hapter 16
Brian ignored the blood trickling from his forehead, rushing to Kathleen’s side, his face all panic as he tried to help her up.
Sebastian just stood there, his icy stare pinned on Maxine, not saying a word.
“Kathleen, you okay?” Brian asked, struggling to keep her steady.
He shot a look at Maxine, his eyes full of hurt. “Mom, I get you’re pissed at me, but why go after Kathleen? What’s her crime?”
Maxine froze, a weird urge to laugh hitting her out of nowhere.
Kathleen, looking like she might break, wiped at her tears. “Brian, honey, don’t be too hard on your mom. It wasn’t on purpose…”
She swayed, like her legs might give out, leaning hard into Brian.
The kid, still rattled and nursing his own injury, could barely hold her up, his face turning red from the effort.
Sebastian stepped in, easing Kathleen onto a bench by the door. “You okay, Kathleen?” he asked, voice low but tense.
Kathleen sniffled, brushing away tears. “I’m okay, Sebastian. Don’t be mad at Maxine.”
Brian wasn’t having it. “No way! How’s that okay? Kathleen, you’re too nice!” He spun to Maxine. “Mom, apologize to her. Now. Or I’m done with you for good.”
Maxine swallowed the lump in her throat, fighting back tears.
She looked at Brian–his face so much like hers–and let out a bitter laugh. “Fine. Cut me off. I’m sick of playing mom anyway.”
She was done pretending.
Sebastian’s eyes went cold as steel, his voice sharp. “Maxine, you hearing yourself right now?”
He couldn’t wrap his head around it. ‘How the hell did Maxine end up like this?
‘Screwing over Brian is one thing, but Kathleen too? And spouting that garbage right in front of her own kid?‘
Maxine’s lips curled into a faint, bitter smirk. “I’m a lawyer. I don’t talk just to hear myself. I say what’s real.”
Sebastian’s eyes widened, his dark gaze boring into her. “You’re seriously saying you didn’t mess up today? Brian called you out, didn’t she? You owe
Kathleen an apology.”
Maxine gave a short, dry scoff. “Just check the hallway camera. Truth’s right there.”
Kathleen’s face flickered with unease.
Sebastian stared at Maxine’s stone–cold expression, a weird knot twisting in his chest. His eyes flicked to Kathleen, sitting quietly nearby.
Kathleen dropped her gaze, her voice soft and shaky. “Sebastian, go easy on her. Arlene got hurt today–Maxine’s probably just shook up. That’s why she’s acting like this.”
Her words hit him hard, dragging up what Maxine did to Brian earlier.
He took a deep, silent breath. “So what you did to Brian–that wasn’t a screw–up either?”
Brian glared at Maxine, his face full of hurt. “I’ve never seen a mom act like that,” he muttered, puffing out his cheeks.
Maxine’s eyes softened for a split second before turning icy again. “Brian, I messed up, and you got hurt. I’m sorry. When you’re out of the hospital, have
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Chapter 16
your dad send me the bills. I’ll cover it all–every cent, plus whatever you need to recover.”
She paused, swallowing the ache in her throat, her voice going flat. “I thought your dad and I were done, but since you’re my kid, I figured I owed you more than just alimony–some kind of mom stuff.”
She looked away, her tone hard as steel. “But you clearly don’t need it. Fine. I’m done trying.
“From now on, we’re through. You do you, I’ll do me.”
