My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 995

It was 7:00 p.m. when Maximus parked his truck in front of Valerie and Marcus’s house. He helped his daughter out, watching as she held the urn with her great-grandfather’s ashes like her life depended on it.

“Come on, let’s go. I’ll walk you in—I don’t want you getting scolded because of me,” Maximus said as if talking to a little girl.

Serenity took her father’s hand. Moments like these were rare, but they meant the world to her. In a way, Maximus had built a wall between them. He knew he couldn’t ask for much—she was his daughter, but everything that had happened was still a reality.

Just like with Lucius, he would let time—only time—heal what had been lost.

“Miss Serenity, your parents have been looking for you like crazy,” the maid said.

“Oh! But… they didn’t call me?” Serenity asked, confused.

“They did… but you weren’t answering,” the maid replied as she watched Serenity walk in, still holding her father’s hand.

“Sweetheart! Oh my God! Where have you been? We’ve been searching for you everywhere! Your father even called Alden, and he’s on his way. We feared the worst…” Valerie said, rushing over the moment she saw her daughter.

“Sorry, Mom! I was with—”

“She was with me, Valerie… I’m sorry, I think we lost track of time,” Maximus admitted, embarrassed.

“I should’ve known. Only you would be this irresponsible…”

“Mom! Why didn’t you call me? If you had, you would’ve reached me,” Serenity interjected before her mother could lash out at Maximus.

“We did, sweetheart… but your phone was off or something. You weren’t answering,” Valerie said, both frustrated and worried.

Serenity handed the urn to Maximus, pulled out her phone, and saw it flooded with missed calls from Marcus, Valerie, Alden, Peter, Theodore—basically half the world.

“My phone didn’t ring… I guess it must’ve glitched. I’m so sorry. I really didn’t think we’d be gone that long. We went to Maximus’s house…”

“Serenity, don’t ever do this again… We really thought something terrible had happened, especially with you being pregnant…”

“I’m sorry, I really am…” Serenity murmured, ashamed, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Serenity!” Marcus called from the front door.

“Yes, that man is gone,” Marcus responded dryly.

“No! No! Maximus came to see you, Mom!” Serenity said desperately.

“Me? Why? What for?” Valerie asked, looking confused.

“Oh my God! Mom, here—he brought this for you,” Serenity said, handing her the urn Maximus had given her.

“Serenity, what is this?”

“Maximus brought it for you. It’s… It’s…”

“My grandfather!” Valerie gasped, immediately taking the urn in her hands.

“Yes. We were at Maximus’s house, and he found it. He said he wanted to give it to you personally, but then we got caught in traffic. I fell asleep, and I lost track of time. Mom, it really wasn’t his fault,” Serenity said, feeling guilty.

“No, sweetheart… This isn’t your fault. It’s just that we were so worried about you, especially with your pregnancy…” Marcus said, stepping forward to hug his daughter.