My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 562

Chapter 0562 

Chapter 0562 

“Now that I know I’m going to be a father again, I want you to understand that I won’t let these problems reach us,” Peter said, his tone resolute. “I’ve told you all this because my actions triggered a cascade of events, and I think you deserve to know the truth.” 

— 

Celeste looked at him, her eyes a mixture of concern and defiance. “I appreciate your honesty, Peter, but you already know where I stand. I don’t want your father–or anyone else coming here to take my children from me just because they’re yours.” 

“He won’t,” Peter assured her. “He’s in prison now. Frank Levett–the son of the man who ordered my assassination–put him there. My father had been stealing from our company for years, using Frank Levett Sr. as his accomplice. When Maximus ran the company, my father tried to siphon funds and entrusted that monster with a power of attorney over the Palmer assets. 

“When Frank Sr. handed control over to his son, Frank Jr. used every loophole to claim the company. Maximus, disgusted with everything, refused to fight for it. Neither Alden nor I want anything to do with that cursed business. Marcus, for reasons I still don’t fully understand, also chose not to contest it.” 

Celeste’s brow furrowed as she processed this. “So all of this happened while you were traveling back and forth to Slovenia? Why didn’t you tell me?” 

“I didn’t feel right about it,” Peter admitted, his voice heavy. “First, because I caused the investigation that exposed these ugly truths about my family. Second, because I didn’t want any of it to affect you. My father is a ruthless man, Celeste. I can’t imagine what he might have done if he’d found out about you. I couldn’t forgive myself if you had been hurt, so I thought hiding you was the safest option. It was a mistake, I know, but at the time, it felt like the only way to protect you. 

Celeste’s voice hardened. “Peter, we were supposed to be a couple. Couples support each other through the good and the bad. But if you shut out the person you’re with, where’s the trust?” 

Peter sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. “You don’t know my father, Celeste. He’s a true monster. Do you know he had an affair with my brother’s wife?” 

Celeste gasped. “What?” 

“Yes. My brother’s wife had an affair with him and got pregnant. At first, she didn’t know whether the child was Maximus’s or my father’s. My father forced her to get a DNA test while she was still pregnant. Fate, it seemed, handed him a gift–the child was his. That child, Lucius, was supposed to inherit everything. But after my supposed death, Maximus was declared the sole heir. My father used Lucius to strip Maximus of everything. 

“Even now, Lucius is missing, along with his mother. They vanished after the truth came out, and my father retook control of the company. He never revealed that Maximus wasn’t his son–his pride wouldn’t allow it. It was easier for him to orchestrate everything in the shadows, using Lucius as his pawn.” 

Celeste stared at Peter, her disbelief palpable. “L… I don’t even know what to say. This is so much to take in. 

Peter reached for her hand, his grip firm yet gentle. “Celeste, I know I haven’t been honest with you. I’ve done things in the past that I’m not proud of. I was consumed by anger and bitterness, watching everyone move on while I was stuck in a limbo of survival. Back then, it was easy to make decisions because I didn’t remember the love I felt for my family. But now that I’ve seen the damage caused, it hurts to know how much I hurt my brother and others caught in the crossfire.” 

“Peter…” Celeste whispered, squeezing his hand. 

“I don’t want you to worry,” Peter continued. “These are family issues, and they’ll be resolved.” 

Chapter 0562 

“But how? Are they still unresolved?” Celeste asked, her concern deepening. 

“Yes,” Peter admitted. “Each of us is dealing with the fallout of our own actions. Marcus and I have been on the run from Frank Levett Jr… Frank Sr., once an unrelenting judge, is now a pawn for his son. Frank Jr. even rescued his father from captivity, using him to blackmail us.” 

“Why would Frank Jr. want to hurt you?”