Chapter 200
Peeking secretly from the doorway, the butler watched in amazement as Brian, who had just been so arrogant and domineering, became as meek as kitten before Maxine.
Brian would never even think of going against her.
He sat on the edge of the bed, carefully wiping his feet clean with a wet wipe. He picked up the medicine from the bed and was about to take it with a sip of water when Maxine suddenly said, “Wait.”
She reached out and took the cup from Brian’s hand. “The water’s gone cold. Get him a fresh one,” she said. The butler behind her quickly stepped forward and replaced it with a cup of warm water.
After taking his medicine, Brian obediently snuggled under the covers, scooted over to make space, and patted the spot beside him. “Mom,” he said softly, “can you sit here with me?”
Maxine’s first instinct was to refuse, but when she saw Brian’s fever–flushed cheeks and the way he was breathing through parted lips from his stuffy nose, her heart softened. She shrugged off her coat, set it aside, and pulled up a chair to sit by his bedside.
Still feeling uneasy, Brian reached out and gently took Maxine’s hand in his own, as if afraid she might leave him.
Maxine’s right hand was still wrapped in a thick bandage. She wouldn’t be able to remove it until next spring, and even then, it would take a long, painful recovery before the stabbing ache would gradually fade.
Brian held her hand, his fingers gently tracing the bandage wrapped around it. “Mom,” he whispered, “does it hurt badly?”
Maxine looked at him, struggling to voice the comforting words, “It’s alright, it’s all in the past.”
Seeing her remain silent, Brian’s voice trembled as he pleaded, “I’m sorry, Mom. I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have taken sides with others. Please forgive me.”
Maxine remained silent, using her other hand to gently tuck the blanket around him before whispering, “Go to sleep now.”
After a while, Brian succumbed to the medicine and drifted into a deep sleep. Maxine gazed at his peaceful face, a faint smile playing at her lips. For that moment, everything seemed perfect, as if none of the past had ever happened.
She slowly pulled out her bandaged hand, wishing none of this had ever happened. But the pain from those years had seared into her very being, not just as the scar on her hand, but also as the wounds left by shattered glass across her body.
She opened the door to leave, only to find the butler still waiting outside.
“Hugh,” Maxine nodded in greeting.
Hugh Glisson bowed and said, “Ms. Hudson.”
Hugh was one of the very few people, aside from Maxine and Sebastian, who genuinely cared for Brian. With his cold demeanor and blunt way of speaking, nearly all the household staff kept their distance from Brian.
Hugh had watched Brian grow from his first words to the young man he was now, treating him as if he were his own grandson,
Hugh hesitated, a pained look flickering across his face. “Ms. Hudson, about what happened back then…”
Maxine waved him off gently. “Hugh, that’s enough. I know what I’m doing.”
Hugh sighed heavily. He could clearly sense something was different about Maxine since her return. After what Sebastian had done to her, most people wouldn’t be able to forgive that..
Maxine came downstairs and saw Sebastian sitting on the sofa downstairs.
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Chapter 200
“Brian’s asleep now. I’ll be leaving.” Maxine said.
Sebastian looked at her for a long moment before saying, “It’s getting late. Stay here tonight.”
Maxine frowned. “You promised to take me home.”
Sebastian sighed. “The car we came in… Charles took it. The other one’s out of gas.”
Maxine nearly scoffed in disbelief. ‘Seriously? There are plenty of cars in the garage, and he expects me to believe they’re all out of gas? Does he really take me for a fool?‘ she thought, her frustration barely contained.
AD
