My Clingy CEO Husband

### Chapter 32: I-I-It’s... That Big?

Her tone was decisive, as if victory was already in her grasp. Her intuition couldn’t be wrong! That curtain was definitely big enough to hide a man.

Maxine Rhodes’s fingertips curled slightly, but her expression remained calm. "Secretary Joyce, this is a high floor, and the window isn’t closed. Isn’t it normal for a breeze to blow in?"

Rose Joyce caught her fleeting nervousness and became even more certain. She retorted sarcastically, "Why are you in such a rush to explain, ’sister’? Are you trying to stall for time? Or... are you afraid I’ll see something I’m not supposed to?"

Maxine stepped forward, once again blocking the path between Rose and the curtain. "Fine! You can check. But if you check and it turns out this is just another one of your baseless accusations, you will apologize for your actions today!"

Convinced she was right, Rose Joyce agreed without hesitation. "Deal!"

Having said that, afraid Maxine would go back on her word, she bypassed her, rushed to the window, and reached out.

WHOOSH!

She ripped the heavy curtains open!

The curtain rail screeched as fine dust motes danced in the air.

But behind the curtain... there was nothing but a metal clothes rack covered in a thin layer of dust. Nothing else.

The jarring disparity between expectation and reality was like a bucket of ice water dumped over Rose Joyce’s head. She froze on the spot, the blood draining from her face, leaving her looking pale and ridiculous.

Maxine’s heart, which had been in her throat, finally settled. She slowly walked forward. "Secretary Joyce, it’s time for you to apologize."

Rose Joyce’s face was a mixture of livid and pale. Under Maxine’s cold, pressing gaze, she could only stammer, "’Sister,’ I’m sorry... I-I was just worried about you..."

Maxine sneered. "Worried I’m doing too well at my job, or worried that this place... was truly empty?"

"That’s enough!" Benjamin Sterling interrupted irritably. He felt he had lost face, yet his heart ached to see Rose forced to apologize. He pulled her over to his side. "Rose already apologized, what more do you want?! She drank so much covering for me at the dinner party that her stomach hurts! I’m taking her home to rest!"

With that, he put his arm around Rose Joyce’s shoulder and started to leave. Just before walking out the door, as if suddenly remembering something, he tossed a sentence over his shoulder, "Get a cab back yourself."

?

Maxine actually laughed out of sheer anger. Watching the two of them lean on each other, she felt that even bothering to argue would be a waste of breath.

At the doorway, nestled in Benjamin Sterling’s arms, Rose Joyce quietly glanced back and shot Maxine a provocative look.

Maxine met her gaze, her face expressionless, her eyes holding only the indifference one would have for a buffoon.

After they were gone, Maxine stepped outside the door and sent Ethan Hawthorne a message: [Take the fire escape. See you in the underground garage.]

Ten minutes later, Maxine was settling into the passenger seat in the underground garage.

"About earlier..." Maxine began, wanting to explain why she didn’t want to expose his identity.

But Ethan Hawthorne just smiled, his gaze gentle and understanding. "No need to explain. Even if you don’t say it, I get it."

He understood her situation, her pride, her need to stand on her own two feet through her own abilities. And he was willing to stay in the background, waiting for her to be ready.

Maxine let out a long sigh. "Still, that was way too close."

Ethan leisurely fastened his seatbelt. "It seems my balcony-hopping skills are still sharp."

"You hopped balconies?" Maxine stared at him in shock. "This is the twelfth floor!"

"I just hopped over to the balcony of the office next door. I have you to thank for buying me a few minutes." Ethan said nonchalantly, then turned his head to look at her, a playful smile blooming in his eyes. "But... that feeling just now, like we were having a secret affair... It was pretty thrilling."

Maxine’s cheeks grew slightly hot. "That was just a necessary expedient..."

Ethan let out a low chuckle and stepped on the gas. The black car quickly sped off into the thick of the night.

Back at Cloudview Apartments, the warm yellow sensor light in the entryway quietly flickered on. Ethan hung his suit jacket on the rack by the door and turned back to ask her, "You want to shower first, or should I?"

"Huh?"

Maxine was bending over to change her shoes. She paused at his words. ’Why does that sentence sound so strange...?’

She straightened up and replied, "You go ahead. I have a few emails to answer."

With that, Maxine curled up on the sofa with her laptop.

Ethan glanced at her, said nothing, and walked straight into the bathroom.

Not long after, just as Maxine was focused on her screen, she heard the sound of the water in the bathroom stop.

Then, Ethan’s voice came from behind the door, carrying the distinct, humid quality of someone who’s just showered.

"Mrs. Hawthorne."

"Hmm?" she responded, her eyes still glued to the screen.

"Could you do me a favor?" His voice paused for a moment. "I forgot to grab a clean pair of underwear."

???

Maxine’s fingers, which had been typing on the keyboard, froze instantly. Her cheeks began to burn against her will. She could even hear her own heart starting to race.

"They’re in the closet on the left side of the walk-in closet. Easy to find," he added from inside, his tone reverting to a matter-of-fact one.

’He’s asking *me* to get his underwear? Is that appropriate?!’

Maxine felt her cheeks get even hotter.

"You... you get it yourself!" Her voice held a panic she herself hadn’t noticed.

There were two seconds of silence from behind the door, followed by his low voice, tinged with a hint of resignation. "Are you sure? I can come out just like this, then?"

"Don’t!" Maxine practically shot up from the sofa. "Just wait!"

She put down her laptop, took a deep breath, and opened the closet he’d indicated. His clothes were hanging neatly inside, and her eyes immediately fell on a neat stack of dark underwear.

The moment her fingertips touched the soft fabric, Maxine’s heart started beating absurdly fast. Forcing herself to stay calm, she picked up the top pair and couldn’t help but glimpse the size on the tag: XXXL.

As if she’d been burned, Maxine snatched her hand back, and the pair of underwear fell back into the drawer.

Her face instantly turned beet red as a jumble of chaotic associations flashed uncontrollably through her mind. She felt like she was about to start smoking.

’I-i-it’s... that big?!’

She scrambled to grab the underwear again and, practically walking with her left arm and leg in sync, went to the bathroom door and knocked.

The door opened a crack, and a firm, steamy forearm reached out, water droplets sliding down its smooth muscle lines.

Maxine quickly shoved the item into his hand, spun around, and spoke so fast she nearly bit her tongue. "G-Got it! I-I’m going back to the living room!"

Watching her practically flee in disarray, and seeing the tips of her ears that were red enough to bleed, Ethan Hawthorne closed the door, leaned against it, and finally couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle. His eyes were filled with the joy of a successful prank and doting affection.

’Hmm, it seems a small, occasional oversight yields significant results. Looks like you really can learn things from the internet,’ he thought.