Chapter 298: Not A Single Savior

Catherine, however, was focused on making Maximilian feel better; she had stopped noticing everything else.

“And then he stood between us,” she continued. “He was so angry, Maximilian. I think he would have killed Dorian if I hadn’t stopped him.”

Maximilian’s expression tightened.

“He sounds very protective.”

“He was.”

Something unpleasant twisted in Maximilian’s chest.

Catherine smiled faintly at the memory. “He saved me.”

“I heard you.” His voice was perfectly calm.

They seemed to be pretty close. He had noticed that back in the jet, on their way here. Turned out that man had saved her, and she was this grateful.

Catherine looked up.

Maximilian’s gaze was fixed on her, but there was something different in his eyes now. His jaw was tense, and his fingers had gone still against her arm. It took her some time to figure it out.

“You’re jealous.”

“I am not.”

The answer came so quickly that Catherine almost laughed. “You are.”

“I am grateful.”

“For saving me.”

“Yes.”

“But you’re jealous also.”

Maximilian exhaled through his nose. “I said I’m grateful.”

Catherine’s smile widened.

She stepped closer, still unaware that the sight of her standing there so casually while praising another man was doing absolutely nothing for his peace of mind.

“You should be. He really did help me.”

“I know.”

“And he was very brave.”

Maximilian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I’m beginning to understand why you like talking about him so much.”

Catherine blinked. “I don’t talk about him that much.”

“You’ve been talking about him for the last five minutes.”

“He saved my life!”

“I know.”

“And you’re still jealous?”

His lips pressed together. “I’ve been unconscious for days, Catherine. Apparently, I woke up just in time to hear about another man being brave enough to save you.”

Catherine stared at him for a second before laughter escaped her.

“Oh, my God.”

She reached up and cupped his cheek. “My sweet Prince, you’re actually jealous.”

Maximilian caught her wrist gently. “I am allowed to be.”

“Of Fitzgerald?”

“Of any man who makes you look like that while you’re telling me about him.”

Her laughter softened. She leaned closer, resting her forehead against his. “You have nothing to worry about.”

“I know.”

“You trust me.”

“I do.”

“And you know I love you.”

His expression finally softened. “I do.”

Catherine smiled. “Then stop being jealous.”

“I’ll try.”

She kissed his cheek. “Good.”

Maximilian’s arms slipped around her waist, pulling her closer. “But I still don’t like him.”

“Maximilian!”

He smiled, finally allowing some of the jealousy to leave his expression.

“He can have my gratitude,” he murmured. “That’s all.”

Catherine laughed against his chest. “Learn to like him. I don’t think he’s going to remain just an acquaintance.”

Maximilian looked down at her. “Because he might marry your niece Samantha?”

Catherine’s brows lifted. “You noticed?”

“I notice things.”

She stared at him for a moment. She hadn’t expected him to have noticed that, either. There were already so many things she wanted to understand about Fitzgerald. She had decided that she would think about that later this morning.

For now, she smiled.

“Then you’ll have to learn to like him.”

Maximilian gave a quiet grunt.

Catherine’s smile softened. She didn’t want to tease him too much. This man loved her with a depth that still overwhelmed her sometimes, and after everything they had lost in their previous life, she didn’t want to take even a moment of that love for granted.

She looked up at him.

“He’s Cassian, Maximilian.”

The amusement disappeared from his face.

Catherine’s eyes filled before she could stop them. “He’s my son Cassian.”

Maximilian stared at her. Then he gently cupped her cheeks and lowered his head, searching her expression. “Really?”

Catherine nodded. “He is. I’m ninety percent sure.” Her voice trembled. “He was too young when he… when we…”

She swallowed hard. “I’m not sure he’d remember anything from our past life.”

“Oh, Catherine.”

Maximilian pulled her into his arms.

He felt how rapidly her heart was beating against his chest and held her tighter, one hand moving slowly over her back.

“I’m happy, Maximilian,” she whispered. “But I’m a little sad too.”

She rested her cheek against his chest.

“He’s grown up. And from what I saw… he wasn’t hugged enough as a child.” Her voice grew softer. “He grew up surrounded by wealth, raised like a prince who would one day inherit a kingdom, just as he was meant to. But…”

She sighed.

“I wish he had known what it felt like to be loved.”

Maximilian rested his chin gently on the crown of her head.

“I thought he looked like your father,” he admitted. “But I didn’t think much of it.”

“I just felt it.” Catherine closed her eyes. “The moment I saw him, I knew. I can’t explain it. I just knew he was my son.”

“Hmm.”

Maximilian rubbed her back thoughtfully.

“He must feel something too.”

Catherine lifted her head. “You think so?”

“He’s not a man who puts himself at risk for just anyone.” Maximilian’s expression softened. “He saved you. And from everything you’ve told me, that’s not something Fitzgerald Rathbourne does.”

Catherine searched his face, hope flickering in her eyes. “You really think he might know?”

“I don’t know.”

Maximilian kissed her forehead.

“But we move in the same circles. We’ll see him again.”

Catherine leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I just hope he finds love,” she whispered. “That’s all I want for him.”

“He will,” Maximilian assured her.

She smiled faintly against his chest.

Maximilian, however, found himself thinking about Fitzgerald differently now.

He had expected Catherine to be surrounded by people loyal to her in this life, people who had chosen to stand beside her as she fought Dorian. He had witnessed some of it himself.

But Fitzgerald Rathbourne had surprised him.

That was the man Maximilian had been most wary of—the one people whispered about, the one reputed to be cold enough to have little regard for anyone else’s life. Yet when Catherine had been in danger, he had stepped between her and Dorian without hesitation.

He had saved her.

And somehow, Maximilian suspected, he would have helped her in other ways too.

Perhaps this was how Catherine was meant to win this time.

Perhaps the people Dorian had hurt in their previous life had all found their way back to her in this one, each carrying a piece of the strength she needed.

One by one, they had stood beside her and taken something back from Dorian.

Maybe this life wasn’t giving Catherine a single savior.

Maybe it was giving her everyone who had once lost to him—and giving each of them a chance to see him fall.

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft sniff.

Maximilian looked down.

Catherine was crying.

Not loudly. There were no sobs, no attempt to hide her face behind her hands. Tears simply slipped down her cheeks as she stood against him, her fingers curled loosely into his shirt.

“Catherine…” His voice softened immediately. He brushed one tear away with his thumb. “What is it?”

She shook her head, but that only made another tear fall.

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