Her breath was stuck somewhere inside her throat, because she forgot to exhale as Max held her gaze from the stage.

His voice, the lyrics of the song and the overwhelming emotions behind them surrounded her with enormous force and warmth. The tangible fire in his eyes directed towards her lit something fierce inside her as well. And it blazed, travelling throughout her entire being.

Sofia was drowning, slowly but surely.

Max ended the song with a husky kind of humming. It felt like, too soon had the realm she was lost in dissolved, when all she wanted was for it to last longer. She could still feel, however, the remnants of what his voice caused and she sensed it would remain with her till a very... very long time.

Her withheld breath finally puffed out of her mouth as a silent, careful gasp. Her heart was in serious danger.

The entire hall stayed silent for a good five seconds before every single person went crazy in cheering and clapping.

Sofia's eyes were still on Max who now was earning some guy hugs from the band who took their guitar back and what looked like were praising the lawyer turned singing sensation. Unconsciously, she played with her earrings while biting the inside of her cheek. Some middle aged women, relatives and guests from the Wilders' side, approached her then, they teased her for a while about how romantic Max was that he sang for her. He was apparently the lovesick lawyer according to them.

What could Sofia do other than stay rooted there with nervous jitters in her stomach, not denying but also not finding it appropriate to accept their cheesy comments confidently.

Max's aunt and Neil's mother, Katherine, pounced in then with her idle daughter in-law Lolo glued to the side.

"What're we talking about here, huh?" Katherine chimed with a wide smile. "I hope you're not annoying my new daughter in-law. You'll be looking forward to a war with me if you do so, mind it ladies." The women surrounding Sofia tittered in unison.

Sofia didn't know what to make of Katherine. She recalled Skyler's information about how the woman had made that phone call to Hayden house and insulted her grampa so cruelly. As if the destruction of her life and the tearing apart of her reputation in the tabloids were not enough.

Sofia took a long breath carefully, no more she wished to think about all that and what followed afterwards as a crisis to her family.

But how could she forget the woman's behavior and venomous words at the hospital when she went to see her grandfather. No, it couldn't be forgotten that easily. Yet how could Sofia not give Katherine a chance when she had given Marla another.

"Oh, look at you!" Katherine cupped the side of Sofia's face with her palm for a moment, her smile broadening. "Sofia, my dear, you're looking so pretty! Right, Lolo?"

"Of course." Lolo bobbed her head up and down dutifully. Katherine looked back at Sofia after she was pleased at the reaction.

"Ummm—thanks," Sofia said with a guarded smile, not knowing where it would head from there. She had gone through enough in life to differentiate the fake smiles from the real ones on the faces of some very predictable people.

"But tell me, Sofia," Suddenly Katherine looked as though she was highly worried, confused even. "Did you guys truly get married? Or did you just move in with him, of course at Max's insistence, and—" Katherine coughed feigning embarrassment at this point. The ladies around them came forward closer with curiosity. Some more people at the party were also beginning to take notice.

Katherine's next words were as if for the observers around them, "You know how wealthy kids are these days—keeping a mistress or two, this sort of women just gets some money and attention, and stay well satisfied even in the absence of any honor in such arrangement. And without any proofs of a wedding, people can easily think that—"

Sofia froze at the unfinished sentence and the foul insinuation that hung midair.

And she wanted to give Katherine a chance!

Some evils never transform into better beings, they just turn sly.

Under the scrutiny of many eyes, she fought to gather her voice but she succeeded at last, she always did. After all, she was Sofia Hayden.

"We got married," Sofia announced firmly. "Before the magistrate we signed and consented to be life partners to each other. If you're still suspicious over it, I'll personally bring you the papers and prove it the first thing tomorrow morning."

From the corner of her eye she could see Neil stepping out from the crowd with a determined face, probably with the intention of rescuing her. Sofia held her head high though; she didn't need anyone rescuing her. Neil halted in mid track seeing the look on her face. Skyler and her family, a grim looking Robert pushing grampa's wheel chair—all of them were a step behind him.

