Chapter 12 Playing Her Cards Right Lyra hadn't even snapped out of it when , out of the blue , Maxen sent her a text . It read : [ I can get you a lawyer , but only if you play your cards right . ] She stared at the message , thrown off balance . She had no idea what he expected from her . But it felt like he wanted her to quickly step down for Veronica and her son . Staring at the message , Lyra sat in silence for a long time before finally replying with a single word : [Okay . ] Elsewhere , after receiving Lyra's reply , Maxen turned to instruct Natalie to look into why Micah had been detained . Natalie agreed and had just stepped out when Maxen's mother , Margaret Hawthorne , stormed in with her LV handbag in tow . " Max , do you have a child out of wedlock ? " she demanded . He loosened his tie , looking unbothered . " What are you talking about ? " " You're still trying to hide it from me ? " Margaret slapped a photo onto his desk . It was the image taken when he and Veronica had picked Felix up from preschool . Maxen's eyes darkened slightly as he looked at it . Chapter 12 Playing Her Cards Right .00 +2 Bonus " This is already all over X. Everyone thinks you have an illegitimate child . Even Mrs. Greene's grandson is saying that the boy's father is you , " Margaret snapped , her face grim . " This … this is infidelity . You were married . " She might not have liked Lyra , but Lyra still carried the Hawthorne name . Now that this supposed child had come to light , it wasn't just a personal matter . It had become a stain on the Hawthorne family's reputation . Maxen uncapped the pen and signed the documents absentmindedly while muttering , " He's not my son . " " Really ? " Margaret sounded skeptical . Maxen lifted his gaze just slightly . " Really . " Margaret stopped talking , because she really did know what kind of person her son was . She knew full well that Maxen had been forced to marry Lyra . If he'd actually had a kid with another woman , he would have claimed the child ages ago , and she wouldn't still be waiting for a grandchild after all these years . A thought crossed Margaret's mind , and she spoke earnestly , " Since you don't even like Lyra , why don't the two of you just gel a divorce ? I can introduce you to some respectable young women from good families . I'm sure one of them will catch your Chapter 12 Playing Her Cards Right +2 Bonus eye . " She had seen for herself how reluctant Maxen had been when he married Lyra , but with Edith calling the shots , Margaret hadn't had the power to go against her . All she could do was turn a blind eye . Margaret figured her son would jump at the chance , considering his usual attitude . She , as an outsider , could tell plain as day that he wasn't attached to Lyra . But Maxen paused mid - signature , a trace of annoyance flickering in his gaze . " My business with her isn't something you need to worry about . " Margaret froze . That wasn't the response she had expected . She tapped the table , frowning . " You think I want to ? Maxen , once this gets out , Lyra will find out too . Do you really think she won't care ? " Maxen went quiet . After a long silence , he answered in a flat voice , " She won't . " Margaret's patience finally snapped when he refused to budge . " Fine . I'm done with you . Handle it yourself . " After she stormed off , Maxen picked up his phone and scrolled through X , his eyes turning cold . Then , he made a call . " Tell PR to pull the trending topic . " 3/4 21:05 Chapter 12 Playing Her Cards Right +2 Bonus ***** Lyra had back - to - back surgeries at the hospital and barely had time to glance at her phone . By the time she left the operating room , it was already late afternoon . She changed out of her scrubs and rubbed the stiffness from her neck as she walked back to her office . Out of habit , she looked up , and there he was . Maxen stood at her office door , tall and sharp in his usual suit . The moment she recognized his chiseled features , her steps slowed . Lyra hadn't expected to see him here , though thinking about it , he was probably here for Veronica anyway . Bracing herself , Lyra headed over . She thought he would ignore her like always and walk away the second she got close . But this time , Maxen didn't move . He stood squarely in front of the office door , blocking the way . 4/4 Write your comment 1 Gifts