My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 741

Chapter 0741 

“Since Marcus came into my life–despite how different we were–he’s always demanded more of me than I thought I could give. He’s always believed in my abilities, never limited me, always taught me something new, and constantly pushed me to be better. 

“When we saw each other again, Marcus accepted Serenity as his own daughter–not just because she was the daughter of his best friend, but because he needed it too. He became a present father in Serenity’s life. 

“Do you know how I realized he was the one I could start a few life with?” 

“No, tell me.” 

“Because of Serenity. She loves him. He met her when she was two and a half, and from then on, he took on the role of her father. He protected her, cared for her, and made her feel safe. He taught her to be brave and independent. 

“I started falling for him when we began working together. He was demanding and intense. At first, I didn’t fully understand why. But when I saw the weight of his responsibilities, I got it. I admired him for it. Over time, that barrier between us began to dissolve. 

“Even though Marcus was incredibly busy, he always made time for Serenity. He always had stories for her, encouraged her to excel in everything she did. They think I never noticed, but the two of them share a deep bond. Even today, they’re partners in crime. 

“A man who takes in a little girl who has no connection to his life–that’s a man worth knowing. For a long time, I resisted the idea of building a life with someone else. I wasn’t ready for the whirlwind that came with taking that first step with Marcus.” 

“Valerie, then why do you feel guilty for loving this man?” 

“Because I lied to him. I never had the courage to tell him the truth about Serenity. He found out, and since then, our trust has been fractured. I know, even if he doesn’t say it, that he’ll always have doubts about whether what I say is true or not. 

“And when Peter showed up, I wasn’t the best woman. I got caught up in the illusion of him being alive. I forgot my vows. I forgot everything. I let guilt drive me, and I ended up hurting my husband in the process.” 

“Marcus still comes to see you. That should mean something, don’t you think?” 

“I don’t know how sure he is about what he feels for me…” 

“Valerie, you can’t keep feeling guilty for building your life. It’s been 20 years since you let go of Maximus and Peter. Whatever the reasons were, that’s a lifetime ago. You can’t keep punishing yourself for loving the man you’re with today.” 

Valerie stayed quiet for a moment, unable to argue with that statement. 

“Think things through, Valerie. Like I said earlier, it’s time to close some chapters. I think you’ve already done that with Maximus. From what I can see, you’ve both done well in that regard. 

“As for Peter, tha