"Absolutely, honey," Max's voice boomed behind her. He stalked around to stand by her side. His hand slid around hers providing the warmth, strength and comfort she never knew she needed.

"We're married in the eyes of law, and the almighty God I believe doesn't need any evidence to see that two souls have united for life and beyond. But the society, however, is a very different case, and a case that is completely unnecessary and downright troublesome in my eyes," Max paused for a second to tilt the corner of his lips up into a brutish smirk. "It would please Sofia and me very much if they go and mind their own business for a change."

Katherine was a sight to behold. Her eyes sparked anger, although Sofia had to praise the lady for her still intact broad grin. Lolo on the other hand looked like she was ready to burst with infinite questions. Sometimes, Sofia wondered how Lolo became a graduate, but then again, her father was in the department of education. So, go, figure.

Max was looking at all the people now who had come up to surround them, challenging everyone with dauntless eyes, daring anyone to object.

His hand which had been holding hers lifted to go around her shoulders as he drew her closer to his tall frame.

In consequence, Sofia slightly gaped and hugely flushed from being so close to him. His strong frame pressed to her side, one muscular arm surrounded her shoulders while the other hand grasped her forearm. Her shoulder and the side of her face pressed snugly to his chest as he moved closer, and they both faced their spellbound audience. The proximity filled her with an incredible amount of heat. When she breathed, she had no choice but to inhale his cologne for being where she was at the moment, engulfed in his arms; and with each breath, she realized her thoughts were so pathetically going haywire.

Max didn't help her complex state of mind when he did what he did next.

He proclaimed, "This is my wife," voice dropping down a notch as if he was saying something personal, as if it was not for the world to hear but only her. "Mrs. Sofia Hayden Wilder."

Sofia Hayden Wilder, indeed.

She recalled she was not just Sofia Hayden anymore.

Her heart came to a sudden standstill and melted right there and then, all at the same time. Him acknowledging her as his wife in front of the world had a reflexive effect on her.

Max had merged into her identity. But, does it make her stronger or weaker? She wondered.

People might have moved away from them.

Their families, who were listening to the conversation, smiled—pleased, and then most of them left as well in higher spirits.

Neil and Skyler were just about to pounce in to grab the opportunity, greedy to deliver some teasing comments. But to those two's sadness, Robert saved the scene and commanded the youngsters to leave them be. A petrified Neil and a flustered Skyler scurried away to opposite directions.

Sofia was aware of all the happenings around her, but at the same time she wasn't as well. That might be because Max had yet to move his hand off her shoulders.

Sofia could understand now that after knowing the truth back in the hospital that cleared Max's recent misunderstandings, he had been surely feeling guilty. Hence his changed attitude, gentle behavior and protectiveness towards her. All her confusions were finally cleared. She could see the reason behind his actions now. This birthday party had been eye opening.

Guilt pushes people to sadness, and sadness pushes them to commit deeds they know might erase all their misdoings.

But here, his misdoing was a marriage and erasing it would be the toughest thing to do. There was too much at stake. Both of their families were involved and she had a tremendous debt to pay.

"Max."

"Hmmm," Max looked at her, while nonchalantly tucking her in closer.

"You can take... err...," Sofia cleared her throat. "Your hand off me. The vultures—uh—I mean the people have dropped the topic and us alone."

What Sofia got as a reply was a heartbreaking smile from him that literally took her breath away. "I can't, Sof."

Sofia frowned and was about to ask "why", but Max clarified before that, "Not when you're shivering like this. Can't let the cold torment my wife now, can we?"

Quickly, Sofia looked away and for the rest of the party never dared to look up at Max again. For fear that he would realize that cold was not the reason behind her shivering but he himself was. This man, who had appointed himself into becoming her blanket for the night, was ironically himself responsible for her reverie.

Yes, there was really too much at stake.