"I never knew you were joining, or I would've chosen a better place," Max said with a surprised glance as Alric entered the private room, dressed sharply like he had come straight from an important meeting. His face looked exhausted until his eyes fell on Nora and he smiled sweetly, like a man in love.
He forced himself to give a calm nod before sliding into the seat beside Nora, one arm draping along the back of her chair like it was the most natural thing in the world. Nora leaned in with a knowing smirk that said he didn't need an invitation—he always found her.
Max blinked once, then shook his head, amused but also oddly irritated. It wasn't that he disliked Alric. But seeing Nora's subtle happiness, the comfort in her gestures, that easy familiarity—it poked at something he hadn't expected to feel. Something... unpleasant. Something he had never shared with Lisa.
