جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 70

Since the completion of the mansion, Thomas had insisted on meeting Noah there at least once. Maxine had reluctantly agreed. She told herself it was because Noah enjoyed spending time with him and because she didn't want another argument. Yet as she drove through the gates of the property with her son in the backseat, she knew that wasn't the whole truth.She was nervous.Far more nervous than she wanted to admit.The massive house stood proudly against the gray afternoon sky. The architecture was elegant, every detail polished to perfection. It looked exactly the way she had imagined it when she had first drawn the blueprints. Perhaps even better.The sight should have filled her with pride. Instead, it filled her with unease. The weather matched her mood perfectly.Dark clouds hung overhead, stretching endlessly across the horizon. The wind rattled the trees surrounding the property, and occasional drops of rain struck the windshield.A storm was coming. The forecast had warned abou

“Mommy,” Noah got scared of the thunder. He quickly came and hugged Maxine and she looks at Thomas to hear his answer. He got Noah from her hands and took him to his bedroom. “Stay here tonight. It’s not safe to drive in this storm,” he said.She’s scared as well, so she decided to stay the night. After all, she need answers. He puts Noah in the bed. “Can you both stay with me?” he asks. “Of course,” Thomas says. “Can you tell a story?”“What story?” Thomas asks. “Anything,” He nods, “But it would be boring, are you okay with that?” he asks. “Yes,” he nodded. “There was a boy like you, he was born in a very poor household in a far away land and he comes here with a hope of finding a better home. He struggles, fought many battle, lost many people and at last he found his beautiful home.Maxine realizes that this is his story and watches his son doze off without understanding anything from his father’s story. She puts him to sleep and came out.Maxine sat at the kitchen island

The moment shattered before it could go any further.Maxine pulled away first.Her breathing had become uneven, and her heart was beating so fast that it almost hurt. For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. The only sound in the room was the rain pounding against the windows and the distant rumble of thunder rolling across the city.Thomas remained where he was.He didn't try to pull her back.Didn't force her closer.But his eyes stayed fixed on her face.Maxine immediately stood up and took several steps away.She wrapped her arms around herself as if trying to steady her thoughts."Max...""No."Her voice came out softer than she intended.Thomas fell silent.Maxine turned away from him and stared at the dark city beyond the glass.She could still feel the warmth of him.Still feel the emotions she had spent years burying.And that frightened her more than anything."I can't do this."Thomas slowly rose from his seat.His expression remained calm."Why?"Maxine laughed bitterly.

Before the recent events, Maxine had convinced herself that Thomas was merely a chapter from her past, a complicated mistake she had somehow survived. Now, however, things were becoming increasingly difficult.Days passed one after another, yet her thoughts constantly drifted back to him. It frustrated her. Every time she sat quietly, Thomas somehow found his way into her mind. The night at his house. The way he spoke about Noah. The loneliness hidden behind his eyes. The confession that he had been watching over them from afar all these years. She didn't know what to do with any of it.The logical part of her mind reminded her that he was dangerous. She had read enough articles and heard enough warnings to understand that. Thomas wasn't an ordinary man. His life was filled with violence, secrets, and enemies she couldn't even imagine.Yet her heart refused to cooperate. That was the problem. Her heart kept searching for excuses. It kept wondering whether there was another version of

For the next several days, Maxine forced herself to believe she had done the right thing. Whenever guilt tried to creep into her mind, she pushed it away.She had not been cruel. She had been practical. There was a difference.Thomas had asked her what would bring peace back into her life, and she had answered honestly. Maybe the answer had hurt him, but that didn't make it wrong.Some truths were painful. That didn't mean they shouldn't be said.As she drove Noah to school every morning, worked during the day, and returned home every evening, she kept repeating the same thing to herself.Thomas had to leave.Not because she hated him. Not because she wanted to hurt him. But because his presence complicated everything.For years, she had managed.It hadn't been easy raising Noah alone, studying, working, and building a future at the same time, but she had managed.Then Thomas had returned.And suddenly every decision felt impossible.Every emotion felt tangled.Every certainty she onc