My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

Sebastian stepped out of the hallway alongside Angela. Maximus stood by the

window, staring outside with a calm expression-though that was merely a skill he had mastered over the years. On the inside, he was a mess of nerves.

His mind was flooded with memories: the day his son was born, the fleeting moments they had shared as he grew, and, most painfully, their last conversation -the one where things had ended in a bitter argument. It was a storm of emotions, all crashing down at once.

"Maximus Palmer," Sebastian greeted coldly as he approached.

"Maximus, here's Lucius. Why don't you two head to the study and talk?" Angela suggested, her tone both soothing and firm, as if she were already mediating before the fight even began.

"Of course," Maximus replied, swallowing hard.

Anthony wasn't there at that moment he had stepped outside to take a call. He knew this conversation wouldn't be easy.

On one hand, he found Lucius's arrogance infuriating. But on the other, he pitied him—the boy had been born into a family that could only be described as dysfunctional, to put it lightly.

In the short time they had spent together, there had been more arguments than peaceful moments. Yet, despite everything, the kid wasn't bad. Not when he saw how fiercely he protected Angela and Valentina in a way no one else ever had.

Back in the apartment, Angela led both men to the study. Without another word, she let them inside and closed the door behind them. Then, quietly, she went to check on her daughter, who was still glued to her tablet. Seeing that everything was fine, she suddenly remembered the girl who had been with Lucius. She decided to go find her.

"Can I come in? Are you decent?" Angela asked in a gentle voice.

"Oh! Yes, you can come in," Amanda replied, still a little flustered.noveldrama

"Hello, dear! So, Lucius is going to be a while, and my daughter and I are heading out for a bit. Why don't you join us? He's going to take forever," she said, trying to persuade her.

"Lucius? Sorry, but... I don't know who you're talking about," Amanda said, confused.

"Oh! My mistake. Sebastian's real name is Lucius-it's a long story. If you want to hear it, come with us. I promise, we don't bite," Angela added with a playful smile.

With no real exe

exeuse

to decline,

Amanda got up from the bed. It was clear Angela wasn't clueless-she knew exactly what had happened in that room. And while part of her was happy that Sebastian was trying to move forward with his life, another part of her worried about his well-being.

A few minutes later, Amanda joined them, and the three of them left the apartment.

Meanwhile, inside the study, the silence was suffocating. Neither man spoke. Both were battling their own demons.

Lucius knew he had made a mistake-putting so much trust in Frank and Leonardo, especially Frank. But how could he not? That man had "looked out for him" his entire life. Or so he had thought.

"Lucius..." Maximus's voice was thick with emotion, his throat tightening so much it nearly choked his words. "I know I probably shouldn't be here, but I can't keep going on like nothing happened."

He took a deep breath before continuing. "You're my son. You're my blood. And even if you weren't, you'd still be my son. That will never change."

Maximus barely had time to process his own words before Lucius scoffed,

crossing his arms-a clear attempt to shield himself.

"Maximus, I don't know what the hell you came here for. What do you want? What are you trying to do by showing up now?"

"Son... Lucius

Maximus exhaled,

trying to keep his voice steady. "I just want us to talk. I know things were a mess. I know that, in the end, you tried todo right by your mother And I also know she tried to make things right with you. I admire her for that."

Lucius frowned, caught off guard. "What?"

५

"I know she's the one who put you in Anthony Moriarty's care. That's the main reason you're here. And I know that man doesn't want anything bad for you. He's just trying to help you become a better version of yourself."

Maximus's words were calm, but Lucius wasn't buying it. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration creeping in. "Maximus, please, just get to the point. I don't have all day."

Maximus sighed. "Lucius, son, we miss you. I miss you. Your brothers miss you, And Laura... Laura misses you most of all. She wants to see you, to introduce you to her daughter—Adele. She's still little, a troublemaker already, and she's just a baby."

Lucius's expression softened for a brief moment. "Why didn't you bring her?" he asked, remembering how close he had always been with Laura.

"I wanted to talk to you first," Maximus admitted. "I know our relationship has

never been perfect, but believe me when I say that not a day goes by where I don't think about you. I can't be at peace knowing that one of my children is out there, alone."