bChapter /bb203 /b

    Max froze. He’d heard rumors about Fiona’s downfall, but he never imagined this.

    Fiona spotted him, her

    widening before she shrieked, “Max!”

    His first instinct was to flee. But guilt rooted him in ce.

    “That’s my son,” Fiona hissed at the guards. “Let me see him.”

    The security team nced at Max, who gave a suff nod. With a sigh, they stepped aside. “Fine. Go ahead.”

    Fiona rushed over, her hands trembling as she clutched at him. “Max, you’re awake. You’re really awake!” Her voice cracked. “I thought I’d never see you again. Do you know how scared I was?” She threw her arms around him in a suffocating embrace.

    Max stiffened, disgust simmering beneath his skin. He tried to push her away, but his weakened body Betrayed him. Helpless, he endured her clingy hold, the seconds stretching into an eternity.

    Finally, Fiona pulled back, her tone shifting abruptly. “Sweetie, I’m starving. Do you have any food here?”

    “No.” His answer was t, factual, Beyond hospital meals, his room was a wastnd, no snacks, no fruit, no visitors. Just sterile silence.

    Her eyes gleamed with desperation. “Then money, you must have some, right? I’m dying here. Last time, I had to beg for food at some diner and bolted before they could charge me. They sent a damn dog after me. I almost got bitten.”

    Sheughed, high–pitched and frantic. “God, was that yesterday? Three days ago? I can’t even remember.”

    Max studied her, exhaustion etching his voice. “Mom. Look at me. Do I seem like I have money?”

    Fiona froze.

    Max said painfully, “You really forgot how we lost everything, didn’t you?”

    She waved a dismissive hand. “Okay, so I took some for the family, but that doesn’t mean you’re broke. Where is it? Your wallet? Phone?” She darted toward his hospital room. “I’ll check—”

    “Mom.” The word cracked like dry wood. “When you handed our savings to your rtives, did you ever imagine this?”

    Fiona halted mid–step.

    “It’s not that I won’t help you. I can’t. I’m dependent on strangers for my next meal.” Hisugh was hollow. “Pathetic, right? All these years, and what do I have? A life spent enabling people who’d never do the same for us.”

    “Helping family isn’t iwrong/i. But you gave until we had nothing. And where are they now? We had a good life once. Not perfect, but good.” His throat tightened. “And now? We’re not just broken. We’re gone. Was it worth it?”

    She didn’t turn around.

    Max continued, “I’ve got nothing left. If I did, I’d pay my own damn medical bills instead of relying on charity. Even now, I’ve got some pride.”

    Fiona shuffled toward the exit.

    “That’s it?” Max called after her. “No ‘I love you‘? No ‘I’ll stay‘? Just… leaving because I’m useless to you?”

    “I–I’d just be a burden,” she stammered. “I’ll… figure it out elsewhere.”

    b1524 /bThu, 14 bAug /b0

    Chapter b2031 /b

    “Burden?” He barked augh. “You’re my mother. Couldn’t you at least pretend to careb? /bYou bdon’t /bneed money bto /bdo that

    But Fiona was already fleeing. “I’ve got things to do. Bye.”

    Max watched her retreating figure, the ache in his chest hardening into something darker. A chuckle escaped himb, /bbitter, broken.

    ‘Of course. Who’d want a wreck like me?‘ If only he’d stood by Ste years ago, seen the truth sooner. Maybe things would’ve been different.

    But it was toote. Now, he was just another burden–breathing, but already dead to the world.

    Just as Ste’s supermarket chain was hitting its peak, someone threw ice–cold water on her sessb, /bliterally. A viral rumor imed her products were carcinogenic.

    Ste didn’t need a detective to guess the culprit. Andrew and Annacked the resources, but Monroe? That silver–spoon Johnson heir bhad /bboth the means and the motive. ‘Fine. If he wants war, he’ll get itb,’ /bshe mused.

    She fired back with a verified public exposé on social media, documenting carcinogenic risks in the Johnson family business’s products. bThe /bJohnsonsunched damage control, but the scandal spread faster than their PR team could contain.

    Meanwhile, Ste pivoted, issuing a crisp statement: “Our shelves carry only certified brands. Unless those brands fail, we stand wless.”

    Jordan, ever efficient, slid Arthur Johnson’s private number into her DMs. Ste dialed without hesitation.

    Arthur answered, oblivious. “Who is this?”

    “Arthur Johnson? I’m Ste Hayes of the Hayes Group,” Ste replied.

    Arthur frowned. “You have the wrong number.”

    “I don’t.” Ste kept her voice honey–smooth. “You follow market trends. So you’ve seen the issues with your product line today.”

    “Get to the point.”

    “I orchestrated it.” A beat. “A response to your grandson ndering my business. I could’ve filed awsuit with proof and had him arrested.

    But I didn’t.”

    Arthur’s tone iced over. “Expecting gratitude? Remember, even if hended in jail, I’d have him out by sunrise.”

    Steughed, unfazed by the old lion’s growl. “No, Mr. Johnson. I’m simply stating: Monroe and I have no feud. Yet he keeps aiding Anna against me.

    “I don’t attack unprovoked. But if he insists on being her shield, I’ll treat him as an enemy. I’ll fight with

    my

    husband.”

    Silence. Then Arthur bit out, “What exactly has he done now for that gold–digging sister of yoursb?/bb” /b

    “You recall how I dealt with Anna and Andrewst time? Monroe rescued them, and we had a truce. Until today. Connect the dots.”

    “Understood.”

    Ste moved to hang up-

    “Wait.” Arthur’s voice softened, almost impressed. “I’d heard you were just a girl ying business. I was bwrong/bb. /bHad Monroe fallen bfor /bsomeone like you, I might’ve approved.”

    1524 bTH? /bb14 /bbAug /b

    Chapter 203.

    b“/bI’m ttered.” Ste’s thumb hovered over ‘end call.‘ b“/bBut I’m married,”

    The line died. She exhaled, satisfaction curling through her. ‘Anna and Andrew’s lifeline? Cut. Let’s see Monroe bail bthem /bbout /bnow!

    biAD /i/b