Paige’s face turned pale, and at that moment, I caught a flicker of surprise in Max’s eyes.
Yes, I knew sign language too, but he had never cared enough to learn anything about me. I looked away, gave a polite nod to the guests, and turned to leave.
Just as I stepped outside the hotel doors, someone blocked my path.
“Lila, do you have any idea what you just did?!”
Max’s face was dark with anger. “Who told you that you could humiliate Paige in public?!”
“There were reporters at the event today! If this gets out, how is she supposed to face anyone again? Who would dare hire her after this?!”
I looked at his furious expression and replied calmly, “Calling it humiliation only makes sense if it wasn’t true. Didn’t you hold her?”
“Max, stop pretending. I know you’re not allergic to her, I saw you massaging her foot.”
Being exposed so directly, Max went silent for a moment, rubbing his temples in frustration.
“So what? Paige is different from you.”
“No matter what, you’re Mrs. Kennedy. Isn’t that enough? Lila, don’t be too greedy.”
In five years of marriage, I had never even received a single hug from my husband. Was that what he called greed? He wasn’t the same man I once knew.
I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat and said quietly, “You’re right. Wanting too much is wrong. So I’ll fix it. Max, let’s get a divorce.”
Before he could reply, a guest rushed out and accidentally bumped into me, sending me stumbling down the steps.
Pain shot through my leg as my knee split open, and blood quickly seeped through the fabric.
Max instinctively reached out but froze halfway, his hand hovering before he pulled it back.
“Lila, stop making a scene.”
“If you still want a child, we can do another test-tube one. As long as you don’t touch me, everything can stay the same.”
He was about to say more when he suddenly turned his head. Not far away, Paige was covering her mouth, tears falling as she looked in our direction.
“Lila, go back to the hospital. We’ll talk at home. I won’t divorce you.”
Leaving those words behind, Max rushed toward Paige without hesitation. I watched as he pulled her close, his face filled with concern, then took her hand and walked away without even glancing back at me.
I stumbled back into my car, and the tears I had been holding in finally broke free. Max, there was nothing left between us worth discussing.
That afternoon, Kennedy Corporation released an official statement. “If anyone continues to speak badly about Miss Vargas, the company’s legal team will take action for defamation and make sure the offender goes bankrupt.”
When I saw that message, I was standing outside the door of Max’s study. He had always hated being disturbed while working, and that room had long been off limits to me.
“Sign this document.”
He was on the phone, his voice soft and calm. “What do you want to eat after the movie? Okay, I’ll come pick you up.”
Maybe because he was in a good mood, he didn’t show any irritation at my presence. He didn’t even glance my way, just lowered his head and signed his name with quiet indifference.
After ending the call, he put on his jacket and turned to me before leaving.
“Lila, I’m glad you finally came to your senses. I’ll have my assistant send you an unlimited card. Buy whatever you like, no need to ask me.”
“Consider it compensation for falling off the cliff.”
He didn’t realize the paper he had just signed was our divorce agreement.
My eyes drifted to the single bed in his study, where something caught my attention. A small box peeked out from underneath. I bent down, pulled it out, and lifted the lid, then a bitter laugh slipped from my lips.
Inside was a life-sized, realistic doll that looked exactly like Paige. No wonder Max had never let me step inside his study.
