Chapter Nineteen

The following day, Brooke began her new role at RX Hotels, diving headfirst into her plans with Bella. Bella, meanwhile, was busy keeping Shaun updated. She had news that would undoubtedly set their plans in motion. "We've got someone on our side now," she told him, referring to Brooke's involvement in their scheme to take down Mae's family's empire. As for Michael and Ethan, they were off to handle a business meeting, leaving Shaun to meet with his mother, focusing on the next steps in their revenge on Nicole.

Saturday, 2:00 PM

At Val's Desserts, a cozy cafe known for its vast array of delectable treats, Mae and Mark sat at a table near the glass display. A chocolate mint sundae was placed in front of Mae, while Mark enjoyed a vanilla sundae.

"I can't believe you quit your job. You must really love your husband to have done that," Mark remarked, surprised by her decision.

"Not really," Mae replied, her voice flat.

"Not really? What do you mean?" he pressed.

Mae took a moment before answering, scooping a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. "Should I be honest with you?" she asked, eyes lowering.

"Of course," Mark encouraged.

"I miss working with my family," she admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I really miss them."

Mark raised an eyebrow, trying to understand. "If you miss your job, then why quit?"

"Ethan forced me to," Mae answered, looking down at her sundae as if it could offer her comfort.

"Wait, your husband made you quit?" Mark asked, disbelief coloring his tone.

"Yes." Mae placed her spoon down, the weight of her words sinking in as she stared at the bowl before her.

"He sounds horrible," Mark muttered under his breath, his expression darkening.

"Trust me, he is. He never comes home anymore. Mark... I think he's cheating on me," Mae confessed, her voice trembling as she felt the sharp pang of betrayal.

Mark's face softened as he reached for her hand. "Why did you marry him then?"

Mae's eyes welled up with tears. "I did it for the babies."

"What babies?" Mark asked, puzzled by her sudden outburst of emotion.

Tears began to spill as Mae's pain, long suppressed, surged to the surface. "Is it so hard to love me? Why does everyone in my life do this to me? Am I not good enough? What does everyone else have that I don't?" she cried, the vulnerability in her words raw and exposed.

Mark quickly stood and retrieved a black handkerchief from his pocket. Kneeling beside her, he gently wiped away the tears falling from her cheeks. "Mae, the heart is an amazing liar. It hides pain so well, just like you. You're in so much pain, but you act like everything's fine."

Mae sniffed, shaking her head. "I'm not in pain, Mark."

"You know," Mark continued, his voice softer, "those who act all tough and fearless are the weakest. We all do it—myself included. It's an act we put on to cover up fear and weakness."

"So... you're saying it's okay to be weak and afraid?" Mae asked, her voice shaky but hopeful for an answer.

"We're all human, Mae. Fear and weakness? They're part of what makes us who we are," he replied with a reassuring smile.

Mae's lips quivered before she gave him a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks, Mark."

"You're welcome," he said, offering her a warm look as she rested her head on his shoulder.

Saturday, 4:00 PM

In a lavish suite at Winter Garden Hotels, Bella and Shaun lay together, the crisp white duvet barely covering them as they exchanged heated kisses. Shaun ran his hands down her body, his lips pressing urgently against hers.

"Bella, I love you," he murmured between kisses.

She pulled away with a giggle, her eyes glinting. "Stop, Shaun."

He grinned, his gaze mischievous. "I can't believe you got Ethan to cheat on Mae."

Bella feigned offense, raising a brow. "You're underestimating me, darling."

"I'm sorry," Shaun said, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "What's next, then?"

"We need Mae to find out that her husband is cheating," Bella replied, her voice low and serious.

"How are we going to do that? She hardly ever leaves the house," Shaun pointed out.

"We'll need to create a situation," Bella suggested, a plan already forming in her mind. "I'll tell Brooke to play her part, and you handle the rest."

Shaun grinned, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I can't wait for you to inherit everything your father owns, so we can finally live our life together."

"I feel the same way," she said, her voice soft as she leaned in for another kiss.

Later that day, at the park

Mae and Mark sat together on a wooden bench, watching as Mark's young niece sat on his lap, her golden-brown hair tied into playful pigtails. The little girl giggled, her eyes wide with innocent joy.

"I still don't understand how kids can be this cute," Mae mused, a smile on her face as she watched the girl.

"It's one of life's great mysteries," Mark replied, his voice warm with affection.

Mae glanced up at him, a soft smile on her lips. "You're going to be an amazing father one day."

