Chapter 102

Chapter 102
  Maximus:

My heart’s still racing from the way Selene stormed out of the office. Her anger clung to the air long after she slammed the door, and I didn’t even get the chance to explain.

Now I’m pacing. Back and forth. My mind’s a mess.

My kids are missing. Kidnapped.

How the hell did this happen?

Who would do this? And why?

Each step I take only seems to push the questions deeper into my skull, and I can’t breathe past the panic clawing at my chest.

Then—

A soft creak breaks the silence.

I freeze. My heart lurches.

“Sel—” I whip around, breath caught in my throat, desperate to see her standing there.

But it’s not her.

It’s Raymond.

He’s leaning in the doorway, brows slightly raised, staring at me like I’ve completely lost it.

“Maximus,” he says after a moment, stepping inside slowly. “Are you okay? I mean… I just saw Selene tear out of here like a hurricane. She didn’t even notice me. Shoved right past and nearly sent me flying.”

I let out a shaky sigh. “She’s angry, Ray. Furious. And I get it. Her kids—” I pause, correcting myself, “—our kids, Anna and Asher... they’ve been kidnapped.”

Raymond’s eyes go wide. “W..what? Kidnapped? How?”

“I don’t know,” I say, dragging a hand through my hair. “I wish I did. But instead of asking, she came in here guns blazing, accusing me of taking them. She really believes I’d steal OUR kids away from her.”

Raymond shakes his head slowly, disbelief written all over his face. “That’s messed up.”

“It fucking is!” I snap, my voice rising before I catch myself. I take another breath, trying to stay grounded, but the rage is simmering just beneath the surface.

He studies me for a second, then asks, more carefully this time, “But… who do you think could’ve done this?”

“I don’t know,” I mutter, frustrated. “I’ve thought through every name I can, and I’m coming up blank.”

Raymond tilts his head again. “Are you sure? I mean... it could be—”

“Jess?” I cut in, already sensing where he’s going. “No. I seriously doubt it.”

“How can be you so sure?”

“Jess doesn’t even know Selene has kids. If she did? Trust me, she would’ve gone nuclear by now. She’d have marched straight in here and confronted me herself. I know Jess, Ray.”

He gives a single nod, eyes still fixed on me. Then, after a beat, he says,

“By the way… what’s going on with your divorce from Jess? I thought you already served her the papers?”

I exhale sharply and rake a hand through my hair before taking a step forward and then sink into the couch. “I did. God knows I want her out of my life for good. But she’s not making it easy, Ray. She keeps stalling..claims she’ll sign them before the month ends.”

“Today’s the…25th.”

“Yeah.” I nod. “She’s supposed to sign-” I stop mid-sentence, jolting upright as if lightning just struck me. My hands fly back to my head, gripping my hair, breath catching in my chest.

“No. Don’t shift the focus, Raymond.” I turn to him, my eyes locking with his. “Forget Jess. That bitch isn’t important right now. What the hell am I supposed to do about Anna and Asher?” My voice cracks. “I can’t lose them. I’ve already lost five years. Five grueling years without my kids..and now what? I’m supposed to never see them again? No. I can’t accept that. I won’t.”

Raymond’s expression soften as he begins to step closer. Then, he places both hands firmly on my shoulders.

“Maximus. Breathe. I get it, alright? But let’s not spiral. Maybe we go to the detectives. Report them missing. That’s a start. It could help.”

I nod slowly.

“I have that in mind.. but I don’t have a single picture of them.” I say.

Raymond’s face falls. “Damn. What about Selene’s Instagram? Maybe there’s a photo or two of her with the kids? Something recent?”

“Raymond, I stalk all of Selene’s socials like clockwork.” I scoff. “She’s ridiculously private. The last post of her—just her—was three years ago.”

“Woah,” he mutters. “So not like Jess, huh? That woman would post ten times a day if the Wi-Fi let her. And for what? It’s not like she’s even that beautiful. Just a loud, ugly bitch.”

