hapter 183
Maxine’s mind went blank, her ears ringing. Without thinking, she blurted out, “Where are you right now?”
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Brian choked up, “I’m home… I went to check on Dad, he’s lying in bed and looks really sick. I got him some water, but he’s still not better. Mom, please hurry back! I’m so scared!”
Maxine took a deep breath, forcing her voice to sound calm as she tried to soothe Brian’s nerves. “Don’t be scared. Just wait in your room, I’ll be there.
soon.”
After hanging up, she threw on her coat and rushed out of the room. Cleo, who had been lounging on the couch scrolling through her tablet, bolted upright when she saw her. “Where are you going at this hour?” she called out.
Maxine said, “Sebastian is sick. Brian just called and asked me to go over to their place.”
Cleo sighed. “Well… fine,” she muttered reluctantly.
Cleo sighed reluctantly, “After all, he’s the father of your child, you can’t just ignore him. It’s hard to get a taxi this late. How about I drive you over?”
Maxine said, “Just stay here. I might spend the night over there.”
Cleo figured Maxine wouldn’t want to stay long at the Mason family mansion anyway.
Watching Maxine rush out the door, Cleo heaved a sigh. She muttered to herself, “First Sebastian, then Brian, one crisis after another. Can’t they just get their act together?”
Cleo suspected this was just another ploy to draw Maxine in. Honestly, they could’ve just had Valerie loo
Sebastian.
Maxine ordered a ride through an app, and after more than half an hour, she finally arrived at the front gate of the Mason family mansion.
Just as Brian had said, Sebastian had given everyone in the mansion the day off, even the security guards were gone. Maxine stood at the locked iron gate for a while, but couldn’t get it open. With no other choice, she reluctantly called Brian back.
Moments later, she saw the lights flicker on downstairs, and then Brian’s small figure appeared at the front door. As soon as he spotted her, his face lit up and his pace quickened with excitement, by the end, he was practically running toward her.
As soon as the door opened, a little bundle of energy came flying into her arms. Maxine caught him and asked, “Why aren’t you wearing something warmer?”
Brian had only thrown on a hoodie when he came out, and now his hands were already icy cold. Maxine instinctively wrapped part of her coat around
him.
As they stepped into the mansion, they were relieved to find it pleasantly warm inside, a welcome change from the cold outside.
“Where’s your dad?” Maxine asked.
Brian sniffled, his expression uncharacteristically flustered. “Dad’s in his room. I left some water on his nightstand, but when I checked just now, he hadn’t touched it at all.”
Brian thought to himself, ‘Even though Dad doesn’t really handle family stuff, he’s still my dad, and he hasn’t even helped me win Mom back yet. If he gets sick, who’s going to help me bring Mom home?‘
Unbeknownst to Maxine, Brian’s mind was already working overtime, plotting ways to use this situation to his advantage.
Maxine said gently, “You should get some sleep now. You’ve got school tomorrow.”
Brian shook his head and whimpered, “I’m scared…”
09:15 Tue, 24 Jun
Chapter 183
Maxine fell silent for a moment. Secretly, she was skeptical of his words.
She thought, ‘Since when did Brian, who’s been acting like a little adult since kindergarten, be scared of anything?‘
Given the unusual circumstances today, and seeing those puppy–dog eyes he was giving her, Maxine hesitated for a moment before finally relenting. “Alright, you can come with me,” she said gently, “Once your dad’s condition stabilizes, I’ll take you to your room.”
AD
