Hey Pretty Stranger

・❥・ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ-6 Mistaken beating

Max's pov

Cough cough cough

She coughed and choked on the red wine she was drinking, and the drink all spluttered out on her. I don't really blame her, after listening to what Mom asked her I'd have been taken aback like that too if I didn't know my Mom any better. But still, of all the things in the world, why did she had to ask that?

Cough cough

Jesus! She's literally a total mess right now.

I grabbed a napkin from the table and took her face in my hands, cleaning the wine off from her lips and chin. "Are you okay?" I asked her because her face had gotten all red like a beetroot from all the coughing and choking.

I looked down and her dress was covered in red stains of the wine. Wow, she managed to spoil the whole dress in just a few minutes.

I took her hand and stood up saying, "Excuse us for a while."

She stood up too and I led her out of the hall towards the washroom.

I looked over at her while walking and she was still beetroot red.

Mom, why?! I stifled a groan.

"Sorry for what happened back there," I said keeping my eyes on the path ahead, "My mom is quite outspoken, to the point that she says anything and everything without even thinking twice. Don't mind her too much."

"I-it's okay. I understand," she replied.

I stopped in front of the washroom and said to her, "You can clean up your dress. I'll wait here."

She nodded and went inside while I leaned on a nearby wall.

I didn't have anything else to do so I looked at the ring in my hand. A simple sterling steel with a sun engraved in the middle. I had thought that I'd just randomly select two rings but I have no idea what came over me back then when I was looking across the ring shop for a pair of couple's ring and caught a glimpse of these two. I immediately bought them, even after the occasional confusing looks Ben passed me. I'm sure he thought that I was acting strange. But it's just two rings and perhaps I liked their design that's why I bought them?

After sometime she returned and I pushed myself off the wall.

"Uh if you don't mind can I go back now?"

She must be feeling uncomfortable. Who wouldn't, after all that questioning session.

"Yeah it's fine, I can handle it from here. You should go, I'll call the driver-"

"You're going home already?" Mom interrupted.

Oh sweet mother. I sighed. Why did you have to come now?

She walked up to where we were standing and frowned looking at her dress. "Your dress is ruined."

Sarah shifted on her feet a little and said, "I'm sorry for the lack of my manners. I embarrassed myself-"

"Oh no no no, I didn't mean it like that. I'm more worried about you," mom said, "Did I make you feel nervous with that question?"

The atmosphere turned weird. Sarah didn't know what to answer. I considered saying something but mom suddenly clasped her hands in each other and said, "You know what? We should go on shopping together this weekend. We'll have so much fun!" Her excitement was so high that for a moment I thought a teenager was gossiping with her friend who was about to go shopping instead of a middle-aged woman who was also my mom.

"Mom she doesn't have so much free time to wander around doing a worthless task such as shopping," I said and crossed my arms.

The smile on her face dulled and turned into a disappointed look, making me want to take my words back.