Chapter 90
He was a deeply obsessive man; without absolute, undeniable closure, he would inevitably camp out at her house indefinitely.
She nodded in agreement. Vivian quickly added one final rule.
“Talk out in the yard. Do not go into a private room with him p>
Knowing her mother was just fiercely protecting her, a sweet warmth filled Maeve’s chest.
“Okay p>
Out in the courtyard.
Seeing Frederick standing there in his ruined, half-damp shirt left a complicated, sour taste in her mouth.
“What exactly is it you want to say to me p>
Frederick stepped closer, letting out a long, heavy exhale.
“Mae, I am partially responsible for Felix’s death p>
Maeve’s heart violently lurched, her hands immediately clenching at her sides.
This was the very first time Frederick had voluntarily spoken about Felix since the day he died.
The official story was that Felix had been swept away by a sudden hurricane at sea. How could Frederick possibly be responsible for that?
Was there some dark secret she had never been told?
A deep, agonizing grief swam in Frederick’s eyes.
“The day Felix and Zoe took that boat out, we had a massive blowout. He demanded half of my corporate shares and hundreds of millions of dollars to start his own empire. I completely refused. I offered him a fraction of that to test the waters, telling him that if he failed, it wouldn’t tank the family legacy p>
“Felix always listened to me. But that day, it was like someone had completely warped his mind. He screamed at me with bloodshot eyes, telling me that everyone thought he was a pathetic failure, and he demanded to know if I felt the exact same way. He said he just wanted to prove his worth to Zoe, and accused me of holding him back. He yelled that since we all looked down on him, he was going to prove us wrong… to prove Zoe wrong p>
Frederick clamped his eyes shut, his face twisted in torment.
“We had a happy family, but my momentary lapse in judgment completely destroyed it. Zoe’s unborn baby and Charlie are the only pieces of Felix I have left. They are his legacy. As the head of the Fairchild family, it is my absolute duty to carry that burden. I have to protect Zoe. I cannot let this family shatter a second time p>
He opened his eyes, staring at her with desperate, suffocating hope.
“Mae, you understand where I’m coming from, don’t you p>
Maeve listened in stunned silence.
She genuinely had no idea they had fought so viciously right before Felix died.
Frederick and his brother had been incredibly close; it was entirely natural that the guilt was eating him alive.
It finally explained why he was so obsessively devoted to Zoe’s every whim.
However p>
Maeve coldly extracted her fingers from his desperate grasp, staring at him with chilling clarity.
“Frederick, your actions definitely prove you are a fiercely loyal brother, a devoted son, and a good uncle. But you are a terrible hushand Taking care of your brother’s widow does not excuse your complete and total lack of boundaries with her p>
Frederick immediately defended himself. “But Zoe and I have never crossed that line! She’s pregnant. How could we possibly p>
“Sleeping together isn’t the only form of betrayal,” Maeve cut him off sharply. “Destroying my emotional boundaries is cheating too p>
“We are all adults here. If you are married, why don’t you know how to maintain a respectful distance from another woman? The moment you shamelessly pulled Zoe into your arms and constantly chose her over me, you completely erased my existence as your wife p>
She paused, took a deep breath, and delivered her final verdict.
“Frederick, I will never stop you from trying to piece your broken family back together, and I truly understand your pain. But as long as Zoe remains in your life, you will constantly cast me aside. I refuse to endlessly sacrifice my own dignity just to play a supporting role in your tragic redemption arc. Divorcing now is the best option for both of us p>
Frederick’s jaw clenched so hard his teeth ground together, a terrifyingly dark storm brewing across his handsome face.
“Maeve, I ripped open my darkest, most painful wounds just for you, and you still want to walk away p>
Maeve held his furious gaze, her voice ringing with absolute certainty.
“Yes p>
A man as arrogant as Frederick simply could not process such a ruthless, uncompromising rejection.
With his eyes burning red with sheer hostility, he spat out his final, venomous threat.
“Fine. You get your wish. Just don’t come crying to me when you regret it p>