He throws his head back and laughs like he said something clever.

My stomach twists. Is he serious right now?

I don’t say anything. Just stare at him.

He finally notices the look on my face and straightens, blinking as the grin fades. “Sorry,” he mumbles.

“You’re impossible,” I say, shaking my head. “Remind me again how we even became friends?”

I walk over to the table and snatch my keys, exhaling through clenched teeth. “Let’s go. I need to grab something from the house first. After that, we’re going straight to the police with whatever little information we’ve got.”

He nods, and a few minutes later, I’m behind the wheel, speeding down the road with my grip tight around the steering wheel. My foot presses harder on the gas than I should, but I can’t help it. I’m racing faster than my heart can keep up.

By the time we pull into the driveway, my pulse is wild, but it’s not just from the drive.

Jess’s car is parked right in front of the house.

I blink at it, unsettled.

This isn’t like her. Jess is usually out at this time, shopping, partying, or doing something ridiculous. But now she’s here… at home? Why?

I glance sideways at Raymond, who’s already staring at me with the same wary expression I feel crawling up my spine.

“Stay here,” I mutter. “Let me grab what I came for. I’ll be quick.”

He gives a silent nod, and I climb out of the car, heading for the front door.

The moment I step inside the living room, I freeze.

My mouth falls open.

Jess’s luggage is sitting there. Packed. Ready.

What the hell?

And then I spot it. Something glinting under the light on the coffee table. A shiny envelope.

Without thinking, I rush over, snatching it up and tearing it open.

Inside—

Divorce papers.

The divorce papers.

The ones I served Jess weeks ago.

I start flipping through the pages, scanning them quickly.

And then I see it.

Her signature.

Jess actually signed.

Wow.

Relief floods through me, loosening something tight in my chest.

Finally.

But then another thought creeps in.

Where is she?

Is she upstairs? In our room?

Is she trying to make off with something before leaving for good?

If she thinks she can steal from me, she’s dead wrong.

I drop the documents back onto the table and march toward the stairs, my steps quick and heavy.

As I reach the top, just as my hand wraps around the doorknob to our room, I freeze.

Jess’s voice.

She’s on the phone..and she’s pissed.

“Don’t fking tell me that!” she snaps. “I signed the divorce papers already. I’m leaving Maximus. I can’t stay here any longer.”

I pause, my hand still hovering, heartbeat thudding hard in my ears.

Silence follows. Probably the other person on the line.

Then Jess’s voice cuts back in, sharper than before.

“Why? Are you seriously asking me why I did that?!?” she growls. “I’m being threatened, Pam!”

Threatened?

What the hell is she talking about?

And Pam?

Who the hell is Pam?

Just as I’m trying to piece it all together, her voice cuts through again—

And this time, the words hit me like a dagger straight to the gut.

“Look, he’s threatening me. Threatening to tell Maximus about Kylie… and how he’s not the father.”

My heart drops.

No..no, that can’t be what I just heard.

Jess keeps talking, her voice thick with panic.

“You know he helped me years ago when I needed it..and now he won’t let me breathe. He’s Kylie’s real father, Pam. The farther I run from Maximus, the better. Because if he finds out...He’ll kill me. I know he will.”

A deafening silence stretches in my ears.

Kylie… isn’t mine?

Everything around me blurs, like I’m watching the world spin from underwater. My chest tightens, rage searing through me with a heat I can’t contain.

She lied. All this time.

Jess made me believe I was Kylie’s father.

She let me hold that child. Love her. Raise her.

All a lie.

My fists clench, my jaw tightens so hard it aches.

And she’s right.

I’m going to kill her.

Without a second thought, I grip the doorknob and shove it open, the door slamming against the wall.

Jess spins around, eyes snapping to me.

And the moment our gazes lock, her face drains of all color.

She gasps, a choked, horrified sound that rips from her throat.

Her phone slips from her hand, and then it hits the floor with a hard, echoing thud.

“M… Maximus…?” She stutters.