bChapter /bb260 /b

    Hearing footsteps approaching, Brian looked up and saw Maxine in her wheelchair. He immediately sprang up, rushed overb, /band threw himself in front of her, whining pitifully, “Mom! Dad’s being mean to me!”

    Maxine and Vivian was both stunned.

    Maybe because it was already dark, Brian didn’t notice their expressions. He continued, “Dad wouldn’t let mee see you, so I ran here all bby /bmyself, Mom, I missed you so much.”

    Vivian was the first to snap back to reality, crying out in shock, “Maxinel Who is this?”

    Five minutester, the three of them sat in the vi’s living room, staring at each other. Vivian scrutinized Brian, then gasped and turned to Maxine. “Maxine… are you telling me he’s your son?”

    Brian wrinkled his nose. He had been learning foreignnguages since childhood, so talking to Vivian was effortless for him. He dered to Vivian, “Of course I’m Mom’s son!”

    Vivian rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “What about Jessica?”

    Brian leaned back against the sofa cushion and exined to Vivian, “Jessica is just a kid Mom adopted. But me? I’m the real deal, born right from Mom’s belly!”

    Vivian stared at the two in shock for a long moment, unable to wrap her head around the fact that Maxine, who looked so young, already had such a grown–up kid. ‘No way, is he really her son?‘ she thought. In truth, Brian was barely in his teens, but his height and mature looks made him seem much older than he actually was.

    “Brian Mason,” Maxine said sternly, frowning at his tone.

    Hearing his mom call him by his full name, Brian shrank back and muttered under his breath, “But I’m just telling the truth!”

    Vivian frowned. While the boy before her was Maxine’s biological son, she was close with Jessica and couldn’t stand him talking about her in that btone/b.

    “Jessica is a sweet girl,” Vivian said disapprovingly, “You shouldn’t talk about her like that.”

    Brian pursed his lips and let out a defiant huff, refusing to respond.

    Maxine rubbed her temples helplessly. “I have othermitments right now and don’t have time to take care of you. I’ll call Scott in a bit, he’ll drive you

    home.”

    Brian turned his head away stubbornly. “I don’t want to go back. I had a fight with Dad.”

    Vivian raised an eyebrow. “His dad?”

    Maxine instinctively nced at her. Vivian gave a small wave and smiled, saying, “It’s nothing. You two stay and talk, I’ll head upstairs.”

    Without waiting for Maxine to say anything, she got up and went straight upstairs.

    Maxine knew Vivian well enough to realize she was upset. Turning to Brian, she said firmly, “This isn’t up for discussion. Thatdy you just met is visiting from abroad and only staying here for a while. I don’t have time to look after you right now.”

    Brian protested stubbornly, “It’s fine, Mom! I’ll just stay in the guest room, and Scott will take me to school during the day. I won’t be any trouble to youb./b”

    Maxine reached for her ss on the table, took a small sip, and said firmly, “This isn’t up for discussion.”

    With that, she reached for her phone and called Scott.

    Hearing what she said, Scott apologized, “I’m really sorry, Ms. Hudson. Brian had a fight with his father and insisted on leaving. I was worried bsomething /b

    b07:46 /bbWed/bb, /b2 bJul /b

    might happen to him if he stayed out at night, so I had no choice but to bring him over *

    Maxine wasn’t ming him. “I understand, but I have a friend staying with me right now. Brian needs to go home

    AD