© Chapter 0510
Chapter 0510
Peter took Maximus’s car to head back to the hospital. He had only had a single glass of cognac, but seeing his brother in that state left him feeling something strange. It was an odd sensation–he and Maximus had never really shared a deep conversation or addressed personal issues before. Peter decided not to mention that his memories were gradually returning. He enjoyed the relationship they had now and didn’t want to risk upsetting the fragile peace between them. Their past wasn’t ideal, and he preferred to leave it untouched.
Maximus’s questions lingered in his mind as he drove. He smirked at the thought of the answers he’d given, surprised by this curious side of his brother, one he hadn’t seen before.
“Maximus, curiosity killed the cat,” he said aloud as he navigated the roads.
When Peter arrived at the hospital, his stomach growled. He’d gone for a drink but hadn’t eaten anything all day. Before going to see Celeste, he stopped by the hospital cafeteria. While waiting for his food, his thoughts wandered back to his conversation with Maximus and the topic of Mary.
“Have you closed that chapter of your life? Peter heard the question echo in his mind.
“No, Maximus, I haven’t closed it, and I don’t know if I ever will. I’m a damned coward! If I could turn back time, I would. I’d skip that meeting. I’d hold Mary tighter, kiss her more than once, make her mine, remind her how much I loved her, and kiss her beautiful belly again and again…”
As he sipped his coffee, Peter’s gaze grew distant, lost in the depths of his cup. It was clear that now, with his memories resurfacing, he was battling with the old feelings that had been buried for so long
“My dear Mary. How do I handle this? Marcus was my best friend, my brother. He was the only person who helped me when my father left me on my own. I don’t want to hurt him. Damn it, who am I kidding? I’m dying to see you, to hold you, to kiss you. But I know it’s impossible. Life tore us apart in the cruelest way.”
“Excuse me?” said the woman bringing Peter his order.
“Oh! No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking out loud.”
“No worries. Here’s your order.”
“Thank you.”
Peter ate quickly and without much appetite. Afterward, he took the elevator to Celeste’s room. His head was spinning. Outwardly, he seemed calm, but his expressions betrayed him. In his eyes, there was a storm of anxiety brewing. Though he had arrived at the hospital composed, the sight of Mary next to Marcus earlier had unsettled him, filling him with envy and jealousy.
Just before entering Celeste’s room, Peter covered his face with both hands, rubbing it in a gesture of weariness. He then opened the door and managed a smile. Celeste was gazing out the window, but when she heard the door open, she turned and smiled at him.
“Hello, my love,” Peter greeted her warmly.
Hearing those words, Celeste felt a strange flutter in her stomach.
“Hi,” she replied shyly.
“I stepped out for a bit while you were sleeping. I went to see my brother.”
“You have a brother?”
“Yes! I don’t remember if I’ve mentioned him to you before His name is Maximus Palmer, I hope I can introduce you to him soon… though now I’m not sure if it’s a good idea.”
+35 BONUS
Chapter 0510
“Maximus Palmer? Isn’t he that influential businessman?”
“That’s the one! Do you know him?”
“I’ve heard of him, but it was a long time ago… Honestly, don’t even remember how.”
“It was probably from a magazine or an interview. My brother used to be very prominent in that world. Now he’s stepped back from the public eye and spends more time with his kids.”
“Yes, that must be it…”
Celeste felt a pang of doubt. The world would have to be very sinall for it to be the same man. Yet, deep down, she was certain it was him. When she was fifteen, she had lived in Galea and had worked informally as a dishwasher in a bar. Orphaned, she did whatever jobs she could to survive it was during that time that she met a young Hesperian girl.
Angela Palmer, a friend of Aurora Rennard, had once taught Celeste how to make coffee with cinnamon during a brief period they spent together. Angela had endured a painful marriage to a man who, according to Aurora, had been a monster. Despite that, Angela had been a sweet and kind woman. The cinnamon coffee had become Celeste’s favorite ever since. Their time together was short, as Angela left the job and returned to Willowcombe, and Celeste lost contact with both her and the friends she had made in Galea. Celeste never went back. Years passed
she got married, and the rest was history. Until now.
