Chapter 153
The surgery had barely begun when Urban rushed into the hospital, breathless and frantic.
He stormed up to Sebastian, grabbed him by the collar, and yanked him to his feet. “What the hell happened to Maxine? She was about to leave the country! And now she’s in surgery because of some mess you dragged her into? She had such a bright future ahead of her!”
Sebastian didn’t say a word. Cleo quickly stepped between them, pulling them apart. “Both of you, enough! You’ll scare the kids!”
Urban took a shaky breath and turned to her instead. “Tell me what happened.”
Cleo nodded, her voice strained. “There was an accident on the way to the airport… a truck hit the cab she was in. The driver died on the spot. Maxine… Maxine barely made it. They rushed her here as fast as they could…”
Her voice broke, and she couldn’t finish. Tears welled up and finally spilled over.
They all knew the truth. The chances of Maxine surviving the surgery were slim–heartbreakingly slim.
Her despair seemed to pass straight into Jessica. The little girl sank to the floor, covering her eyes as she sobbed, murmuring over and over, “Maxine… and Mommy…”
Brian ran up to Sebastian, clutching his shirt in desperation. “Dad, please… save Mom! I won’t make her mad anymore, I promise!”
Sebastian looked down at him and murmured, “Just wait.”
Wait for the doctors. Wait for the final verdict.
And then, finally, the light outside the operating room flickered off. The doctor emerged, exhaustion written all over his face.
Cleo sprang to her feet, her voice trembling. “Doctor, how is she? Is she…”
The doctor slowly shook his head. “I’m sorry. The injuries were just too severe. We did everything we could.”
Cleo collapsed onto the floor as if her knees had given out. She couldn’t hold back anymore and broke down sobbing.
Jessica let out a loud wail and tried to rush toward the operating room, screaming, “I want Maxine! Cleo, you said Mommy was in heaven watching over Maxine! Then why didn’t she save her?”
She didn’t fully understand what the doctor had said–but the sorrow in everyone’s faces, the helplessness, the silence–it reminded her of the day her
mom died.
Cleo scooped her up and held her tightly, murmuring through tears, “It’s okay, sweetie… Maxine just went to be with your mom.”
“No!” Jessica cried, thrashing in Cleo’s arms.
Urban gently took her from Cleo, rocking her softly as she sobbed. Meanwhile, Sebastian looked at the doctor and asked, voice hoarse, “Can we see her?”
The doctor nodded. “The room’s been cleaned. You can go in.” Inside the operating room, Maxine lay on the bed, pale and still, tubes still attached to her frail body. Her wounds–some stitched, some bandaged–were visible across her skin. Sebastian stepped closer and reached out, trembling, wanting to
touch her.
Urban grabbed his arm sharply. “Don’t. You don’t get to touch her.” His voice was cold and hard. “You’re the reason she’s lying here in the first place.”
Sebastian froze, the words cutting deeper than any blade. He slowly pulled his hand back.
Brian moved to take Maxine’s hand, but the doctor gently stopped him. “She has fractures in her hand, little one. It’s better not to touch for now.”
Sniffling, Brian retracted his hand and stared at her, tears spilling freely. “Mom… I don’t want Kathleen anymore. This is all my fault. Please come back…!
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09:12 Sat, 21 Jun
Chapter 153
didn’t mean to upset you…”
He cried so hard he began gasping for air, and the doctor stepped forward, lifting him into his arms and patting his back, trying to calm him
But Sebastian couldn’t focus on anything else. His world had narrowed to the lifeless figure lying on that hospital bed.
He couldn’t understand how it had come to this.
He’d even thought–if Maxine really left the country, once things settled, he’d go after her. He’d try to win her back, no matter how long it took
Hell, he was even ready to sign the divorce papers if that’s what she needed–just as long as she was safe.
But this… this wasn’t how it was supposed to end. Maxine wasn’t supposed to be here, cold and still, in a sterile room that smelled of blood and disinfectant.
