Chapter 0600
Chapter 0600
Valerie entered the doctor’s office, and Dr. Baker looked curiously at the man accompanying her. Before the doctor could say anything, Valerie quickly explained:
“He’s here as moral support.”
“Alright! Let’s see how your little ones are doing.”
“You know the drill, Valerie. Hop onto the examination table and uncover your belly.”
Maximus stepped forward to help Valerie onto the table. It wasn’t until that moment that she felt a twinge of embarrassment. This man hadn’t seen her bare skin since the night they conceived Serenity, and now he was about to see her swollen belly. Her cheeks flushed, but she focused on the screen, as did Maximus.
For his part, Maximus was lost in thought, imagining how things might have been if he and Valerie had stayed together. But he quickly dismissed the idea–20 years had passed since then. Years in which therapy and hard work had helped him understand the damage he’d caused. He didn’t deny his faults, but therapy had taught him to control his darker impulses, and now, he finally understood why they existed in the first place.
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of strong, rhythmic heartbeats.
“Valerie, your babies are as strong as ever! Do you hear that?” Dr. Baker asked excitedly.
“Yes,” Valerie replied, her eyes welling with tears of joy.
Without thinking, she instinctively squeezed the hand of the person next to her. When she realized it was Maximus, she gave him a tight–lipped smile, pretending she hadn’t confused him with someone else.
After a brief explanation from the doctor and receiving a prescription for new vitamins, Valerie was free to go. As they left the office, Maximus’s daughter, Laura, arrived. Her cheerful expression shifted to a shy one when she saw her father walking out with a woman she didn’t recognize. Maximus noticed her hesitation and quickly approached her.
“Laura, come here! I want you to meet someone–I’m not sure if I’ve introduced you before,” he said, taking her hand. “This is Ma–Valerie, Serenity’s mother.”
“Hi, Laura,” Valerie said warmly, studying the young woman with curiosity.
Internally, Valerie marveled. Despite knowing Alexia, this girl looked nothing like either Alexia or Maximus. But her eyes… they reminded Valerie of someone.
“Laura is almost the spitting image of Catherine when she was young,” Maximus said, as if reading Valerie’s thoughts.
“Well then, you inherited your grandmother’s beauty! You’re stunning!”
Th–thank you,” Laura stammered, nervously fiddling with the hem of her knit sweater, her cheeks turning pink.
“Laura and Serenity are good friends–they see each other often,” Maximus added.
“I’m glad to hear that! Serenity has quite a strong personality.”
“She’s a good sister,” Laura managed to say before the nurse called her name.
Miss/..
Palmer?”
“Yes, that’s me!”
“Well, Valerie, I need to go in with my daughter. It’s her first appointment, and we need to see how the baby’s
Chapter DGDO
doing.”
Valerie watched as the 18–year–old girl took her father’s hand with excitement and led him into the office.
“See you, Maximus. Thanks for the ‘moral support,” Valege said with a faint smile as she turned to leave.
+25 BONUS
As Valerie exited the clinic, she spotted Marcus and Serenity walking toward the entrance. She frowned slightly. Marcus being there didn’t surprise her she assumed he was there to accompany her. But why was Serenity with him? She should’ve been at university at this time of day.
“Serenity, aren’t you supposed to be in class?” Valerie asked, her voice sharp with suspicion.
“Well, yes, but—”
“Hi, Valerie!” Marcus interrupted, trying to shield their daughter as he often did.
“Hello, Marcus. Are you here to check on the babies? My appointment is already over.”
“I know.”
“Mom,” Serenity said, “Dad and I were together, and time got away from us. Have you eaten yet?”
“No, Serenity, I just finished my appointment. And you still haven’t answered my question.”
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