Wife And Mother No More: The Lawyer's Fiery Return

Chapter 1 The Sleeping Pills

At twenty-one, Maxine Hudson said "I do" to Sebastian Mason.

A year later, she brought their son, Brian, into the world.

Brian was his dad's spitting image—cool, quiet, always holding her at arm's length. But with Kathleen Lane, some other woman, he was all buddy-buddy.

Every morning, Maxine rolled out of bed to simmer a pot of soup for her boys, no matter how early.

Until today. To get Kathleen to play mom at his parent-teacher conference, Brian slipped sleeping pills into her water.

The soup she'd left on the stove bubbled over, snuffed out the flame, and let gas creep through the house.

Maxine barely escaped with her life. She was worn out, heart and soul.

She slid the divorce papers across to Sebastian, her voice steady but tired. "We're done, Seb. Let's call it a day."

*****

"She'll be fine, just stick to light meals for a bit…"The nurse's voice drifted in and out, sharp with the sting of hospital antiseptic.

It clawed into Maxine's head, forcing her eyes open as pain throbbed behind them.

Stark white ceiling. Two familiar figures lingered in the corner of her vision.

"Brian, who told you to slip sleeping pills in your mom's water? What were you thinking?"

Brian stood with his back to her, his small frame rigid. "I didn't want her at the school meeting," he muttered, stubborn as ever. "She'd just make me look like a total loser."

Sebastian faced her, his dark suit crisp, his sharp jaw and piercing eyes almost too perfect in the sunlight streaming through the window. He looked like he belonged on a billboard, not in this sterile room.

"You get that you almost killed her, right?" he snapped, voice tight.

"It's her fault for being so dumb," Brian fired back, his tone cracking like he was fighting tears. "She didn't even turn off the stove! She's nothing like Kathleen. Kathleen gets me snacks, takes me to cool places. Mom just nags and bosses me around.

"She's such a nobody. We'd all be better off if she was gone!"

His words slammed into Maxine like a knife, cutting through the fog in her head.

The pain sharpened her thoughts, but the icy chill that followed, creeping through her limbs, sinking into her heart.

She gripped the bedsheets, fighting back tears that stung her eyes.

How pathetic was this? The son she carried for nine months, the boy she'd poured every ounce of love into, thought she was a walking embarrassment. He'd even slipped something into her milk so his precious "Kathleen" could play mom at the parent-teacher conference.

Maxine hadn't suspected a thing. She drank it and passed out cold.

The soup she'd been cooking for Brian boiled over, killing the stove and leaking gas everywhere. If the security guard hadn't heard the alarm and rushed in, she'd be a goner.

Maybe it was time to let go.

She hid the exhaustion in her eyes and looked up, meeting Sebastian's gaze.

He saw she was awake. His cold eyes flickered, and he took half a step toward her before stopping. His focus shifted to Brian. "Brian, I'm ashamed of you. Go think about what you did. Try that again—"

His voice turned hard. "I don't raise heartless sons."

Brian, spoiled his whole life, wasn't used to a scolding. His face crumpled, all pouty. Then he spotted Maxine, awake. His big eyes flashed guilt—then anger.

He shot her a dirty look and ran out.

Maxine's heart twisted, urging her to chase him. But Brian's words echoed, freezing her in place.

He'd rather have Kathleen by his side.

Sebastian stepped to the bed, eyeing her pale face with a slight frown. "You okay?" he asked, then added, "Brian's just a kid. He didn't mean it. Don't hold it against him."

'A kid?' Maxine's mind sharpened, cold and clear as glass.

Brian was nine, raised with the Mason family's elite education. He spoke three languages, read finance journals with Sebastian, and knew exactly what he wanted—a new mom.

"Just a kid" didn't cut it.

Sebastian, married to her for years, could tell she was off. His tone softened a smidge. "But Brian's got a point. As Mrs. Mason, you gotta step up—how you act, how you look. You don't want people talking smack."

He paused. "Brian likes Kathleen. Maybe take a cue from her."

His words slapped her hard. 'He called Brian heartless? Look who's talking.'

Bitterness surged, draining what little color she had left. Dizziness hit, stealing her breath.

