"How did he find us so soon?" Timberlake asked, his voice calmer now but laced with concern. "We covered our tracks perfectly. We even took extra precautions to keep him off our trail. So what happened?"
Rebecca's tone was low and bitter. "That freak always finds a way. Who knows what chaos he caused just to get to me."
Her right hand curled into a tight fist as thoughts of everything she had missed because of Maxwell's intrusion came flooding in—her peace, her plans, the chance to breathe freely.
"So what now? Don't tell me you're thinking of sneaking out of the city with Jerry in his condition," Timberlake muttered. He moved quickly to Jeremy's bed when he saw the boy trying to climb out.
"Never," Rebecca declared with certainty. "Yes, I want to get far away from Maxwell. I want to make sure he never finds out about my son. But I will never risk Jerry's health. Not even for that madman."
Her voice rang with conviction.
"The plan remains the same," she continued. "Jerry will undergo the operation with Dr. Philip, just as we planned. That's why we came here in the first place. I won't go into hiding again until my Sweet Peanut is declared healthy. Until then, I'll do everything in my power to keep him hidden from that lunatic."
There was more strength in her voice than Timberlake had heard in a long while.
I jeopardized my son's health once. Never again. He can come at me all he wants, but I won't break. I won't let him win this time.
Rebecca made the vow silently, her nails digging into her palm.
"You're not alone in this," Timberlake said, his tone soft.
"I'll help however I can. Consider your guardian angel officially on duty," He added the last part with a playful lilt, hoping to lighten her mood.
A faint smile tugged at Rebecca's lips despite her worries.
She always sounded bold over the phone, but Timberlake knew better. He could hear the fear laced between her words. He didn't need to see her face to know how scared she really was.
And who wouldn't be, with someone like Maxwell hunting them?
"With my guardian angel ready to go all out, I guess I have nothing to fear anymore," Rebecca replied, playing along with his attempt at humor.
"Exactly. I'm more than capable of protecting my two favorite people," Timberlake said proudly, thumping his chest with exaggerated flair.
The warmth in his voice brought a flicker of light to her heart.
"If Sweet Peanut's awake, can I hear his voice?" she asked, gently rubbing her chest. "I miss him so much."
"He's right here. He'll be thrilled to hear you. Don't be surprised if he gives you a full speech," Timberlake said with a laugh. He switched the call to speaker and showed Jeremy the screen.
Just as Rebecca opened her mouth to greet her son, the door burst open.
Maxwell stood in the doorway, handsome and relaxed, one hand buried in the pocket of his trousers.
Rebecca's heart skipped a beat. She immediately ended the call and set her phone down on the edge of the sink, quickly shifting her body to block it from view.
"Hey!" she snapped, trying to keep her voice firm despite the panic rising in her chest. "Don't you know how to read?"
Maxwell stared at her, his expression unreadable.
"This is the ladies' room," she said sharply, pointing at the sign above the door. "Can't you see that?"
He glanced lazily at the sign. "Ladies' room? Maybe I forgot how to read. I've been too busy these last few years. But if you're offering tutoring lessons, I'd be happy to enroll."
Despite her protests, he strolled casually into the room.
"Are you insane?" Rebecca stepped aside to avoid him. "Didn't you hear me?"
"Normally I get annoyed when people scold me," Maxwell said with a smile, "but for some reason, yours excites me. Doesn't that fascinate you?"
His eyes sparkled, his grin charming. But Rebecca remained cold, unaffected. That smile would have melted someone else's resolve. Unfortunately for him, hers was ice.
"I guess hearing your voice just puts me in a good mood," he added. "I've missed it for years."
"Here he goes again with his delusional talk," Rebecca muttered, brushing past him to grab her phone.
You did well, Reb.
She celebrated inwardly.
If he thinks he can wear me down by following me like a lost puppy, he's mistaken. Let's see if that proud ego of his can handle being dismissed like a crazy person.
She lifted her chin and walked out of the restroom with pride, fully expecting him to storm off in fury. She did not realize Maxwell had followed her.
"I figured you weren't in a hurry to leave the salon, so I ordered lunch for us," he said calmly.
Rebecca stopped mid-way. She turned slowly, stunned. He wasn't scowling. He wasn't shouting. Rather he was smiling.
I don't understand.
She thought, eyes narrowing.
Why isn't he angry?
"I know you're hungry, so I got all your favorite dishes," Maxwell said with a warm smile. "You can eat as much as you like. Let's go."
The sight of his radiant smile only fueled her irritation.
"You can stuff your face for all I care. Get lost," she snapped, shoving his hand aside and turning away.
"Go ahead, run away," he called after her, his tone darkening. "That's what you're good at, right?"
She didn't stop.
"But I wonder," he added, voice cold now, "if you can handle the consequences this time."
Rebecca froze.
She turned and faced him squarely. "What do you mean by that?"
"All I want is for you to come over here, sit down, and eat," he said, gesturing to a table with seven neatly arranged lunchboxes. "But if you decide to keep walking, don't blame me for what happens next."
"More nonsense from a drunk man," she muttered and kept walking.
Maxwell's expression shifted. Calmly, he pulled a sleek black phone from his pocket and dialed a number.
"Divan," he said, voice like ice. "I want your men here in ten minutes. If you're a minute late, there'll be hell to pay. But if you're early, there's a handsome reward waiting."
A wicked smirk tugged at his lips the moment he saw Rebecca stop walking.
Her heart pounded.
"What are you trying to do?" she demanded, rushing toward him as he held the phone to his ear.
"What else?" he replied coolly. "I'll station my men outside your salon. No customers, no returning staff, no one gets in until you sit down and eat."
He started to continue his instructions.
Terrified that he meant every word, Rebecca lunged forward and snatched the phone from his hand before he could finish speaking.