My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 176

Chapter 0176 

[The past, Hesperia] 

“Mr. 

Bartz, you found me. What do you want? The last time I saw you, you were very clear–you couldn’t help me any more than you already had. I’m immensely grateful to you; thanks to your help, my daughter and I are still alive. But ever since Peter died, I swore I’d have nothing more to do with you or anyone connected to your world,” Mary said, feeling exposed and cornered. 

Inside, she was a storm of nerves, but she knew she had to appear strong–for herself and for her daughter, Serenity. She needed to make it clear that she didn’t want to have anything to do with anyone or anything related to Valentia. 

“Mary, can I invite you for a coffee so we can talk calmly? I promise I won’t take more of your time than necessary,” Marcus offered. 

“Don’t you realize I’m at the hospital because of my child? I don’t have time for coffee.” 

“Your daughter is in good hands,” Marcus said. “She’s already here, and the hospital won’t discharge 

and her until tomorrow. As for me, I’m just waiting for my friend to wake up. We were in an accident, honestly, I need to sit down and rest.” He gestured at the neck brace he was wearing. 

“Even so, I’ll say it again–I have nothing to discuss with you. I’m grateful for your help two years ago, but I don’t want to cause you more problems. Your financial help was a blessing during my pregnancy, but if you want to be reimbursed, I only have a hundred pesos in my wallet. That’s all I can give you.” 

가 

Marcus sighed heavily, his patience tested. The woman before him was no longer the same broken girl he had seen in Galea. Though young, her demeanor had hardened, and it was clear she didn’t trust anyone connected to the Palmer family. She had endured too much, and the only person who had helped her back then–Peter–had been taken from her. 

“I’m sorry about your accident, Mr. Bartz. I hope Mr. Frederick recovers quickly, but I need to get back to my baby. As you can see, it’s just the two of us, and I won’t leave her alone. If you can’t say what you need to here, I’ll leave you now. I have to go.” 

“Mary, I just want you to know that I regret how I treated you back then,” Marcus said, his voice softening. “It wasn’t my intention to speak to you the way I did, but the situation was spiraling out of control. I was shattered, and I couldn’t show that–not in front of the Palmers, who were fighting over what was left of my friend. I know that’s not an excuse, but it’s the truth. The situation overwhelmed me, and in the end… well, in the end, we both lost. Just as you lost the father of your daughter, I lost my friend–my brother. 

Mary watched as the imposing man’s tough exterior melted away, leaving behind the expression of a sad, wounded boy. Her anger and her sharp words began to soften. He was right. The two days she had spent at the house after Peter’s death had been utter chaos. 

She remembered the shouting, the accusations–none of the Palmers had ever set foot in Peter’s home before that day, yet they all insisted on deciding what should happen, ignoring the opinions of the grieving woman who should have had the final say. 

Mary’s lower lip trembled, and tears filled her eyes. She swallowed hard and gently placed her hand on 

Marcus’s arm. 

Chapter 0176 

#25 BONUS