Page 47 of Destined To Fall

“Fine.”

You could cut the tension with a knife, but for once, it’s not of the sexual kind. It’s taking all my resolve not to walk out, not to be the lesser person and leave him to his own mess, but I can’t.

“Why didn’t you mention children, Maxwell?” That brings him up short, stopping him in his tracks.“Because I’m starting to think you’ve been lying to me.”

He turns to look at me this time.“No lies.”

“Then why the secrecy? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing you need to know.”

“I call bullshit.”

“Why do you care?”

“Who said I do?”

He shakes his head but makes no move to correct me or explain.

“Maxwell, what are we doing here?” I wave my hand back and forth between us.

“What has my son told you?”

“Nothing.”

Maxwell raises an eyebrow, doubt shrouding his face.

“Once again, I’ll remind you, you’re reading too much into shit. I know nothing about your son, other than a few conversations about BU.” And meaningless text messages.

“Boston University?”

“Yes.”

“You went to school together?”

“No, obviously.”

“Right.” Maxwell’s forehead furrows as he looks at me, really looks at me.

“What?” I roll my eyes.“I do have a brain. I just choose not to use it. It wouldn’t be nearly as much fun, or as lucrative.”

“Why do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Make out that you’re less than you are?”

I balk at that.

“You’ve done it before. Limited your self-worth.”

“I value myself plenty. I even set a price for it. A rather excessive price, and how would you know anything about me and my self-worth?”

“You can’t put a value on self-worth, Vivienne. It’s obvious you don’t think you’re worth more, deserve more than—”

“Whoring myself?”

“To put it bluntly, yes.”

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