My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

After Maximus said goodbye to Pierre, he went back into the mansion and headed straight to his son's room. Paul was lying on his bed, facing away from the door.

"Paul, can I come in?" Maximus asked gently.

"You're already in, Dad... Are you here to scold me for something that happened years ago?" Paul said, trying to sound calm.

Maximus looked at his son and it was clear there'd be no scolding. He walked over, lay down beside him, hugged him, and kissed the top of his head.

"Son... I came to check on you. To see if you need anything. I came to see my son, who's going through a rough time..."

Paul turned to face his father and hugged him tightly—and that's when it became clear he'd been crying.

"Why was Mom like that?" Paul asked, his voice full of disappointment.

"Son... Your mom's gone now. It's not right to speak ill of someone who can't defend themselves. Your mother was... complicated. She was an only child, and because of that, she had some spoiled tendencies."

"Dad, don't make excuses for her. Mom was a slut. She slept with whoever she wanted..."

Maximus felt heat rush through his body-he hated hearing that from his son. But he controlled himself. Now wasn't the time to say something he might regret. Anything he said in that moment could hurt Paul even more.

"Son... Don't say that. You're angry, and you don't know the whole story. Don't judge your mom too harshly. Both she and I did things we're not proud of.

"Maybe she didn't live long enough to face the consequences of her actions, but believe me, even if she seemed calm on the outside, I'm sure she was carrying her own guilt."

"Well, all she left behind were problems. You know something?"

"What is it, son?"

"I want to hate that guy Pierre... but I can't, Dad, I really can't. Back then, he was really good to us. He even got chewed out by my friend's parents-they said he encouraged us to drink." Paul admitted, clearly frustrated.

"Paul, I know these life lessons are tough. All I ask is that you don't carry hatred in your heart. You're too young to carry such a heavy weight.

"Right now, your focus should be on school, on what you're going to wear, maybe even on sneaking out with a girl now and then.

"I'd love that kind of life for you guys. I really would. But I know life doesn't always go that way. Still, you'll see—in five, ten years, you'll be laughing about all this.

"Sure, you'll have other worries by then. You might even be a dad yourself by the time you look back on how you met that father."

"Dad..." Paul whispered, and threw himself into Maximus's arms. Maximus was still lying down, watching him, just wanting to be there for his son in this dark moment.noveldrama

They stayed like that for a long time. Maximus knew his son needed him-and truthfully, he needed his son just as much. Even though he didn't say it out loud, because it would've set a bad example, he felt incredibly proud hearing his son defend him and stand firm in front of Pierre.

"All right, my tall, handsome boy... You've gotta get through this. And there'll be more storms ahead, but you'll make it. You're my son, and I love you. Never forget that.

"You'll always have a father in me. I'll love you for the rest of my life-for every year life lets me stay by your side.

"But honestly

hope one day you'll

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give that man a chance. I'm not saying you have to call him Dad. not asking you to treat him like. me-not out of jealousy, but because I don't want you to fake feelings you don't have.

"But it would be a noble gesture to at least respect him and give him a small place

in your life."

"I'm not promising anything, Dad... but I'll try."

"Thank you, son... Really-thank you for that chance."