Crashing into an Old Flame
Chapter 135: Coping mechanism

Chapter 135: Coping mechanism

’’I signed up on Tinder recently,’’ Hazel twirled her dark hair in her delicate fingers as she shrugged a shoulder, ’’My date... He is hot,’’ she added on a conspiratorial note.

’’The last time you went on a date with a guy, he turned out to be a fisherman who won’t stop talking about his preference for fish breeds and boats,’’ Maxim massaged his forehead, "You complained about it for weeks."

Old Master Qin and Diana slowly retreated to the side with one mutual exchanged glance when they noticed the face-off between the mother and son.

’’Last time was last time and it happened 6 months ago. I took a break after that mild shock. Besides, Todd was cute,’’ Hazel said self-righteously, ’’He even said that he wanted to name his new boat after my name...’’

’’Mom, his name was John,’’ Maxim cut her off.

’’Ah, they sound similar. Anyway, why are you being so meddlesome?’’ Hazel pouted, ’’You can’t get me a daughter-in-law and now you are not letting me get you a stepdad by being such a cockblock. What a liability.’’

’’Mom!" Maxim scowled, ’’There is a child and an elder.’’

’’Child is too young to understand and the elder knows it all,’’ Hazel cheekily winked at Old Master Qin who winked back at her with a peace sign.

Diana stifled her laughter when she noticed how riled up Maxim seemed to be.

’’Anyways, don’t be a baby. I have a list full of baby names.’’

’’So?" Maxim scowled. Now that he thought about it, his mother hadn’t given him a headache over new baby names lately.

He had been too engrossed in a certain ’friend’ to notice it.

’’Since you refuse to give me grandchildren,’’ Hazel wiped a non-existent tear from her face before she continued, ’’I have decided to give you siblings~’’ she flashed her sweetest smile.

Diana: "_"

Old Master Qin: "_"

Maxim felt a massive headache coming, "Just take Logan with you for safety purposes. I will inform him to tag along,’’ he pulled out his phone and sent a text to Logan before asking his mother, ’’When will you be leaving?"

’’If you are leaving now, I will give you a ride to the airport,’’ Old Master Qin offered but Hazel shook her head.

’’You can go ahead. I still need to pack my stuff and do my hair. There is some time left in my flight to Seattle,’’ Hazel ignored her son with a ’humph’.

After bidding the old man farewell, Hazel turned to look at the speechless Diana, ’’Little Ana, ask this man over here to show you around the villa. Also, I will add you on my socials later so that I can share the pictures of my date with you.’’

’This man?’

Diana was speechless. Hazel seemed to be pretty serious about ignoring her son.

But she was infected by her butterfly energy so she ended up smiling, ’’Okay,’’ she then turned to look at Maxim who was looking as expressionless as ever, ’’Show us around?’’ she waved Angel’s little hand.

Maxim loosened a breath and walked towards them while Hazel rushed upstairs.

...

While they strolled through the hallways of the grand villa, Diana marveled at the beautiful paintings on the wall.

’’Mamama...’’ Angel smiled cheekily, and a tiny dimple appeared on the middle of the chin. Her dimple was more apparent lately.

’’How cute,’’ Diana almost got a nosebleed, ’’Baby, look, you like these paintings? When you grow up, Mama will send you to art classes.’’

Maxim who was observing from the sidelines felt speechless, ’’What if she is not interested?"

’’What do you know?" Diana rolled her eyes, ’’I have this feeling that my baby is so special that she can master everything,’’ her nose flew to the clouds just at the thought of it.

’’Earth to, Diana,’’ Maxim poked the side of her head.

Diana pouted, ’’Don’t poke me. I will poke you back.’’

’’I will let you.’’

Diana glanced at his face. After a moment of silence, she coughed, ’’You don’t want your mom to date?"

Maxim stopped walking as he pushed open a door and she stepped inside. From the minimalistic approach towards the room, the grey and white tones, it was not hard to guess that it must be his room in the villa.

’’Just like she suggested, it’s her private life,’’ Maxim said.

’’But you looked quite upset about it downstairs,’’ Diana glanced at him.

Her arms felt a bit sore from carrying Angel and she flexed them gently.

Wordlessly, he took the girl from her arms as if he could read her thoughts, ’’I was not upset. I am worried about her.’’

’’Worried? She is an adult.’’

Maxim remained quiet.

Just when Diana felt like he would not speak about it, he said, ’’I don’t know if dating sites could be trusted. More so, even when she meets people in real life, I get worried because she trusts people easily. She sees all the good things and ignores the bad ones.’’

’’Not everyone has an active social life like you with flowers hovering around," When he gazed at her in confusion, she changed her tone and added, "Hazel is optimistic,’’ Diana sat on Maxim’s bed.

Her words got his attention, ’’Optimism doesn’t often help much. You are likely to be duped or hurt.’’

’’Not necessarily,’’ Diana shrugged, ’’Even if 99 things are bad out of 100, I’d try to focus on that remaining 1 good thing. It can be a coping mechanism at times of need.’’

Maxim frowned, ’’You sound like you have done it. What have you coped with?"

Diana froze, ’’I...’’ she chuckled, ’’What could I possibly need to cope with?"

Maxim remained quiet.

Diana rolled her eyes as she stood up, ’’Hazel endlessly worries about your dating life and you worry about hers. You both seem to have a pattern.’’

Maxim pursed his lips.

Diana laughed and slapped his shoulder, ’’Come, let’s check on her if she is ready or not.’’

By the time they went to Hazel’s room, they found the room empty. The bathroom door and the door to her walk-in closet were wide open with Hazel being nowhere in sight.

Maxim’s brows nearly touched his hairline.

Diana turned to look at him, ’’What... is happening?"

Maxim took out his phone and called his mother.

The call was answered within two rings, ’’Hey there,’’ the cheery voice came from the other side.

’’Mom, why are you not in your room?" Maxim did not have a good feeling about the whole thing.