Chapter 57 Chapter 57
Maxwell
“There is nothing more we can do. I’m really sorry,” the doctor said on the phone.
The call ended, and I just stood there, staring at my desk. My chest felt tight, like the air in the room had suddenly disappeared. I slowly lowered the phone, my hands shaking.
That was it, I pushed everything off the table in one sweep. Papers, files, my laptop, everything crashed to the floor. My breathing came fast and uneven as panic closed in around me. The walls felt like they were moving closer, pressing down on me.
I was going to lose everything. Declan would win. And the worst part, if I made one wrong move, my father would insist on a DNA test, and then everything I had worked for would be gone.
I grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the desk, my fingers tight around the glass, and hurled it across the room. It shattered against the wall, the sound loud and violent. The liquid splashed down the paint and onto the floor.
I dropped to my knees, clutching my head with both hands. “Fuck!” I screamed, my voice echoing through the room.
I was losing control, The door to my study suddenly opened, and Camilla walked in. She froze the moment she saw the mess, her eyes moved to me, red-eyed and shaking on the floor.
“Baby are you okay?” she asked softly. Fear filled her voice when she saw my face.
“Don’t call me that,” I snapped. “Get out.”
She hesitated, then took a cautious step toward me. “Is this about the meeting you had with your parents and your brother the other day?” she asked gently.
I looked up at her, anger burning in my chest. “I will not repeat myself,” I yelled. “Get the fuck out of here right now, or I swear I will throw you out of this house myself.” Her face went pale. Without another word, she turned and ran out of the study, the door closing behind her.
I stayed there on the floor long after she left. Time passed, but I didn’t move. Evening came, and my phone kept ringing, calls from the company, messages piling up but I ignored all of them. I couldn’t deal with any of it.
Right now, I only had one thought in my head, I had to come up with a plan. Because if I didn’t, I was going to lose everything.
I didn’t show up at work for over three days. I ignored the calls, the emails, everything. But I couldn’t hide forever. On the fourth day, I finally decided to go in.
The moment I arrived at the building, I knew my day was already ruined. Declan was standing at the entrance like he owned the place, hands in his pockets, that familiar smug look on his face. As soon as he saw me, his lips curled into a slow smile.
“Hello, little brother,” he said.
My mood was already foul, and seeing him there pushed me even closer to the edge. This bastard was going to make me lose it completely if I wasn’t careful.
“What are you doing here?” I asked coldly.
He chuckled. “This is my company too. Have you forgotten?” he said, smirking. “I can come here anytime I want.”
I clenched my jaw. “I have better things to do than stand here listening to your rubbish.” I moved to walk past him, but he stepped in front of me, blocking my way.
“I came to tell you something,” he said casually. “I don’t know who put that silly idea into our parents’ heads—that one of us has to have a child before the company is handed over but I love it.”
My hands curled into fists at my sides. “Because soon enough,” he continued, leaning closer, his voice low and mocking, “I will be the one heading that company.”
I forced myself to stay calm, even though anger burned hot in my chest.“And you came all the way here to tell me this… because?” I asked tightly.
He shrugged, clearly enjoying every second of this. “Just thought you should know,” he said with a lazy smile. “No hard feelings, right?”
I swallowed the rage rising inside me. I would rather burn the company to the ground than watch Declan take over and drain every last dime into his failed fashion career.
He tilted his head, studying my face. “Because I can see that you are scared,” he said. “You haven’t been here since that meeting at the house. Makes me wonder, is there something you are hiding?”
He took a step closer, invading my space. “I know something you don’t know,” he added softly. “And trust me, it makes me very happy.”
My heart skipped, but I kept my face blank.
The doctor wouldn’t dare tell anyone about my condition. He was the only one who knew. Was Declan onto something, or was this just another one of his stupid mind games?
“Even if you bore quadruplets,” I snapped, “I know for a fact that your stupid ass isn’t taking over shit.”
I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm.
That was it, I swung, my fist connecting with his face. He staggered back and hit me right back, and suddenly we were both throwing punches, anger taking over completely. Shouts filled the entrance as people stopped to watch. Someone tried to pull us apart.
“Can you both stop fighting like fools?” Amelia yelled. “You are creating a scene!”
I ignored her. I landed another punch, and Declan crashed to the floor. I stood over him, breathing hard, my eyes burning as I glared at the people watching. One by one, they quickly scattered.
I pulled out my phone and called security. They came running within seconds.
“Throw this fool out of the building,” I ordered.
“And do not allow him on these premises again.”
“You are going to regret this!” Declan yelled as they dragged him away.
He twisted his head to look at me, a wicked smile still on his face. “You can exercise all the power you want,” he said, “but real power is knowing that something that belongs to you is in my care. And you will never find it unless I snap my fingers.”
I frowned, confusion flashing through me. “And with just one snap,” he added loudly, “I can fuck your wife. Just so you know, you are eating my leftovers.”
“And you,” Declan added, twisting his head toward Amelia as security dragged him away, “you better pick the right side to fight on. Because if you don’t, you will lose everything.”
“Fuck you,” Amelia shot back without hesitation. “Go to hell, Declan.”
Security hauled him out of the building, his voice fading as the doors closed behind him.
I slowly turned to Amelia and stepped closer, my chest still rising and falling from anger.
“What is he talking about?” I asked. “What is he hiding that I don’t know about?” My voice dropped. “And what are you not telling me?”
Her face tightened, but she didn’t answer right away.
I knew about her past with Declan. They were once engaged, before she supposedly walked away on her own. She had told me she came into my life because she wanted revenge for her friend. But standing there now, watching her avoid my eyes, doubt crept in. Had Declan planted her in my life five years ago?
“Answer me,” I snapped, my patience gone.
“What are you hiding from me?” I yelled.
She straightened and lifted her chin, fire flashing in her eyes. “Don’t you dare yell at me,” she said sharply, pointing a finger at my chest. “Don’t ever do that again.”
She took a breath, forcing calm into her voice. “Whatever business I had with your brother is between him and me—and it’s in the past.”
But I saw it. The hesitation, the fear she tried to hide , the way her eyes shifted for just a second too long. I knew she was lying.
Whatever Declan knew, Amelia knew too. “I will find out what Declan is hiding,” I said coldly.
“And if I discover that you had anything to do with it, you are finished.”
I didn’t wait for her response. I turned and walked away, my thoughts spinning. Declan was hiding something and I have to find out.