Daniel gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, then looked at Luke and said, "I thought you had plans tonight?"
Daniel had originally organized a dinner for the three brothers today. When he contacted Luke, Luke had claimed he was busy and couldn't make it.
Now that he was caught red-handed, Luke didn't seem too embarrassed. He smiled and said, "Well, I already had a prior engagement."
Daniel didn't push the issue. "Go ahead then."
Luke nodded. "Alright."
Felicia glanced at Max. The man remained silent, showing no intention of speaking. Just as she was about to turn and leave, she saw someone walking toward them. It was Andrea. Andrea was glaring directly at them, and when her eyes landed on Felicia, they were filled with undisguised, venomous resentment.
It seemed they had really picked the wrong place tonight.
"Felicia, let's go."
Felicia withdrew her gaze and turned to walk into the lobby.
Daniel glanced sideways at Max, about to say something, when he saw Andrea approaching. She greeted them, "Max. Mr. Hawthorne."
Max bypassed her and walked straight into the lobby. Daniel ignored Andrea's greeting entirely and followed suit.
Andrea stood rooted to the spot, her face instantly stiffening. She stared at Max's retreating back, her hands balling into tight fists.
"Andrea, are... are you okay?"
The friend beside her asked cautiously, checking on her.
Inside the private room, Luke and Felicia ordered their food.
Luke finally asked, "Are you going to continue working at Roen Capital?"
Felicia replied, "I'm transferring to the branch office in Cloudville."
Luke paused for a moment, then asked, "When are you leaving?"
When he first learned the news, he had been incredibly shocked and bewildered.
He could only sigh at the cruel twists of fate.
Darin was actually Felicia's biological brother. And Mrs. Curtis was her mother.
Thinking of the things Mrs. Curtis had done to her own flesh and blood, a surge of righteous indignation filled his heart.
If Felicia knew the truth of being stabbed in the back by her biological mother, while her biological brother enabled her half-sister to harm her... if she actually met Darin, would she still feel such joyful anticipation?
He didn't dare think about it any further.
Her entire life had never been stable; it was filled with endless hardships and turbulence.
Her parents divorced when she was young. A severe illness in high school left her sensitive and insecure. Just after graduating college, her family faced bankruptcy, forcing her into a marriage that brought not happiness, but endless darkness. She spent five years abroad due to the malicious schemes of others. She had finally managed to pull herself together and build a career, yet she was still deprived of happiness.
If anyone else had to endure her experiences, they probably wouldn't have survived.

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....