"If Brian's so obsessed with Kathleen, why not let her be his mom?" Maxine stared at him, her voice soft but biting. "You two already act like you're the real deal."

Chapter 2 Just Friends?

Two weeks ago, Maxine was curled up in agony from cramps, firing off a couple of whiny texts to Sebastian about how much it sucked.

When she met him for lunch later, she spotted a heating pad in his car. Her heart did a little happy dance, thinking maybe Sebastian actually had her back.

But just as she was getting all warm and fuzzy, expecting him to hand it over with some cute gesture, she saw that same heating pad on Kathleen by the afternoon.

And Kathleen? She had the nerve to waltz up to Maxine, practically shoving it in her face, bragging about Sebastian's sweet side.

"Maxine, you're always griping that Sebastian's oblivious, but I don't know," Kathleen said with a smug grin. "I just mentioned my stomach was acting up yesterday, and bam—today he rolls up with this heating pad.

"Oh, and you look like hell, girl. You good?"

The second Maxine saw that heating pad, her whole world just crumbled. Back home, she laid into Sebastian, demanding why he'd pull something like that.

"You're a married man!" she'd snapped. "Don't you think you should keep other women at arm's length?"

But Sebastian just shot her an icy look, saying she was being gross, that Kathleen was just a friend. Kathleen was just a friend, he insisted—practically family, he claimed.

Maxine wasn't buying that crap. If that was true, Kathleen wouldn't keep strutting up to her, rubbing it in her face like some smug queen bee.

Sebastian called her ridiculous, refusing to explain, and they'd been stuck in a cold war ever since.

"Maxine, what's your problem now?" Sebastian growled, his patience shot. "I told you, she's just a friend. Why do you keep twisting it into something sleazy?"

"You know damn well what's going on," Maxine fired back, her voice sharp as she closed her eyes to shut him out.

The hospital room fell into a heavy silence, thick enough to choke on. After a moment, Sebastian noticed her pale face and reached for her forehead. "You feeling okay?"

She dodged his hand. "I'm fine," she muttered. "Just beat."

He hesitated, then pulled back, setting a phone on the bedside table. "Get some rest. Call a nurse if you need anything."

As he turned to leave, he added, "You're hurt, so I'll let this slide."

Maxine stayed quiet until the door shut with a soft click. Only then did she reach for her phone, flipping it open to see—

One swipe, and the screen lit up—over thirty missed calls staring back at her.

Before she could even scroll through them, it rang again. Alton Legal Firm. They'd been after her for months, ever since she'd impressed them on a joint case. Their offer was solid—better pay, bigger cases, international prestige.

The hitch? Their main office was halfway across the globe. Taking the job meant trading courtrooms for airport lounges.

Maxine was a civil lawyer, but lately, she'd been knee-deep in divorce cases. Career-wise, Alton was the golden ticket—better gigs, brighter future. She'd said no before—for Brian, thinking it was some big, heartfelt sacrifice.

Now, that just felt like a dumb move.

She picked up, and the guy on the other end was practically bouncing. "Ms. Hudson, you answered! Look, about the job, we're begging you to rethink it. We want you bad—"

"I'm in," she cut in.

"Whoa, what?" He sounded like she'd just yanked the rug out from under him. Then he laughed. "No kidding? That's awesome!"

He kept going, like he was scared she'd bolt. "Don't worry, we'll pay you right, benefits and all. Oh, and there's a women's rights case on the table—your kinda thing. You can run point."

"Cool," Maxine said, all business. "Send me the details. I'm wrapping up a sexual assault case, so I'll need to finish that before I start."

"No problemo," he said. "Just heads-up, the case needs to be wrapped by the 25th of next month."

"I'm good."

Call done, her phone pinged—a new email. A labor contract, ready for her to skim and sign.

She gave it a quick once-over, shot back a reply, and that was that.

Exhausted, she crashed hard, sinking into a deep sleep.

When she woke, it was dark outside. A bedside lamp cast a soft glow, catching a middle-aged woman puttering around in the corner—total stranger.

"Who're you?" Maxine asked, brow furrowed.

