bChapter /bb180 /b

    Maxine rubbed hei temples, her voice turning icy. “The old Maxine died long ago. I’m only here to handle some business, then btil /bbe going and Col

    Hearing this, Brian’s eyes instantly reddened. “You’re lying!” he cried.

    Maxine flipped open her passport, ced it in front of him, and pointed. “See? My name is Reba now.”

    As Brian reached out to grab the passport, Maxine swiftly pulled it back. “You wouldn’t understand this anyway, so don’t bother holding it,” she said firmly.

    After all, she was his mother. She could read Brian like an open book. If he ruined her passport, she’d be stuck in the country for quite some time.

    Maxine said coolly, “I’ve got things to take care of. You can stay here for now. Once Cleo wakes up, I’ll have her take you home,”

    With that, as she was about to pick up her things and leave, Brian suddenly rushed over and clung to her leg.

    Actually, Brian wasn’t short anymore. He was nearly up to Maxine’s shoulder, but his face was still as baby–faced as ever. The sight of him crouching down and clinging to her leg like a little child created a jarring, almost painfully out–of–ce contrast.

    Cleo staggered out of the bedroom, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “I was catching up on sleep, what are you guys doing…

    Cleo’s words died in her throat mid–sentence. Gaping in utter disbelief, her hand trembling, she pointed at the two of them. “What the hell are you two doing?”

    “Give me a hand here…” Maxine said through gritted teeth.

    After much struggle, Cleo finally managed to pull Brian aside. Watching the boy still resisting, she panted out a plea, “Come on, you’re not ba /blittle kid anymore. Just let her go. None of you cared about her back then. What’s the point of looking for her now?b” /b

    Brian grabbed at Maxine’s sleeve and retorted, “That’s not true! When Mom was in court, I only took that thing because Kathleen told me it was something she’d prepared to divorce Dad!”

    Maxine paused while putting on her coat and turned back to look at Brian.

    His face, so strikingly like Sebastian’s, was full of childish distress, making her momentarily dazed. “I don’t want Mom and Dad to get divorced,” Brian pleaded.

    Maxine sighed and turned to look at him. “Brian, you shouldn’t get involved in whether your dad and I get divorced. Our rtionship has already broken down, even if you hadn’t hidden those documents, we still would have ended up divorced.”

    Brian’s face lit up with sudden excitement. “Then you…”

    Maxine bent down to fasten her shoes and said to Brian, “Once Cleo’s ready, she’ll take you home. Focus on your studies, and stop acting up.”

    With that, before Brian behind her could respond, she pushed the door open and left the room.

    Just as Maxine stepped out of the hotel, Urban called. He asked, “How did it go? Did you get out okay? Need me toe help?”

    “It’s fine, just had a minor hup earlier. I’m out now,” Maxine said.

    While talking, Maxine spotted Urban’s car parked by the roadside. He rolled down the window, she waved, and hurried over.

    Urban said, “I’ve had my people look into the penson family’s business these past few days. It’s definitely shady, but it’ll take bmore /btime to get the specifics. If we push too hard now, it might tip them off.”

    Urban said, “I’ve sent you the detailed files.”

    bChapter /bb180 /b

    bMaxine /bskimmed through the files. There wasn’t much, most of the records dated back twenty byears/b, blong /bbefore Micah starred for

    bUrban /bsaid, “The Jenson family had been in the entertainment business since Gabriel’s grandfather. Back in the golden age of cinema, they La quite a few starlets to fanie, But for some unknown reason, the family eventually faded into obscurityb./bb” /b

    bAD /b

    Comment