"He should be at the hospital with his precious stepmom. Just go straight there and get him to sign."

"I'll walk away with nothing. As long as I get the divorce, none of the rest matters."

Renata nodded firmly.

"Relax. Your best friend happens to be one of the top divorce attorneys in the city. Consider it handled."

After she left with the agreement, my phone rang. It was my dad.

"Maggie, I couldn't stop him. That childhood friend of yours from the Delgado family already hopped on a plane back to the States to find you!"

"You're going to have to deal with this one yourself!"

Before I could get a single word in, he hung up, guilt practically radiating through the dead line.

I stared at the darkened screen and let out a helpless laugh.

"Thanks, Dad. You really know how to make my life harder."

I hadn't seen Max Delgado in five years.

Back at the hospital, Tilda had somehow ended up in Xavier's arms. Renata walked in on exactly that scene, and she exploded. She jabbed a finger straight at Xavier's face.

"Well, well, well! No wonder Maggie's been a wreck. You've been sleeping with your own stepmother! You disgusting piece of trash!"

Xavier's brow creased. His voice came out flat and cold.

"Watch your mouth. What goes on between me and my stepmother is none of your business."

"And if you don't know how to speak properly, I'd be happy to teach you."

But Renata wasn't the type to be intimidated. She scoffed right back at him.

"You think being some Capital Circle golden boy gives you the right to push me around? I'm a Simmons. Try me."

"You look so polished on the outside. Who knew you were this rotten underneath? What an act."

Xavier was about to lose his temper, but when he registered her last name, he reined himself in. His tone shifted, measured and low.

"So. What exactly are you here for?"

Renata let out a cold laugh and straightened her blazer.

"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm your wife's divorce attorney."

The words landed like a slap. Xavier shot to his feet.

"What did you just say? Maggie wants to divorce me?"

"That's impossible. She would never."

Renata tossed the divorce papers onto the table in front of him, her smile dripping with contempt.

"Sign. Now. Unless you'd prefer we do this the hard way in court."

Xavier picked up the divorce papers in disbelief, flipping through them again and again. His gaze finally landed on my signature, but he still shook his head.