Chapter 36
Brian’s eyes widened. There was confusion in them, but more than that–there was anger.
“Why are you getting a divorce? Is it Mom who wants to divorce you? But… but why?” Brian asked.
Sebastian frowned slightly, momentarily at a loss for words.
When Brian saw Sebastian’s expression, his anger only grew. He added, “Dad, I get it. It’s Mom who wants the divorce, right? She’s being unreasonable, isn’t she? It’s her, it’s her…”
The boy, not even ten years old, suddenly had tears welling up in his eyes, looking stubborn and heartbroken.
Sebastian blinked, and suddenly, the look in Brian’s eyes reminded him of that night outside Ivanna’s place–Maxine’s expression had been just like this.
Brian looked so much like her. The same resilience, the same stubbornness, like neither of them would ever back down for anything or anyone.
“It’s her…” Brian began to choke up. “She doesn’t want us anymore, right?”
Sebastian stayed silent and pulled his son into his arms.
Brian refused to cry out loud, forcing his tears back.
“I get it now. She doesn’t want us anymore. Otherwise… she wouldn’t have treated me like that that day,” Brian said.
As he spoke, something seemed to come to Brian’s mind, and his voice grew angrier. “That little girl–that girl I saw with her–who is she? Is she some stray kid she’s been raising behind our backs?”
Sebastian’s brows knitted together as he looked at Brian seriously. He asked, “Brian, where did you hear that kind of talk?”
Brian pressed his lips tightly together, refusing to speak for a long moment.
“Answer me. Who told you that?” Sebastian’s voice grew sharper.
Brian’s eyes shifted uncomfortably, and he murmured, “It… it was Aunt Valerie.”
Sebastian’s gaze darkened, his voice low and steady. “Brian, that kind of talk is insulting. I don’t want to hear you saying things like that again. Now, go to your room. It’s time for bed.”
Brian opened his mouth like he wanted to argue but caught the look in Sebastian’s eyes and backed down, reluctantly heading up the stairs.
Sebastian walked into his study and called Valerie.
Valerie picked up quickly, her voice loud and slightly slurred, as if she’d been drinking. “Hey, Sebastian? What’s up?”
“Valerie, did you come to see Brian today?” Sebastian asked.
Valerie chuckled. “Yeah, of course! The kid got hurt; as his aunt, I had to come check up on him. What, you don’t approve? Controlling much? No wonder Maxine doesn’t want you anymore.”
A sharp pain throbbed in Sebastian’s temples. He closed his eyes for a moment before responding coldly, “What did you say to him? He’s still a kid, Valerie. You better keep your nonsense to yourself and stop putting ideas in his head.”
Valerie laughed. “Oh, come on. I just said maybe Maxine’s got some stray kid out there, Am I wrong? Why else would she want a divorce and not even care about the money or the kid?
“Look, Sebastian, I’m just being honest with you. We’re family, right? Closer than Maxine, at least. Why would I lie to you? Maxine’s been taking care of some stray kid. It’s not even a secret.”
TO JUD
Chapter 36
Sebastian’s expression darkened. “What do you mean?”
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“I mean exactly that. Maxine wants to adopt that girl. She’s the orphan from that case she worked on, right? Everyone in the circle knows about it, they14
just being polite not to bring it up,” Valerie replied nonchalantly.
Sebastian’s gaze sharpened, a sense of dread creeping up his spine.
Without another word, Sebastian ended the call with Valerie and immediately dialed Maxine.
The line rang for a long time but went unanswered.
Sebastian didn’t give up, dialing again and again, only to finally hear the cold, mechanical voice.
Without hesitation, Sebastian grabbed his car keys and headed out the door.
AD
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