bChapter /bb215 /b

    Ste didn’t give it much thought, just figured she was getting better fast. After all, she was feeling a lot healthier than she used to.

    When Ste arrived at the office, N hurried over and whispered, “Max is here.”

    Ste looked surprised.

    N quickly exined, “He’s waiting in your office. No one knew what was happening, so someone just let him in before I got here. Honestly, I was about to kick him out, but then you showed up.”

    “It’s fine. I’ll take care of it. You go ahead and get back to work,” Ste said.

    N nodded and left.

    Ste opened the door to her office and saw Max sitting on the couch, waiting for her. She walked in.

    Max stood up right away and called out, “Ste.” He took a couple of steps toward her–his movements were a bit unsteady, but he managed.

    Ste kept her expression neutral as she asked, “Why are you here?”

    “I’ve been working hard on my rehabtely. I just wanted to get better faster so I could see you,” Max said.

    Ste was honestly surprised. She went over to her desk, sat down, and shot him a look.

    She then said, “What do you want with me? Rx, I’m alive and kicking. Just look at me–I’ve put on more than ten pounds, almost twenty. My health’s way better now, and even my period came back a few days ago.”

    Max looked thrilled. He eximed, “For real? Ste, you’re not messing with me, right?”

    Seeing how happy he was, Ste honestly didn’t see what was so great about it. She said, “Don’t overthink it. I’m just telling you so you know–my life is my own. It’s got nothing to do with you. So, what brings you here today?”

    Max looked a bit uneasy as he replied, “I’m here to help you out. I know you’ve been leading thepany’s transformationtely, and you’ve opened several supermarkets–they’re doing great.

    “I do have some experience, you know. Would you let me help? Don’t worry, I’m not asking for much–just somewhere to stay and a job so I can get by.”

    Ste sneered, “Max, you’ve got some nerve showing up here. Weren’t you head over heels for Anna? Why aren’t you running to her now? Or did you already try, and she just couldn’t care less about you?”

    Max stammered, “No, it’s not like that. Ste, I haven’t gone to see Anna, and I never will, I’m really sorry for everything I did to you before. It was all my fault–I should’ve realized it way earlier.

    “I just hope it’s not toote to make it up to you. Trust me, I won’t ever side with Anna and Dad to hurt you again.

    “I know all about what happened before. I haven’t seen them these past few days, but when I do, you can bet I’ll call them out and set them straight.

    Ste said, “That’s not necessary, Max. Since the day I severed all ties with you, there’s no reason for bus /bto have any contact.

    “The family business I’m running now was inherited from Grandmab, /band it has absolutely nothing to do bwith /byou. You’ve already bwasted /bbfive /bbminutes of /bmy time. Nowb, /bplease see yourself out. If you don’t, I’ll have security drag you bout/bb./bb” /b

    Max looked desperate. He said, “Ste, don’t shut me bout /blike this. I want bto /bbatone /bbfor /bwhat I’ve done. I know you bcan’t /bbforgive /bbwho /bbI /bwas, band /bbyou /bprobably can’t trust who I am now, but just give me one chance.

    b“/bSeriously, I’ll take any job in thepany, no matter bhow /bbsmall/b. I mean bit/bb–/bbI /bcan do bit/b.b” /b

    Ste let out a coldugh and said, “You’re Max, the heir of the Hayes family. You really think you can scrub toiletsb?/bb” /b

    bMax /blooked stunned for a second, then quickly said, “I can.”

    Ste said, “Alright, since you said it yourself, I’ll give you this chance. Thepany has dorms–you’ll stay there with everyone else.

    “But let me make this clear: you don’t get to pull Hayes family airs here. If I catch you pulling that, you’re out. Got it?”

    “Absolutely,” Max replied, barely able to contain his excitement.

    Ste didn’t want to see Max at all. She knew he wouldn’t stick around for long–he’d be gone soon enough.

    N walked in, and Ste gave her a quick update.

    N let out a helpless sigh and said, “Ms. Hayes, I think you’re still too soft–hearted.”

    Ste said, “I guess I am. We do share the same blood, after all. I never wanted them dead–I’m not that heartless. But honestly, we’re really not family anymore.”

    N nodded, understanding exactly how Ste felt…

    Meanwhile, Anna and Andrew had recovered and left the house. Anna had told Andrew that Max was nearly done with rehab and ready to get outb, /bso bthey /b

    decided it was time to check on him.

    Every time Andrew thought about what he’d been through, he got furious. He said, “I don’t care what Max used to think. After everything Ste did bto /bbus/b,

    we need to make him see she’s not going to treat him any better.

    “We have to team up and go after her and take thepany back.”

    Anna agreed. She thought, ‘Two against one–no way Max could say no to us.’

    They’d already forgotten all about how they were the ones who hurt Ste first.

    When they got to the hospital room, they saw Max packing up his things, clearly getting ready to leave. The two of them rushed over.

    “Max, what are you up to?” Andrew asked.

    Max nced at them and thought, ‘So they finally bothered to show up. Too bad I don’t need them anymore.‘ He said coldly, “I’ve already found somewhere to live, and I’m about to move in.”

    Anna hurriedly blocked his way and said, “Max, where do you think you’re going? You’re still not fully healed, and the doctor said you need more rehab

    sessions.”

    Max replied, “I don’t need that. I just need to get out and move around a bit–I’ll be back to normal in no time.

    “Anna, when you get home, tell Monroe I’ll pay him back for every cent he spent on me as soon as I start earning.”

    Anna had no idea what Max was doing right now. “Max, seriously, what are you up to?” she pressed.

    Max didn’t reply.

    Andrew snapped, “Max, we are talking to you. Didn’t you hear usb?/b”

    Max replied coolly, “Maybe I didn’t hear you. But I’m pretty sure you didn’t hear me either. I was very clear.”

    Andrew snapped, “What did you just say? Max, the Quinn family is nothing but an empty shell now. bEvery /bbday/bb, /bbdebt /bbcollectors /bbare /bbhounding /bus, band /bLionel’s already been shipped off to Middle South Yaria.

    “None of your old buddies even showed up once while byou /bwere bin /bbthe /bhospital. Who do you bthink /bbyou /bbcan /bbstill /bbcount /bbon/bb? /bbI’m /bbjust /bbafraid /bbyou’re /bwalking.

    b2/3 /b

    b14:12 /bbSat/bb, /bb16 /bbAug /b

    right into Ste’s trap.”

    bMax /bpaused, fixing Andrew with a cold stare. He asked, “So you finally admitted it, huh?”

    Andrew was momentarily stunned.

    Max demanded, “No matter what Ste does, you guys always think she’s in the wrong. But what did she ever do wrong? We’re the ones bwho /bbscrewed /bbup /b

    here.

    “Everything that’s happened to Ste is all because of us. Don’t you feel even a shred of guilt?”

    Andrew shot back, “Guilty? And why the hell should I feel guilty?”

    iAD /i

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