Max furrowed his brow, taken aback by the sudden seriousness in her demeanor. "Why not?" he asked, genuine confusion lacing his tone.
"Because..." Summer hesitated, her gaze flickering away for a moment before locking onto Max's eyes once more. "Because I'm rich, Max. And I don't want anyone to take advantage of that. Especially not someone I barely know."
Max's eyes widened in realization, understanding dawning on him as he processed her words. "I get it," he replied softly, his voice filled with empathy. "You don't want people to treat you differently because of your wealth."
Summer nodded, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her features before she masked it with a defiant glare. "Exactly," she confirmed, her tone resolute. "So please, Max, promise me you won't tell him anything."
Max met her gaze, his expression unreadable as he processed her request. Internally, he heaved a silent sigh of relief, grateful for her insistence. "I won't," he replied, his voice firm. "Your secret's safe with me, Sam."
As they continued their conversation, Tristan's voice echoed from the doorway, drawing Max's attention away from Summer. With a nod at her, he excused himself from the ward to meet Tristan outside.
Tristan's eyes bore into Max's, a silent question lingering between them. "Who is she, Max?" he inquired, his tone tinged with curiosity. "And how do you know her?"
Max hesitated, his mind racing as he struggled to come up with a believable explanation. "She's... she's an old friend from back home," he replied carefully, choosing his words with precision. "We went to school together in country Z. She's helped me out a lot over the years, and we've always looked out for each other."
Tristan listened intently, his brow furrowing in thought as he processed Max's words. "I see," he murmured, his tone guarded. "I didn't realize you had other friends besides... well, besides us."
Max felt a pang of guilt at Tristan's words, knowing that he was hiding the truth from both of his friends. But he nodded, masking his own unease with a reassuring smile. "Yeah, well, you know how it is," he replied casually, hoping to ease Tristan's suspicions.
But Tristan's expression softened, a hint of vulnerability creeping into his eyes. "Listen, Max," Tristan began, his voice solemn, "I need you to do something for me. Please don't tell Sam anything about me. I don't want her to know who I am, at least not yet."
Max's heart skipped a beat at Tristan's request, a wave of relief washing over him. "I won't," he promised, his voice steady. "Your secret's safe with me too, Trish."
As Tristan nodded in gratitude, taking his leave, leaving Summer in Max's care, a sense of relief washed over Max, mingled with a newfound sense of determination. These two, he realized, were more alike than they knew, unknowingly helping each other and him in the process.
An Idea began to form in Max's mind, a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos of the situation. Maybe, just maybe, fate had brought them together for a reason. And if he played his cards right, he could help them see that they were meant to be friends, and perhaps even more.
Even though he was terrified at the possibility of what would happen if those two found out about each other before his plan even started or worse if he got caught by them. He shivered involuntarily but steeled himself by thinking "if push comes to shove, I'll go in the hiding until they calm down. Alas! If they both can again become friends, everything could go back how it was when we're children." He won't have to oscillate between the two by then and everyone can live in harmony.
His eyes sparkled envisioning the bright future and he even got excited at the prospect.
With newfound motivation, Max returned to the ward, his mind buzzing with possibilities. As he settled back into his seat beside Summer's bed, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. This, he realized, was just the beginning.
Summer who noticed the smile on his face was specially creeped out thinking "Has Max gone bonkers? I was the one shot why's he smiling like a lunatic? Did Trish do something to spook him this way?" She grimaced and asked in a somewhat cold yet uneasy tone "why are you smiling like an idiot? Did you get hit in your head or something?" Max startled out of his thoughts, smiled more deeply when his eyes met Summer's causing goosebumps to erupt on her body. She eyed him suspiciously with her eyes narrowed waiting for him to reply. Seeing that she was about to lose her temper, Max coughed lightly and said nonchalantly " I'm just glad that you're alive after gunshot and I'm kind of surprised how I've become a common factor between you and your benefactor. "
Summer instantly understood whom he was referring as a benefactor, she hated to owe anything to anybody and specially when it came to life debts so she grumbled somewhat irritably "What benefactor he intruded in my fight and then I had to take a bullet to save his life. Sending me here was the least he could do. Hmph, If anything I'm his benefactor!" Max laughed at her irritated reaction, his eyes dancing with mirth as he thought "No matter who owes whom, at least you guys are able to form another relationship other than being enemies. I'm satisfied for now! I just hope you guys can be amiable rather than want to slit each other's throats. God just help me with this one, my intentions are so pure!"