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Hours later, Catherine, Leonard, and Maximus returned to the mansion with Albert’s ashes in a beautiful white onyx um. Catherine held it as if her life depended on it, her grip tight, her expression. stoic. She longed to retreat to her room, where she could grieve in private. Life, it seemed, had dealt her an unjust hand–her marriage had ended badly, she had found love again after years, and now that love had been cruelly taken away.
“My dears, I need to rest. These have been long, exhausting days. If you’d like dinner, let Leopold know,” Catherine said as she made her way upstairs.
“Mother, are you sure you’re all right?” Leonard asked, concern etched across his face.
“Father…” Maximus said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder and shaking his head. Leonard understood the unspoken message and didn’t press further. Instead, he followed Maximus to the living room, where they sat in silence until Leopold arrived with coffee.
“Gentlemen, would you like dinner, or shall I bring anything else?” Leopold asked, setting the cups
down.
“I’m fine with just the coffee,” Leonard replied, rubbing his temples.
“The same for me,” Maximus added, leaning back against the sofa with a long sigh. “Actually, I think I’ll head home tonight.”
“What’s wrong, son?” Leonard asked, noticing his son’s troubled expression.
“Nothing much,” Maximus replied, rubbing his temple. “I had an argument with Alexia this morning, and she left.”
Leonard studied Maximus carefully. His son, once so sharp and composed in business, seemed burdened and weary. His relationship with Alexia had brought him nothing but stress. It was clear to Leonard that the only thing holding them together was the baby. Despite Maximus’s claims of love for Alexia, it was obvious they wouldn’t find happiness together.
“Son,” Leonard began gently, “have you considered that your relationship with Alexia might not be worth continuing? A baby shouldn’t be a shackle.”
“Father, how can you say that? I love Alexia. It’s just that with the pregnancy, she’s become more demanding than usual.”
“That’s completely normal, Maximus. She’s going through enormous emotional and physical changes. Being pregnant is no small thing–you must understand that.”
“I know,” Maximus admitted, “but sometimes it’s hard to deal with. And honestly, I think I messed up with her today.”
“What happened?”
“Something trivial…”
“I doubt it was trivial, son.”
Maximus hesitated before speaking. “This morning, I saw Mary walking slowly toward the garden. After
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Chapter D138
everything that happened yesterday, I remembered how stubborn she can be, so I carried her to the bench she was heading for.”
“And?”
“That’s all. Once we got to the bench, I asked how she was, and then Peter showed up. I decided to leave.”
“And Alexia?”
“She saw the whole thing. Later, when I went to her room, she was furious. She accused me of being too close to Mary. We argued, and she left.”
“Maximus,” Leonard said, sighing, “you need to accept that Mary is no longer yours. I know it’s hard, but if Alexia was upset, imagine what Peter must have thought, seeing you with her.”
“I wasn’t thinking about that,” Maximus admitted. “just acted on instinct. She looked so vulnerable…. I felt like I had to help her.”
“Mary has always been vulnerable, son. You just didn’t want to see it. But that time has passed. Now, she has Peter, and he’s doing a fine job taking care of her. Please, don’t ruin that.”
I won’t, Father. That’s why I’d rather leave tonight. I don’t want any more misunderstandings, and besides, I have a lot to talk about with Alexia.”
“Good. Go home, fix things with Alexia, and remember what I’ve told you. Mary is no longer your
concern.”
Leonard rose from his seat and headed to his room, leaving Maximus alone in the living room. Maximus leaned back, closing his eyes as painful memories washed over him.
[Santorini, years ago]
It was their first day in Santorini. Maximus and Mary had just arrived at the hotel Catherine had reserved for them. The room was luxurious, with a breathtaking view and elegant decor–perfect for a romantic getaway. But Maximus and Mary weren’t just any couple.
“Maximus, if your partner shows up here, let me tell you now–I’m not leaving. Book her another room, preferably at a different hotel,” Mary said, her tone sharp and serious.
Maximus was stunned. He had never seen her behave this way before and was momentarily at a loss for words. By the time he found something to say, Mary had moved to the balcony.
“Mary, I told you–she’s not coming. Can we just spend these days in peace?”
“Fine by me. That’s a question for you to answer, not me. Now, excuse me–I have a week in this beautiful place, and I intend to make the most of it. I’m going to change,” Mary said, brushing past him.
Maximus caught a whiff of her perfume as she passed, and it sent a shiver down his spine.
Mary traveled light, as Peter had taught her. She had packed only a few outfits into a butterfly- patterned canvas bag she adored. She also carried a small backpack with her wallet and ID–this week, she had decided, she would be Angela Palmer, not Mary Preston.
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In the bathroom, she swapped her workout clothes for a summery light dress and belge flats. She tied her hair into a high ponytall, applied mango–scented lotion, and dabbed red balm onto her lips. Looking at herself in the mirror, she smiled.
“Well, Angela, let’s enjoy this vacation,” she said.
When she emerged, Maximus was sitting on the balcony, engrossed in his tablet. Yet he couldn’t help but glance up when she walked by, taking in her beauty. He swallowed hard and managed to ask, “Where are you going?”
“Maximus Palmer, wherever I want. We agreed to share the room, not each other’s company,” Mary replied, grabbing a room key and her bag before walking out.
Maximus sat there, dumbfounded. He had expected her to make some effort to catch his attention, but instead, she acted as though his presence didn’t matter.
[Present day, Valeria]
Maximus thought back to that first day in Santorini. That trip had been the turning point where everything began to fall apart. He had hurt Mary deeply, and now it was time to let her go. He had made. his choice he would marry Alexia, the love of his life. There was no reason to disrupt Mary’s life anymore. They had shared a few fleeting moments, but that was all they were meant to be.
Resolving himself, Maximus stood, packed his belongings, and left the mansion. As he passed Peter’s room, he murmured softly, “Goodbye, Mary.”
