Chapter 76

Chapter 76

SARA POINT OF VIEW 

I stormed out of Max's office with my blood boiling so hot I could barely see straight. My heels stabbed the marble floor with each step, echoing my rage through the hallway. The nerve of that man! After everything everything I've done for him, this is how he treats me?

Outside, the crisp evening air stung my cheeks, but it did nothing to cool the fire raging inside me. My driver jumped to open the car door, probably sensing my mood. I practically threw myself into the backseat.

"Home," I barked. The poor guy flinched. Whatever. I wasn't in the mood to play nice.

The whole ride home, I couldn't stop seeing it - Max crumpling up those divorce papers like they were nothing. Like I was nothing. Eva was literally giving him an escape route on a silver platter, and what does he do? Throws it back in her face! In my face! 

God, it made no sense. This couldn't be about love Max doesn't even know what real love is. This was about control. Had to be. But seeing him choose her over me... it felt like someone had stuck a knife in my gut and was slowly twisting it.

By the time we pulled up to Dad's estate, I was ready to explode. I didn't wait for the driver - just shoved the door open myself and stomped inside, my heels clicking like angry bullets on the floor.

"Mom!" I screamed. My voice bounced off the walls of our massive foyer. I found her in the sitting room, being all prim and proper with her afternoon tea.

She looked up, perfectly plucked eyebrows drawing together. "Sara, darling, what on earth-"

I collapsed into the nearest chair, chest heaving. "It's Max!" The words came out like poison. "That absolute bastard"

Mom set down her teacup with that delicate little clink she's perfected over the years. "Take a breath, sweetheart. Start from the beginning."

I stood up and started pacing, my heels leaving little dents in the Persian rug.

I tried to breathe, but it came out all shaky. "I went to his office today," I started, my voice trembling with fury and humiliation. "And guess what was sitting right there on his desk? Divorce papers! From Eva! God, Mom, you should have seen how he looked at them. Like they were... nothing. Like all our plans were nothing

Mom's eyes widened just a fraction, but she kept her cool. Always keeping up appearances, my mother. "Well, isn't that what we wanted? Now he can finally-"

"He wouldn't sign them!" I exploded, cutting her off. "He flat-out refused! Said the marriage wasn't over until he decided it was over. Can you believe it? He picked her ! Over me !"

Now Mom's perfect mask cracked a little. I saw that familiar flash of anger in her eyes. "What exactly did he say to you?"

My nails dug into my palms so hard I probably drew blood. "He told me to shut up, Mom. Said it was between him and Eva, that I had no right butting in. Then he basically threw me out like I was some... some random nobody!"

"Ungrateful bastard," Mom muttered under her breath.

I leaned forward, my voice going high and tight. "I've been there for him through everything. Done everything he's ever asked! And now, when he could finally ditch her, he won't do it? What does she have that I don't? Why can't he see that I'm the one who really loves him?"

I grabbed a crystal vase from the side table, gripping it so hard I thought it might shatter. "Can you believe his nerve? After everything she's done to him?"

"Put that down before you break it," Mom said calmly. "It's worth more than your car."

I slammed it back down. "You're worried about a stupid vase? When Max is throwing away everything we've worked for?"

"I'm worried about you losing control," she shot back, standing up to face me. "This isn't like you, Sara. Where's my calculating daughter who always stays three steps ahead?"

"She got tired of waiting!" I screamed, tears finally spilling over. "I'm tired of watching being in love with her even if he denies loving her! I'm tired of being the backup plan, the shoulder to cry on, the friend who picks up the pieces! Do you know what he said to me? He said I needed to 'respect boundaries.' That this was between him and his wife!"

Mom's face darkened. "His wife," she spat the word like it was poison. "That little bitch wouldn't know how to be a proper wife if her life depended on it."

"Exactly!" I threw my hands up. "She doesn't deserve him! She never has! All she does is make him miserable, and yet he keeps choosing her. Why, Mom? What does she have that I don't?"

Mom reached over and grabbed my hand. Her touch was cold, calculated just like everything else about her. "Listen to me carefully, Sara. You can't let this get to you. Max is being an idiot, but he's an idiot we can work with. He's just stuck on whatever twisted love he feels toward Eva. It won't last. You've come too far to let this little setback derail everything."

She probably thought that would help, but it didn't. All I could see was Max, destroying those papers, dismissing me like I meant absolutely nothing to him. The rage in my chest just kept building and building.

"I hate her," I whispered, my whole body shaking. "I hate Eva so much. She's ruined everything! Since we were kids, she's always had to be Little Miss Perfect, everyone's favorite, everyone's darling. And now, even after everything I've done to make her life hell, she still has him wrapped around her finger!"

Mom's grip tightened until it hurt. "We'll make her pay, Sara. But you have to keep it together. If Max sees you like this, he'll only push you away more. You need to be smart."

"Smart?" I ripped my hand away from her. "How am I supposed to be smart when she's always one step ahead? No matter what I do, she comes out smelling like roses. It's not fair, Mom!"

I felt tears burning behind my eyes but refused to let them fall. I wouldn't give Eva the satisfaction, even if she wasn't here to see it.

Mom leaned back, getting that calculating look I know so well. "Then we'll change the rules," she said softly. "If Max won't end it willingly, we'll make him end it. But you have to be patient. Let him think he's in control men like Max need that. And when the moment's right... that's when we strike."

Something in her voice sent chills down my spine. Mom could be scary when she wanted to be and right now, that's exactly what I needed.

I nodded slowly, feeling my anger crystalize into something colder, deadlier. Eva thought she had won this round, but she had no idea what she was up against.

"She's going to regret ever crossing me," I whispered.

Mom's smile was pure ice, matching the one spreading across my own face. "Oh yes, darling. She absolutely will."