My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 500

Chapter 0500 

Chapter 0500 

As Celeste slept, Peter’s thoughts drifted to a conversation be once had with Theodore during his recovery. In that conversation, Theodore had laid out their shared past, explaining the nature of their relationship before the accident and the intricate webs of their mutual dealings. Over time, as trust between them grew, Theodore revealed the origins of his wealth and how Peter fit into the equation 

Nowadays, Peter and Theodore had a peculiar but effective father–son dynamic. Though their age gap wasn’t enormous, Theodore’s maturity and decisiveness set him apart. Peter was well aware that Theodore had often questioned whether saving him had been a mistake. For a long time, Peter had been useless–unable to contribute to anything 

Yet Theodore’s patience had paid off. Today, the fruits of their audacity and cunning afforded them both a life of luxury. Together, they had built a lucrative empire by growing the wealth they had stolen from Frank Levett. 

Peter knew that the money used to pay for his hospital bills and rehabilitation had come directly from Levett’s coffers money Frank never saw coming. By the time Frank had ordered Peter’s death, he was already suspicious of Theodore. He had anticipated betrayal but never the kind Theodore would unleash. By the time Frank realized it, it was too late.. 

For years, Theodore had been plotting his revenge against Frank. His motivation was guilt–the weight of seeing friends killed for refusing to assassinate members of the Bartz family. Those who died left behind widows and children, their families thrust into poverty overnight. Theodore felt responsible; he had recruited those men and placed them in Frank’s orbit. But Frank’s sudden change of plans had left five families devastated. 

By the time Theodore met Peter, he had already been siphoning money from Levett’s accounts for years. Theodore had noticed how extravagantly Frank spent–lavishing himself with stolen wealth from the Palmer, common Valentians, and who knew how many others. Year after year Frank’s fortune dwindled while Theodore’s secret accounts swelled. 

When Peter “died,” Theodore decided it was enough. It was time for Frank to pay–not just for trying to kill Peter, but for everything else. At the time, Theodore believed Peter was truly dead. That conviction was shaken when he encountered Mary Preston at the airport. The sight of the anguished, pregnant woman fleeing the country to save her life and her baby’s brought back memories of those widows escaping into uncertainty. 

Theodore knew Marcus Bartz was toying with Frank, much like a cat with a mouse before devouring it. Theodore left the killing to Marcus but took it upon himself to make Frank suffer in other ways. As Frank fled to Switzerland, missing an ear and increasingly desperate, Theodore systematically drained his accounts. By the time Frank returned to Valentia to beg his granddaughter for help and depend on Maximus’s mercy, he was utterly ruined. 

Theodore’s wealth had grown exponentially, but he was careful not to draw attention. People might have questioned how someone like him had risen to such opulence so quickly. That was where Peter became invaluable. Initially, Theodore had doubts, but over time, Peter proved to be the perfect partner. 

Peter chuckled to himself, recalling those dark days. Despite the shadows of his past, his present seemed brighter. Sitting near Celeste brought him a sense of peace he hadn’t felt in years. Earlier that day, he had been overwhelined with anxiety, but now, in her presence, all that faded away. 

Still, a faint unease lingered in the back of his mind. He couldn’t ignore the fact that Mary was in the same hospital. He chose to act as though he didn’t know. He had no intention of disturbing her, especially in her current state. Dwelling on those memories wasn’t helpful, and if life–and Theodore–had taught him anything, it was to be patient and strategic. Timing was everything, though not every situation required an attack, 

In this case, Peter knew he would have to find the right moment to speak to Mary. When he did, it wouldn’t be to rekindle anything. That chapter had closed. They owed each other a conversation, but only to bring closure. All 

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