bChapter /bb4 /b

Brian shot Maxine a look, his eyes screaming he’d rather be anywhere else.

Maxine stared back, silent.

She used to see him through a haze of love, but now? His face–those eyes, that jaw–was pure Sebastian. Not a hint of her.

Just like this marriage. She’d always been the odd one out, dragging everyone down.

“No need for this,” she said with a dry chuckle. “I’m wiped. Going to bed.”

But Brian snapped, like she’d poked a raw nerve. “You think I wanna apologize? Kathleen didn’t twist my arm, I wouldn’t even be here!”

Even though Maxine had braced herself to let him go, her chest still ached.

She clenched her fists, the sting in her palms promising it’d be okay.

‘Even the deepest cuts heal someday. Better to end it quick than drag out the pain,‘ she told herself.

She started to walk away, but Kathleen’s voice cut in. “Maxine, you haven’t touched your food.” Her tone was all fake worryi. /ii“/iYou’re still recoveringb. /bYou gotta eat something.”

Maxine nced at the table–loaded nachos, barbecue ribs, grilled salmon. All stuff she either couldn’t eat or wouldn’t touch.

It didn’t take a genius to see it: Kathleen’s sly jab.

“No appetite,” Maxine said, her voice t.

Kathleen’s face went pink, thrown off. “Guess I’m sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong,” she muttered.

Usually, Maxine would’ve bitten back, but today? She felt nothing. She turned to leave, steady as ever.

“Wait a sec,” Sebastian barked, his voice cold enough to freeze her in ce. “Kathleen busted her butt cooking for you, and you’re just gonna bail without ba /btaste? Where’s your mannersb?/bb” /b

“And don’t get me started,” he went on, “Kathleen and Brian ved over that grilled salmon to make things right. You’re just gonna trash their effort?”

Maxine stopped dead. She’d thought she was over letting them get to her, but she’d been dead wrong. His words hit like a punch, her blood roaring, nearly drowning out her self–control.

Her whole body tensed, a bitter smirk twisting her lips.

If this table of food she couldn’t even stomach was manners or effortb, /bthen rude ought bto /bslink off and hide.

Forget the years back when her life imploded–dad in the mmer, mom vanished with the money. Maxine was so broke she was scraping by on spare change, choking down nachos for every meal. Even now, just thinking about that stuff made her gag.

And her husband and son? Clueless that salmon could literally kill her.

Still, Maxine wasn’t about to bare her soul for pity points. No way she was digging up old wounds for kicks.

She took ba /bdeep breath, swallowing the storm inside. “This is my house. Kathleen swans in like she owns it, and I’m supposed bto /bbthrow /bbher /bba /bbparade/bb?/b”

“Maxine!” Sebastian’s brow furrowed, his tone sharp.

bShe /bgave a dry, mockingugh. “Save the sorrys. You’re all set to y happy family anyway.b” /b

bChapter /bb4 /b

Before he could snap backb, /bshe turned and bolted upstairs.

bIn /bher roomb, /bMaxine copsed, drained to the bone. She just wanted to crash, but the door flew open. Sebastian stormed in, his bvibe /bcold enough to freeze the air.

b“/bWhat the hell was that about?” His eyes pinned her, intense and heavy, making it hard to breathe.

Maxine sucked in a breath, meeting his stare dead–on. “You’re a smart guy, Sebastian. Figure it out.”

She stood, grabbed the divorce papers from her bag, and pped them into his hand. Her voice was steady as steel. “We’re done, Sebastian, I want a

divorce.”

The second the words dropped, his face went cold as ice. “What did you just say?i” /i

Maxine didn’t blink. “You heard me. Divorce.”

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Chapter b5 /b