Chapter 7 - The Unbroken Line
Maximus looked down at the man who had once been the center of her world.
She remembered the freezing rain. She remembered the four suitcases sitting in the mud. She remembered his cold eyes as Jessica slipped her wedding ring onto her finger.
"Do you remember what I told you that day, Liam?" Maximus asked quietly.
Liam trembled, unable to answer.
"I told you that when you begged God for a second chance, you should remember that you chose the rain," she whispered, leaning down slightly. "You chose vanity over loyalty. You chose cruelty over protection. You did not just fail as a husband, Liam. You failed as a human being."
"Please..." Liam choked out. "Please..."
"My son has two uncles who love him fiercely," Maximus said, her voice ringing with absolute certainty. "He has a mother who would burn the world to keep him safe. He has a lineage of honor, strength, and truth. He does not need a father who threw him out into a storm before he was even born."
She turned toward the guards.
"Remove him from the premises. And make sure he is escorted out of Geneva."
"No! Maxi! Please! Maxi!" Liam screamed as four massive security officers dragged him across the polished floor, his fingers uselessly clawing at the slick marble until the heavy oak doors shut, cutting off his desperate cries forever.
Alexander stepped out onto the balcony, holding a glass of champagne. He stood beside his sister, looking out at the glittering lights of Lake Geneva reflecting on the water.
"Are you alright?" he asked gently.
"I've never been better," Maximus replied, a genuine, beautiful smile gracing her lips. "The past is finally where it belongs."
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"Good," Alexander smiled, handing her a glass of sparkling water. "Because Cassian just bought a villa in the South of France for Leo’s first birthday, and he’s currently arguing with the architects over whether or not a one-year-old needs a private helicopter pad."
Maximus laughed—a rich, warm sound that echoed into the clear mountain air.
