My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 234

Chapter 0234 

Maximus sat in his study, the image of Mary’s tear–streaked face lingering painfully in his mind. He felt a pang of guilt he had barely seen her again, and he had already caused her to cry. 

“Maximus, you’re an idiot,” he muttered to himself. 

Lost in thought, his attention was drawn to an email notification. It was from Serenity. If he had known its contents, he might have deleted it outright. But since he couldn’t read minds, he opened it–and Immediately regretted it. Her words hit him like a blow, sharper than he anticipated. 

It was incredible to him that such a sweet young woman could turn against him so quickly. She wasn’t even giving him the chance to explain his side or tell her the full story. Mary must have told her everything in her own way, he thought bitterly. But he knew that wasn’t the complete version–Maximus had his own truths about what had happened. 

“That girl is definitely a Palmer!” he said aloud, half–amused. “The temper runs in the family. 

Maximus’s mind turned to Marcus Bartz, now stepping into the Palmer company. This gave Maximus more opportunities to get closer to Serenity, though the irony wasn’t lost on him. He had never imagined that his brother’s daughter would one day resurface, let alone that her beloved father figure would turn out to be 

that man -the same one who had haunted him for years due to the monumental debt he owed. 

Maximus grimaced at the memory of how Marcus had once bailed out the company, rescuing it from utter collapse. Back then, Maximus had been a fool–arrogant, overconfident, and blind. His wife, Alexia, had successfully manipulated him into allowing Frank Levett back into their lives as an external advisor. 

At first, Frank had provided helpful suggestions. But little by little, and with calculated precision, he began orchestrating embezzlements and making questionable moves that jeopardized the company’s financial stability. 

Maximus had been an utter idiot, repeating the same mistakes his grandfather had made. The company fell into a downward spiral–deep in debt, losing substantial amounts of money, defaulting on contracts, and unable to make payroll. Bankruptcy loomed ominously over Palmer Group. 

That was when Marcus Bartz stepped in. Through intermediaries, Marcus orchestrated a rescue plan that stabilized the situation. Just two years older than Maximus, Marcus had taught him an unforgettable lesson on crisis management, connections, and how having the right allies was essential in the business world. 

The financial injection Marcus provided saved Palmer Group, giving it the liquidity it desperately needed. But Maximus had essentially sold his soul to the devil. Marcus’s help wasn’t charity–it was a business transaction, and it came with a heavy price. 

Now, Marcus Bartz owned 37% of Palmer Group’s shares and had a legal right to take full control whenever he wanted. It wasn’t just his stake–Marcus had directly funded the company during its most critical time. To Marcus, it was just another business deal. To Maximus, it was a humiliating blow–a sign that the empire his family had built for generations was no longer truly theirs. 

It had been ten years since the crisis, but the debt still lingered. Payments were slowly chipping away at it, but billions were still owed. With Marcus’s return to Valentia, Maximus knew it was only a matter of time before Marcus claimed whatever position he wanted in the company. 

The irony didn’t escape Maximus. Years ago, during an argument at Peter’s home, he had mocked Marcus–a man he considered little more than a slab of muscle. Despite receiving a brutal beating from Marcus that day, Maximus had consoled himself with the belief that Marcus would never be his equal. 

And now? That same “slab of muscle” practically owned Palmer Group. Maximus clenched his fists at the memory, his pride stinging from the undeniable truth. 

1/2 

+25 BONUS 

Chapter 0234