Chapter 17

"You know what? Suit yourself," I said, turning my back on him. I walked out of his office without another word.

"Maxwell, get back here! Max...!" My dad's voice faded as I ignored him and kept walking.

I stormed through the hallways, barely noticing anything around me. One of the receptionists called out, "Have a nice day, sir!" but I didn't even acknowledge her. My mind was racing, and I was furious.

I pushed open the door and stepped outside, the fresh air hitting my face. I needed to clear my head. I took a deep breath and started walking, not sure where I was going but needing to get away.

I found myself at a nearby park. It was quiet, with only a few people around. I sat on a bench, trying to calm down. My thoughts kept circling back to Anastasia. How could my parents be so blind? How could they not see what was happening to her?

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a text from my dad: "We need to talk. Come back."

I stared at the message, feeling a mix of anger