Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 61 - Chapitre 70

Maxwell’s POVThe east wing felt different now that Morgana had moved into it. Her presence filled the empty rooms with the scent of her perfume and the sound of her heels clicking across hardwood floors, but she might as well have been a ghost for how little we interacted.She stayed in her section of the house. I stayed in mine. Ivan moved between us like a small ambassador, carrying messages neither of us wanted to deliver directly.“Morgana made pancakes,” Ivan announced, appearing in my study doorway with syrup on his chin. “She says you should eat something.”“Tell Morgana I’m fine,” I replied, not looking up from the contracts spread across my desk.“She also says my breathing exercises work better after breakfast.”That stopped me. I set down my pen and looked at my son. “How are you feeling today, buddy?”“Better. Morgana taught me a new game where I count things when I get scared.” Ivan climbed onto the chair across from my desk. “Want to see?”“Show me.”Ivan began pointing

Maxwell’s POVThe mediation building was a monument to legal warfare—glass and steel rising twenty stories above downtown, filled with conference rooms where people tore each other apart with words instead of weapons.I arrived early, partly to claim psychological territory and partly because I couldn’t stand waiting at home. Jonathan and his team were already setting up in Conference Room 12A, spreading documents across the polished table like battle plans.“Remember,” Jonathan said as I reviewed the strategy brief, “this is about asset division and custody arrangements. Don’t let Regina turn it into a public hearing about your marriage.”“She’ll try to relitigate the facility incident,” added Sarah, Jonathan’s associate. “We redirect to her current behavior—the Phoenix deception, her five-year abandonment of Ivan, her recent instability.”I nodded, but my attention kept drifting to the parking lot twelve floors below. Every car could be Regina’s car. Every woman crossing the street

Maxwell’s POVFrederick’s entrance shattered the bubble that had formed around Regina and me. She stepped back quickly, wiping tears from her cheeks and trying to reassemble her composure“We were discussing asset division,” I said, though my voice sounded rough even to my own ears.“It sounded like you were making her cry.” Frederick moved to Regina’s side, his body language screaming protection and possession. “Regina, are you alright?”“I’m fine,” she said, but her hands shook as she smoothed her hair.Frederick’s eyes moved between Regina and me, taking in our proximity, the tears on her face, the tension between us. Understanding dawned in his expression, followed quickly by something that looked like jealousy.“Maybe you should take a break,” he said to Regina. “Get some air.”“I don’t need air. I need to finish this.”But Frederick was already guiding her toward the door, his hand on her elbow. “You’re upset. We should—”“Don’t tell me what I should do.” Regina jerked away from

Maxwell’s POVThe house felt wrong the moment I walked through the front door. Usually Ivan would come running to greet me, chattering about his day at school. Today there was only silence.“Where’s Ivan?” I asked Morgana, who emerged from the kitchen wiping her hands on a dish towel.“Upstairs,” she said quietly. “Maxwell, he’s been crying since he got home from school. I can’t get him to tell me what’s wrong.”I took the stairs two at a time. Outside Ivan’s bedroom door, I could hear muffled sobs. The sound made my chest ache.“Ivan?” I knocked gently. “Can I come in?”“Daddy?” His voice was thick with tears. “Daddy, I need to ask you something really important.”I opened the door to find Ivan sitting on his bed, surrounded by scattered drawings. His face was red and blotchy from crying, his dark hair messy from running his hands through it.“What’s all this?” I sat down beside him, looking at the papers covering his comforter.“Pictures for Mia,” Ivan sniffled. “I made one every da

Maxwell’s POVI pushed through the surgical floor doors with Ivan trailing behind me, my anger building with each step. Medical personnel passed by me in scrubs, but I was focused on finding one particular doctor.“Daddy, where are we going?” Ivan asked, struggling to keep up.“To get some answers.”I approached the surgical desk where a harried-looking administrator was typing rapidly on her computer.“I need to speak with Dr. Frederick Harper immediately.”“Are you family?” she asked without looking up.“I’m Maxwell Chamberlain. Major donor to this hospital. This is urgent.”That got her attention. “Dr. Harper just finished surgery. He should be coming through those doors any moment.”As if summoned by her words, the surgical suite doors swung open. Dr. Frederick Harper emerged, pulling off his surgical cap, his face tired but satisfied. He looked like a man who’d just successfully completed a complex procedure.He saw me and stopped dead.For a moment, we just stared at each other