My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 746

Chapter 0746 

“You’re right, Mary. We were young and immature. Well, I wasn’t that young, but immature? Definitely. Irrational? Completely. You became my obsession. I was always looking for a way to bring you closer to me. Maximus worked hard to give me that chance, but what I didn’t account for was how you felt.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I knew Maximus would disappoint you eventually, but I didn’t expect the way he’d do it. I didn’t expect him to treat you 

cruelly. You have no idea how much I regret not stepping In to stop it sooner.” 

“It wasn’t your fault. That was my choice, and I had to deal with the consequences. Besides, it was so long ago that the memories have started to blur.” 

“Did you love my brother?” Peter asked cautiously. 

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve learned to distinguish one thing from another. I can tell you I felt something for him. I liked him; I was attracted to him. That attraction was dangerous. Maximus was the bad boy you sometimes can’t help but be drawn to. You know it won’t end well, but you cling to the hope that it will. 

“I saw a life with him. I imagined a family with him, one I never had with my father. Without realizing it, I was searching for someone to fill the void my father left. At 18, I found that in Maximus.” 

“Wow… Are you saying Maximus was like your father?” 

“Yes. The harshness, the indifference, the violence–it was all part of the package.” 

“I was never like that with you when you lived with me. I always wanted you to feel free.” 

“I know. That’s why I’ve carried such immense guilt all these years. You always showed me the love you felt for me, to the point of accepting me, even with a baby that wasn’t yours.” 

“About that… You should know it wasn’t an easy decision. At first, I hated my brother for that. Even in that, he was ahead of me–whether out of love or not, he’d already left his mark on you. Don’t think that choosing to be Serenity’s father was easy. I thought long and hard about it. It’s not a decision I’m particularly proud of.” 

“You were a great father first. You took care of us in a way not everyone would. You gave us love, trust, and peace of mind. You gave us everything we needed to live.” 

“And yet, I couldn’t make you love me, could I?” 

“I did love you, but not in the way you wanted.” 

“What do you think would’ve happened if I hadn’t supposedly died?” 

“Do you want the truth?” 

“Yes!” 

“I think, sooner or later, you would’ve realized I couldn’t give you my whole heart. And being part of your family only made it harder. Eventually, we would’ve crossed paths with Maximus, and things wouldn’t have been easy. 

“Once you saw I didn’t love you not the way you wanted–we would’ve had two choices: part ways, no matter how painful, and hold on to the good parts of what we had, or stay together and grow to hate each other. You would’ve resented me for not being able to love you as deeply as you deserved. 

“Serenity would’ve suffered either way. You would’ve suffered. I would’ve suffered. 

“Sometimes, people say, “Things happen for a reason.” I didn’t understand that back then, but now I do. You and I 

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