Chapter 10 I'll Agree to Any Condition 00 +2 Bonus Lyra pressed her lips together and fell silent . If she remembered correctly , Maxen had always known that things were tense between her and the Sheppard family . She recalled one year during Edith's birthday celebration . Both her parents had attended . Her father had drunk too much and started saying things he shouldn't have . The expressions on the Hawthornes ' faces had stayed with her ever since . Back then , Lyra had tried to calm her father down , but he shoved her away . She fell and broke a glass , the sharp fragments cutting her palm open . She hadn't blamed her father for it at the time . He was drunk , maybe it had just been an accident . But she did blame Maxen , who had stood by and done nothing . He hadn't shown her any concern at all back then , but now , suddenly , he was asking about her well - being . Lyra's gaze grew distant . " Do you really have to ask ? " Maxen let out a short laugh . " Pathetic . " Lyra's hand clenched , her face turning pale . 1/5 21:04 Chapter 10 I'll Agree to Any Condition 13 Maxen added , " You're Mrs. Hawthorne and someone laid a hand on you . If that's not pathetic , what is ? " With that , he downed the rest of his drink . +2 Bonus The way he said it , it almost sounded like something a husband would say to his wife . As if he meant , " You're my wife . You shouldn't have to endure this . " But Maxen had no idea that most of Lyra's pain had come from him . Maxen rose with unhurried case and stopped in front of her . " I'm back now . So , what did you want to say to me? " Lyra blinked , realizing then that he had come home early because of her call . She pushed down the strange flutter in her chest and stayed quiet for a few seconds before finally saying , " Micah is in holding at the station . I wanted to ask if you could find him a legal team . " Lyra knew Maxen cared about his reputation . He wouldn't help with something like this lightly . That was why she hadn't asked him to get Micah out , only to assign a lawyer to negotiate a solution . All things considered , her request wasn't asking for much . 2/5 21:04 Chapter 10 I'll Agree to Any Condition Maxen studied her . " You want my help ? " B +2 Bonus Lyra nodded . " Yes . " Worried he might not agree so easily , she quickly added , " Help me this one last time , and I'll agree to any condition you name , including divorce. " At that , Maxen's gaze darkened just slightly . He looked like he was about to say something , but his phone rang before he could speak . Lyra glanced over at the screen without meaning to and saw the name : [ Veronica . ] Maxen didn't bother to hide it . He answered right in front of Lyra . " What is it ? " His voice was miles apart from the way he usually spoke to her . " Max , Felix isn't feeling well ," Veronica said . " He keeps asking for you , and I don't know what to do . Could you … could you come over ? " " Okay , I'll be right there , " Maxen replied before ending the call . Lyra's expression tightened . Watching him about to leave , she blurted out , " Mr. Hawthorne , about my offer- " " We'll talk some other time . " That was all Maxen said before walking out the door . 3/5 21:04 Chapter 10 I'll Agree to Any Condition 43 +2 Bonus The room fell silent , and a dull ache spread through Lyra's chest . She had offered him everything , even divorce , and still , a single call from Veronica was all it took for him to drop everything and go . By the time Maxen arrived , Felix had already taken his medicine and was sound asleep in bed . Now , his small hand was wrapped around Maxen's fingers . Before long , Veronica came in carrying a bowl of soup . " I'm so sorry to trouble you this late , Max . But Felix really does like you a lot . Maybe you should stay the night ? " She had seen how fond Maxen was of the boy . It seemed only natural that he would want to stay for his sake . After confirming that Felix was sound asleep , Maxen slowly pulled his hand back and turned to look at Veronica . " I'll hire a nanny for you . It'll be easier that way . " Veronica's expression shifted slightly . " Max , that's not what I meant … " Maxen rose at an unhurried pace and spoke calmly , " You're here alone with a child . It's not appropriate for me to be coming and going all the time . Felix's fever has gone down now . You should 4/5 21:04 Chapter 10 I'll Agree to Any Condition get some rest , too . " With that , he left without lingering . +2 Bonus Veronica tightened her grip on the soup bowl , shot a glare at Felix lying in bed , and muttered , " Useless little thing . " Then , she slammed the door behind her as she left . The small figure on the bed hadn't been asleep . Felix slowly opened his eyes , his lashes damp and his eyes rimmed red . He curled up under the covers , quietly fighting back tears . He was confused . He had done exactly as his mother asked , taking a cold bath and making himself sick so Maxen would stay and take care of him . Yet , for some reason , his mother still didn't seem happy . B اتليس Write your comment 5/5