My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 925

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 a 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.”

“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 strange, but Peter didn’t need more proof to believe Maximus and 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.