My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 94

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Maximus was stunned by how quickly the news had reached his grandmother Catherine, and even more so by her drastic reaction. He had never heard of the Palmer family being connected to the Bartz family, and now Marcus Bartz–a name Maximus thought was nothing but a myth–was being floated as a candidate for leadership. Maximus had never seen or met this supposed heir. 

Sitting beside Alexia, the inother of his unborn child and his future wife, a single tear rolled down his cheek as he thought of Mary. He had failed her once again, and this time, fate seemed determined to make him reap what he had sown. 

Needing space, he got up and left Alexia’s apartment, driving to his mansion. His supposed sanctuary felt suffocating, and he needed a moment of clarity to prepare for what was to come. 

At 3:00 am., a private hangar at the airport welcomed a man in his fifties–Leonard Palmer. After years of self–imposed exile, he had returned to Valentia. 

“This must be bad if Mr. Leonard’s been called out of retirement,‘ thought Matthew, who had received instructions to pick him up. 

A few minutes later, Leonard emerged, a warm smile on his face. 

“Matthew! My old friend, how are you?” Leonard greeted him with an exuberant handshake and a pat on the shoulder. 

The resemblance to his son Peter was striking, both in looks and demeanor. Leonard exuded a laid–back charm, though Matthew was well aware of the darker side that could emerge when he was provoked. 

“How was your trip, sir?” Matthew asked politely. 

“Let’s drop the ‘sir,‘ Matthew–we’re practically the same age!” Leonard said, laughing. “The trip was smooth, thanks for arranging everything so quickly. My time away has been relaxing. I’ve found my youth again. Look at me–radiating vitality! But now I’m back to clean up the messes my sons have made,” 

“Mrs. Catherine is livid,” Matthew admitted grimly. 

“Of course, she is. Alexia has finally wormed her way into the family. I’m not surprised she’s furious. But what really caught my eye was seeing Marcus Bartz on the candidate list. Isn’t the entire Bartz family supposed to be dead?” 

“That’s what I thought as well, sir–uh, Leonard.” 

“That’s better! Now, let’s get going.” 

By the time Leonard and Matthew arrived at the mansion, Maximus was already there, having spotted Matthew’s car in the driveway. He stepped out of his own vehicle to see Matthew unloading suitcases. 

“Matthew, whose luggage is this?” 

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“What kind of son doesn’t offer to help his old man carry his bags?” came a voice from behind him. 

“Father?” Maximus turned, astonished. 

“What am I doing here? I came to fix the mess you’ve made. You were supposed to protect the family’s interests, but it seems you can’t even keep your promises.” 

“Father, I’ve worked tirelessly for the company. My personal life is another matter entirely.” 

“When you accepted the presidency, you accepted everything that came with it–including responsibility for your personal life. But let’s not argue here. Come, give your old man a hug! It’s been years since I’ve seen you, and I’ve missed you.” 

Maximus hesitated but embraced his father. The interaction made him think of his unborn child. “How can I ever measure up to him? How am I supposed to raise my son?” 

As they climbed the steps to the mansion, the headlights of another car lit up the driveway. Catherine Palmer stepped out, her commanding presence impossible to ignore. 

“Maximus! Come here and hug me. Is this what it takes to bring you home? Maybe I should send more memorandums like that one to see you more often,” she quipped, opening her arms for him. 

“Where’s Peter? I thought he’d be with you,” Maximus asked, embracing her. 

“No, he’ll join us later. He’s taking Mary to the clinic first,” Catherine said, her piercing gaze fixed on 

Maximus. 

“What happened to Mary?” Maximus asked, a flash of genuine concern in his voice. 

“You have the audacity to ask?” Catherine replied coldly. 

“I deserve to know. She’s my wife!” 

“No, you don’t deserve anything,” she snapped. “You have other problems now, and for once, I will not shield you from the consequences of your actions. You’ve hurt me, Maximus, but I won’t tolerate your shamelessness any longer.‘ 

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“Please, tell me what happened!” 

“She collapsed. While you were with your mistress, she searched for you and, when she couldn’t find. you, broke down completely. She went into crisis, and we couldn’t calm her. I had to call a psychiatrist. The recommendation was clear: if she isn’t admitted to a clinic, she may harm herself. And that’s not even taking into account the ‘good news–her husband has finally impregnated his lover.” 

Maximus clenched his fists in frustration. The realization that his actions had brought Mary to this point left him reeling. He couldn’t escape the truth–he had become her worst nightmare. 

“Mom, calm down. I’m sure Maximus has an explanation for all of this,” Leonard interjected. “Let’s go inside and discuss this in the study.” 

The three entered the study, where Leonard poured drinks for himself and Catherine.