bChapter /bb10 /b

Maxine didn’t let up, her fingers twisting tighter in Kathleen’s hair as she mmed her against the wall.

The office went dead quiet, coworkers frozen, too shocked to move a muscle.

Kathleen iled, screaming, “Help! Somebody, stop her! Maxine’s lost it!”

That jolted them awake. A few scrambled over, trying to talk her down.

But Maxine’s eyes glowed red, rage swallowing her whole. She didn’t know where the strength came from, but she shoved off every hand trying to pull her back.

Then, two voices cut through from the doorway-

“Maxine?”

“Mom?”

Maxine’s bloodshot gaze snapped up. Sebastian and Brian stood there, staring like she’d gone off the deep end.

Her breath hitched, her mind nking for a split second.

Sebastian lunged forward, yanking Maxine’s hand off Kathleen.

“Sebastian!” Kathleen sobbed, copsing into him, all tears and drama.

He didn’t hug her back, just held her steady. But to the coworkers watching, it was enough. Their eyes flicked to Maxine, pity creeping into their stares.

Maxine’s lips curled into a bitter smirk. She met Sebastian’s icy re, her heart already frozen solid.

She should’ve seen it. It was always Kathleen he cared about.

Always.

“Sebastian, she tried to kill me…” Kathleen whined, ying the victim card hard. “Is she pissed you gave me that assault case?”

Sebastian blinked, snapping out of it. He propped her up, voice low. “You good?”

Kathleen looked like a trainwreck–forehead bruised, perfect curls a hot mess.

“I’m okay,” she sniffled, shooting Maxine a teary nce. “Don’t be mad, alrightb? /bbIf /bit’s the case, I’ll hand you the next big one, promise.”

Maxine barked a coldugh. “Kathleen, cut the innocent act. You know damn well why I came for you. It’s not about the case–it’s because—”

“Mom!” Brian’s small voice cut her off like a knife. “You can’t just hit people! That’s wrong!

“Look at Kathleen’s forehead–it’s all red and swollen! You owe her an apology!”

Brian’s little fists were clenched, his face raw with anger. The kid wasn’t even ten, but his eyes burned with pure disgust, slicing into Maxine’s already shattered heart.

She’d known her son–the one she carried for nine monthsb–/bcouldn’t stand her, probably wished she’d vanish. But seeing that kind bof /bloathing bin /bbhis /beyes? That was a new kind of hurt.

She looked away, hershes trembling. “Fine. Whatever.”

When she nced up, Maxine’s face was steady, almost btoo /bcalm. She turned bto /bSebastian, her voice low. b“/bSo, Sebastianb, /bbyou /bthink bI’m /bbthe /bbbad guy /bbhere /b

b10:44 /bbTue/bb, /b17 bJun /bbGO /b

btoo/bb, /bdon’t youb?/bb” /b

b“/bEven when your precious Kathleen tanked a case we should’ve won and got our client killed–you still think I’m the problemb?/bb” /b

Sebastian’s bgaze /bwas cold as stone, not a word from him.

But Maxine saw it–the annoyance in his eyes, like she was just a pest he couldn’t shake.

She nodded slowly, muttering, “Yeah, got it.“Then, louder, “We’re basically done anyway, Sebastian. So I’m making it easy for you.

“I’m outta here tonight–leaving you and your little family to y happy home.”

She didn’t wait for a reaction from him or Brian, just turned and headed out.

As she passed Sebastian, his hand shot out, grabbing her wrist.

She tilted her head, a smirk twisting her lips. “What’s up, Mr. Mason? Got onest dig to throw my way?”