Chapter 0321 Once inside, Alexia looked around nervously, her legs trembling as if they might give out beneath her. She never imagined she'd find herself in such a situation. Seeing Maximus, Leonardo, and Lucius all in the sroom, she immediately understood what was happening. She regretted staying behind to tend to Marcus-her next potential lover, as she had secretly decided but it was too late now.
"What the hell do you want, Maximus? You don't have to treatlike this!" Alexia snapped, her voice indignant. "Oh, really?" Maximus snarled, grabbing her arm and shaking her violently.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Stop it! Leave my mother alone!" Lucius shouted, stepping forward to intervene.
Despite Alexia's many flaws, Lucius couldn't deny that she had moments of kindness, times when she'd been warm and affectionate toward him.
Maximus turned his fiery gaze to Lucius, the young man he had raised believing he was his son. "What the hell do you know?" he spat, his voice seething with anger.
"Maximus, enough!" Leonardo roared. "Stop humiliating yourself! You know damn well your wife was no saint! She was only perfect in your eyes!" Maximus felt a stabbing pain in his stomach, a wave of nausea washing over him. The mere thought of his father and Alexia having been together made him want to vomit.
"Alexia!" Maximus barked, his voice trembling with barely restrained fury. "Explain towhy my father said what he said. Now!" "Maximus..." Alexia began, her tone defiant as she glared at Leonardo. "How would I know what this old man is rambling about? You draggedhere, and now you're accusing me?" "Mother, stop denying it. It's pointless," Lucius said firmly, his voice steady. "I've known for years-Maximus isn't my father." "Lucius, for God's sake, stop saying that!" Alexia cried, trying to silence him.
"Don't bother, Mother. The secret's out. I've known Leonardo is my father since I was fourteen!" Maximus froze, stunned into silence. He recalled the day Lucius left hwithout a word, believing it was just teenage rebellion. Now, the pieces were falling into place.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"How... how did you know, Lucius?" Maximus asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Lucius smirked, his tone mocking. "I don't owe you an explanation, Maximus. Just know this-we're brothers, not father and son." Maximus's mind raced, a torrent of memories flooding back: the day he left everything behind to be with Alexia, finding out he was going to be a father, Lucius's birth, his first words, his first steps, picking him up from school. The warmth of those moments was now replaced by a suffocating heat of betrayal and fury. He thought of all he had endured with Alexia for the sake of Lucius. His body trembled, and he couldn't hold it in any longer. "You wretched bitch!" Maximus roared, grabbing Alexia by the neck and slamming her against the wall. Alexia hadn't expected this violent outburst. Maximus had never laid a hand on her, but now he seemed ready to choke the life out of her. His bloodshot eyes burned with unrelenting rage as he lifted her several inches off the ground. For a fleeting moment, he contemplated snapping her neck, but delicate hands on his arm stopped him. "Dad, please don't do this," Laura begged, her voice trembling. "I know you're hurting, but she's not worth it." +25 BONUS Chapter 0321 Leonardo and Lucius remained unmoved, watching the scene with cold detachment. Neither lifted a finger to help Alexia, who struggled to breathe, her face red and her neckmarked with Maximus's handprints.
"Mom," Laura continued, her voice filled with anguish, "you're the worst person I've ever known. You've never cared about us about anyone but yourself. I don't know what made you this way, but my father doesn't deserve to ruin his life in prison because of you.'
She turned to Lucius, tears in her eyes. "And you, brotherho, uncle... what's wrong with you and Grandpa? How can you stand there enjoying someone else's pain? It breaks my heart. I love you, Lucius, but I can't agree with the way you think or act. I know our father hasn't been perfect, but only he knows why he's done what he's done."
Laura wrapped her arms around Maximus, who stood frozen in place. Her touch brought him back to m reality, the steady rhythm of her heartbeat grounding him. He was on the verge of breaking down, tears threatening to spill, but instead, he released Alexia and left the office without a word. That place was suffo