Page 165 of Sins of the Father

He steps in front of her. “You’ll be back. Pick up your jewelry, and—”

She slaps him so hard, her hand leaves a mark.

His hand flies to his cheek and his jaw clenches. “You bitch.”

“I loved you. I gave my life to you. And I don’t even know who you are. Stay away from me.” She shoves past him and slams the door on her way out.

“Steven is here tomorrow, or you’re going back to prison,” he yells after her. “Fuck,” he mumbles.

He sits at his desk then starts lifting papers. Where’s my damn...” His face turns white, and he gets up and walks toward the screen. “Godda—” The screen turns black.

Steven’s phone rings. “Mom, get out of the office, go to the coffee shop next door.” He moves toward the door. “No. I saw it all. Just go next door. I’m coming to get you.”

He runs out of the room, with Quinn on his heels. Jamison turns off the TV.

And I wonder if it’s possible for the years of pain between the three of them to somehow start to mend and if they can ever fully heal.

29

Steven

Hopemy mother would leave Maximillion got buried in my soul a long time ago. I never thought it would happen. For decades, I wanted her to free herself from his grasp. But I only thought about the positive points of her not being under his control, and I didn’t ever think about the aspect of her broken heart.

And now, I see how I missed a big piece of the mystery I could never figure out.

When my mother said she loved Maximillion, and that was why she stayed, it always angered me. I didn’t understand it. But I didn’t have Harper. The feeling of not knowing how you can exist without another person wasn’t anything I had felt before.

Now that Harper is in my life, I identify with that pain. But I don’t have over thirty years of history like my mom had with Maximillion.

Nothing will ever justify or convince me their relationship was good. But it doesn’t negate the hurt my mother feels. She’s trying to be strong around Quinn and me, but I see how broken she is.

It’s been two days. Maximillion was arrested, along with Giovanni Rossi. Maximilion’s wife filed for divorce this morning, which is another big headline. And everyone wants to know who the mistress is. All of Chicago is talking about it, and no one in my family can go outside without reporters following us.

The only place Harper and I have been to is Quinn and Jamison’s, where my mom is staying. Every time I look at her, my heart hurts because she hurts. I still don’t understand how she can feel anything for Maximillion, but Harper reminded me that I’m not her. She said it wasn’t my place to comprehend or accept her love for him. My role is only to love my mom and help her if I can.

Harper and I just returned from Quinn and Jamison’s. Ethan sent over a proposal for me to run their new subsidiary, and Shira’s offer is included. I asked her to come to our place. Anywhere public is going to be crazy due to the press.

“Want something to drink?” Harper asks Shira when she comes in.

Shira smiles. “No, thanks. I’ve drank so much coffee, I might be up all night.”

“Oh, I know that feeling.”

“Yeah. Sucks.”

Harper kisses me on the cheek. “I’m going to rearrange the kitchen.”

“That didn’t take long,” I tease.

She winks and happiness stirs in me.

Shira smirks.

“Sit.” I point to the table.

“If I move with you, can you not go back to the super-professional Steven all the time?”

“Ummm...”

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