329 Accident 05 cont.

"Let's go for a walk." Mia suggested to Sabrina and gave eye-signals to Brianna to join them.

Brianna followed right away. After many years of sharing an apartment and numerous adventures, Mia and Brianna can communicate non-verbally as if they are reading each other's minds.

Irene is a big problem, and Mia and Brianna are out of ideas, so they might as well get Sabrina onboard. Maybe Sabrina has a solution to this.

About ten minutes later, Sabrina, Mia, and Brianna returned to the room and they found it in the same state as when they left: Madeline sobbing next to Max's bed; Nathan, Hunter, Ashton, and Quentin on the sofa, staring at the floor, and Liz in the corner, leaning on the wall and staring blankly. 

"Liz, join me for a walk…" Sabrina said.

Liz guessed that Mia and Brianna told Sabrina about Irene and she knew that she can't avoid this. Well, other than drowning in regret, Liz has nothing better to do.

"How are you doing?" Sabrina asked Liz.

Liz exhaled. "I feel like shit."

"Mia and Bri told me that Irene is Max's ex-girlfriend, the one who left him six years ago. They also told me that Max apologized to you for spacing out and that he tried talking to you, but you were not willing."

"I'm sorry, Rina. If I knew..."

"No one knew, Liz." Sabrina cut off Liz. "Don't apologize because there are so many factors that you can't pick one as the main culprit. None of this would happen if Irene Brooks didn't come to work at the Alpha group, but here we are."

Liz didn't want to think about Irene. It only reminded her of how Max reacted when Irene stepped on that stage, and how it all escalated into the current situation. But Liz knew that Irene is someone she can't ignore and she needs to find out more. "Did you know her, when Max and Irene dated?"

Sabrina understood that Liz wants to know more about the relationship Max and Irene had.

Sabrina and Liz stood in front of the window that is facing East and observed the sunrise.

Sabrina thought for some time before answering Liz's question.

Liz was disappointed with the lack of details, but she understood that Max and Irene had a typical relationship for two young people who are still in school. They spent time together without involving families because that usually means a long-term commitment which youngsters are reluctant to make. Liz wondered if staying away from families was Max's or Irene's decision, but in the next moment, she pushed that thought away. It does not matter.

Sabrina paused and glanced at Liz. "What will you do, Liz?"

"I want Max to get better. I will apologize to him for not listening."

"How will that help?"

Liz was confused by Sabrina's question. "What?"

"You said that you will apologize, I assume for leaving him on his own which gave him a chance to drink and nearly kill himself. How will that apology help? Will it change anything?" Sabrina elaborated on her question.

"I don't know." Liz said, even though she knew it will not help.

"Elizabeth, I know Max since he was born. I like you, but I am his sister first so I will speak for him. Over the years, I saw him happy, sad, and almost anything in-between, and this is the first time that I saw him in love. When I met you in that restaurant half a year ago, I saw how Max is looking at you. It was a mix of wonder and admiration and he never looked at any woman like that. I remember how at that time you told him not to touch you and I watched as your relationship progressed to the point where you can't get your hands off from one another. However, it's much more than just touching. The two of you complete each other. You give him the motivation to be a better man and to do the right thing. The two of you share a connection many couples dream of having. Yes, he has many women in his past, and one of them is Irene, but they dated as kids. Don't compare school-age shallow feelings with the ones that a mature man has."

"Everything you said makes sense, Rina, but… I can't forget that he froze when he saw her."

"People freeze for many reasons." Sabrina saw that Liz does not understand, so she decided to use herself as an example: "Almost every evening, Ashton and I go for a walk, and sometimes I see a profile, or a back view of a man and I think that it's Jackson. Do you know how that impacts me?"

"You freeze?" Liz guessed.

Sabrina nodded in confirmation. "I don't remember if I ever had any feelings for Jackson, but I know that since we got into that engagement agreement, there were none. Yet, when I think that he is in front of me, my body freezes."

"Your body reacts on a reflex because Jackson wanted to hurt you and he hurt Ashton. It's fear." Liz voiced her thoughts.

"And what do you think Max is going through when he sees a woman who nearly destroyed his life?"

Liz inhaled sharply. Sabrina's words opened a door of possibilities Liz didn't see before. And the more Sabrina spoke, the more Liz found that the ache in her heart is subsiding.

"Max needs you, Liz. He needs you to tell him that you will be by his side and not allow Irene to hurt him again. No matter how big and powerful someone is, there will always be challenges that make us shrink and act like five years olds. Happy endings don't come without a lot of work, and this is your turn to support Max. Give him the sense of security and boost his courage to face this storm…"

Liz took in deep breaths and listened to Sabrina's words.

Liz realized that Max is always confident with several solutions at hand, one better than the other, and she forgot that Max is human and that he can bleed as well.

Max and Liz faced many challenges but most of the time, Max was the one fighting for them while assuring her that everything will be fine… and now is the time for her to step up.

Liz hugged Sabrina. "Thank you. I really needed to hear this."

Sabrina hugged Liz back. "You are welcome, sweetie. I am glad that you got my message. The two of you have an amazing thing going on, don't allow ghosts from the past to ruin it…"

…

Sabrina and Liz returned to Max's room and Liz went next to Max's bed.

Liz touched Max's bruised cheek gently. "I'm sorry Max for not listening and for not understanding. I hope that you will forgive me when you wake up."

Liz turned to others. "I am sorry everyone for allowing my insecurities to reach the point of Max getting hurt like this. I know that all of you love him, and I hope that one day, you will be able to forgive me. I will request that Max is transferred to the Franciscan Medical Center as soon as possible and I will be in charge of getting him back to us."

Mia and Brianna saw that Liz got her vigor back. They are not sure what Sabrina told her, but it's working.

Madeline hugged Liz. "There is nothing to forgive, Liz. Just take care of our Max and yourself. Learn from this so that it does not happen again. My Max is a better boy because of you, and we are all lucky to have you in our lives..."

Liz smiled when she heard that Madeline addressed Max as a boy. Well, she is Isaac's little girl, no matter how old she is.

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