bChapter 31 /b

Maxine was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, the cigarette between her fingers half–burned, with ash falling in small clumps.

After a while, she finally responded calmly, “What do you mean by that?”

Cleo scoffed, “Don’t get mad. I don’t like little boys. Otherwise, I would have agreed when you by Sebastian to be cold and distant; I don’t like it.”

said Brian could be my godson. Besides, your kid is taught

Maxine looked at her icy face and couldn’t help butugh. “I’ve known this all along; I just didn’t bother to call you out on it. Anyway…”

Anyway, she really didn’t care about these anymore.

After all, Cleo was right.

Brian and his father were essentially the same.

They couldn’t empathize with themselves, let alone with others.

Cleo let out a heavy sigh, adding, “So when I found out you were getting a divorce from Sebastian, I was over the moon. Hey, don’t you go back on it and make up in the end.”

“It’s pretty unlikely.” Maxine thought seriously for a moment.

Pausing slightly, she narrowed her eyes. “You know what? When I went to find you at Horizon Oasis todayb, /bKran into Gabriel at the entrance.”

Cleo snapped back to reality instantly at her words. “Did he recognize you?”

Maxine shook her head. “How could someone like him remember me? But I couldn’t resist calling out his name. Later onb, /bthoughb, /bbI /bfobbed him off by saying I had business dealings with his father.”

Cleo rubbed her face and was confused again. “But if you were to overturn’Ivanna’s case, you’ll likely run into her again. What thenb?/bb” /b

Maxine was very sincere, replying, “I have no idea. Honestly, I haven’t figured out how to gather more evidence or refile charges against Gabriel even now. So, Cleo, I really need your help.”

Cleo looked at her with aplex expression. “So you still want me to find Jessica’s biological father?”

“Yeah, but this time, I’m not just dropping the kid off. I’ve got this gut feeling that Ivanna and Gabriel’s case might be tied to something deeper. And that something, maybe, has a bit to do with Jessica’s biological dad!”

Cleo’s hangover waspletely gone. She stubbed out her cigarette and said seriously, “If you’re set on going all bthe /bway, I don’t mind helping you dig

into this.

“But Maxine, think carefully. If you’re really going to obsess over this, not only are you putting yourself in dangerb, /bbut you’re also basically cutting bties /b

with Sebastian for good.

“He would never allow you to do something that would affect him and his son.”

A smile left Maxine’s lips. “You think Sebastian hasn’t warned me a thousand times? But I’ve already made up my n means getting crushed. I have to do this.”

won’t bback /bdownb, /beven if it

“Now that’s the you I know! All these years with Sebastian, you’ve be so unmotivated.” Cleo looked at Maxine admiringly.

Maxine was stunned, touching her face instinctively. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Cleo lit another cigarette, adding casually, “That’s also why I didn’t contact you much before. I just felt like we were slowly drifting apart. Your whole being is wrapped up in your family, and bit’s /bjust annoying.”

b09:10 /bWed, b18 /bbJun /b

bMaxine /bwas momentarily dazed, something suddenly bing clearer in her heart.

All these years, she had thought she bnced work and family perfectly.

But in others‘ eyes, she had be that kind of person who threw all her emotions into her husband and kids,pletely absorbed in family life

Somehow, Maxine suddenly felt a chill run through her.

????????????