The woman turned, flashing a warm smile. "Oh, you're up! I'm the nurse Mr. Masonhired to look after you." She stepped closer. "Feeling peckish? I've got porridge if you want some."

Maxine nodded. "Sure." Then she remembered. "Oh, and can you sort out my discharge papers for tomorrow morning?"

The nurse hesitated. "That's kinda quick, no?"

Maxine shook her head. "I've got it under control."

The nurse stepped out, looking uneasy. A minute later, she was back with a phone. "Ma'am, Mr. Hudson wants a word."

Maxine's gut twisted. She wasn't exactly itching to chat with Sebastian. But he'd hired the nurse, so it made sense she'd be his eyes and ears.

She sighed and grabbed the phone. "Hey, what's up?"

Chapter 3 Walls Up Too Late

"You trying to ditch the hospital already?" Sebastian's deep voice rumbled through the phone. For a second, it almost sounded like he cared. "You're still a mess. Stay put a few more days, yeah?"

Maxine's heart twitched, old feelings rippling faintly.

'When was the last time Sebastian cared?' she wondered.

Probably before Kathleen waltzed back from abroad, snagging a job at Maxine's law firm and gluing herself to Sebastian, playing the "best bro" act.

Six months into their marriage, Maxine hadn't batted an eye at Kathleen—this loud, tomboyish girl they'd known forever.

But then she saw it: Kathleen getting too cozy, using "friendship" as an excuse for flirty moves and sly jabs that chipped away at their marriage.

Her instincts screamed to watch her back, but when she finally started shielding herself, it was too late.

Sebastian and Brian were already in Kathleen's corner, treating Maxine like an afterthought—or worse, a pest.

Like when she was laid up with a 102-degree fever, begging Sebastian to come home. He ditched her for Kathleen's birthday bash.

Shaking off the memory, Maxine gave a dry laugh. "I've got cases to crush," she said, voice flat. "No time for this."

"What, you pissed or something?" Sebastian's tone was cocky, like he had her pegged.

Usually, she'd scramble to explain, but today? She was just done—worn out, like she was sinking in quicksand.

"Save it, Sebastian. I don't need your half-baked concern," she shot back, ice in her voice.

Silence lingered until he grunted, "Fine. I'll grab you tomorrow afternoon."

Click. He hung up. Typical.

Maxine didn't flinch. She was over his games. Blank-faced, she handed the phone back.

The next morning, Maxine didn't wait around for Sebastian. She checked herself out of the hospital early and grabbed a cab to the immigration office to sort out her visa.

Halfway there, her phone buzzed—Sebastian's assistant, asking where she was. When she said she'd already left the hospital, all she got was a brisk "Stay safe" before the call ended.

Guess being Mrs. Mason didn't carry much weight. Even the assistant brushed her off like she was nobody.

The visa went through without a snag, and Maxine was home by noon.

Still feeling rough from her hospital stay, the morning's hustle had her wiped. She just wanted to crash, but when she opened the door, the smell of home-cooked food hit her like a warm hug.

Muffled voices came from the kitchen. Curious, Maxine started toward them, only for someone to step out and spot her. "Maxine! You're back!" the voice squealed, all bubbly.

It was Kathleen.

She looked like she'd stepped out of a magazine in a wine-red silk blouse and a tight black skirt that hugged her curves. Her chestnut curls bounced loosely, screaming confidence and charm.

Maxine peeked down at her own plain white shirt and black slacks—dull as dishwater.

'No wonder my boys are all over Kathleen,' she chuckled to herself.

She swallowed a bitter smirk, her eyes going cold. "What're you doing here?"

Kathleen practically skipped over, grabbing her arm. "Heard you got out today, so I whipped up a big lunch to celebrate! Come on, don't keep everyone waiting."

She tugged Maxine into the dining room.

There, five or six of Sebastian's buddies were goofing off, laughing and nudging each other. The second they saw Maxine, their smiles dropped, and the room got awkward, the easy vibe gone.

Kathleen chimed in, "I heard about Brian's stupid gas leak stunt that landed you in the hospital. I'm so sorry. If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't have pulled that crap. I already gave him an earful."

