My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

When Maximus hugged his daughter, he felt something strange the warmth of her body, the small bump of her belly. Seeing his 21-year-old daughter pregnant made him imagine what it must have been like for Peter's mother-the fear she must have felt, the loss, everything... All of it reminded him why he was there.

"My girl, I'm going to see Peter. I need to talk to him about something. Can you help Emma take care of the little ones?"

"Of course, Dad! No problem."

"Thanks..."

Serenity and Maximus walked toward the backyard and ran into Chester on the way out. The man looked at his brother, who seemed to be glowing, as if he had regained a few years of his youth. There was no doubt-Peter truly needed this, he needed to experience what he was living now. Meeting Aria would complete

the equation.

"Peter..." Maximus said nervously.

"Maximus! What a surprise! You didn't tell me you were coming," Peter said, rocking his daughter in his arms.

"No, I just got here... How are the girls?" Maximus asked as he approached the baby in his brother's arms.

"Bigger and stronger every day... Their mom, though-she's exhausted. These little ones eat like crazy. Celeste looks thinner every day, but she refuses to give them formula."

"They're her first babies. She must be over the moon."

"Oh, she is, believe me. Sometimes she's like mother hen, but other times... she's more like a dragon. Right, Emma?"

Emma shook her head in denial but couldn't hide the smile on her face.

"She's just being a mom. Of course, she wants to protect and take care of her babies."

"Speaking of which... That brings me to the reason I'm here," Maximus said, steering the conversation back to the real issue. "Peter, can we talk?"

“Sure, tell me,” Peter said, still rocking Flora.

"I'd like to talk in private."

"Oh? Must be serious... You're asking me to leave my girls? Why?"

"It's complicated... I have something to show you," Maximus admitted, unsure where to start.

"Alright..." Peter kissed his daughter's rosy cheek before gently placing her in her carrier. “Emma, can you watch the girls?"

"Of course! Go on, don't worry I'll take care of these little angels."

"I'll help you, Emma. These girls are a handful," Serenity added, sitting next to her.

Peter and Maximus started walking toward the study. Maximus was deep in thought, trying to figure out how to break the news, but the more he thought about it, the less he knew how to begin.

"Well? What do you want to talk about?" Peter asked as he sat behind his desk. "Peter, I know you don't remember anything from before the surgery, but..."

"Is there something I should remember?"

"There's a lot... But one thing in particular is why I'm here."

"Just say it."

"Peter... You spent twenty years in complete silence, and when you finally spoke, you revealed a lot of secrets. One of them was..."

"Which one?"

"Peter, have you ever thought about why Alden and Serenity can be together? You and I are brothers, so logically, she wouldn't be able to be with your son since she's my biological daughter..."

"I figured if everyone was okay with it, there was no need to ask questions."

"No, Peter. The truth is, you were the one who discovered that I'm not Leonardo Palmer's son. My father is Magnus Evans. You found him, contacted him, and took me to him."

"The rest is history. After learning that Mom was deeply in love with my father, you uncovered something else..."

"What?" Peter asked, too calm for Maximus's liking.

"We're not brothers-not even on our mother's side."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"My mother raised you as her own. Leonardo had an affair outside of marriage with your mother. One day he showed up with a baby, and my mom took care of you until her ast herdast day know Leonardo cared about her but not as much as he did about your mother..."

"What the hell are you saying, Maximus? Do you realize how... ridiculous? Incredible? I don't even know what to call it!" Peter shouted, standing up. "What's her name? Or was he asked, having had flashes of this truth for some time

"At first, when you looked for her, you found nothing because both her father and

Leonardo erased all traces of her at different times. But... now..."

Maximus knew it was time to tell Peter about Leonardo's death.

"Talk..." Peter demanded, his voice laced with anger.

"Two days ago, I was informed that Leonardo is dead. Yesterday, I went to identify

him and collect his ashes..." Maximus said, his throat tightening.

"So he finally died?" Peter asked, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Yes..."

"Well, damn. He lived long enough, don't you think?"

"Doesn't his death affect you at all?"

"Why would it? He sent me away, kept me from my family, never even let me explain what happened back then. He never allowed me to come back... You think I should feel bad for him? Alden told me about him, and trust me, none of it was good."

"I know! But there's something he did that left me with a strange feeling."

"What did he do? Must be important if you're bringing it up now."

Maximus reached into his coat and pulled out the locket Leonardo had left him.

"Open it... Leonardo left me this, along with a letter. Read it carefully."

Peter took the locket, opened it, and stared at the picture inside. He didn't have to say anything. He looked at it for a long time and immediately knew.

"It's her, isn't it?" Peter asked, needing confirmation.

"Yes... Her name is Aria Fairchild. The letter explains everything."

Peter took the letter and read it carefully, absorbing every word. His hands trembled, and his eyes widened as he realized she was alive. He nearly ran out of

the room, but Maximus stopped him.

"Hey!" Maximus called out as his brother almost bolted from the study.

"What the hell are you doing?" Peter snapped.

"Where are you going?" Maximus asked, clearly concerned.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to her," Peter said, his eyes filled with desperation.

"Peter, you don't even know where she is."

"Yes, I do! I've been there. Well, I used to go there... It's 'the dying city.""

"What?" Maximus asked, visibly shocked.

"Yeah... When I was younger, I used to go there. I loved that place. I was always drawn to it. I must've been around twenty, maybe twenty-three-I don't remember exactly. But I went there a lot."

“Peter..... She's here, in Valeria. I already found her."

"What?! Why didn't you bring her?!" Peter yelled, his distress evident.

"Because I needed to talk to you first, to explain everything..."

"Maximus, there's nothing to explain... She's my mother. That's all I need to know," Peter said, breathless and anxious.

It was

Peter didn't need

more Strange, bue Maximus and

proof to

Leonardo's words. He just knew. The moment he read the letter, he understood. Nothing about it felt like a lie Just looking at Aria's

photograph confirmed everything.

"Peter, she's at my house. She's already here. Let me call Magnus, and he'll bring

her."

"Call him! Maximus, call him now... I want-I need to see her!" Peter pleaded

desperately.noveldrama