The Ugly Wife’s Stunning Comeback (Felicia and Max) novel Chapter 1162

Darin strode over, bending down to scoop Anne into his arms. Unable to resist, he gave her chubby little cheek an affectionate pinch.

Anne batted his hand away, her small lips locked in a pout. "Uncle Darin, you always pinch my cheeks."

Darin let out a fond laugh. "Because you are simply too cute, Anne. I just can't help myself. Did I pinch too hard?"

"It doesn't hurt, but what if you squish my face flat?" Anne reasoned seriously.

"Alright, alright, I am sorry," he conceded, setting her gently back on her feet. He then turned to Felicia, his voice softening with genuine relief. "Felicia, you are home. How are you feeling?"

Felicia met his gaze and gave a small nod. "I am doing quite well."

Darin nodded in return. "Good. We will ensure nothing like this ever happens again."

"Let's head inside first," Max suggested.

Once they settled in the grand living room, Max turned to Felicia. "Why don't you take Anne upstairs for a bit? Darin and I need to have a private chat."

"Is there something being discussed that I am not allowed to hear?" Felicia challenged. Considering she had not seen her brother in so long, shouldn't he have plenty to catch up on with her?

Max looked at her. Her total lack of memory ironically made her much harder to manage. She was just as fiercely stubborn as ever. "There is nothing you can't hear," he relented, knowing he had to accommodate her current temperament.

"Anne and I will just sit here and listen. We won't disturb you," Felicia declared, taking Anne's hand and leading her over to the plush sofa.

Darin watched Felicia walk away. He had already learned from Jeremy about her amnesia. Seeing her now, he realized it was purely a memory block; her core personality remained entirely untouched. If anything, she seemed even more resilient. He shifted his gaze to Max, catching the man's expression of utter, helpless resignation, and let out a quiet chuckle.

"What is the current situation between you and Jeffrey?" Darin inquired. Based on his own intelligence network, the splinter factions within the Manning family were currently being ruthlessly crushed by Jeffrey. Some had already broken under the pressure and begged for peace. Jeffrey's swift, brutal consolidation of power was largely successful because no formidable external force had intervened to check his movements. If this had happened a year ago, Max would never have tolerated any threat to his interests, let alone sit idly by while Jeffrey brazenly paraded his ambitions right in front of him.

Max leaned back into his armchair, his gaze fixed absently on the large television screen where Anne's cartoon played. His posture was relaxed, almost indifferent. "I have no desire to waste my time dealing with him right now."

Darin gave him a measured look, then glanced over at Felicia. He understood Max's priorities had shifted, so he dropped the subject.

Sitting on the sofa, Felicia quietly absorbed their conversation. Though they did not directly mention her by name, she was sharp enough to piece it together: she had been abducted by Jeffrey as leverage in the Manning family's internal war, solely because of Jeffrey's conflict with Max. She had been used as a pawn against her own husband.

As the two men fell into a contemplative silence, Felicia turned her attention fully toward them. Both Darin and Max instantly looked back at her.

"Darin," Felicia began softly, "how are Mom and Dad doing?"