My Love Until the Last Goodbye by Alut

22:

C

Chapter 0608

Valerie remained in the study long after Serenity had left. She felt a hollow ache in her chest, a deep guilt that weighed heavily on her. Her little girl was gone, and though she didn’t want to admit it, her daughter’s words rang true. She hadn’t handled Peter’s reappearance well. He had come into her life like a storm and left just as abruptly, leaving behind a chaos she had allowed to consume her. She questioned why she couldn’t be immune to him–why she clung to someone who didn’t love her.

Sitting behind the desk, absentmindedly stroking her pregnant belly, she was lost in her thoughts when the door opened quietly. A strong hand rested on her shoulder, pulling her back to reality.

“Are you okay?”

She turned to see Marcus standing behind her. The man who had loved, comforted, and cared for her for 15 years. The sight of him brought a wave of remorse crashing down on her.

“I messed everything up, didn’t I?” she said, her voice trembling as tears rolled down her face.

“No,” Marcus replied gently, “She would have left eventually. Do you remember how she wanted to move out even back in Hesperia?”

left because

with a

Valerie said, her tone tinged with defeat.

makes you feel better–yes. We both screwed up. This whole ‘revenge‘ plan we came here for? It backfired

I could go back in time.”

“To do what?”

come

change the past, Valerie. But you can learn to live with your decisions. You’re a strong, wise woman. You shine brightest when things get tough–I know, because that’s what made

up at him, her red, tear–streaked eyes meeting his. Marcus knelt beside

to know that you’re not alone. I’ll always be here for you, for our kids. I know I haven’t made the best decisions lately. Honestly, I was hurt… It crushed me to see the way your face lit up at the mere mention of Peter. It killed me to think you two might end up together.

words, Valerie couldn’t hold back any longer. She cupped Marcus’s face in her hands, and he responded by kissing

know my reaction wasn’t right. I’ve been so irrational, not thinking about the consequences or who I was hurting in the process. I know you might not believe me,

you–not for what you give me, but for who we are together. For our life,

cheek. He knew he had also acted impulsively. While he had accused Valerie of being irrational, he had let his own jealousy and pain cloud his judgment. Instead of supporting her and helping her process her emotions, he had abandoned her and their children in a moment of weakness.