The Ugly Wife’s Stunning Comeback novel Chapter 206

Felicia stopped short. He had been waiting here all along. Max took a final drag from his cigarette, flicked it to the ground, and crushed it out with his shoe. He turned to look at her, his dark eyes unreadable. Felicia felt a chill run through her. She clutched her bag tighter, kept her gaze low, and headed for her car. Only then did she realize his car was parked right in front of hers, blocking her in. She couldn’t leave unless he moved first.

She stopped and looked at him. “Mr. Hawthorne, could you move your car? I need to go.”

Max just stared, making no move to get in his car. “Since I owe you, I think we should finally settle this.”

Felicia met his gaze. “My solution is simple. Just don’t let me see you again. Okay?”

Max let out a short laugh. “You think I’m following you? You think I have that much time on my hands?”

He took a step toward her. Felicia sensed something shift in the air. She stepped back and bumped into her car. Before she could react, he closed the distance, his tall frame blocking out the rest of the world. He put one hand on the car roof and leaned in. The scent of his expensive, woodsy cologne mixed with something almost suffocating.

Felicia’s eyes went wide. For a second, she forgot how to breathe.

Then his voice came, low and mocking. “Or maybe you think I could actually be interested in you?”

She saw the ridicule in his eyes, and her fingers curled into a fist.

Without thinking, she slapped him. The sound was sharp and sudden, echoing in the quiet. The world seemed to freeze. The air turned cold.

Felicia shoved him away, her whole body tense. She hurried to the driver’s side, opened the door, got in, and locked it behind her. She stared at her palm, red and shaking. Her heart pounded in her chest.

She had really slapped Max.

She didn’t know how he’d retaliate, but she didn’t regret it. She’d wanted to do that for a long time.

After a while, her hand dropped to her lap. She leaned back in the seat. She had no idea how much time passed until she heard an engine start behind her. Glancing in the rearview mirror, she saw him finally drive away.

She waited another fifteen minutes before starting her car and leaving the Gilbert family home.

The drive home helped her calm down.

Felicia shook her head. “Not at all. My mom and dad love Yara. And Heather’s actually lost a few pounds since she’s been here.”

Jeremy grinned. “She’s been saying she’d lose weight for years. Looks like she finally started.”

Felicia just smiled, thinking maybe that’s what love could do.

“She told me today she wants to transfer Yara to a school here in the Capital.”

After her divorce, Heather and her son had lived with her parents in Northwick, only coming here for summer break. Felicia was surprised. Heather hadn’t mentioned this yet.

“Heather moving in with you and Yara… that can’t just be because she wants you to keep her on her diet, right?”

Felicia shrugged. “You see through everything. She fell for my brother the moment she met him.”

Even after everything she’d been through, Heather still believed in love. Maybe it was because they both grew up with enough love to always have something to fall back on.