My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 218

Chapter 0218 

Marcus was speechless. Hearing Valerie’s story in her own words broke his heart. Peter had never told him the full story, only bits and pieces. Now, everything made sense–her reluctance to let anyone close, her guarded heart. And while Marcus rarely thought of going to Valentia, at that moment, he had an overwhelming urge to pay a visit to the man now leading the Palmer Group. He wasn’t sure what he’d do, but if he could, he’d break the fingers that had hurt her one by one. 

“Valerie… I… I didn’t know any of this,” Marcus said, ashamed and angry–not at her, but at himself for his reaction to Olsen’s visit. He had hurt her and dragged her back to painful memories. 

“You weren’t supposed to know, and I wasn’t supposed to tell you,” Valerie said, trying to rise from the bench to leave. 

Seeing her intentions, Marcus stepped in front of her. 

“Valerie… I never intended to hurt you. It’s just… I knew that at some point, you must have met the woman who showed up today. I didn’t want to ruin this, and yet, here I am, having messed it all up. You’ll never be the woman you think you are. I want to be with you; I want to be a part of your life. Your past is just that–in the past. I can’t change it, but I can help make your future better. I’m not perfect; I have things in my past I’m not proud of either. Come here…” he said, wrapping an arm around her, trying to hold her and guide her back to the bench. 

If he wanted her to understand him, he’d have to open up about the painful memories of his own past. Though be didn’t want to, he knew he had to. 

“Valerie… we all have a past. Some of it is good, some… not so much. I was married once too, and I was going to have a child,” he said, holding her close. 

Valerie turned to look at him as he said this. She had never imagined that Marcus had been married. The thought that he might have a child formed an overwhelming pit in her stomach. 

“I won’t lie to you–I was madly in love with my Valentina, But… two months before my child was born, on March 19, over fifteen years ago, my entire family was murdered. lost everything, Valerie–my parents, my siblings, my wife, and my baby.” 

“Marcus…” Valerie whispered, shocked and deeply moved, 

For a long time, I didn’t understand why I hadn’t died too. Catherine–Grandma Catherine–took care of 177 diligently. I was in a coma for years. When I woke up, I was left with severe complications from all the gunshot wounds I’d suffered. I was basically a walking miracle. When you met me, you were just a child. I remember you clearly. And now I finally understand why your hand was burned that day. It was you! That day we met in the park- -it was my last day in Valentia. You were a scared and injured little girl, but I couldn’t do more for you than what I gave. I lived in New York for a long time after that, where I met Olsen. She managed my rehabilitation.” 

“You helped me that day?” Valerie asked, stunned. 

“Yes, Valerie, it was me. I was a walking wreck–breathing hurt, walking was a challenge, and I suffered, or still suffer, from anxiety. The things I experienced after that weren’t pleasant. But Olsen helped me. After Peter’s death, I fell into a dark hole, and Frederick pulled me out. I won’t lie to you–during that first year after my friend’s death, I dated countless women. Eventually, I stopped and focused on work. Olsen operated on my leg when I returned from preparing Peter’s arrangements. Since then, she’s always hinted at an attraction to me, but I couldn’t return her feelings. Over time, I gave our relationship a chance, but what I felt for Olsen wasn’t love or attraction–it was gratitude. She knew that. Every time I tried to end things, she’d bring up how much she had done for me during my rehabilitation 

“One day, she suggested we get married because she needed to move to London. But I couldn’t agree. She wasn’t what I was looking for, and that’s how the relationship ended. That’s why you never saw her in the reception 

1/2 

+25 BONUS 

Chapter 0210