Max's return to Dombivli Palace was tinged with emotion. Although Asiva had instructed the palace staff and their close friends to keep the day's events a secret, their eyes and expressions betrayed them.
As Max walked in, their faces flushed with bittersweet tears, as although they tried hard to not speak of the events that had transpired, their faces were an open book for Max to read.
Sebastian alone greeted Max with steadiness as he shook his hand with a strong grip and nodded to signal that ' everything was okay ' , while everyone else seemed jittery and on edge.
Severus avoided eye contact, Christian Grey wore aviators indoors, and Jathi couldn't bring himself to meet Max's eyes, opting instead to admire the palace ceilings.
When he interacted with the man, he would look at his hands or his chest but never look him in the eye as Max's suspicion grew and a gnawing feeling began eating at his heart.
