HYACINTH devoured the steak like she didn’t eat for an entire month rather than a day. Erin kept on telling her mom to slow down but Hyacinth didn’t listen.

Maximillian’s personal chef absolutely loved Hyacinth’s enthusiasm about the cold steak on the table that he served desserts for her.

Maximillian chuckled when Hyacinth choked and coughed. Erin looked at her father with keen interest.

The truth is that this is the first time that Erin saw her father chuckle with a humorous glimmer in his eyes.

“I’m living paycheck to paycheck. Sorry about this.” Hyacinth talked while chewing.

“It is partly my fault that you’re hungry,” Max admitted. “Enjoy the food, Haya.”

Erin grinned. “You guys are on a first-name basis now? So romantic.”

Hyacinth choked on her food once again.

“Mr. Bismarck, a man is looking for Miss Hyacinth outside.” Max’s personal chef informed him.

“Who?”

“His name is—err—Philip, Sir.”

Hyacinth stopped chewing. She wiped her mouth and stormed outside without a word.

“Erin, do you know him from the future?” Max asked Erin as his daughter looked at her Mom’s plate.

“Uncle Philip? Yes, Dad. He’s Mom’s friend and Aunt Maine’s husband.”

Damn it! Maximillian cursed in his thoughts. “Maine got married?!”

No. Not his precious sister. His naive, rebellious, rainbows-and-cupcakes sister.

Max leaped from his chair and went outside in long, ground-eating strides. He found Hyacinth in the middle of the corridor talking to Philip a few meters away from Max’s unit. The two talked like they were in some kind of...understanding? Max wouldn’t know for sure. He only judged the closeness of the two based on their body language.

The guy, Philip, is a good-looking man in his early thirties. Maine is nineteen years old, almost twenty. How can he let his sister marry a man older than her by a decade?!

He must’ve gone mad.

“I can protect you, Haya. You don’t have to go with him.”

“Don’t worry, Phil. I’m still going to help you with your job. It will be convenient for you, too. I will live in Sutton City again with the help of Mr. Bismarck.”

And now we’re back on last name basis. Max growled.

Philip lowered his head and kissed Hyacinth’s forehead. “Thank you for thinking about my proposal, and for offering your help with my job.”

Max clenched his fists. He wanted to break something.

“I love you, Phil, but as a friend. The same goes for Jean and Andrei. You guys are my friends. Of course, I will help you with your job. I’ll never stop doing that.”

Philip chuckled. “Don’t worry, I understand.” The man proceeded to lock Hyacinth into a tight embrace.

Okay, that’s it.

Max went to them with ground-eating strides and recklessly pulled Hyacinth away from Philip’s embrace. Oh, the urge to throttle the man is astronomical.

“Who are you?”

“Maximillian Bismarck. Keep your hands off of her.”

Philip smirked. ”The Maximilian Bismarck of Sutton? My, my. What are you doing here? Aren’t you busy lifting Sutton City’s economy or something?”

Hyacinth pulled her arms away from Max’s grasp. “Mr. Bismarck agreed to help me.” Then, she proceeded to throw a deadly glance at Max.

Philip looked up at Max’s enraged face and offered a palm. “Detective Philip Mayers, Sir. I work in SCPD.”

Max didn’t accept Philip’s hand. He has the urge to destroy Philip’s chiseled jaw and throw him from the second floor where they stood.

Philip pulled his hand away. “I’m not Hyacinth’s boyfriend, dude. Chill.”

“But you will be Maine’s. Stay away from us.”

“What?” Philip’s brows clashed.

Hyacinth panicked. “Philip, we will meet at Sutton. Please forgive Mr. Bismarck’s rudeness.”

Philip looked at Hyacinth with obvious confusion written on his face. “What is he talking about?”

“Bye, Philip. You may go now.”

Max pulled Hyacinth back to his apartment unit. He slammed the door behind them and found Erin devouring the steak on her Mom’s plate.

“Sorry. I was hungry, too, and rib-eye is my favorite.”

Hyacinth pulled her hand away. “What was that for?” She asked with a hint of irritation.

“Mom, Dad’s annoyed because Aunt Maine will marry Uncle Philip in the future.”

Hyacinth’s gaze turned deadly. “This is why we don’t interrupt with threads. It will alter the course of not only your life but the people close to you, too.”

“Can’t I do anything to stop it?”

“No, Max. You will not interfere with the threads ever again. You will risk losing everything if you keep altering it!” Hyacinth rubbed her temples. “Erin, don’t tell him the future anymore. He will just alter them if it’s not to his liking.”

“Sorry, Mom.”

Maximillian clenched his fists. Everything Hyacinth said was true. He needed to stop interfering with fate. He has his daughter now. Maine will probably marry Mr. Philip Mayers but, at least, she will be safe and protected by her trust fund and company shares.

He was just annoyed with Philip earlier when the motherfucker kissed Hyacinth’s forehead and embraced her. His jaw clenched at the thought.

Max cannot begin to comprehend his possessiveness towards Hyacinth. He only wanted Erin from Hyacinth. Now that Erin is back in the present as a lost time traveler, that only proved that Hyacinth will soon be carrying his child after what they did last night.

Max only wanted his daughter. Nothing more. And, in exchange, he will protect Hyacinth and let her live a normal life. He will give her freedom.

“Erin?” Hyacinth motioned for Erin to go to her and the kid obliged willingly.

“Yes, Mom?”

“Do you want to live with your Dad?”

“Can I live with you, Mom? On weekdays?”

“You will live with me, Erin. It’s far too dangerous for you if you live with your Mom.”

“How about visits to the coffee shop, Mom?” Erin’s eyes plead with Max to agree with her. “Can I visit you there? Please?” Erin’s eyes then landed on Hyacinth’s face and waited for approval.

Max felt a pang in his chest. Erin is a beggar for Hyacinth’s attention. He knew very well that Hyacinth cared for Erin. She cared too much for their child’s safety that she almost deprived herself of being a mother.

Hyacinth sighed. “Okay, but only at the coffee shop.”

Erin squealed, her eyes twinkling with glee. “Thank you, Mom!” She embraced Hyacinth.

Max realized that Erin’s skin tone and face shape were similar to Hyacinth’s, aside from the light brown hair—almost blonde—that resembled hay.

Hyacinth looked at him and smiled. “She’s a bit callous. Can you afford a personal bodyguard for her?”

“Hyacinth, consider it done.”