Max told himself he hated Valerie to the bone yet his heart kept beating for her. His beating heart could not be ignored and when in front of her, he didn't just want to see her cry and fall, he also wanted to see her smiling and happy.
It was complex, yeah. But he was unable to silence either. She did something to him that would forever leave a scar in his heart so there was no way to just forgive her. But then, she didn't just leave a scar in his heart, so he could not treat her with hatred entirely.
He was a mess in his feelings and didn't know what was what, but he was sure of one thing. He wanted to own Valerie. Well, more plainly, he wanted to be with her for the rest of his life and he had the power to persuade her into being in his life as well. Thus, he brought up such a contract.
