My Love Until the Last Goodbye by Alut

Chapter 0137

By midday, the priest arrived to officiate the mass. The gathering was small, intimate, meant to give Albert Preston a dignified farewell. After the service, Catherine and Leonard would accompany his body to the crematorium. Mary had been gently persuaded to stay behind; her health and the baby’s safety took precedence over her insistence on going.

The mass went smoothly, though heavy with emotion Mary sat trembling, her hand held tightly by Peter. Her face was streaked with tears, and though her eyes burned and her heart ached, the lump in her chest wouldn’t let her stop crying

Maximus sat beside his grandmother, holding her had. He didn’t speak–he didn’t need to. He could see she was struggling to keep her composure. Catherine’s grief was silent, with only an occasional tear slipping down her cheek, but she worked hard to maintain her usual strong demeanor.

At the end of the mass, Mary rose slowly and made her way to the coffin. With unsteady hands, she opened it and gently caressed her grandfather’s face. She said her final goodbye in silence, her thoughts flooding with memories and sorrow:

*“Grandpa, it hurts so much that you’re gone. It hurts to think I’ll never see you again. We had just found each other again… I don’t even know how to thank you for taking me away from my father, for giving me this life. I’ve learned to live on my own, but it’s never been the same as when we were together. Now we can’t escape together anymore… you’ve slipped through my fingers.

You never got to meet your great–grandchild… There’s so much left unfinished. I’m sorry we never had, that glass of wine you promised me when I was little.

you all this time, but I held on to the hope of seeing you again. And now you’re gone…. You were my father, my friend, my confidant.

thought this, tears streamed down her face.

and erratic, but his expression was calm, his embrace steady. He wanted her to feel safe, to know he was her

several minutes, Mary let go of her grandfather’s face, closed the coffin, and leaned against it as though hugging him one last

like this isn good for you or the

uncontrollably. Peter kissed her hair and held her tightly, pouring his love and support into every gesture, hoping

approached the coffin. Maximus supported her, holding her arm firmly. She seemed calm, but he

7/2

+25 BONUS

Chapter DY17

I hope to see you again in the next one, and if