The way she moved, the way she talked—it was like she was the queen of this house.

Maxine kept her lips zipped, her eyes darting to the staircase. There was Sebastian, sauntering down in a crisp black shirt and slacks, cool as ever, with Brian tagging along behind.

Brian was sporting a white short-sleeve tee with a goofy teddy bear plastered on it, paired with faded blue jeans. The look made his still-chubby face seem even more huggable.

But back in the day? No way he'd wear something this playful.

Ever since he could think for himself, Brian had been Sebastian's mini-me, always going for slick, grown-up clothes. Anything with a whiff of fun was just "kid stuff" to him.

"Mom, I'm not five anymore. I'm done with your silly dress-up crap," he'd once huffed, tossing the clothes she'd picked out right into the garbage.

Maxine pushed the memory aside as Brian got closer. The last flicker of holding on in her heart snuffed out. Family ties weren't always the rock-solid stuff people made them out to be.

"Hey, Kathleen," Brian said, barely giving Maxine a glance as he headed straight for Kathleen.

Kathleen's eyes sparkled with a sneaky hint of victory. She flashed a warm grin and grabbed Brian's hand. "Hey, champ, remember what we talked about? Go on, tell your mom you're sorry."

Chapter 4 Time To Walk Away

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 worry. "You're still recovering. You gotta eat something."

Maxine glanced 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 flat.

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 place. "Kathleen busted her butt cooking for you, and you're just gonna bail without a taste? Where's your manners?"

"And don't get me started," he went on, "Kathleen and Brian slaved 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 effort, then rude ought to slink off and hide.

Forget the years back when her life imploded—dad in the slammer, 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 a deep breath, swallowing the storm inside. "This is my house. Kathleen swans in like she owns it, and I'm supposed to throw her a parade?"

"Maxine!" Sebastian's brow furrowed, his tone sharp.

She gave a dry, mocking laugh. "Save the sorrys. You're all set to play happy family anyway."

Before he could snap back, she turned and bolted upstairs.

In her room, Maxine collapsed, drained to the bone. She just wanted to crash, but the door flew open. Sebastian stormed in, his vibe cold enough to freeze the air.

"What 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 slapped 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?"

Maxine didn't blink. "You heard me. Divorce."

Chapter 5 Passing The Torch To Kathleen

Anger surged through Sebastian, hot and fierce. He grabbed Maxine's chin, eyes blazing with a brewing storm. "What's your problem? Brian's just a kid acting up. You're his mom—gonna make a big deal outta this?

"And he already said sorry, didn't he?"

So that was it. To him, Maxine's near-death scare was something a quick "my bad" could just brush off.

Maxine had tried to prepare herself, but the sting in her eyes hit hard. Letting go of someone she'd loved for over ten years felt like tearing out her own heart—half her life gone in a snap.

But no matter how bad it hurt, she had to keep moving.

She was still young. She couldn't let the rest of her days drown in this hopeless mess.

"Maybe I'm just a shitty mom," Maxine said with a weak, bitter smile. "Besides, Kathleen's got it all handled now, right?"

"Maxine!" Sebastian snapped, his voice a low growl.

Her heart jolted, but she didn't flinch.

His face darkened, like ink spreading in water. He stared her down, cold and hard, before tossing out, "Don't even think about bringing up divorce. That's not your call."

Then he stormed out, the door slamming shut behind him.

With Sebastian gone, Maxine let out a shaky breath and sank onto the bed, drained.

Then she glanced up at the doorway.

Brian stood there, meeting her eyes. He shuffled over, looking uneasy, his usual tough-guy face cracking just a bit.

He held up his hand, showing a bandaged cut on his middle finger—clean, no blood, already taken care of.

Maxine looked at him, waiting.

He hesitated, then muttered, "You really bailing?"

"Isn't that what you want?" she shot back, soft but sharp.

That hit a nerve. Brian's face flushed, anger and embarrassment mixing. "You think I give a crap if you stay? Go then! I ain't going with you!"

He shouted it, voice raw, before tearing out of the room.

