Since Sebastian was still in the hospital, Maxine decided to send Brian there as well. When Sebastian saw them, he was momentarily stunned. ‘Is bMaxine /b

    here to see me?‘ he wondered..

    His expression froze momentarily when his gazended on Cleo standing behind her, and Brian being carried in by the doctor.

    The doctor ced Brian, with his IV drip attached, on the bed. Father and son were on opposite sides, and the scene ilooked /iunexpectedly harmonious.

    Maxine gently tucked Brian in. “Just rest here,” she said, “I’ll be going now.”

    Brian stubbornly pursed his lips, shook his head at her, and said, “Mom, please stay, okay?”

    Cleo yawned just then. Maxine said, “It’s gettingte, so we should head back now. If anythinges up, I’lle right over.”

    But it should be fine now. Sebastian was in good health. After days of IV treatment, he was almost fully recovered and was now well enough bto /blook after

    Brian.

    She looked at Sebastian and said, “I’ve been really busytely, so I’ve already arranged for a week’s worth of nutritious meals to be delivered every day on time. Just make sure he eats them.”

    With that, without waiting for Sebastian to respond, she and Cleo left the ward.

    The room fell silent again. Brian pouted, propping himself up with his arm and awkwardly wriggling under the covers, then turned his back to Sebastian as hey down.

    “What’s with the sulking?” Sebastian asked his son.

    After a long silence, Brian’s choked–up, muffled voice finally came from under the covers. “Dad, Mom won’t stay with me. Can you help me figure out how to make her stay?”

    Sebastian scoffed, “If I can’t even win her back myself, what makes iyou /ithink I can help you keep her? Figure it out on your own.”

    So Brian wordlessly pulled the covers over himself with his free hand, the one not hooked up to the IV.

    ‘Dad is so annoying,‘ Brian thought to himself.

    Maxine waspletely tied up handling several cases at Urban’sw firm, so she didn’t have time to reply to any of Sebastian’s messages.

    “Just attach this photo to the file, we’ll need it bfor /bthe court hearing,” Maxine instructed the young woman beside her.

    Just then, her phone beeped, it was a message from Devault. [Maxine, ba /bpany from Hathnd wants to expand here, but they’re caught up in a dispute. They’ve specifically asked for you to handle the negotiations. Are you avable to meet?]

    Maxine opened the file he sent over and couldn’t help but roll her eyes. ‘Seriously? The Noxen Group?‘ she thought.

    As soon as she saw they’d specifically asked for her, Sebastian instantly came to mind.

    Maxine then thought, ‘Sebastian wouldn’t go that far just for me. His domestic market has only just stabilized. There’s bno /breason for him to bexpand /boverseas now. And what are the odds they’d specifically approach Devault’s firm with me?‘

    After some thought, she texted Devault her avable time. He quickly replied with ba /bthumbs–up emoji, then sent over the address.

    Maxine nced at the address. It was Noxen’s headquarters.

    At the appointed timeb, /bbMaxine /bentered Noxen’s headquarters. Under bthe /breceptionist’s curious gaze, she took the elevator upstairs bto /bbthe /bbmeeting /broom.

    bJust /bbas /bshe expected, passing employees couldn’t help but steal nces at herb. /bbShe’d /bbeen to Noxen before beverything /bbwent /bbdown/bb, /bband /bbmany /bbstill /b

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    09:16 Tue, 24 Jun

    recognized her. They probably hadn’t expected the consultant from the other side to turn out to be such a familiar face.

    It wasn’t long before Sebastian arrived with someone from the legal department, a sharp, professional–looking woman who visibly froze for a moment when she saw Maxine.

    Maxine recognized her immediately. She’d mentored the woman for a while back in the day.

    The woman quickly regained herposure, smiling as she extended her hand. “Maxine, long time no see!”