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    Mona naturally rested her head on Maxwell''s shoulder. With him around, she felt reassured no matter the situation. "Alright. I''m trying to think of a way to convince him to join the army. Albert was stubborn and difficult to change once he made up his inind, which was a source of frustration for Mona


    Why


    don''t you let me try talking to him?" Maxwell suggested, looking into Mona''s eyes.


    "Can you really do it?" It wasn''t that she doubted Maxwell''s abilities, but rather that Albert was particrly hard to handle. Even when she wanted to improve their rtionship, she had to start with Albert''s love for video games, let alone convince him to train in the military for a few years, something he would outright refuse.


    "I can''t guarantee sess, but I''d like to give it a shot" Maxwell gently ran his fingers through Mona''s hair, making it clear that her worries were also his concerns


    "Okay, but tif Albert throws a tantrum, just ignore him ande out, Mona replied. She didn''t want Maxwell to endure Albert''s bad temper.


    Maxwell gazed into Mona''s sparkling eyes as if entranced. He gently lifted her chin with his fingers and cautiously kissed her lips. Opportunities for such intimate contact were rare, as neither of them was particrly proactive


    In Maxwell''s memory, the only time they had shared a longer kiss was in the car, and afterward, they hadn''t spoken. Neither had taken the initiative again.


    He pressed his lips softly against Mona''s, and as she slowly closed her eyes, he dared to move a little closer, lifting her head slightly, their breaths intertwining.


    Mona a didn''t expect Maxwell to initiate a kiss. Usually, she was the one making the first move. As his soft lips met hers, her heart raced, and she didn''t know where to ce her hands.


    After the kiss, Maxwell reluctantly released Mona, his fingers brushing against the corners of her mouth as he pulled her into his embrace. He could hardly control his emotions at that moment.


    go


    a long pause, stepping toward the door.


    talk to Albert," he saided onto the sofa, tossing and turning a few times, her face flushed all the way to her ears. She couldn''t believe that just a kiss from Maxwell had such an effect on her. It was incredibly embarrassing. Once Maxwell Mona slumped


    Maxwell, too, stood at Albert''s door for a moment, calming his emotions, returning to his usual indifferent demeanor as if the passionate person just now wasn''t him at all. He knocked lightly on Albert''s door. "Who is it?" Albert shapped, still fuming from his earlier argument with Bernard.


    "It''s me,


    Maxwell'' ''Despite


    Albert''s unkind tone, Maxwell didn''t get angry. After all, as Mona said, Albert was still just a kid. "Come in," Albert said reluctantly


    When he was Albert''s age, he had acted simrly, often bullying Mona and pulling her pigtails. Reflecting on it now, he realized he had been quite mischievous back then.


    When Maxwell entered, he noticed the word "Victory" shing on theputer screen. It was clear that Albert was venting his frustrations through the game. Without wasting time, Maxwell went straight to the point. "Why don''t you want to join the military?"


    As soon as the topic was broached, Albert tossed his game controller onto the table in anger. The military? That ce is unlivable! You can''t eat well or dress warmly, and the daily training is brutal. I think Grandpa just doesn''t like me talking


    about Barbara at home so he wants to send me away to avoid seeing me."


    "I don''t think your grandpa wants to send you to the military for that reason. He just wants you to grow up quickly." Maxwell replied "Why do I I need to grow up so fast? I have my grandparents, my dad, and two older sisters. I''m the youngest in the family, so I''m not in a hurry to grow up. The bottom line was that he didn''t want to join the military. The life was too hard in the army, and he didn''t think he could handle it. could dle it.


    Tell me, who will be with you for your entire life? Your grandparents will eventually grow old. Your dad is busy with work every day, and your sisters will get married. The only person who can apany you throughout your life is yourself. I don''t know much about you, just what I''ve heard from Mona. Poor grades, skipping ss, getting into fights, and being obsessed with video games. What do you think you can achieve in the future?" Maxwell stated bluntly.


    Albert felt defeated by Maxwell''s words, his face flushed with embarrassment. "I have plenty of money. Even if I don''t work in the future. I''ll still have enough to live on


    "Sure,


    you might have enough money, and even if the Clem family fortune is exhausted, I would still provide for you. But do you really want to live as a parasite! It takes a long time to learn the right way, but it''s easy to learn the wrong way. Your grandpa just wants to straighten you out before before you go down the wrong path. You''re a man. . It''s just a few years in the


    What am I afraid of? I''m not afraid at all!" Albert dered defiantly in response to Maxwell''s challenge What are you afraid of?"


    Maxwell said, "Okay, I get it. You''re not afraid. I''ll go tell Grandpa you''re willing to train in the military for two years."


    Maxwell turned to leave, but Albert realized he had been provoked and liurriedly grabbed his arm. "I''m just saying I''m afraid; I didn''t say I wanted to go to the military."


    Maxwell quickly twisted Albert''s arm behind his back. "If you''re not afraid, then why not go? It''s only a few years!"


    Maxwell''s grip was firm, causing Albert to wince in pain. "Let go of me! I''m going to fight you. You took advantage of me when I wasn''t paying attention"


    not


    notContent ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    He had never lost a fight at school, and now that he was losing to Maxwell in a game, he couldn''t afford to lose in a real fight as well. That would be too humiliating


    Tve


    e heard from Mona that you''re quite good at fighting. How about this? We can have a duel outside. If you win, you won''t have to go to the military, and I''ll talk to Bernard for you. But if you lose, you''ll have to go for military training for a few years. Do you dare?" Maxwell tightened his grip on Albert''s arm


    t felt as though his bones were about to break. "Fine! I''ll take your bet, but don''t go back on your word if you lose!"


    Albert T


    "Deal: After Maxwel released Albert, Albert marched out in a huff.


    Maxwell shrugged off his suit jacket and followed Albert outside


    They stood in the garden, under the dark night sky illuminated only by a few twinkling stars and the faint glow of scattered garden lights. They were ready to duel.


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