Maxine watched him go, letting out a soft sigh. Clearly, neither Brian nor his dad had given her divorce a second thought. They probably hadn't even glanced at the papers.

She'd made it crystal clear: she was giving up custody.

But Maxine didn't let herself dwell. She brushed it off and dug into the case files from Alton Legal Firm.

When she saw the deadline, something clicked. She grabbed a calendar and set it on her nightstand, circling August 25th in red and crossing out today's date with a quick slash.

Twenty-nine days until she was gone.

*****

Three days later, Maxine walked back into the law firm, ready to dive in.

She'd barely sat down when the managing partner called her into his office. That's when he hit her with it: her "assault" case was being handed to Kathleen.

"What the hell?" Maxine blurted, her voice sharp with disbelief. "I've been killing myself over this case from the start!"

When the case first landed at the firm, it was a total mess. The guy? A cocky rich kid who thought his family's money made him untouchable.

He'd targeted a girl working at a bar, dragged her into a private room, and assaulted her. But that girl was tough—she lawyered up and came out swinging.

Maxine hated scumbags like him. She'd taken the case without blinking.

It had been a grueling three months—sleepless nights, fighting tooth and nail against the guy's family, who pulled every string to bury evidence and sabotage the hearings.

She'd poured her heart into it, and now, just when she could taste victory, they wanted her to hand it over. Let someone else take credit for her blood, sweat, and tears.

No way in hell. She was ready to fight tooth and nail.

Chapter 6 No Explanations Needed

Patrick Delgado, the firm's director, saw Maxine busting her ass. He sighed, shaking his head. "Sorry, Maxine. My hands are tied. Orders from the big shots."

But the bad news didn't stop there.

Next thing she knew, her assistant got reassigned to Kathleen, with some lame excuse about a "staff shortage." It was a total setup, leaving Maxine out in the cold, stripped of all her clout at the firm.

Furious, she was ready to storm the partners' offices and raise hell, but Patrick held her back.

In a low voice, he let slip that someone else was calling the shots.

In a heartbeat, Sebastian's face popped into her head. No one else could pull off a move this smooth, this ruthless. It had to be him.

Patrick practically shoved her out the door to go home and cool off. The second she got there, she dialed Sebastian's number, her blood boiling.

His assistant picked up, cutting to the chase. "Ma'am, the case? Mr. Mason's call. He thinks you should kick back at home for a while."

"Who the hell does he think he is, running my life?" Maxine snapped, barely holding it together.

The assistant's tone was flat. "Just following Mr. Mason's orders, ma'am."

'And, yeah?,' Maxine thought, her temper flaring. 'Just because I brought up divorce, he's pulling this stunt to keep me under his thumb? Total asshole.'

Her heart pounded with fury, but she knew getting worked up was a dead end. She hung up the phone with a huff, glanced at the desk calendar, and scratched out today's date with a sharp swipe.

Twenty-five days to go.

Meanwhile, the assistant hung up and stepped into Sebastian's office. "Sir, I clued Mrs. Mason in."

Sebastian, slouched behind his desk, flipped a signed contract shut. "Put a couple more guys on her. I want to know her every move."

"On it," the assistant said with a quick nod.

Sebastian's scowl didn't budge.

This case Maxine was stuck on? It was bad news. The defendant had enough power to crush anyone in their way. If she kept digging, she was walking straight into danger. Real danger.

*****

With her law firm job gone, Maxine was left kicking her heels at home. She caught a quick nap, waking to a sky splashed with sunset pinks and oranges.

Her stomach rumbled, so she headed downstairs to scrounge up some grub.

To her shock, Sebastian was already there—home way early.

After years of marriage, the guy was practically glued to his office, barely making it back by ten.

But today? She glanced at the clock—not even six.

"Work was chill today," Sebastian said, noticing her stare. "About the firm—"

"No need to explain. I'm good," Maxine cut him off, her tone flat.

Sebastian hesitated, gave her a quick look, but let it go.

Brian, still sore from yesterday, huffed and turned away, though his eyes kept darting back to her.

Maxine ignored him, aiming for the kitchen.

"I'm in the mood for fried fish tonight," Brian called, all stiff and snippy.

