Before he could puzzle it out , a sweet voice piped through the phone . " Daddy , where are you ? " Maximus didn't bother to get up . He remained seated , looking at the screen , his expression softening unconsciously . " Daddy's in a small town . I'll be back tomorrow . Miss Vespera will come stay with you tonight . You can sleep with her . " Almost out of lupine instinct , his gaze turned toward Calista - she was chatting with the man beside her , wearing a faint smile . " Okay , Daddy , " Maisie said sweetly . Out of nowhere , Maximus said , " Mommy's here too . Want to say a few words to her ? " Perfectly normal for a father to offer - until he said " Mommy . " Every head at the table turned . There was more than one woman at the table . Who exactly did he mean ? No one asked aloud . They just listened . On the phone , Maisie pouted and said , " No , I'm still mad at her . If she doesn't apologize , I won't forgive her . " In reality , people in the room couldn't hear the voice on Maximus's phone , but Calista was different ! With a shifter's keen hearing , every word from Maisie came through clearly to her ears . She didn't look up , still casually adding Nash on Facebook as if nothing had happened . As far as she was concerned , they were just air . What had she done that needed forgiveness ? Maximus's gaze swept toward her , but she only focused on eating the food in front of her , completely indifferent to his phone call . She used to care about Maisie the most , but now it was like she'd become a different person . Back when she went on a six - month business trip to a neighboring state , she'd video - called their daughter almost every day . And now ? She didn't even ask . " Daddy , Miss Vespera is here ! I'm going to play blocks with her . Make sure you rest after you finish work , okay ? " : The call ended . Jett was still mulling over the conversation , curiosity getting the better of him . The child's mother was here ? Who could it be ? ار There were three women at the table - two were married , and the only one who might fit was Calista , sitting a mile away from Maximus . If Maximus didn't mind people knowing he had a daughter , why would he hide his wife ? Perhaps Jett had misheard . As he poured wine for Maximus , he said with a smile , " So Mr. Gray is married . " Maximus's reply was cool . " Mm . I have a lovely daughter . " 11:27 Rejected by the Alpha , I Became the Pack's Queen 58.1 % Chapter 19 Jett's grin widened . " She's such a sweetheart . Seems close to her nanny at home , too . " " Nanny ? " Maximus frowned . " Sure - Miss Vespera ? " 7 Jett's eyes were open and guileless . He had no idea who " Miss Vespera " really was . Maximus didn't explain , but the impulse to stay had already vanished . He pushed back his chair , his tone flat . " I'm full . The rest of you take your time . " With that , he picked up his suit jacket and walked toward the door without looking back . Passing by Calista , he stopped - not even sure why himself . " Aren't you leaving ? " Even he wasn't sure if he meant her . Once , she would've fallen into step without a thought . Now ? She knew Maximus couldn't care less where she went . So he couldn't be talking to her . A brief silence . Then Maximus's voice rose slightly . " Liam . " Liam shot up . " On it . " The corner of Calista's mouth lifted - see , he wasn't talking to her after all . People shouldn't get too full of themselves . Seeing that Maximus was about to leave , Jett quickly stood up to see him off . Calista didn't move , only quietly toying with the food on her plate , suppressing the restlessness of her inner wolf - she didn't want to have any more entanglement with Maximus . After dinner , everyone went their separate ways . Calista and Nash both had to return to the school , so they walked the same route . The small town lay quiet under a bright moon and a handful of stars , their shadows swaying side by side along the road . Calista had never been much of a talker . She'd been quiet the whole way , until Nash finally couldn't help but speak up . " Ms. Vance , where did you go to school ? " " Hawkins University . " " I have a friend who graduated from there too . " " What a coincidence . " " I heard from the principal that you're heading back to Houston tomorrow ? " " That's right . My time here's up . " 11:27 Rejected by the Alpha , I Became the Pack's Queen 59.1 % Chapter 19 " Then ... mind if I take you to dinner sometime ? " Calista paused , thought for a moment , then said , " If you come to Houston , I'll treat you to dinner . " Nash scratched the back of his neck , laughing heartily . " Since when do the girls pick up the check ? " Before they knew it , they were at the school gates . In the shadows by the roadside , Jett was keeping Maximus company . The two of them had a clear view of Calista and Nash walking in side by side . " Look at that , Alpha Gray , " Jett said , half - grinning . " Don't Dr. Vance and Mr. Watson look like a perfect match ? " ( 0 ) ( 0 )