Felicia glanced at her empty hand but stayed quiet.
She heard Mandy call out behind her. “Uncle Luke.”
Felicia turned and saw Luke coming over. She took Anne’s hand and walked toward him.
“Luke!” Anne shouted with a big grin.
Luke looked their way, eyes meeting Felicia’s. They shared a smile, one that felt familiar and easy.
He stepped forward, scooping Anne up and lifting her high. Anne burst out laughing, her joy filling the space.
Luke lowered her gently and looked over at Max, who was now standing at Felicia’s side. The smile faded from Luke’s eyes.
“Hi Max,” he said, his voice suddenly flat.
Max replied with a quiet, “Yeah.”
The dinner wrapped up around nine. Wyatt and Amber slowly said their goodbyes to each guest as they left.
Before leaving, Ember squeezed Felicia’s hand. “Let’s get together again soon, when we have more time.”
Felicia nodded, smiling softly. “I’d like that.”
Cian waved goodbye to Max and the others, then got in his car and drove off.
Max carried Anne, who was already asleep in his arms. She’d played hard all day, and as soon as things quieted down, she’d drifted off.
He said a quick goodbye to Wyatt and Amber before carrying Anne out to the car.
Amber glanced at Felicia, who met her eyes. “I’m going to go home too,” Felicia said.
“Drive safe,” Amber replied.
Felicia climbed into Luke’s car.
“Felicia’s so distant with him,” Amber said. “She clearly loves Anne, but she still hasn’t acknowledged her as her daughter. She just won’t surrender to Max. Whatever happened five years ago must have broken her heart. No matter how much she once loved him, it’s probably impossible for her to love him again now.”
Wyatt agreed. “Yeah. Max can be harsh.”
Amber sighed. “Well, I hope Max gets a taste of heartbreak one day. He needs to know what it’s like to love someone who doesn’t love him back.”
Wyatt grinned at her. “I’d actually like to see him struggle for once.”
Amber suddenly realized something. “Wait, you’ve been acting weird all night. Were you showing off your happy marriage in front of him on purpose?”
Wyatt didn’t even try to hide it. “Just wanted him to see what real happiness looks like.”
Amber rolled her eyes. “You’re hopeless.”
Meanwhile, Max sat in his car, staring out the window. His nose started to itch, so he reached up to rub it, then turned to look at Anne, sleeping peacefully in her car seat.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Ugly Wife’s Stunning Comeback (Felicia and Max)
Is this coming to an end...
Oh nooo!! Don’t tell me Max will get washed ashore on a remote island then loses all his memory, then falls inlove with the local girl who saves him. Then when he meets Felicia again he won’t recognize her and breaks her heart again. Additional plot twist is that Felicia is pregnant with their 2nd child. Please pleaseee don’t give us this scenario.. LOL!!!...
If Max can be forgiven Darrin can be forgiven. And I do not like this marriage business but if it has to happen I hope after he gets stranded on some remote island alone while Felicia and his family fight over custody she wins and also gets half his estate. Then by time he comes back she's found having and remarried. Lol...
The writer is good. They're making me interested in Max. I won't say like yet....
It seems the only one who hasn't suffered is Max. Even his family fakes anger and disappointment all their own doing so they suffer a little. Everyone else has suffered. Luke and Jeremy unrequited. Felicia has suffered the most from family to unrequited to romance to long suffering Mother. Even baby Anne never had a mother til Felicia suffered then came back only to suffer some more. lol...
Oh no what did Colton do?... I have a bone to pick. When Olisha had to go the hospital why beg for Felicia? When she so loved Max? Seemed like she was in on the setup for Felicia to see a suicide for the 2nd time orchestrated by holden and his brother again. I might drop this series it's becoming endless with no real satisfaction for me. I don't need it to end because it's like a soap opera but if things don't end up making sense, tying up loose storylines it's gonna get old fast for me. Good luck author....
Anne, I think your baby brother is on the way. Thank goodness it doesn't say that Felicia is crying just like the last time but still, there's no willingness on her part. Max! You need to try harder. Make her fall in love with you again....
The writer did a big one with Jeremy's speech to Max. He said almost everything that needed to be said. I have wanted Felicia or someone who knows the past to just tell that whole stinking family what they did and how disgusting they are and what they're doing now how unfair it all is to Felicia. A pity it was only Max but he really needed to hear this (plus more)....
I love the chase of this novel, how you’ve build each of the characters. They almost seem like real. I feel like I know them irl. But however I would like to know what’s max’s pov and what’s going on in his head. I truly believe max’s just a grey character. And also please please please update more!!!...
I was really hoping that Max and Felicia would end up together, but why did Max do that to Felicia? 😭 Is that his way of making Felicia overcome the trauma Holden caused her? I don't think that's helping at all. I just hope Max's character has some redeeming qualities in the coming chapters....