Sebastian piped up, "And a paella."

Maxine stopped, cool as ever. "Tell Alisson."

"I want you to cook!" Brian snapped, his voice hot with anger. "You're my mom, aren't you? Kathleen always whips up whatever I want!"

Maxine turned, her gaze steady but sharp. "Then go cry to her for dinner. Seems like you'd rather call her Mom anyway, right?"

Chapter 7 A Day At Six Flags

It wasn't like Maxine'd never cooked for him.

Brian's health had always been shaky, with a long list of foods he couldn't touch. Sebastian, buried in work, had picked up a stomach issue over the years.

To look after them, Maxine used to drag herself out of bed early to whip up meals, even when her law firm job ate up all her time. She'd skip sleep just to make sure they had something homemade.

Most of it ended up in the trash.

After a while, Maxine took the hint and stopped bothering.

"I hate you!" Brian's emotions burst out as he bolted to his room.

Maxine didn't blink. She grabbed a water bottle from the fridge, popped the cap, and took a slow sip. Her calm vibe made Sebastian's brow crease.

Lately, his wife seemed… off. He blamed it on her recent hospital stay after the accident.

"If you're not up for cooking, let Alisson take over," he said casually. "You should chill for a bit."

Maxine just gave a half-shrug.

Later that night, as they got ready for bed, Sebastian spoke up. "Brian's got a school break soon, and I'm not swamped at work for once. Wanna hit Six Flags?"

He hesitated, then added, "Didn't you always wanna go?"

Maxine's eyes flickered, but the excitement she once felt was gone.

That dream was from five years back, when Six Flags first opened.

Brian was starting to push her away then, shutting her out at every turn.

She'd hoped a fun day at the park might bring them closer. But Sebastian's endless work schedule kept delaying the trip, and it became a quiet ache in her heart.

'Maybe, before everything fall apart, I could make it happen,' she thought.

"Alright," she said softly, nodding.

Sebastian's tense look eased. His eyes flicked to the bedside calendar, lingered a beat, then moved on.

Three days later, Brian was free from school, and Sebastian had sorted his work. They hit the road for Six Flags.

Brian, as always, claimed shotgun, shoving Maxine to the back.

Since she'd mentioned divorce, Brian had been ice-cold—glaring, huffing, but stealing glances to check her vibe.

Maxine got it. He wasn't her everything anymore, and it was messing with his head.

"Yo, gimme water," Brian said, eyeing her.

Maxine didn't bite, just closed her eyes and leaned against the window.

He called out,"Hey—"

"Deal with it," Sebastian cut in, shutting Brian down.

Maxine stayed quiet, soaking up the rare peace.

Half an hour later, they rolled up to the park. Brian had never done anything like this, and despite his too-cool act, he was practically buzzing.

He yanked Sebastian toward the pirate ship ride.

Sebastian didn't push back. He glanced at Maxine. "If it's too wild, just hang back."

Brian smirked. "She's gonna chicken out. She's scared of her own shadow. If Kathleen was here, she'd beat me to the line. C'mon, Dad, leave her."

Maxine swallowed a retort. 'Should've popped out a burger instead of this kid.'

She didn't engage, just snagged her ticket and followed.

On the pirate ship, Brian shrieked like a toddler, while Maxine was all grins. When they climbed off, her face was glowing, and Brian looked like he'd seen a ghost.

She tossed him a look. "Kinda weak, huh, kid?"

With that, she strutted off, leaving Brian fuming. "Y-You're the weak one!" he yelled, scrambling after her.

Sebastian watched Maxine go, lost in thought.

After all these years married, he rarely saw her this alive—like a faded photo suddenly popping with color.

Not one to back down, Brian insisted on the roller coaster next. One crazy loop later, he stumbled off, legs wobbling, nearly face-planting.

Maxine grabbed him with a laugh. "Tapping out already?"

"No way!" he shot back, voice shaky. "I'm good!"

"Hey, you guys want a pic?" A perky photographer bounced over, grinning. "Y'all are too cute together.

"Gotta snap this moment—three shots for seven bucks, deal?"

