My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 283

Chapter 0283 

After a ten–minute drive, Maximus, Laura, and Serenity arrived at the café Serenity had mentioned. The place reminded Maximus of the one he had visited with Mary on her birthday. The three of them took a table on the terrace a charming spot surrounded by greenery, exuding a tranquil atmosphere. Laura was enchanted; to her, it was a beautiful and inviting place. A waitress approached with menus, and Maximus quickly ordered coffee for himself, leaving the girls to choose their drinks. The waitress, meanwhile, couldn’t help but notice how stunning the two young women were and thought to herself, “Their mother must be gorgeous too. Then again, look at him 

so handsome, even at his age.! 

“Can I bring you an Americano to start?” Maximus asked, scanning the menu. 

“Of course! I’ll give you all a moment to decide on your breakfast,” the waitress replied. 

A little while later, she returned with Maximus’s coffee and took the girls‘ orders. Laura and Serenity had surprisingly similar tastes, both opting for hot chocolate, fresh fruit, and French toast–a light breakfast, but perfect for them. Maximus, content with his coffee and toast, sat back and enjoyed the easy atmosphere. For the first time in a long while, he felt completely at peace. Watching the two young women chat, he was amazed at how much more talkative Laura seemed than usual. 

“Well, Serenity, I believe this is for you,” Maximus said, pulling two photo albums from his briefcase. 

Serenity’s eyes lit up as she reached out, her hands trembling slightly. 

“These are..?” she asked hesitantly. 

“Yes, they’re family photos,” Maximus explained. “You’ll find pictures of your father, your grandfather, and even your great–grandmother. It’s a family album, so you’ll finally get to see what your father looked like.” 

Laura, curious and intrigued, leaned closer to Serenity to look at the albums. These were photos she had never seen before. Serenity slid one of the albums toward Laura so they could explore the images together. Tears welled up in Serenity’s eyes as she flipped through the pages. For the first time, the man she had always imagined now had a face–her father. 

Her father was undeniably handsome, with dark, wavy hair like hers. He had large, expressive eyes framed by thick lashes and strong, dark brows. His striking features and tall stature stood out, even more so in a photo where he was embracing her mother. In that picture, her father wore a black tuxedo, and her mother, who looked very young, wore a delicate pink dress with intricate details her blonde hair styled elegantly. Both looked radiant and happy, though it was clear her father was older than her mother. 

“Your mother was 18 in that photo,” Maximus said, noticing how intently Serenity studied it. 

Serenity carefully removed the picture from its protective sleeve. Her father held her mother proudly in his arms, both of them exuding a joy that seemed almost palpable. 

“This is the only physical photo I have of your parents together. It was taken during a dinner to celebrate your grandmother Catherine’s birthday,” Maximus added, his voice tinged with nostalgia. 

That day was unforgettable for Maximus–it was the same day he had been with Mary for the first time and had proposed to her in his own clumsy, unromantic way. There had been no ring, no real plans for the future; it had been a desperate attempt to defy his grandmother. 

“Can I keep this one?” Serenity asked, her voice full of hope and emotion. 

Maximus smiled softly. “Of course. Take whichever ones you like. If you want, you can have the whole album.” Serenity almost accepted, but seeing how intently Laura was poring over each page, she hesitated. Instead, she gently declined. “No, I can’t take it. This album belongs to your family. I just wanted something to give me a

glimpse of who my father was, and now, thanks to you, I have that. Thank you. 

Maximus understood her gesture and smiled, feeling proud of his niece. There was no doubt that Mary had raised her well–Serenity was kindhearted and thoughtful. When he looked at Laura, who was absorbed in the photos, his heart melted. She seemed utterly captivated, as if she were traveling back in time to a world she had never known–a time when her father had been young and happy. 

After they finished breakfast and Serenity carefully placed the photos back into the album, it was time to leave. Maximus still planned to take Laura to the movies as promised. He paid the bill and offered to drop Serenity off at the university, but she declined, saying she preferred to walk. As she began to leave, Laura grabbed her hand. 

“Serenity, why don’t you come with us? We’re going to the movies!” Laura exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.