My Love Until the Last Goodbye by Alut

Chapter 0505 Chapter 0505 “Come on! Stop looking at me like that,” Peter said, leaning back in his chair. “You’re the one who wanted to talk. What was so urgent? What’s going on?” Maximus realized his brother didn’t want to address the topic of Mary. He couldn’t blame him; it wasn’t something Maximus was eager to discuss either. Even after 20 years, the memory of what had happened still hurt. They were just starting to build a real brotherly relationship after years of distance, and he didn’t want to intrude on Peter’s thoughts. So, he let it go. “It’s Laura…” Maximus finally said. “What about your daughter?” Peter asked, his curiosity piqued. Maximus tightened his grip on the steering wheel His knuckles turned white, and Peter noticed how his jaw clenched. “Laura is pregnant.” Peter turned to his brother, stunned. For a moment, he said nothing, searching for the right words as he watched Maximus struggling to contain his emotions. “Look,” Peter said, pointing at a bar. “There’s a place. Let’s grab a drink. I think we both need one.” Maximus pulled into the parking lot, and the two impeccably dressed men stepped out of the car. Inside, one ordered whiskey, the other cognac. Peter swirled the amber liquid in his glass, warming it with his hand, while Maximus downed his drink in one gulp and immediately ordered another. Peter observed him closely, understanding that his brother was grappling with a piece of news he wasn’t ready for and that it was clearly causing him pain. Despite everything, Maximus was keeping himself under control–at least for now. “Maximus,” Peter began, “what can I tell you? A few years ago, I went through something similar with Alden. At the time, I wasn’t exactly in my right mind, but I had to make decisions and let me tell you, I don’t regret any of them. Not a single one.” “My son was as naive as they come. Or, to put it bluntly, he was an idiot and already involved in things he shouldn’t have been. Becoming a parent at a young age isn’t the end of the world, but it’s the end of certain possibilities, a pause on others, and so on.” “Did you ever talk to your daughter about sex?” Peter asked, cutting to the heart of the matter. “I did… but I know that when it comes to these things, no one could explain it better than a woman.‘ “You mean her mother?” Maximus scoffed. “Ha. That woman wouldn’t have guided Her at all. Still, I feel guilty. I should have been more assertive, more insistent. I don’t know. She’s my little girl..” “Well, she’s not so little now. She’s carrying a baby, Maximus.” “Peter, you’re an idiot!” Maximus snapped. “Calm down,” Peter said, raising a hand. “I’m just saying what’s obvious. Stop clinging to the idea that she’s a child–it’s only hurting you. Take it from me. When Alden Hit me with the same news, I had just met him, just found out he was my son. And let me tell you, his ex–girlfriend’s father wanted to kill him–literally.” “What did you do?” “What I didn’t do when he was in his mother’s womb.” Chapter 0505 Maximus looked at him with surprise and suspicion. +15 BONUS “I raised two kids–a 16–year–old and an 18–year–old. Grace, Alden’s girlfriend, was practically being sold off to some old man, 50 or 60 years old–1 don’t even remember exactly. Alden, my son, had resigned himself to his circumstances. He was smart, but in the place they lived, there weren’t many opportunities to grow. To Grace’s father, my son was a nobody.” Ma “What does that have to do with what I just told you?” Maxinus asked, growing impatient. “Well, my dear brother, it has everything to do with it. When I learned my son was in danger, I didn’t hesitate. I took him and Grace out of the country. That man thought his money gave him the right to do whatever he wanted.” Before we left, I gave the guy a hefty sum as a dowry. Can you imagine if I hadn’t found them? My son would have been fish food, and my grandson, Ethan–the little boy who brought me back to life–would’ve ended up in a medical waste bag.” “This isn’t the end of the world, Maximus, And you’ve heard the saying, ‘Don’t spit in the air, or it’ll land on your face. My dear brother, you spat, and very high.” Maximus sat silently, processing his brother’s words. He couldn’t deny that his current situation felt like karma. His life had been full of mistakes–starting with Mary and continuing with his dalliances with women the same age as his daughter, including Audrey Brown. “What should I do?” “First,” Peter said, leaning in, “you need to accept that your daughter isn’t a little girl anymore. In a few weeks- if I remember correctly from what you said–she’ll be of legal age. The boy she’s with, her ‘boyfriend,‘ whether you like him or not, is the father, and you can’t deny that. What you need to do is meet him and find out if he’s going to step up or not.” Maximus knocked back his next drink in one go, as if trying to drown his sorrows. “Hey!” Peter said, frowning “Slow down, champ. Getting drunk isn’t going to solve anything. Like I said, extreme situations call for extreme measures. If your daughter had been in an accident–which I wouldn’t wish for–wouldn’t you prefer that she’s pregnant rather than in a hospital bed? I’m telling you, this isn’t the end of the world.” Maximus gave a bitter chuckle. “Now my little brother is giving me advice…” “Laugh all you want, but I’ve got the upper hand. My son–grandson is five years old now, and I don’t think I’m doing a bad job as a parent. In fact, you’d be surprised to know they call me strict.” “Why did you let your son divorce his wife?” “They got together too young. I didn’t want that for Ethan. Don’t get me wrong–Jadore Grace and Alden–but together, it was constant fighting. I didn’t want Ethan growing up in a toxic environment, so I suggested they separate. Surprisingly, they agreed, and it’s been better this way.” “So you took full responsibility for your grandson?” “As much as I could, yes. Bottles, diapers, baths, clothing changes–you name it. I had the time and the money. Grace went back to school, and 1 happily cared for my grandson. I became his nanny, and I don’t regret a single moment.” Η 2/07 Chapter 0506