Sebastian, never big on photos, started to wave it off, but Maxine chimed in. "Hell yeah. Make us look good, alright?"

She flashed a smile, sending the payment. Knew this was probably their last family photo.

She flashed a smile, sending the payment. This was probably their last family photo.

Brian pouted but didn't fight it. The photographer clapped, all hyped. "Okay, Mom and Dad, snuggle up! Kid, big smile!

"Three, two—"

Sebastian's phone buzzed. He checked the screen and stepped aside to answer.

Chapter 8 Business Trip

Two seconds later, his face was a storm cloud. He rushed back, voice tight. "Kathleen got jumped by the defendant. I gotta go."

"What?" Brian's voice cracked, eyes wide with panic. "Is Kathleen okay? Dad, let's go to the hospital!"

And just like that, Kathleen stole the show.

They tore out of there, leaving Maxine high and dry. The photographer blinked, totally thrown. "Uh… we still snapping this pic?"

No family photo today.

No family, period.

A sharp ache twisted in Maxine's chest, like vines choking her heart. She shot the photographer a brittle smile. "Just take it."

One snap, and she bailed from Six Flags.

She swung by the bank, swapped some cash, and tied up loose ends. Back home, she started packing.

Time to hit the road.

Later, scrolling her phone, she caught Kathleen's post: hospital gown, sandwiched between Sebastian and Brian, all cozy.

Picture-perfect family.

Maxine's lips twitched. She hit "like" and scrolled on.

Sebastian and Brian dragged in near ten. After tucking Brian in, Sebastian found Maxine propped up in bed, nose in a book. He rubbed his neck, all sheepish. "Sorry, today was a mess. We'll hit Six Flags next time, promise."

Maxine didn't look up, voice flat as day-old soda. "Sure thing."

She wasn't pitching a fit, but her chill vibe made Sebastian antsy.

His eyes landed on the bedside calendar, the 25th circled in red. "What's the deal with the 25th?"

Maxine paused, then shrugged it off. "Business trip."

"A trip?" His brows knit, suspicious. "You never said anything. What's the case?"

She slammed her book shut, a smirk dripping with shade. "Why? Wanna toss this one to Kathleen too?"

Sebastian's face turned to stone.

He clenched his jaw, voice sharp as a blade. "You're ticked I gave Kathleen that assault case?"

Maxine let out a dry, bitter chuckle.

Ticked? That was putting it mildly. She was this close to smacking Sebastian silly.

All these years married, she'd figured he was just wired cold, not the warm-and-fuzzy type. Now it hit her like a ton of bricks—he didn't love her. Never had.

Drained, she squeezed her eyes shut, exhaustion written all over her. "Sebastian, you knew that case was my whole world. That slime who hurt that girl? He's loaded, connected. Dumping the files on Kathleen out of the blue? You know how bad this could blow up? How many holes that creep could slip through?"

Sebastian would move heaven and earth for his precious Kathleen—Maxine was past giving a damn. But she wasn't about to let that girl's shot at justice get trashed by someone else's fumble.

"If you know the defendant's got that kind of pull, you'd better play it cool," Sebastian said, his stare icy. "Not go acting all reckless."

Maxine's laugh was sharp enough to cut glass. "Reckless? Yeah, that's me to a T."

She slapped her book onto the nightstand with a loud thwack, stormed out of bed, and yanked the bedroom door open.

"So, Mr. Mason." she said. "How about you get a clue? Go crash in the study. I've already filed for divorce, and whether you're cool with it or not, you're gonna respect my space. I'm not sharing a bed with a guy who's about to be my ex."

Sebastian didn't say a word, but as he strode out, his face was a thundercloud ready to burst.

It was the first time Maxine had seen him let his guard down like that.

Back when she still cared, she'd have spent days picking apart what was eating him.

Now? She was over it.

Sliding back into bed, Maxine set her alarm and tried to catch some shut-eye.

Three days from now was the first hearing for the assault case. She couldn't plead the plaintiff's case, but she'd be in that courtroom, watching like a hawk.

If there was even a sliver of a chance for a win, Maxine was holding on tight.

As she drifted off, she clung to a faint scrap of hope. The case had rock-solid evidence—witnesses, the works.

