My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 1046

"You said it yourself—if I wanted to, I could’ve hit her back. But I won’t. I don’t want to. And I refuse to let this situation escalate any further. Look at me now—I have stitches in my head. Who knows what will happen next? I’d rather put an end to this now."

"Adrian! You don’t have to air our business in front of my grandfather!" Alice snapped, offended.

"I can and I will, because this is over. I can’t do this anymore. You act like we should all worship the ground you walk on, but I won’t anymore. If you want someone to pay for our family’s debts, go talk to my father—he’s the one who agreed to this marriage, he’s the one who took the money. Not me."

Joseph listened to Adrian, and little by little, his earlier assumptions faded. The young man was right. When Joseph himself was young, he had built a strong marriage. But as his children grew up, they became more demanding, more entitled, expecting the lavish lifestyle to continue without lifting a finger.

After a moment of contemplation, the old man finally spoke.

"Adrian, your family took out a lot of money after your wedding. And you’re right—you shouldn’t have to pay for their choices. But I have a proposal for you."

Adrian remained silent, listening.

"Stay with my granddaughter, and everything—the George fortune, our entire legacy—will be yours. You’ll have full control. You’ll decide what stays, what goes. Looking at you, I see a bit of my late eldest son in you—the one who could have led this family."

"I know keeping my granddaughter as a wife would be a punishment. Frankly, I’d want to run, too. But what I’m offering is no small thing. Think about it, and let me know your decision."

Then, turning back to Alice, he added coldly, "And you, you spoiled little brat, I already told you—not a single cent more. Not until you prove you’re worthy of carrying my last name."