Chapter 94 Chapter 94
Maxwell
I had seen my mother angry before, but this was something else. Her face hardened, her eyes blazing as she turned fully toward me. “Out of all the women in this world,” she demanded, “you chose her? Have you gone mad?”
Her voice rose with every word.“Have you completely lost your mind, Maxwell?”
I clenched my jaw but didn’t answer, I didn’t have the strength for explanation or drama, getting the eighty million dollars to the kidnappers is my priority.
She turned sharply toward Amelia. “And you,” she snapped. “Are you that shameless? Sleeping with two brothers from the same mother?”
Amelia’s eyes went wide, she couldn’t say a word, tears streamed down her eyes, I turned to my mom “Mom.” My voice cut through hers immediately, warning her.
But she ignored me. “What kind of woman does that?” she continued, disgust clear in her tone.
“That’s enough,” I said, stepping forward. My patience was already hanging by a thread from the ransom call. I wasn’t going to let this spiral too. “Do not speak to her like that.”
My mother looked at me as if I had betrayed her. “Excuse me?”
“Amelia and Declan broke up five years ago,” I said firmly. “Five years, they were no longer together when we met because Declan cheated.” I didn’t know if he cheated or whatever caused their breakup because I never cared to ask but I know Declan is a big asshole, the worst that can happen to any woman.
She scoffed. “She only attended that dinner because Declan forced her,” I continued. “He pressured her into coming.”
My mother folded her arms. “And you expect me to believe that?”
“It’s the truth,” I said, my voice steady but tight.
She let out a humorless laugh. “Declan’s fiancée,” she repeated. “Of all women, that is who you married?” Her eyes searched my face like she was looking for some sign of weakness. “Why?” she demanded. “Why her?”
I didn’t answer immediately. Because the truth was complicated. Because love and anger and history were tangled together in ways I couldn’t explain even if I tried.
“And another thing,” she added, her voice turning colder. “You got married without informing your family? Without telling your father? Without telling me?”
Her disappointment was clear now. “When were you planning to tell us?” she pressed. “Or were we supposed to find out from gossip again?”
I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. “This wasn’t how I wanted it to happen,” I said.
“But it did,” she shot back. “You married your brother’s former fiancée in secret. Do you have any idea what this looks like?” Yes, I knew exactly what it looked like but I don’t give a fuck.
I dragged a hand over my face. “Mom,” I said, my voice tired now, “I really wish I had the energy to stand here and answer all your questions. I really do.” She stared at me, still furious. “But right now,” I continued, “I need to focus on getting the ransom ready for the people who kidnapped my daughters.”
Immediately I said those words, her anger faltered, her anger turned into confusion. “Kidnapped?” she repeated slowly.
Her expression shifted from outrage to shock. “When did you get married that you already have daughters?” she demanded. “Daughters, Maxwell?”
I exhaled slowly. “It’s complicated.” This is exactly what I didn’t want to deal with, a hundred questions at a time.
Her eyes widened. “Maxwell Anthony Sinclair!” she snapped, using my full name the way she used to when I was a child in serious trouble. “Do not stand there and tell me it is complicated. Explain right now.”
The room went silent again. I looked away for a second before answering. “I just found out yesterday.” I said.
She blinked. “Found out what?”
“That I have five daughters,” I said flatly. Her face went pale. “With Amelia. She hid them from me,” I continued. The bitterness crept back into my voice despite trying to stay composed. “For five years. If they hadn’t been kidnapped… I wouldn’t have known they existed.”
My mother slowly turned toward Amelia. “Is that true?” she asked. Amelia couldn’t speak, She simply nodded her head, shame written all over her face.
My mother closed her eyes briefly, processing everything. When she opened them again, the anger had shifted into concern.
“We will get back to her hiding the girls later. The most important thing right now is getting those girls back,” she said firmly. For the first time since she arrived, her voice softened. “How much did the kidnappers ask for?”
“Eighty million dollars,” I answered.
Her brows lifted slightly, but she didn’t hesitate. “Then why haven’t you paid it?” she asked immediately.
“I am arranging it,” I said. “They want it in cash. I have already called my accountant. It takes time to move that amount without drawing attention.”
She nodded slowly, her mind already working. “Whatever it takes,” she said. “We will bring them home.”
“If I pay this ransom,” I said slowly, “and I find out Declan is behind this, I will personally make sure he ends up in jail.” My jaw tightened.
Her eyes widened. “Maxwell,” she said sharply, “what are you implying?”
“I’m not implying anything,” I replied. “I am saying if he has a hand in this, I will not spare him.”
She straightened, defensive immediately. “How is Declan connected to this?” she demanded. “Why would you even think that?”
I let out a short, bitter laugh. “Because he’s been blackmailing Amelia,” I said bluntly.
Her head snapped toward Amelia, then back to me. “He found out about the girls months ago and he has been threatening her. She has been paying him to keep quiet and when she stopped paying him, the girls suddenly go missing.”
My mother’s face hardened. “That does not mean he kidnapped them,” she said firmly.
“It gives him motive,” I shot back.
“No,” she countered. “He is your brother, he can be desperate at times but he will never hurt his family.”
She turned slightly toward Amelia, her expression cold. “It sounds to me like she is trying very hard to come between you and your brother.”
“That’s not true,” I said immediately, though my voice lacked certainty.
“She hid five children from you,” my mother continued. “Five. And now suddenly your brother is the villain?”
I clenched my fists. “Declan has been at the hospital with your father since last week,” she added. “He barely leaves his side.”
In my mind, it didn’t add up. Declan and Dad could barely stay in the same room without arguing. Their relationship had always been strained. Declan wasn’t the type to sit at a hospital bedside for days. So now he suddenly “barely leaves” Dad’s side?
That didn’t sound like concern, that sounded strategic. He was positioning himself. Staying close, making sure everyone saw him as the devoted son.
“You heard me,” she said, frustration creeping back in. “Declan has been the one handling things. He sleeps there some nights. He’s been present.” She looked toward the door behind her. “Speaking of which,” she murmured, frowning slightly. “He should have been right behind me.”
Almost on cue, the front door opened and Declan walked in. He stopped when he saw all of us standing there.
His eyes moved from me to Amelia then to our mother. “Well,” he said slowly, “this looks intense.”