My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

Maximus drove to the bank where his family usually handled their affairs.

Strangely, it seemed as if the manager had always known that someone would eventually come asking about locker 300. As soon as Maximus requested access, the man smiled and immediately led him to the vault.

Once there, he pointed out the locker and handed Maximus a key. At that moment, Maximus was certain-the manager had known he would come someday. As soon as he was inside, the man gave him space, stepping away to let him go through the contents in private.

The locker sat on the table. Inside were several documents, but on top of them all was an envelope with his name on it. Maximus opened it and began to read:

[Maximus,

If you're reading this, it means I'm dead. By now, I'm probably on my way to a well-earned spot in hell.

I worked hard all my life to build what we had, but a part of me was never at peace. A part of me always knew something wasn't right. And if you're here, it means I was right.

I'll keep this brief. Inside this locker, you'll find the deeds to your house and Catherine's. They are no longer tied to me—I transferred them to Laura's name. That means they're not technically mine anymore; it was a donation. You'll just need to go through a few formalities, and they'll officially be in your hands.

I hope you live a long life, Maximus. Take care of my grandchildren. And hopefully, one day, Lucius will find his way back to you all. I don't want my son to live a lonely life.]

Maximus folded the letter, put it back in the envelope, and began sorting through the contents of the locker. Just as Leonardo had said, the property deeds were there-his own house, as well as Catherine's, where she had spent her final days.

As far as he remembered, that house had always belonged to him. But as if Leonardo had foreseen something, he had changed the ownership, and now it belonged to his daughter.

"Well... You had to die to finally do something right. Leonardo, you never cease to surprise me. And yes, I will find my son. You can be sure of that." Maximus muttered as he gathered all the documents.

"Mr. Palmer, do you have everything you need?" the bank manager asked. "Yes."

"Good. With this, we have fulfilled Mr. Leonardo Palmer's final wishes."

"How long have you been expecting me?"

"Hmm... About two or three months. Not too long. Everything was handled through his lawyer. But now that you're here, we can finally close this matter."

"I see..."

Maximus left the bank. He had to admit-something inside him had been shaken by everything that had happened that day. After all, the man he had identified at the morgue, the man he had later carried in an urn, had been his father for fifty years. Whether Leonardo had truly acted like a father or not was something only he knew.

Maximus got into his car and drovenoveldrama

his usual spot-the overlook where he

always went when he needed to be alone.

He stepped out of the car and gazed at the city, watching as the afternoon melted into the night. For a long time, he got lost in his thoughts-memories of his life with Martina, Peter, and his father.

His parents might not have loved each other, but they had done their best to give him and Peter a normal life.

It seemed like marital mistakes ran in the Palmer family. Maximus had worked hard to break that pattern, to correct what he was never proud of. But now, he realized he wasn't the only one who had done things he would regret for the rest of his life.

"Oh, Leonardo... Our lives would have

been completely different if only my mother and you had done the right thing. But as crazy as it sounds, understand. I almost made the same mistake myself... And I will never regret it, because from that, my daughter Serenity was born. But her mother and I... we were never meant to be together.

"You never wanted to accept that Peter was alive, and I understand why. If you did, you'd have to carry the weight of your guilt. It was easier to pretend he didn't exist. I don't

blame you. Even though Peter and I have talked, there are still days when I don't know how I can even look him in the eye. Not after everything I did to him.

"Peter is, without a doubt, the best thing to come out of all this. He's about to start over. That man has more lives than a cat. But I get it now-life hasn't taken him yet because he still has unfinished business."

"I promise you, I'll find Aria Fairchild. Tomorrow, I'll go there and bring her back. If there's one thing I can assure you, it's that she'll finally get the chance life stole from her. Just like I got to know my real father, Peter will know his real mother."

Maximus got back into his car and drove home.

When he arrived, the sight at the dinner table filled his chest with warmth.

Laura and the kids, along with Emma and Adele, were enjoying their meal. His daughter, who was now preparing to be the best mother she could be for Adele, had just inherited two mansions—homes that carried deep meaning for their family.

"Dad! I thought you were with Diana, so we didn't wait for you," Laura said when she noticed him standing in the doorway.

"Don't worry... I had things to take care of and just now finished." Maximus walked over to them.

"Come sit, Dad. I'll get you a plate. Join us! We're having pizza-Maurice got to pick dinner tonight," Laura said, ruffling the boy's hair.

Maximus took a seat and looked around at the chaos at the table-a beautiful, lively mess.

A mess he was deeply grateful for.

There was nothing in the world—no amount of money, no status-that could ever make him trade this moment for anything.