Chapter 0330
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Maximus was utterly taken aback when he saw the name on his phone screen. Of all the people who could have called him, he hadn’t expected her. The surprise was overwhelming, but without hesitation, he answered. Tonight, of all nights, he needed to hear her voice.
“Maximus? Maximus Palmer?” said a familiar, sweet voice on the other end.
IL
Hello,” he replied, his hands trembling slightly.
“Hi, Maximus! I know I probably shouldn’t be calling you, but today… I just had this overwhelming urge so,” she said, her tone warm but tentative.
to do
“Thank you… You have no idea how much I needed to hear your voice,” Maximus admitted, his tone steeped in nostalgia
“Maybe we’re connected somehow,” Diana said softly. “I’ve been feeling unsettled all day, and the only person who could make me feel this way is you, Maximus. How are you?”
“My life just went to hell… That’s how I am,” he said bluntly.
“Your life was already a mess, wasn’t it? Remember?”
“Diana!”
“It’s the truth, Maximus, whether you admit it or not.”
A silence fell between them. Maximus knew she was right she’d always seen through the glossy façade of his life. When she worked for him, they had been… something. He wasn’t sure what, but it was something that allowed her to see parts of him no one else could.
“What time is it in Mexico?” Maximus asked, breaking the silence.
“It’s 2:00 p.m. I just got out of a meeting and stopped at a little café near the office. It’s raining cats and dogs here. And you? It must be close to 10:00 p.m. there. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I should call you or if you’d even
answer.”
“It’s 10:00 p.m., yes,” Maximus confirmed. “I was driving home, but when I saw your name, I pulled over to answer. And I’m glad I did. Your call… it’s helped more than you know, even though you’re not here.”
“Maximus, what’s wrong? You sound…. different. Your voice isn’t the same,” Diana said, her concern evident.
“I found out two things today, Diana. Do you remember myson, Lucius?”
“Of course! He was such a handsome and smart young man, Always questioning everything, eager to take on the world. What about him?”
“He’s not my son.”
“What?” Diana exclaimed, nearly choking on her coffee.
“He’s not my son,” Maximus repeated, his voice trembling “He’s my father’s son. Alexia… she had a relationship with my father while we were married.”
“Maximus… I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine what you must be feeling right now. But listen, Lucius may not be yours by blood, but you raised him. He loves you. You’re his father in every way that matters.”
Maximus let out a bitter laugh. “It’s not that simple, Diana He doesn’t love me. He hates me. He sees me as someone to destroy, not someone to respect.”
H
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Chapter 0330
“That can’t be true. He’s probably just a confused young man. You’ve always guided him and cared for him. How could he hate you?
“Diana, things have changed in the last five years. You wouldn’t recognize what’s become of him… or me. And then there’s the other thing.” He paused, his voice heavy with emotion. “I found out that Peter’s daughter… Isn’t his. She’s mine. When Mary and I separated, she was pregnant. She found out during the divorce but chose not to tell me.”
Diana was silent for a moment before responding, her voice soft and full of empathy. “Maximus… that explains your turmoil. I can’t imagine what Mary must have gone through. She probably made that choice for the sake of her baby. But… how did you find out?”
“They’re back,” Maximus said. “Mary and my daughter. They returned to Valentia recently, but Mary didn’t come back alone. She’s remarried now. She has a new husband and another child.”
“So when you say they, you mean your ex–wife and the daughter you just found out is yours? No wonder you’re struggling. You have so much weighing on your heart, Maxdmus. But even though I’m not there, I want you to know you can call me anytime. That’s what friends are for, right?”
“Friends?” Maximus laughed softly, a bittersweet tone in his voice. “I don’t think we were ever just ‘friends,” Diana. But I’ll go along with it, because I don’t know what else to call what we were… and are.”
Diana chuckled. “Well, I need to go. It looks like the rain is letting up, and I still have to get back to the office. It’s going to be a long evening.”
“Diana…” Maximus hesitated. “What about your life? Are you married? In a relationship? We’ve been talking about me this whole time–I haven’t asked about you.”
“Maximus, I really have to go,” she said, though her voice softened. “But here’s a quick update. Thanks to what I learned from you and Matthew, I’ve got a great job now. I’m the director of a marketing and advertising company, and it’s going well. As for marriage… no, I haven’t married guess I’m still waiting for you. But don’t take too long–people say it takes ten years to forget someone, and I’m already halfway there. You only have five years left, Maximus.”
“Diana… is that true?” Maximus asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and longing.
“I have to go. Think about what I said, Maximus,” Diana replied before ending the call.
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Chapter 0331
