Chapter 15  Maxine’s hand dropped from the air, a bitter smirk curling her lips.  ‘When will I learn?‘ she thought. ‘Sebastian and Brian are done with me. Why am I…

Chapter 14  Brian hit the ground hard, his forehead swelling up like a balloon.  “Maxine!” Sebastian bellowed, his voice dripping with fury.  Maxine spun around, her face going pale. “Brian…”…

Chapter 13  Chapter 13  “Yup.” A thrill of defiance flickered in Maxine’s chest. “Dead serious.”  The line went quiet, then Sebastian hung up.  Maxine tossed her phone on the couch,…

Chapter 12  Maxine scooped up little Jessica, ready to head home. Kids that age usually sleep like logs, but Jessica was twitchy, trembling even in her dreams.  It wasn’t until…

Chapter 11  Chapter 11  Sebastian’s jaw tightened. “What crap are you going on about?” he snapped.  Divorce? Not on his watch..  Brian piped up, chin high, full of attitude. “Mom,…

Chapter 10  Maxine didn’t let up, her fingers twisting tighter in Kathleen’s hair as she slammed her against the wall.  The office went dead quiet, coworkers frozen, too shocked to…

Chapter 9  Three days later, the first court hearing kicked off.  But Maxine? She was stuck at the firm, sidelined by Patrick.  “Maxine, it’s not like I’m trying to screw…

Chapter 8  Chapter 8  Two seconds later, his face was a storm cloud. He rushed back, voice tight. “Kathleen got jumped by the defendant. I gotta go.”  “What?” Brian’s voice…

Chapter 7  It wasn’t like Maxine’d never cooked for him.  Brian’s health had always been shaky, with a long list of foods he couldn’t touch. Sebastian, buried in work, had…

Chapter 6  Patrick Delgado, the firm’s director, saw Maxine busting her ass. He sighed, shaking his head. “Sorry, Maxine. My hands are tied. Orders from the big  shots.”  But the…