I'm sorry for the mistake an the confusion. This is the right chapter

Fran is determined!

Maxwell hesitates.

"Fran, I don't know if that's such a good idea. Nigel will certainly be waiting for you at the hotel. He'll be wondering why you're not there anyway, since you're supposedly sick." Fran heads for the couch.

"I don't care now, I'll sort it out somehow. It's very important for me that you listen to me again." Maxwell sits down next to her, tense, and looks at her expectantly.

"You know, earlier I was torn because I didn't know what to do. And this morning I was still convinced that I owe it to Nigel to give him and myself another chance. But now I see things completely differently. To cut a long story short, I have decided to separate from Nigel."

Maxwell stares at her in shock.

"What? But why? Didn't you hear what he said? He loves you. He loves you like he's never loved any woman before."

"I'm begging you, Max! Apparently you're the one who hasn't really listened to him. Yes, he loves me. But as what, please? He loves me as the woman he can do fun things with, have fun with, go to parties with. As a pretty appendage that he can show off and be envied with. But he doesn't really love me for who I am."

"That's not true, Fran! You know Nigel. He always has to act a bit macho."

"Stop defending him. I'm not saying Nigel is a bad guy. He certainly has a good core to him, but... when I overheard you and heard what Nigel thinks about me and our life, that's when I really realized for the first time that Nigel and I are basically not suited to each other. I mean, I knew that all along, but I just closed my eyes to it. I didn't want to admit it. But now I realize that Nigel is not the man I want to spend the rest of my life with."

"But you love him, Fran, don't you?

"No, not anymore. I never really loved him. Not like I love you. I had a crush on him and I let myself be seduced by him, by his captivating nature. And his admiration. But I realize that I need more from a man. I want a man by my side who loves me even in difficult times and not just as fun entertainment. I want a man by my side who loves me even in difficult times. One who is caring and looks after me."

"But Nigel does. He genuinely cares about you."

"Nonsense, I'm just a nuisance and a nuisance to him. He just wants the old fun Fran back, but he doesn't care what's wrong with me or how I feel."

"But Nigel certainly didn't mean it that way."

"Yes, he does. He also has a completely different attitude to life and love. For example, he has practically openly admitted that he could meet another woman at any time. Do you really think I want to be married to a man who, every time he comes home late, makes me wonder if he is with another woman?"

Maxwell frowns and gives Fran a clear look.

"Yes, I know what you're saying. I'm the last person who should be worrying about Nigel's possible infidelity right now. But still. And how he feels about children. Maxwell, you know how much I love Maggie, Brighton and Gracie. And how much I want children of my own. But what I want even more is for my children to have a real father. Someone who I can experience the pregnancy with and who will look after our children with me and raise them with me. I mean, I myself had a father who I only saw when he went to the fridge. I don't want that for my children. And Nigel has made it clear that he doesn't want children. And if he does, that would be my job."

"Fran, you shouldn't take this so seriously. Nigel is young and easy-going. Men think differently about many things in life. But you'll see, once you're married and the first child is on the way, Nigel will be the proudest father in the world. To be honest, Fran, I think you're being pretty unfair and unjust. Nigel isn't as bad as you make him out to be."

I don't want to say that. What I actually want to say is that I don't love him. He is not the right man for me and I am not the right woman for him and that is why it is only fair that I split up with him before the wedding. I can't say yes to a man that I don't really love and that I don't really want. That would be really unfair to Nigel. He certainly doesn't deserve that. And I don't want to badmouth Nigel either. I know that even though he is still a big, playful boy, he has a good character. During the conversation I just realised how much I love you, Maxwell. Precisely because you are who you are and you are the opposite of Nigel."

"You can't say that. In the past, I often didn't see what was wrong with you and didn't care about you. Otherwise, you would never have run off with Nigel. And I wasn't always the best father to the children either. I neglected them for years and hardly paid any attention to them."

"Yes, that's true. But look, over the last few years you've tried so hard to make up for the mistakes of the past. And even if you don't always have much time for the three of them, they still know deep down that you love them. And there were so many situations where you stood by me, even though we weren't even a couple. You helped me so often, no matter how crazy I was acting or when I threw the whole house into chaos. Maxwell, be honest with yourself. What we both feel for each other is real. The two of us and the children, we could become a really happy family, like we basically always have been over the last few years."

"Stop, Fran! We both have to face reality. We can't be together no matter how we feel about each other. I'm begging you, Fran! Give Nigel another chance. You were so happy with him. I'm sure you two could live a happy and contented life together."

Fran looks at him in horror. She doesn't understand what's wrong with him.