The only curveball was that hotshot defendant.

'But come on, could he really stand up in court and weasel out of all that proof?' she mused.

With that thin thread of comfort, Maxine sank into a heavy sleep.

Chapter 9 The Case Went Down

Three days later, the first court hearing kicked off.

But Maxine? She was stuck at the firm, sidelined by Patrick.

"Maxine, it's not like I'm trying to screw you over, alright?" he said. "You're free right now, and the archive's a hot mess. Old case files gotta go. Can you handle it?"

Maxine let out a bitter chuckle. "Patrick, you're sticking me with intern-level crap?"

Patrick's face twisted, caught in that awkward guilt trip—same look he had when he told her Kathleen was snatching her case.

It clicked. Sebastian.

He was the puppet master, keeping her out of the courtroom.

Fuming, Maxine reached for her phone to tear Sebastian a new one, but a commotion at the firm's entrance stopped her dead.

She stepped out and saw the crew back from the assault case.

Kathleen was there, swinging her briefcase, smirking like she owned the place. "Hey, Maxine, bad news—this case? Total trainwreck. We're done for."

Maxine's eyes went wide. "No freaking way."

Forty minutes. That was all it took. Not enough time to even touch the evidence or witnesses.

'How the hell did they tank it?' she thought.

Kathleen just gave a lazy shrug, like she couldn't care less.

Maxine's head was throbbing. She stormed out, ignoring Patrick's shouts trailing behind her.

She hopped in a cab and raced to the victim's place.

Ivanna Sandoval lived in a rough part of town where everybody knew everybody's business.

As Maxine pulled up to Ivanna's building, a neighbor spotted her. "Hey, you're Ivanna's lawyer, right? Looking for her?"

"Yeah!" Maxine was out of breath, her gut screaming something was wrong. "Where'd she go?"

"She just left with her kid, headed west."

Maxine's heart plummeted.

She'd been here before. West of this neighborhood was the Nealson River

She didn't know how she ended up at the riverbank—her feet just carried her. Then she heard it: a kid's gut-wrenching sobs echoing through the air.

Maxine's knees buckled.

Her vision blurred as she chased the sound. There, by the water, was Ivanna's little girl, barely old enough for kindergarten, crying her heart out.

Floating on the river was a mustard-yellow jacket.

Maxine froze. That was Ivanna's favorite jacket.

*****

By the time Maxine got Ivanna's daughter settled and dragged herself back to the law firm, it was nearly time to punch out.

She looked like hell—eyes red and swollen, hair a wild mess around her sharp features, her glare cold enough to stop a heart.

Kathleen spotted her and grinned, all snark. "God, Ms. Hudson, you look like you got run over by a truck."

Maxine stomped closer, brushing off the dig. "Kathleen, you hear about Ivanna? She threw herself in the river."

The words hit like a sucker punch. The nosy coworkers nearby, ready for some tea, went stone-cold quiet.

Kathleen blinked, caught off guard, but quickly squared her shoulders. "Yeah, so? That's got nothing to do with me."

"You were her lawyer!" Maxine snapped, voice sharp as a knife. "The case was bulletproof—witnesses, evidence, everything. No way we should've lost. But forty minutes in court, and it's done? You're telling me you're clean in this?"

Her voice cracked, eyes blazing. "Where's your damn conscience, Kathleen?"

Kathleen's face twisted, and she fired back, "Ivanna was a slut! Hooking up with some rich player, then trying to spin it with a lawsuit? She jumped 'cause she knew she was guilty. Don't put that on me!"

Maxine's fists clenched, her voice dropping to a low growl. "Say that again. I dare you."

"I said, she was a—"

Kathleen didn't finish. Maxine lunged, grabbing a fistful of her hair and dragging her to the wall with a snarl. She slammed Kathleen against it, hard.

Kathleen yelped, spitting curses. "You crazy bitch, let go!"

"God, we're all women—where's your heart?" Maxine's voice broke, tears streaming as she pictured Ivanna's scared little girl. "If I snap your neck right now, you think I could just say you offed yourself? Like, what, you botched the case and couldn't deal?"