The Game Of Love Is Ruthless

Mother Knows Best

"Maximilian." A voice called out to her from across the table. Looking up from her phone, Maximilian made eye contact with her father's mistress Katerina Koi.

"Have you spoken to your father lately?"

"N-No, I h-haven't, M-Ms. Koi," Maximilian spoke slowly, trying her best not to shutter but eventually failed.

"Do you perhaps know what your father has been up to?" Katerina's cold dark brown eyes stared at Maximilian, commanding Maximilian to tell the truth. However, Maximilian stood her ground; she didn't want to get pulled into whatever was going on between her father and his mistress.

Buzz, Maximilian's phone goes off, but she quickly silences it and places it down. Katerina ignores this and keeps going.

"I d-don't know w-what my father h-has been d-doing." Maximilian forced a cold expression on her face and tried to stop her heart from beating out of her chest. Maximilian knew exactly where he was. Her father is in Hawaii for 'business ventures'. In her head Maximilian rolled her eyes. Yeah her father did travel for business in the past but Hawaii?

"Have you seen Hannah around?" Katerina asked while raising a glass of red wine to her lips. From the outside looking in, it was a pretty innocent question, but Maximilian was unfortunately in the house. Hannah is her father's assistant and one of his many mistresses; from what Maximilian heard from her father's maids, Hannah also went to Hawaii with him.

"I h-haven't seen H-Hannah around e-either, Ms. K-Koi." Maximilian nervously poked at her scrambled eggs with her fork; Katerina's eyes narrowed at Maximilian, obviously not believing her. Katerina opened her mouth to interrogate her more but was interrupted by her daughter.

"Ma, stop bothering Milly, she doesn't know anything." Setsuna entered the dining room, brushing her long brown hair; Maximilian held in her sigh of relief. Maximilian's racing heart finally showed down at Setsuna's presence.

"I wasn't bothering her, we were having a conversation." Katerina protested Setsuna's words.

"Really? It seemed like an interrogation to me." Setsuna took a seat next to Maximilian and looked down on her plate; "You didn't eat your bacon. Can I have it?"

"Setsuna, no brushing your hair at the table. How many times-?"

"I know, I know." Setsuna waved off her mother and ran the brush on her hair several times before placing it down. As she did that, Maximilian took the bacon off her plate and placed it on Setsuna's plate, that was filled with untouched food.

"Thank you." Setsuna cooed at Maximilian before starting her breakfast;

"How have you ladies been?" Katerina asked, her face now taking on a softer expression.

"We have been good Ma." Setsuna spoke for both of them; something Maximilian was thankful for. "Oh and I'm not coming straight home tonight Ma; today is Karaoke day."

Katerina nodded; "Are you coming back tonight, Maximilian?"

"N-No. I'm g-going home t-tonight." Maximilian shook her head. It's been over a week since she's been home; now that she knows that her father wasn't there, she could go and check up on her younger sister.

"Alright." Silence overtook the room leaving Maximilian with her thoughts. It's been over a week since Maximilian decided to set up Setsuna with Riftan, and honestly, Maximilian made no moves to do so. Maximilian wanted to give Setsuna what she wanted, but it was easier said than done. Each time Maximilian tried to speak Riftan's name to Setsuna, she choked up and backed out when Setsuna got curious but now was different.

In that moment Setsuna's mother's presence gave her the strength to say something to Setsuna because she knew that after she hinted at Setsuna liking someone Katerina would take the reins. After taking a deep breath Maximilian speaks.