Chapter 1
At twenty–one, Maxine Hudson said “I do” to Sebastian Mason.
A year later, she brought their son, Brian, into the world.
Brian was his dad’s spitting image–cool, quiet, always holding her at arm’s length. But with Kathleen Lane, some other woman, he was all buddy–buddy.
Every morning, Maxine rolled out of bed to simmer a pot of soup for her boys, no matter how early.
Until today. To get Kathleen to play mom at his parent–teacher conference, Brian slipped sleeping pills into her water.
The soup she’d left on the stove bubbled over, snuffed out the flame, and let gas creep through the house.
Maxine barely escaped with her life. She was worn out, heart and soul.
She slid the divorce papers across to Sebastian, her voice steady but tired. “We’re done, Seb. Let’s call it a day.”
“She’ll be fine, just stick to light meals for a bit…“The nurse’s voice drifted in and out, sharp with the sting of hospital antiseptic.
It clawed into Maxine’s head, forcing her eyes open as pain throbbed behind them.
Stark white ceiling. Two familiar figures lingered in the corner of her vision.
“Brian, who told you to slip sleeping pills in your mom’s water? What were you thinking?”
Brian stood with his back to her, his small frame rigid. “I didn’t want her at the school meeting,” he muttered, stubborn as ever. “She’d just make me look like a total loser.”
Sebastian faced her, his dark suit crisp, his sharp jaw and piercing eyes almost too perfect in the sunlight streaming through the window. He looked like he belonged on a billboard, not in this sterile room.
“You get that you almost killed her, right?” he snapped, voice tight.
“It’s her fault for being so dumb,” Brian fired back, his tone cracking like he was fighting tears. “She didn’t even turn off the stove! She’s nothing like Kathleen. Kathleen gets me snacks, takes me to cool places. Mom just nags and bosses me around.
“She’s such a nobody. We’d all be better off if she was gone!”
His words slammed into Maxine like a knife, cutting through the fog in her head.
The pain sharpened her thoughts, but the icy chill that followed, creeping through her limbs, sinking into her heart.
She gripped the bedsheets, fighting back tears that stung her eyes.
How pathetic was this? The son she carried for nine months, the boy she’d poured every ounce of love into, thought she was a walking embarrassment. He’d even slipped something into her milk so his precious “Kathleen” could play mom at the parent–teacher conference.
Maxine hadn’t suspected a thing. She drank it and passed out cold.
The soup she’d been cooking for Brian boiled over, killing the stove and leaking gas everywhere. If the security guard hadn’t heard the alarm and rushed in, she’d be a goner.
Maybe it was time to let go.
She hid the exhaustion in her eyes and looked up, meeting Sebastian’s gaze.
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11:00 Tue, 17 Jun GO
Chapter 1
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He saw she was awake. His cold eyes flickered, and he took half a step toward her before stopping. His focus shifted to Brian. “Brian, I’m ashamed of you. Go think about what you did. Try that again-”
His voice turned hard. “I don’t raise heartless sons.”
Brian, spoiled his whole life, wasn’t used to a scolding. His face crumpled, all pouty. Then he spotted Maxine, awake. His big eyes flashed guilt–then
anger.
He shot her a dirty look and ran out.
Maxine’s heart twisted, urging her to chase him. But Brian’s words echoed, freezing her in place.
He’d rather have Kathleen by his side.
Sebastian stepped to the bed, eyeing her pale face with a slight frown. “You okay?” he asked, then added, “Brian’s just a kid. He didn’t mean it. Don’t hold it against him.”
‘A kid?‘ Maxine’s mind sharpened, cold and clear as glass.
Brian was nine, raised with the Mason family’s elite education. He spoke three languages, read finance journals with Sebastian, and knew exactly what
he wanted–a new mom.
“Just a kid” didn’t cut it.
Sebastian, married to her for years, could tell she was off. His tone softened a smidge. “But Brian’s got a point. As Mrs. Mason, you gotta step up–how you act, how you look. You don’t want people talking smack.”
He paused. “Brián likes Kathleen. Maybe take a cue from her.”
His words slapped her hard. ‘He called Brian heartless? Look who’s talking.‘
Bitterness surged, draining what little color she had left. Dizziness hit, stealing her breath.
“If Brian’s so obsessed with Kathleen, why not let her be his mom?” Maxine stared at him, her voice soft but biting. “You two already act like you’re the real deal.”
