand now?”
Such an ambiguous explanation only deepened the misunderstanding, so Lily hastily added, “He’s just joking, don’t take it seriously. Actually, your Max and I sleep in separate rooms.” Lily quickly ran over to her own room’s door, pointing out, “This is my room. Mr. Thornton’s room is over there.”
Kaytlyn’s personality seemed to match her innocent appearance, and her thoughts followed suit. After hearing Lily’s explanation, it seemed she believed the two were truly sleeping in separate rooms. The young girl flashed a bright smile and turned back to Max, playfully clinging to his arm and acting spoiled.
“Max, I don’t care what’s going on between the two of you. There’s only one bed in your room, and you definitely can't sleep with that fox spirit. I’ll sleep with you!”
Kaytlyn had clearly been pampered her whole life. When Lily heard Kaytlyn’s bold request, she paused just as she was about to step into her room, suddenly wanting to hear how Max would respond. She didn’t know why she had become so curious. Whom he slept with was none of her concern, right?
As Lily silently reminded herself of this, she heard Max agree to Kaytlyn’s request. He even teased, “So, will the fox spirit over there help you carry all your luggage into my room?”
Kaytlyn nodded eagerly, like a little chick pecking at grain. Max’s casual agreement made her feel like she was living in a dream—he had finally agreed to sleep in the same bed with her. Beaming with joy, she giggled, “That fox spirit is quite handy. She even managed to carry my big suitcase!”
Lily felt her heart pound as if a firecracker was about to explode. Her knuckles cracked as she clenched her fists.
In his eyes, am I just a porter? A porter who also doubles as his bed warmer?
Lily slammed her door shut. It wasn’t until the sound of the door echoed that she realized she was genuinely furious. Angry at Max. This feeling was like irrational jealousy. Max was indeed an attractive man—his lifestyle, appearance, and personality were all top-notch. Lily had known that the first time she met him. She also knew full well that he was someone she could never dream of having. She was a woman who had a child, a child born from a traumatic event—how could she ever be worthy of a man like Max?
But tonight, would Max and Kaytlyn really...
Perhaps nothing would happen. But just the thought of it made Lily deeply uncomfortable. She placed a hand over her heart, feeling the tightness and hidden pain. She couldn’t control her emotions, as if she were experiencing the sharp ache of someone she secretly loved suddenly vanishing into another’s world without a word. It was as if she harbored an insecure, hopeless heart in this dangerous, unfamiliar place.
Her mind wandered far, far away. She sat absentmindedly at the edge of her bed for a while before dashing into the bathroom. Splashing cold water on her face, her thoughts finally began to clear. She understood that any desires she harbored needed to be crushed immediately. A man as extraordinary as Max was simply out of her reach.
Lily stared at herself in the mirror and made up her mind. But when she opened the bathroom door, she saw Max sitting on her bed. Naturally, he pulled the blanket over himself, making room for someone else, and flashed a look that showed he was fully prepared to stay the night in this room.