"Let's hope so," Max scoffs coldly before hanging up.
The second the call ends, another rings through. "Speak," he barks into the receiver.
"Mr. Hawthorne, we still haven't located Mrs. Hawthorne," the subordinate reports, his voice trembling with fear.
Max's expression turns lethal, though he isn't entirely surprised by the failure. "Keep searching."
"Yes, sir."
He ends the call. A layer of frost seems to settle over his handsome features. Remembering Jeffrey's ultimatum from earlier that afternoon only makes his expression colder.
Upon arriving at Oakridge Estate, Max finds Willa playing a game of checkers with Anne in the living room.
Hearing him enter, Anne looks up and calls out to him. Max walks over, and she immediately asks, "Daddy, is Mommy busy with something?"
Anne knows her mother isn't home tonight. After finishing her homework, she had tried calling Felicia but couldn't get through, which prompted her to call Max earlier.
Max scoops her into his arms, comforting her gently. "Mommy is busy with some important things and can't answer her phone right now. Don't bother her for the next couple of days, okay? She will tell you all about it when she gets back."
Anne eyes him suspiciously. "You and Mommy didn't get into a fight, did you?"

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Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Ugly Wife’s Stunning Comeback (Felicia and Max)
Take her back? Want to see her?? Donno about Felicia but I think I’m falling for this Max somehow🫠🙈pls update daily...
I knew it! Hopefully Felicia's health will improve and will want to have the baby. Oh how I despise Max's family....
Please post *I forgot I ever loved you*...
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....