Chapter 6

Maximus:

She looks so different. She’s not the woman I was married to years ago.

Selene was timid and shy, barely speaking out, and when she did, it was always in a soft, low tone.

But the woman standing before me, checking up on my mother, is sophisticated, confident, and radiates an undeniable strength.

I feel like I’m looking at a complete stranger. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was dreaming, trapped in another dimension—a world where Selene is someone completely different.

She doesn’t even acknowledge me. She barely glances in my direction.

I catch the look of hate in her eyes when she looks at my mother. She speaks to her with cold detachment. She can’t fool me. There’s no way Dr. Andrea isn’t Selene.

I miss her more than I ever realized. I made a terrible mistake. I was blinded by anger and jealousy, pushing away the best thing that ever happened to me.

Every day, I wake up, and it's a constant reminder that Selene is no longer with me. I don’t wake up beside her anymore.

I miss her smile, the way she’d cook for me, hum a tune under her breath. I miss how she’d take care of the house, even though she was married to a billionaire.

I took her for granted. I used her. I always blamed her for not giving me a child. I loved her stepsister more than I loved her.

I should have made my marriage work with Selene, but instead, I was so caught up with Jess. Now, she’s so close to me, yet so far away. She no longer looks at me with love in her eyes.

Her eyes are empty, devoid of any emotion. I’ve completely broken Selene Norman. I took away her happiness, but I’m going to make her talk to me.

I don’t care if she insists she’s not Selene. I know my wife when I see her, and no one can convince me otherwise.

“We have nothing to talk about, Mr. Hemsworth. I’ve already taken care of your mother. She’ll be discharged soon, and you can take her home.”

She says it so coldly, yanking her hands out of my grip and turning to face me.

“Oh, one more thing. Never return to my hospital. Other than that, I don’t think there’s anything left for us to discuss.”

“Selene,” I call softly, and I watch her face harden even more, but I keep going. “I know you’re angry with me, but why don’t you just give me a chance to explain? I’ve been looking for you everywhere. You just disappeared without a trace.”

“I never imagined I’d see you again. I know you’re angry, but please, Selene, just—”

“How many times do I have to tell you that my name is Andrea?” She cuts me off, her voice low and filled with rage, her eyes darkening. “I don’t know who the hell Selene is, and I don’t care. If she left you, it’s for the better. No one would want to stay with a guy like you anyway.”

With every word she says, I can feel the hate dripping from it.

There’s no way she isn’t Selene. I just never imagined she could hate me this much.

“I never want to see you again. I don’t want to breathe the same air as you. I don’t even want you looking in my direction.”

“You don’t know me, and you’ve never met me in your life. I never want to see you again, Mr. Maximus Hemsworth. Leave my hospital once your mother is discharged.”

I feel defeated. She’s not giving me a chance to explain. Now, I understand exactly how she felt all those years ago when she kept calling my name and I did nothing but turn my back on her, walking into the house with Jess.

“No, no. I don’t want to hear you say you’re Andrea. You know that’s a lie. You’re Selene, the woman I was once married to, and I know nothing I say will change how you feel about me. I did a terrible thing.” I try to sound sincere, but even I know it won’t work. “But trust me, I’ve changed. That’s all in the past. There’s nothing I want more than you, Selene.”

I try to hold her hand again, but she shoves me back roughly, her eyes burning with anger. If looks could kill, I’d be dead right here.

“Don’t you ever lay your filthy hands on me!” She growls. “The next time you try this, I’ll go straight to the press and tell them how a high-profile billionaire like you is trying to cheat on your wife with me.”

“How do you like that for a scandal? The media would have a field day. Never show your face to me again, or I’ll make sure you regret it,” she hisses under her breath.

She gives me a bone-chilling glare before leaving in a hurry, her fist clenched at her side.

She’s trying so hard to keep her anger in check.

I watch her retreating figure before heading back into the room where my mother is admitted.

“It’s her, isn’t it? That doctor is Selene, right? Your ex-wife. She looks so different, Maximus.” my mom says, looking disturbed. “An apology isn’t going to fix everything we’ve put her through.”

For the first time in my life, I’m lost for words.

I have no idea what to do or how to get Selene back into my life. She’s so determined to keep me out, but I know that won’t stop me.

I’m Maximus Hemsworth, and I don’t back down easily. This time, I want Selene more than anything else.