Chapter 11

Marshall walked over with his wife, Daphne Delaney, and eldest son, Bryce.

"Dad!"

Lisette stepped up quickly, looped her arm through her dad's, then smiled at her mom and brother. "Maverick said the other day he wouldn't be back until tonight because of some variety show recording. Turns out he snuck back early this morning. Trying to surprise me and Tobias?"

Marshall chuckled and ruffled her hair. "You and Maverick have been close since forever. Course he wanted to surprise you."

Lisette just smiled. Sure, there was a surprise today. But the one preparing it... was her.

Tobias warmly greeted the three and asked politely, "Are the other brothers not home yet?"

"Don't bring them up." Marshall sighed at the mention of his twin boys.

"Those two... one's obsessed with weirdo inventions, and the other vanishes so often I've stopped trying to guess where he is."

He glanced at Bryce, then Lisette, and his frustration eased into a smile. "At least you two are reliable. You've never given me a headache."

They were his own kids. The more Marshall looked at them, the more proud and cheerful he got.

His eyes landed on Maverick, and his grin deepened. "Maverick's such a good kid, too. No matter how busy filming gets, he still stops by to chat."

Daphne laughed. "Oh please, you only give them grief with your mouth. Who's always raving about them behind their backs?"

Marshall adored his wife. Even after being exposed like that, he wasn't the slightest bit annoyed. He just held her soft hand, eyes full of love. At fifty-five, he looked more energetic than most guys in their early thirties.

"By the way, how long are you staying in Veridia this time?" he asked Tobias.

"Till the end of the year," Tobias replied without hesitation.

Daphne lit up. "Great! That means I'll see you and Lise more often. I love having you two around."

Tobias smiled. "I'd like that."

He wasn't acting like his usual aloof self today. More relaxed and easygoing, chatting comfortably with his in-laws.

Lisette couldn't help but steal a few glances at him. Tobias without work-mode turned on? Surprisingly charming. Look how happy her parents were, thanks to him. Props to Mr. Hastings.

Maverick shot a glance her way and caught that softness in her smile, the way her gaze lingered. His chest tightened, eyes darkening like a storm brewing.

The Cavendish family was laughing and talking, perfectly at ease. But none of it registered with Maverick. It felt like two invisible hands were twisting his insides - one clenching his heart until he couldn't breathe, the other churning up a storm in his lungs, leaving nothing but burning frustration.

He didn't even notice how much time had passed until Lisette stood up. Instinctively, he did too.

"Maverick, what's up?" Daphne, who'd been sitting right beside him, jumped in surprise.

Clutching her chest, she said bluntly, "You trying to give me a heart attack or what? Did filming mess up your health? You're not even married yet, don't tough it out if something's wrong. Go see a doctor. You don't want to end up twitching at random times."

"Pfft -" Lisette burst into laughter, unable to hold back. Her laugh was light and bright, like wind chimes in the breeze.

She swore her mom totally didn't mean to throw shade at Maverick. Daphne was just like that - pure, honest, no filter.

Daphne had it easy her whole life, pampered by her parents, met Marshall at fifteen, fell in love at eighteen, married right after college... always loved, always protected. She spoke her mind without hesitation.

It really wasn't shade. Really! That kind of low-key revenge? Yeah, that's what hits hardest.

Daphne had no filter, and Lisette was laughing so hard she almost couldn't sit straight. Maverick forced a smile, the gloomy vibe clinging to him like a second skin. "Mom, I'm good. Just need the bathroom for a sec."

He bolted - literally looked like he was fleeing.

Daphne suddenly lit up. "Ah, I get it now. Kidney issues."

Only Tobias stayed chill, leaning closer to Lisette's beaming face and lowering his voice teasingly, "Things not going so well between you two?"

With her parents so close, Lisette didn't really want to spill everything. So she played it safe. "Want to try the honey lemon tea I made?"

Cooking wasn't her thing, but that tea? Safe zone.

"Sure." Tobias sat up properly, giving her a little nod.

The moment Lisette stepped into the kitchen, she felt it - someone had followed her in. The wave of tension said it all. Yeah, no need to turn around to guess who it was.

Lisette ignored him, casually grabbed the tea from the fridge like nothing had happened.

Maverick stormed up, his steps fast and clipped, and finally snapped, unable to hold it in anymore, "You're not Lisette. Who the hell are you?!"

"Not Lisette?"

Lisette locked eyes with him, playing it coy, drawing it out just long enough to push him further before cocking an eyebrow and smirking. "Who else would I be?"

His face darkened like a storm cloud.

Still leaning casually against the fridge, Lisette looked up at him with that bored "I'm totally winning" kind of face. "Honestly, I'm disappointed. I thought you'd at least ask why I didn't divorce Tobias."

Maverick scoffed, crossing his arms. "Like you'd tell me the truth?"

"Of course!"

She lifted her chin defiantly. "I mean, look at my husband - tall, rich, hotter than sin. Why the hell would I leave him?"

Maverick could see the sarcasm and smugness written all over her face. It felt like she'd slapped him with those words. Suddenly he grabbed her shoulders, eyes cold and voice low and rough. "Why?!"

Lisette raised a brow. "Why what?"

Maverick's pupils dilated, fury boiling over. "If you weren't gonna leave him, why keep telling me you would? Why lie? Why take five-hundred million from me?!"

He always thought he had everything under control. Couldn't stand the idea of being fooled. Now even his carefully built calm crumbled.

His grip was so tight she could already feel the bruises forming, but Lisette didn't flinch. Instead, she stared him down, lips curling with bitterness. "Why? Huh. Didn't Amber tell you?"

"What's she got to do with this?"

Maverick's head snapped up. The second Amber's name came up, he sobered instantly, eyes darkening.

Lisette let out a little gasp, covering her mouth playfully. "She's the one who told me. Said you were the one pushing me to leave Tobias so I'd lose the Hastings' backing. Makes it way easier for you to swoop in and do your thing, right?"

Each word chipped away at his confidence.

"That's not possible!"

Lisette could guess what was going through his head - and she wasn't about to show mercy. She shoved his hands off, stepping forward. "Oh yeah? Why not? Let me paint the picture: a woman falls for a guy. That guy? Always trending with random women, caught up in rumors and fake relationships. What do you think she's gonna do when she cracks?"

Maverick was too stunned to speak, which suited Lisette just fine.

"She drank herself stupid," she added, voice eerily calm. "And spilled everything to me."