My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 206

Chapter 0206 

+25 BONUS 

They both entered the house, and Camille greeted them with a knowing smile, though Valerie didn’t notice it. 

“Good evening, Mr. Bartz! Serene is fast asleep, but please, go see her–she’s in her room,” Camille said, pointing to Valerie’s bedroom. 

Valerie, needing to collect herself, went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Having Marcus in her home made her uncharacteristically nervous and clumsy, especially when he played the role of a protective father to her daughter. 

Marcus carefully turned the doorknob and stepped inside the room shared by Valerie and Serenity. A soft glow from a moon–shaped lamp illuminated the space with a warm light. On the bed, Serenity lay sprawled out, her blanket kicked off as usual. She had a habit of discarding any covers, so Valerie always made sure she wore warm pajamas and cozy socks to keep her from catching a cold. 

Sitting gently on the edge of the bed, Marcus brushed a hand across Serenity’s cheek. She stirred, so he quickly pulled his hand back. Serenity’s eyes fluttered open, and she suddenly sat up, rubbing her eyes. 

“Daddy, you came!” she mumbled sleepily. 

Marcus’s heart swelled with emotion. He had never expected to hear those words. In her eyes, he was her father- the only father figure she had ever known in the past year and a half. His gaze softened as he looked at her. He gently lifted her and laid her back down, tucking her in as she drifted off again. 

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Camille couldn’t help but wonder what was really going on between Valerie and Mr. Bartz. But Valerie, as always, brushed it off. She was sipping her water slowly, delaying her return to the room to avoid being alone with Marcus in such a confined space. 

“Valerie, be honest with me. Is there something going on between you and Mr. Bartz?” Camille asked in a low voice, her curiosity impossible to hide. 

“No! How can you even think that? You know I’m not looking for anything like that!” Valerie replied, nearly choking on her water. 

“It’s obvious that something is going on. I’m just telling you what I see,” Camille said seriously. 

“I told you, it’s just friendship–nothing more!” Valerie said nervously, her voice betraying her. 

After a bit of back–and–forth, they both noticed that Marcus hadn’t come out to say goodbye. Curious, the two women headed to the bedroom. The door was slightly ajar, and the sight that greeted them stopped Valerie in her tracks. 

Marcus and Serenity were fast asleep. Marcus had fallen asleep on one side of the bed, one arm cradling the tiny girl against him. Serenity clung tightly to his elegant shirt with her small hands, nestled against his chest. His face was calm, his usual sharp intensity replaced by a peaceful expression. 

Valerie’s heart softened at the sight. He looked so natural as a father. She couldn’t help but smile at how this powerful, disciplined man melted so easily under the touch of a three–year–old girl. 

Quietly, Valerie stepped closer. She gently removed Marcus’s glasses, but as she did, his green eyes opened, catching her by surprise. Half–asleep, he instinctively grabbed her wrist. She froze, but his grip loosened almost immediately, and he drifted back to sleep. She set his glasses on the bedside table, retrieved a small blanket from Serenity’s changer, and draped it over Marcus’s chest, the only part of him she could reasonably cover. 

Valerie stood for a moment, debating what to do. There were no empty rooms in the house, and Camille’s bedroom was already full. She glanced at Serenity, who was nestled so snugly against Marcus that leaving her alone with him seemed unthinkable. 

Chapter 0206