My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

"I just remembered I have something urgent to go over with Marcus. I can't put it off—it's about the meeting. I completely forgot. I'll talk to my father and the doctor to reschedule our appointment. Just give me until noon, okay? This is really important."

Before she could respond, I turned toward my study. But something made me glance back at her.

"Mary... Do you want to come with me to Valeria? If we leave at a good time, we'll get there early for the meeting."

"But, Peter... You hate driving at night."

"We wouldn't come back tonight. We'd stay at the apartment in Valeria."

"Oh! That sounds good. We could also buy some things for the baby.'

"Exactly. Let me make a few calls, and then I'll join you for breakfast. Everything smells amazing. By the way... where's your loud and crazy friend?"

"Aurora?"

"Yeah."

"She's in the back garden. And please, don't bother her. Remember what happened last time? You were the one who ended up losing." "Mmm....." I hummed, not responding because-truthfully—I didn't remember what the hell she was talking about.

I headed to my study and called the gynecologist first. Thank God, there was an open slot at exactly 12:00 PM. That gave me just enough time to put my plan in motion.

This time, I wouldn't leave Mary alone. I already knew how this day ended, and I refused to let her go through it alone.

I had to admit something, though—

Twice now, I had tried to kiss her. And both times, something inside me stopped me.

It felt wrong.

Like I'd be committing a crime.

Why?

Because of Celeste.

She was my life. My world.

At least... that was what I remembered and felt.

But was any of it real?

Now it was time to call him.noveldrama

I already knew what was coming-he was going to lose his mind. But I needed time. I needed every second I could get to set things right. I gripped the phone tightly as I heard his familiar voice.

"Father..."

Just saying that word made me feel sick.

Now, I knew the kind of man he was.

I knew he killed my mother.

I knew he never confessed where he had hidden her body.

And that knowledge burned inside me. It ate away at me.

But I couldn't say anything.

Not yet.

Because the one person who would bring him to justice-Anthony Moriarty-was just a teenager right now. And I had no idea where he was. "Peter?"

"Father, I have a problem. I won't be able to make it to the meeting—at least not until later tonight. Can you move it to 6 or 7 PM?" "Are you out of your mind, Peter?"

"Father, I am the executor of

Marcus's shares. Without me, nothing can move forward. This meeting is important, but I can't change my schedule for it. Just this once, help me out."

"Peter, what am I going to do with you? This is the first meeting where all the shareholders will be present!"

"So, will you help me or not? If it can't be moved, fine—I won't attend. But without my signature, no decisions can be made." "Peter!"

"Well? What's it going to be?"

"Fine! But Catherine and Maximus are not going to be happy."

"Thanks," I said, not giving a damn about his complaints before hanging up.

I immediately started drafting emails.

First, to my contact in Willowcombe. Celeste had to be recognized for her talent. I knew my friend would help her-hell, she might even learn a lot from him.

Then, I called my lawyer.

I dictated a detailed list of everything

he needed to do. He insisted I put it all in writing, which took nearly an hour When it was done, I signed over

power of attorney.

Everything I had earned through good or bad means—would be divided as follows:

30% to Mary and the baby.

30% to Katherine and my son.

10% to the people who had helped me-Lawson, Agnes, Calum, Dolly... even that crazy woman Aurora. And the last 30%?

That went to Celeste.

Starting right then.

I told my lawyer, Darius, to get

creative. He needed to give her that money in a way she'd accept—a scholarship, a grant, something. She couldn't refuse it.

Celeste would be set for life.

I leaned back in my chair, exhaling deeply.

And for the first time all day, a terrifying thought crossed my mind.

The longer this day went on, the more I started to believe―

This wasn't a dream.

What if everything I remembered everything I lived-was the real dream?

What if this was my reality?

What if none of that ever happened?