Mark grinned, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You'll be an amazing mother too."

"I hope so," Mae said, her voice heavy with thought. "With the childhood I had, I really want to be the best mother I can be." She sighed, her mind drifting to the life she had with Ethan, feeling more alone than ever. She glanced at Mark, wondering if fate had dealt her a different hand, would she have ended up with him instead of trapped in this unhappy marriage? But as the moment passed, she silently resolved to keep her feelings to herself. She couldn't risk losing him as a friend.

Mark gave her a reassuring look. "You're going to be great, Mae. Audrey already adores you, and you've only known her a few hours."

"Thanks," she said with a smile, appreciating his support. But deep down, she couldn't help but wonder if she'd made a mistake—if everything would have been different had she never married Ethan.

Monday Morning, 7:00 AM

Mae awoke in a haze, her phone's ringtone jolting her from her dreams. She glanced at the screen to see Ethan's name flashing on the display. Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly turned the phone to airplane mode, avoiding his call. She closed her eyes again, trying to regain her peace.

But the silence didn't last long. The door to her bedroom suddenly burst open, and Ethan stormed in, his face twisted with frustration. He walked up to her bedside, fuming, but Mae was still lying there, her eyes still heavy with sleep.

He grabbed the jug of water from her bedside table and poured its contents over her, drenching her in cold water. Mae shot up in bed, furious, her anger flaring.

"Have you lost it, or what?" she snapped, but her words faltered when she saw Ethan standing in front of her, his usual indifference replaced by something darker. "Ethan?" she said, her voice shaking with confusion and anger.

"Are you done yelling?" he asked, his voice cold and clipped.

Mae's anger spiked. "Why did you pour water on me?"

"Why didn't you answer my calls?" Ethan countered, his tone hardening. "Don't play dumb, Mae. I know you saw my calls and ignored them."

Mae crossed her arms, defiant. "And what if I did? What's your plan, huh? Lock me in this room until I give birth?"

Ethan clenched his fists, taking a deep breath to keep his temper in check. "I didn't come here to argue," he said, his voice low and tense.

"Then why are you here?" Mae asked, sarcasm dripping from her words. "We're doing fine without each other. So what do you want now?"

"This is still my apartment, Miss Wilson, in case you forgot," Ethan snapped.

"Wow. Miss Wilson now, huh?" she retorted, rolling her eyes.

Ethan's eyes hardened, his frustration mounting. "Do you know where Michael is?"

Mae stared at him blankly. "Michael? What's he got to do with this?"

Ethan's expression tightened. "Hundreds of millions are missing, and we can't find him. His phone's dead. We're in crisis mode, and your family business is falling apart."

Mae's brows furrowed in confusion. "How is that my problem?"

Ethan glared at her. "Michael stole a lot of money, and now I need to find him."

Mae crossed her arms, her expression cold. "Not my problem."

"Are you trying to frustrate me on purpose, Mae?"

Mae stood up, defiantly meeting his gaze. "No, but you sure have a knack for making everything about you, don't you?"

"Where is he?" Ethan asked, exasperated.

Mae shook her head. "I'm not going to tell you, Ethan. You can't make me."

Ethan ran a hand through his hair in frustration, pacing. "We're in a mess, Mae. Your family's empire is falling apart, and you're making jokes."

Mae looked away, her voice soft but resolute. "I don't care."

In the dimly lit room, Mae sat back against the soft pillows, her gaze sharp despite the relaxed setting. Ethan, stood rigid by the door, frustration flickering across his face. 

"In case you didn't catch it the first time," he began, his voice laced with impatience, "your little brother ran off with a substantial amount of money, and now the family business is on the brink of collapse because there's no one to manage things."

Mae, unbothered, leaned her head back, her lips curling into a slight smirk. "And for the second time, how, exactly, does that concern me?"

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to get back at me for everything that's happened these past months?"

Mae's lips twisted in disdain. "Why would I waste my energy doing that? I wouldn't give you the satisfaction of thinking you're that important."

Ethan sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Did Michael reach out to you?"

"Do you think, if you were Michael and you'd just fled from everything, the one person you'd go to would be the older sister who married, cut ties with the family, and left you to shoulder the business alone?"

Ethan's expression faltered, his shoulders slumping in realization. "Not really."

Mae's voice softened as she eased back on the bed, her eyes distant. "There's your answer."

"This is serious, Mae."

"I don't care," she replied indifferently, eyes drifting toward the ceiling.

