bChapter /bb16 /b

bBrian /bignored the blood trickling from his forehead, rushing to Kathleen’s side, his face all panic as he tried to help her bup/b.

Sebastian just stood there, his icy stare pinned on Maxine, not saying a word.

b“/bKathleen, you okay?” Brian asked, struggling to keep her steady.

He shot a look at Maxine, his eyes full of hurt. “Mom, I get you’re pissed at me, but why go after Kathleen? What’s her crimeb?/bb” /b

Maxine froze, a weird urge tough hitting her out of nowhere.

Kathleen, looking like she might break, wiped at her tears. “Brian, honey, don’t be too hard on your mom. It wasn’t on purpose…b” /b

She swayed, like her legs might give out, leaning hard into Brian.

The kid, still rattled and nursing his own injury, could barely hold her up, his face turning red from the effort.

Sebastian stepped in, easing Kathleen onto a bench by the door. “You okay, Kathleen?” he asked, voice low but tense.

Kathleen sniffled, brushing away tears. “I’m okay, Sebastian. Don’t be mad at Maxine.”

Brian wasn’t having it. “No way! How’s that okay? Kathleen, you’re too nice!” He spun to Maxine. “Mom, apologize to her. Nowb. /bbOr /bI’m done bwith /byou for good.”

Maxine swallowed the lump in her throat, fighting back tears.

She looked at Brian–his face so much like hers–and let out a bitterugh. “Fine. Cut me off. I’m sick of ying mom anyway.”

She was done pretending.

Sebastian’s eyes went cold as steel, his voice sharp. “Maxine, you hearing yourself right now?”

He couldn’t wrap his head around it. ‘How the hell did Maxine end up like this?

‘Screwing over Brian is one thing, but Kathleen too? And spouting that garbage right in front of her own kid?‘

Maxine’s lips curled into a faint, bitter smirk. “I’m awyer. I don’t talk just to hear myself. I say what’s real.”

Sebastian’s eyes widened, his dark gaze boring into her. “You’re seriously saying you didn’t mess up today? Brian called you out, didn’t she? You owe

Kathleen an apology.”

Maxine gave a short, dry scoff. “Just check the hallway camera. Truth’s right there.”

Kathleen’s face flickered with unease.

Sebastian stared at Maxine’s stone–cold expression, a weird knot twisting in his chest. His eyes flicked to Kathleen, sitting quietly nearby.

Kathleen dropped her gaze, her voice soft and shaky. “Sebastian, go easy on her. Arlene got hurt today–Maxine’s probably just shook up. That’s bwhy /bshe’s acting like this.”

Her words hit him hard, dragging up what Maxine did to Brian earlier.

He took a deep, silent breath. “So what you did to Brian–that wasn’t ba /bscrew–up either?”

Brian red at Maxine, his face full of hurt. “I’ve never seen a mom act like that,” he muttered, puffing out his cheeks.

Maxine’s eyes softened for a split second before turning icy again. “Brian, I messed up, and you got hurt. I’m sorry. When byou’re /bbout /bbof /bbthe /bbhospital/bb, /bbhave /b

Chapter b16 /b

byour /bbdad /bbsend /bme bthe /bbills. I’ll cover it allb–/bbevery /bbcent/b, plus whatever you need bto /brecoverb./bb” /b

bShe /bbpaused/bb, /bswallowing bthe /bache bin /bher bthroat/bb, /bher voice bgoing /bt. “bI /bthought your dad and I were done, but since byou’re /bbmy /bbkid/b, bI /bfigured bI /bbowed /bbyou /bmore bthan /bjust alimony–some kind of mom stuff.”

She looked away, her tone hard as steel. “But you clearly don’t need it. Fine. I’m done trying.

b“/bbFrom /bbnow /bonb, /bwe’re through. You do you, I’ll do me.”