My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 561

Chapter 0561 

Chapter 0561 

“Celeste, the investigation I conducted uncovered something that shattered both Maximus and me. We always thought our parents‘ marriage was perfect–Maximus idolized it and wanted to emulate it in his own life. But behind closed doors, it was a different story. 

“My father abused my mother, both physically and emotionally. She suffered through his infidelities, but everything escalated when he discovered that Maximus wasn’t his biological son.” 

Celeste’s breath caught. “Maximus… the brother you’ve told me so much about… isn’t biologically related to you?” “No,” Peter said quietly. “But he is still my brother. I told him the same thing–this changes nothing between us. None of it was our fault. The guilt we carry is for not realizing what my mother endured behind those closed doors. “My father initially loved her, but coming from different worlds, his affection didn’t last. He grew distant and cruel. My mother found solace in an old love–a man she had known before marrying my father–and that’s how she became pregnant with Maximus.” 

“Peter… your mother… she must have been so strong to endure all of that,” Celeste said softly. 

“She was,” Peter agreed, his voice heavy with emotion. “But my father eventually found out the truth, years later. While Maximus and I were away at a summer camp in the US., my father confronted her. Their argument turned violent, and one of his blows severely injured her. Her health deteriorated over time, but we were told she died of an illness. The truth is, she died from the effects of that injury–a head trauma that my father never admitted to causing.” 

Celeste’s eyes filled with tears. “I can’t imagine the pain your family went through.” 

“She’s 

e’s buried in the Flavian Cemetery, far from the Palmer family plot. My father didn’t want her laid to rest with our family. He used some flimsy excuse, but the truth was, he could never forgive her infidelity. 

“After her death, my grandmother Catherine found out about everything. In her old age, she changed her will, naming my father as the sole heir. She left it up to him to decide how to distribute the fortune. Her decisions, though, created even more problems.” 

Peter continued, his voice tinged with bitterness. “The company was founded by three families–the Palmers, the Bartzs, and the Prestons. My grandmother tried to honor those roots, but she failed to finalize key legal steps. She intended to return shares to Marcus Bartz’s family, but a clause from Marcus’s grandfather nullified the transfer. Marcus had to give back what he thought was rightfully his 

“As for Mary Preston, my grandmother intended to donate properties to her, but again, nothing was made legally binding. This was during the time when Mary’s grandfather and I were presumed dead–at least, her grandfather truly was.” 

Celeste sighed deeply, trying to process the tangled web of deceit and broken promises. “Peter, it’s all so complicated. Don’t you think? I want our children to live a normal life, far away from this. They don’t need. mansions or luxuries–they need peace, I know you’re used to opulence, but at what cost?”