The Romanov Diadem: Oblast Dmitrovka

5. Between Angel and Insect

Maksim's deep voice ended Xandrova's photo op with fans. They all looked at Maksim, who had just arrived. Aware of Maksim's presence, Viktor rushed to return the smartphone belonging to one of the teenagers and pulled Xandrova's hand to stand by his side.

"Aーaren't you ...."

"Yes, I'm Maksim Smirnov Romanov. The ex-fiancé of this pretty lady that you all praise!"

Maksim interrupted one of the girls' words while pointing at Xandrova with his chin. Maksim's arrogant attitude just now, of course, made Viktor angry.

"Can't you show some manners in public, Mr. Maksim? You won't abandon a basic manner just because you are rich, will you?"

It didn't matter if it was a question or a condescending sentence from Viktor's mouth. Because to be honest, Viktor intended to humiliate Maksim at every opportunity.

"So, why did you fail to get married, Mr. Maksim?" Again, the blonde girl asked a striking question.

"Mr. Maksim. Now is a great opportunity to humiliate Mr. Viktor, and you can't just miss it!"

As an assistant, Feliks always gave the best advice to his master. Maksim looked into Feliks' eyes seriously until he finally agreed.

'What Feliks said was true. I won't waste this golden opportunity. Because I want the whole world to know that Viktor is the third person between me and Zoya!'

Maksim imagined what would happen to Viktor in the future when he succeeded in humiliating Viktor. He smiled as he looked at him with a sarcastic look.

"As you all saw. This goose has taken Zoya from me, and now they have become husband and wife without the blessing of Zoya's parents."

Maksim revealed a surprising fact to everyone. Both Viktor and Xandrova were shocked. Xandrova went speechless.

"Goose?! Who do you mean, Mr Maksim?!"

And yes. Among the four teenagers, only the blonde dared to open her mouth.

"Of course, it is Zoya's husband, Sweetie. Ha! Ha! Ha!"

Maksim laughed mockingly at Viktor. He didn't stop laughing either until the blonde teen asked again.

"He is Mr. Viktor and not a goose!"

This time, Viktor and Xandrova seemed to hold their breath. Viktor already knew that Maksim would insult his name.

"Viktor Gusev Konstantin is his full name. If you look further, Gusev comes from the word Goos, and you all know what that means, right?! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

No one dared to dodge it. What Maksim said is true, that the meaning of the word goos is goose.

"Wait! Is it true what you said earlier about their marriage, Mr. Maksim?"

A woman in her early thirties, who was passing in front of them, stopped and asked. But not only that, the woman also cornered Xandrova with her words.

"Marrying without blessing isn't a good thing, Miss Zoya! No matter how much you love Mr. Viktor, it is still wrong!"

"Did you hear that, Zoya?!"

Maksim asked proudly. He crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"Not a few couples wanna get married with their parent's blessings."

"Shut your mouth, Maksim!" Viktor tried to warn Maksim to stop his nonsense. They couldn't avoid arguing.

'Damn it! How dare he call me just by my first name?!' Maksim said in his mind.

"You can't hide the truth forever! Do you feel embarrassed for being a thorn in my relationship with Zoya?"

'Zoya, please speak up! Tell 'em it's not true!'

Viktor had hope in his heart. He knew that Xandrova dared not to say anything in front of Maksim because the feeling of guilt always haunted her.

After waiting for a while, Xandrova didn't open her mouth. Viktor took the initiative to play with Maksim's heart again.

"And don't forget, I married Zoya on the orders of the Grand Lord of the Konstantin family to save her from death. What about you?!"

"Oh, is that what happened? However, do you have proof of the truth of what you said, Mr. Viktor?"

The woman who had accused Xandrova finally understood why Viktor and Xandrova's marriage occurred. Meanwhile, the four teenagers who had been with them for a long time didn't dare to say anything.

"I don't need any evidence to support my statement just now. Because the sky doesn't need to prove why it is high!"

Viktor firmly responded to the woman's question, who doubted his words. Xandrova smiled when she heard the answer and was proud of her husband's courage.

'You're astonishing, Viktor! One day, I'll ask for your forgiveness,' Xandrova thought. The woman began to admire Viktor, who had great courage.

At the same time, Maksim remembered the moment when Xandrova had an accident. He was on a business trip with his father abroad.

'Jane? Oh! That time, I met Jane White in the UK and ended up in the hotel room,' Maksim thought while hiding the fact from everyone.

"Mr. Maksim, why don't you reply to Mr. Viktor's words?"

Feliks whispered in his master's ear. Knowing this, Viktor didn't remain silent.

"Come on, Zoya! Let's just leave this crazy man!"

'I won't remain silent any longer if you bully me and put Zoya in a difficult position. I won't let Zoya bear the guilt of marrying me and leaving a perverted bastard like Maksim.'

Viktor let his mind wander everywhere. He took Xandrova's hand and asked her to leave there.

'I'll look for proof that Maksim is not worthy of being with a woman as beautiful as you, Zoya!' Viktor exclaimed to himself as he was about to walk away from the crowd where Maksim was still there.

"No, Zoya! You can't just go with this coward!"

Not only insulting Viktor, but even Maksim spoke in a high tone. Maksim grabbed Xandrova's left hand until the woman couldn't move.

"Viktor?"

Xandrova turned to her husband and directed her eyes to Maksim's large hand, which held her arm tightly.

"Get your hands off of my wife!"

As if he didn't want to lose, Viktor shouted in the same high pitch as Maksim.

"Look, Mr. Maksim! You don't even realize it! You're so obsessed with someone else's wife! That's not what a gentleman should do!"

Gulp!

Maksim swallowed saliva with such difficulties. Both of his hands clenched into fists. Seeing this incident, of course, gave rise to different speculations from everyone.

'How dare you?! If only there weren't so many people here, maybe I would have obliterated this lowly beggar by now!' Maksim thought to himself.

As a man who came from a wealthy family, Maksim was never belittled or denied by anyone. However, he couldn't do anything. He has to let Viktor take Xandrova to protect his good name.

"Come on, Zoya!"

After he was sure Maksim let go of Xandrova's hand, Viktor took his wife away. Several people stepped aside to let the husband and wife walk past them.

'For now, I'll let you win, Viktor! However, I'll get my revenge when the time comes!' Maksim threatened in his heart with a sharp gaze aimed at Viktor.