My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 782

Chapter 0782 

Marcus kept driving after his abrupt stop. Peter’s health wasn’t good, so if he wanted to talk to him, he had no cholce but to wait until he recovered. 

Memories from earlier that morning began flooding his mind. 

[Court of Appeals] 

Marcus Bartz arrived at the courthouse as a protected witness, accompanied by his wife, Valerie. It had been years since he had felt this nervous. He knew that if things didn’t go well, he could end up in prison, leaving Valerie alone and his children to grow up without a present father, 

On the other side, Peter Palmer walked in, holding Celeste Mason’s hand. Things between them weren’t exactly great, but she understood that she couldn’t leave him alone He was the father of her children, and she felt obligated to be there for him. Peter carried the same uncertainty as Marcus. If anything went wrong, he would end up in prison and likely never see his kids again. Given his condition, he knew he’d probably be sent to a psychiatric hospital–but that was one part of the story he still hadn’t told Celeste. 

Valerie saw Peter arrive, and without meaning to, her eyes landed on the young woman by his side. She was dressed simply in a summer dress, but what stood out the most was her swollen belly. A sharp pang hit Valerie’s chest. There was no doubt–this was the woman Peter had once told her about. 

It seemed like this trial would be the place where everyone would finally cross paths. 

Maximus arrived at the courthouse, but he didn’t see his brother–Peter had stepped outside with Celeste just minutes before. Instead, he and Diana approached Valerie to greet her. At first, Diana hadn’t felt comfortable around Maximus’s ex–wife, but over time, they had built some level of understanding. They weren’t best friends, but Diana had shown empathy when Valerie needed it. 

Maximus was talking with Marcus when Peter returned to the courtroom, still holding Celeste’s hand. It was clear how careful he was with her, as if afraid she might break. The moment Maximus saw his brother, he excused himself and went to greet him. 

Valerie watched as Peter introduced Celeste to Maximus, who immediately pulled her into a warm hug and greeted her happily. Diana, noticing Valerie’s expression, asked, 

“Does it still hurt?” 

“No… It’s just nostalgia,” Valerie admitted. “It’s good that Peter isn’t alone. He needed to find someone. I wouldn’t want him to spend his whole life by himself.” 

“You’re right. I know those feelings will be hard to avoid, but with time, if you finally decide to let go of that weight, it’ll hurt less and less,” Diana said, pulling Valerie into a comforting hug. 

After letting go, Diana walked over to where Maximus was. When she reached him, he introduced her to Celeste. 

“Diana, this is Celeste Mason. She’s currently pregnant with Peter’s babies.”