Ethan shook his head, his voice growing more urgent. "This is your family we're talking about."

"Well, I have a date in the afternoon, and I'd rather not have you ruin my mood before I go."

Ethan stared at her in disbelief. "You've been seeing someone else?"

Mae arched an eyebrow, her gaze challenging. "I'm an adult, Ethan. I have every right to do whatever I want."

His expression darkened. "Mae, you're married."

"That 'married' label is just a chain around my neck," Mae retorted, her voice biting. "After the babies are born, I'll be rid of that chain. So, enjoy making me miserable while you can. Because after that, I'm coming for you, Ethan, and I'm bringing everything I've got."

Ethan laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "Nice threat, Mae. You're not as pathetic as I thought."

"Oh, darling," she said, leaning toward him, her voice low and filled with a dangerous promise, "it's not a threat. It's a promise."

She kissed him briefly on the lips, her actions swift, a stark contrast to the tense silence between them. When she pulled back, Ethan stood frozen, clearly taken aback.

"You've changed," he muttered.

"No, Ethan," she said coolly, sinking back into the bed, "I've grown up. And thank you for the extra push." She turned away, eyes drifting closed. "Now get out of my room. Go back to your life."

Ethan hesitated, then walked toward the door, pausing only to speak again. "Let me know if you hear from Michael."

"Sure. And tell Bella I said she's doing a great job keeping you away from me," Mae said with a sly smile.

Ethan froze, his face paling. "You know about Bella and me?"

Mae didn't even glance at him, her voice calm but deadly. "Just because I'm quiet doesn't mean I'm stupid. Have fun finding Michael."

Ethan's mind reeled as he left the room, the door clicking shut behind him. 

Sighing heavily, Mae slumped back against the pillows, her heart pounding. She hadn't expected to stand up to Ethan like that. Maybe she was stronger than she'd realized. Her fingers brushed her lips, and she immediately felt a flush of embarrassment. What had she been thinking when she kissed him? She hadn't planned it—hadn't even thought about it—but the sensation lingered, confusing her even more. Part of her hated how it felt, but another part of her couldn't deny the rush of satisfaction it brought.

She picked up her phone, scrolling through her contacts before tapping on the one named "Mae." Her thumb hesitated over the call button. 

She had acted tough with Ethan, but deep down, she couldn't stop worrying about Michael. Why had he run off like that, with so little explanation? They'd always had a secret way of contacting each other in case things went wrong. But now, he had left her out of it. The betrayal stung, but beneath the anger, sadness flickered. As his older sister, she should have been there. She should have known.

The line clicked, and a voice broke through her thoughts. "Hello? Mae, is that you?"

Mae snapped out of her trance. "Sorry, I didn't realize you'd answered."

"I've missed hearing your voice," Michael's familiar tone filled her ear, and for the first time in days, a sense of relief washed over her.

"Why did you run away without telling me?" she asked, her voice tight with emotion.

"I'm sorry, Mae. You've been so busy with your new life, I didn't want to burden you."

Mae's heart clenched. "Don't ever say that again. I will never be too busy for you. I'm sorry I let everything else come between us."

"You don't need to apologize," he replied softly.

She sighed. "Who are you with? What happened?"

Michael's voice dropped, almost a whisper. "Don't freak out, but I'm with Emilia."

"Emilia? The famous singer? Or Emilia, Bella's sister?" Mae asked, her mind racing.

"Emilia... my fiancé."

"Fiancé?!" Mae nearly choked. "Oh, Michael. Your mom's going to kill you."

"I love her, Mae."

"Running off with her like this isn't the smartest way to prove that. You know the history between our families. You've put yourself in the worst possible position. Your mom will never give you her blessing."

"I don't need anyone's blessing but yours," Michael said, his voice desperate.

"Michael..." Mae paused, taking a steady breath. "I support you. I always will. Just... take all the time you need."

Michael's voice softened, filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Mae. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Tell Emilia I said hi," Mae said, a small smile playing at her lips.

"Thanks, Mae. I have to go now."

"Goodbye, Mike," she said, her voice warm with affection.

The call ended, and Mae sank back into the pillows, her mind spinning. A sense of quiet pride began to stir within her. It was so good to hear Michael happy. Her father would never understand, but at least she was starting to understand herself. 

She looked toward the ceiling, a new sense of determination in her chest. It was time to stop playing the weak, passive Wilson. She was done pretending. "It's time I show them what a real Wilson looks like."

A grin spread across her face as she stood, her resolve stronger than ever.