Chapter 81 Chapter 81
Amelia
By the time I got to the office, I buried myself in work. Emails, documents, calls, anything to keep my mind occupied. I refused to replay the scene from the house over and over again, even though it kept creeping into my thoughts no matter how hard I tried to push it away.
The way Maxwell and Rhea stood close, speaking in hushed tones. I kept telling myself it didn’t matter. I kept repeating it over and over like a lie I hoped would eventually turn into the truth. But my chest burned, my skin felt hot, and something ugly twisted deep in my stomach. I hated that I cared, I hated even more that I was letting him have this kind of power over me.
My phone suddenly vibrated on my desk, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and sighed when I saw the name, it was Declan again.
That was the tenth time he was calling, and it wasn’t even ten in the morning yet. I didn’t answer, I simply turned the phone face down on the desk.
I didn’t need to answer to know why he was calling. Every day he sounded more desperate, more aggressive, and it scared me more than I wanted to admit. I rubbed my temple slowly, trying to calm myself down. I had already made a decision, I was going to talk to Maxwell about it. Maybe ask him to lend me the money. If I get the company back, I could start paying him little by little.
But the thought of asking him made my stomach tighten. It was a ridiculous amount of money. Who asks someone for something like that? What if he said no? What if he asked what I was going to use it for?
I let out a slow breath and forced myself to focus back on my laptop. A few minutes later, a soft knock sounded on my office door.
“Come in,” I said, still staring at the screen, not bothering to look up.
The door opened and Alvin stepped in. He gave me a polite nod. “Good morning, ma’am. The boss would like to see you in his office.”
I paused for a brief moment, my fingers hovering over the keyboard, then nodded. “Alright. I will be there shortly.”
Once he left, I reached for my notepad and stood up. I straightened my jacket slowly, taking a steady breath before stepping out of my office. My mind was already bracing itself for whatever conversation was coming.
I stopped in front of his door, knocked once, then opened it without waiting.
“You sent for me?” I asked as I stepped inside.
Maxwell looked up from behind his desk. His eyes lingered on me for a second longer than necessary before he spoke.
“Yes. Come in.” He gestured to the chair in front of him. “Sit down. We need to talk.”
I did as he said, sitting down and crossing my legs neatly. “What task do you have for me?” I asked, keeping my voice professional and guarded.
“This isn’t about work,” he said quietly.
I already knew that. Deep down, I knew it had nothing to do with work. But I refused to let him see how badly I wanted answers, how curious I was about whatever was going on between him and Rhea.
He leaned back slightly in his chair, studying me as if he was choosing his words carefully. “It’s about this morning and about everything that’s been happening.”
I met his gaze, keeping my expression calm, distant.
“I am listening,” I said simply.
He dragged a hand down his face, exhaling slowly, like someone about to confess something heavy. “See, if it’s not something you want to share, I’d understand,” I said, even though I meant the complete opposite. .
“No, no,” he said quickly. “You should know.”
He paused, then continued, his voice lower. “You know my father has been sick. It’s serious.”
I nodded slowly. I already knew that much. “He called for a family meeting,” Maxwell went on. “And he gave Declan and me a condition.” He hesitated briefly, then said, “He wants a child. Before the end of next year.”
My breath caught slightly, but I stayed quiet. “He said it doesn’t matter how,” Maxwell continued. “Either through marriage or outside of it. As long as there’s a child.”
“If we don’t,” Maxwell continued, his voice tight, “we risk losing everything to charity. And whoever has a child first becomes the head of the company.”
He stood up abruptly, pushing his chair back in frustration. I watched him pace behind his desk, his hands clenched into fists.
“Mel,” he said, stopping to face me, “I worked my whole life to build this company. While Declan was clubbing and running around with girls, I was here working, sacrificing, putting my sweat and blood into this place.” His voice cracked slightly. “I can’t sit back and watch everything I have worked for be handed over to Declan just because he has a child.”
Something didn’t sit right with me. “Wait,” I said slowly. “Did Declan actually tell you he has a child?”
Maxwell frowned. “He’s been bluffing about it for a while. The day we went to the mall together. You had already left to meet your friend.” He paused. “I saw him with a little girl. I didn’t see her face clearly, but she looked around five years old.”
My heart skipped uncomfortably. I was absolutely sure that Declan didn’t have a child. I would bet anything on it. So where did that little girl come from? A cold thought crept into my mind, and my chest tightened.
It better not be what I am thinking. My parents wouldn’t dare release Aria to Declan without telling me. “Are you listening?” Maxwell asked.
I blinked and nodded quickly. “Yes.”
He sighed and continued. “Out of desperation, I reached out to Rhea. She’s been out of the country for years, and there was no way my parents could confirm whether she had been pregnant or not.”
I stayed silent, my fingers curling slightly in my lap.
“At first,” he said, “the plan was simple. Find a child that looks like us, adopt him, and have Dad’s doctor manipulate the DNA test results. Instead, Rhea gave me a strand of hair and asked me to run a test.”
He paused, and something in his face changed. “The results came back positive. Mel, I actually have a child with Rhea. A son and she kept him hidden from me for five years.”
I froze, my breath catching in my throat. “You mean…” I swallowed. “She really has a son for you?”
“Yes,” he said firmly. “And before she would even let me see him, she gave me conditions.”
My heart sank further. “Some of them were completely unacceptable,” he added. “But I agreed to one condition. I promised to give her whatever amount of money she asked for, just to see my son once.”
I stared at him, my thoughts spinning wildly. “Does this condition include you divorcing me?” I asked quietly.
He looked at me in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected the question. But I already knew the answer. That would have been one of the unacceptable conditions. “I already told her it’s not going to be possible,” he said.
Then he walked toward me. Before I could react, he sat on the edge of the desk in front of me and took my hands in his. His grip was warm. “I told you,” he said softly, “I want whatever this is between us to work. I want to meet my son, yes but not at the expense of divorcing you.”
My chest felt tight as he spoke. “I already have my men digging into everything about Rhea,” he continued, his voice turning dark. “And if I ever find out where she’s been keeping my son, I will take him away from her.” His jaw tightened. “And I will throw her into an asylum.”
I swallowed hard, fear crawling up my spine as his words settled in.
Author's note: I had to talk😂😂, Maxwell you will not see your daughter if you keep repeating this sentence😂😂