Chapter 73
As Maxine turned to leave, Sebastian suddenly called out, sharp and firm, “Maxine!”
She looked back, her gaze cold, meeting his eyes full of disappointment.
“You weren’t like this before. What happened to you?” he asked.
The scent of lemonade still lingered in the air, poking at Maxine’s nerves. She couldn’t stop picturing Kathleen’s smug, victorious smile.
Pushing down the dull ache in her chest, Maxine shot back, “Sebastian, between the two of us, who’s really changed?”
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A heavy silence fell over the office. Sebastian stared at her back, a strange tightness gripping his chest.
He couldn’t quite name the feeling–only that he didn’t want Maxine walking out of that room.
After a long pause, he said slowly, “As long as I’m here, you’re not leaving that firm. Not a single step.”
stiffened for a second. Then she turned and walked out without looking back.
Maxine’s shoulders
Sebastian stood there, at a loss for words, his expression unreadable.
When Charles walked in, he found Sebastian still staring at the door. He let out a quiet sigh and said, “Mr. Mason, Mrs. Mason just left. I think her eyes were red. She might’ve been crying.”
Sebastian’s hand tightened. He sat back down and picked up his pen to sign a document, but his hand was shaking.
Ink bled unevenly across the paper. After a few shaky strokes, Sebastian lost patience.
The document was torn. He tossed the jewel–studded pen into the trash without a word. The loud clang made Charles freeze.
Sebastian grabbed another identical pen and scribbled his signature on the torn pages.
Then, in a flat voice, he said, “Tell Rayden to do whatever it takes to stop Maxine from resigning. She doesn’t need to show up at work, but her name stays on that roster.”
Charles stood still, visibly conflicted.
Sebastian looked up, eyes cold. “What? Are you questioning me now?”
“No, of course not,” Charles replied quickly, stiffening. After a pause, he added, “But this might make Mrs. Mason even more upset. Maybe it’s better if you talk to her directly. She might understand where you’re coming from.”
Sebastian’s grip on the pen tightened, his knuckles going white. He’d thought some things didn’t need to be said–that Maxine would understand him without words. But it looked like he’d been wrong.
Maxine thought there was something going on between him and Kathleen. After ten years of marriage, she still didn’t trust
him.
“What’s there to understand?” Sebastian said coldly. Then, almost as if it had suddenly occurred to him, he asked, “You’ve been married a long time. Does your wife doubt you like this?”
Charles instantly broke into a cold sweat. “No. We have a good relationship.”
Sebastian looked away, a faint trace of self–mockery in his eyes. “That’s it. Maxine doesn’t trust me. No matter what I say, it doesn’t matter.”
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17:13 Wed, 18 Jun
Chapter 73
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Charles felt like crying. Mustering his courage, he said carefully, “Mr. Mason, maybe the problem is that you’ve never really tried to-”
Before he could finish, Sebastian’s secretary stepped in. “Mr. Mason, it’s time for your meeting.”
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