Lahat ng Kabanata ng After I Died, He Truly Panicked: Kabanata 161 - Kabanata 170

Regina’s POVThe days after my argument with Maxwell turned into a haze.Phoenix Design Studio had been called by the Reinhardt Group to look at one of their restoration projects.The problem was, so had Rogue Concepts and a couple more companies.I was a nervous wreck because I didn’t want Alexander to lose out on this opportunity to build a good rapport for future collaboration.I was overworking myself, but I knew I could do it.The thorn on my side was Maxwell’s words.They still echoed in my head, the way he had tried to paint me as the problem. As if his betrayals and his history of walking away hadn’t given me every damn reason to react the way I did.At this point, I knew we could never see eye to eye again. We were like fire and kerosene, one spark and everything went up in flames.But then Mia, sweet, persistent Mia, tugged at my sleeve one night before bed. “Mommy, I want to see Ivan. Can we take him out? Please? I want him to come with us… just us.”Her big eyes pleaded, a

Regina’s POV The moment his lips touched mine, I felt the glass in my hand tilt. It wasn’t intentional. I swear it wasn’t. But the drink sloshed over the rim, pouring down Frederick’s chest in an instant.“Damn it,” he muttered, jerking back as the amber liquid spread across his shirt. He looked at me with surprise and mild annoyance, then sighed. “I’ll clean this up.”Before I could respond, he was already up and moving toward the washroom, peeling the wet shirt off his body as he disappeared around the corner.My heart pounded. This was it. My chance.The phone was sitting there on the coffee table, screen dark and silent, but I knew its secrets were only a swipe away. I hesitated because I knew once I looked, I couldn’t unsee whatever I was about to find, but curiosity and suspicion burned hotter than any guilt.I reached for it, thumb trembling slightly as I pressed the screen awake. His passcode appeared. Four digits. I remembered them from the countless times I’d seen him type

Regina’s POVI didn’t know how it all happened.Before I knew it, Maxwell’s lips were on mine.The shock of it lit a fire through me, a blaze of heat I hadn’t felt in years. My body knew him, too well, far too well, and in an instant I was pulled back, carried against my will into a memory buried so deep I thought I’d never unearth it again.The memory of the first kiss we shared***It was my first year at university, late autumn, the air sharp enough to cut. I was in the library, huddled over textbooks and notes for our Design Economics class, which was a brutal hybrid between architecture and business that had all of us groaning under its weight.I had pushed myself too long, too late, trying to soak in every theory, every formula, until the librarian cleared her throat and gently reminded me they were closing.When I stepped outside, the cobblestone path glistened under the first drops of rain. By the time I reached the main quad, the drizzle had turned to a downpour.Sheets of wa

Regina’s POVI left the Chamberlain estate early, not wanting to spend any more time around Maxwell than was strictly necessary.Last night was a great reminder that there should always be some kind of distance, some kind of wall, between Maxwell and me.Because what happened last night could never happen again. Should never happen again.I pulled into the Veyron estate while the sun was at its peak in the sky.Mia chattered away in the backseat, her little voice bubbling with excitement as I parked.“Mommy, I had so much fun! Ivan showed me his toy collection, and we played dragons and castles in the garden. I just wish I could stay there longer.”Her words tugged at me. Ivan was her anchor, her closest friend, her twin. My heart softened as I helped her out of the car. “You’ll see him again soon,” I reassured her, brushing a stray curl away from her face.Mia’s eyes grew thoughtful, her lips pressing into a line as if she were carrying some enormous decision on her tiny shoulders. “

Maxwell’s POVThe entire way to the investigator’s office, my thoughts were muddled.Charles Benito was someone I had known since back in the day. He used to be hired by my father when he was in his prime.When he got into the accident that put him in a coma, I had hired Charles for the first time then, to find out who was behind it.It was most likely the only case that still puzzled Charles.The car was abandoned. Its number plate fake. The trail got cold from there.Sometimes, during the harshest night when sleep eluded me, I sat on my balcony and wondered about the who, the why, and the how.I still haven’t let the pursuit go, even though most of the time I feel hopeless.Charles’ office was all sleek glass doors, polished wooden floors, and expensive art framed on the walls. The kind of place where secrets were revealed with a price tag attached..He stood when I entered, a tall man in a dark suit with silver at his temples. His face had the kind of calm confidence that only came