Chapter 0397
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0397
“Why are you only telling us this now?” Laura asked, her voice trembling.
“Because there wasn’t much else to do. I didn’t know how you would take it. Your mother was in terrible shape- she passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital. Her parents already have her ashes, and the funeral is today. It’ll be a small family gathering. You should understand that your grandfather and Lucius won’t be there. What matters is that we get through this together, as the family we are and will continue to be.”
Laura’s silent tears broke Maximus’s heart. He pulled her close and held her tightly. Only then did she let out a small cry, which made him tighten his embrace and stroke her blonde hair.
Not everything in his relationship with Alexia had been bad. The one pure thing to come out of their marriage was their children. They were innocent, untouched by the mistakes of their parents. Even Lucius, though not his biological son, was innocent of the trio of adults‘ misdeeds.
“How are you, Dad? How are you feeling? I know that, deep down, despite everything, you loved her,” Laura said, her voice barely above a whisper.
She wasn’t wrong. Maximus’s heart harbored complicated feelings for Alexia. Whether it was love or something closer to dependency, he couldn’t say. But whatever it was, it broke him when he saw her in the hospital. He had to remain stoic in that moment, resisting the urge to intervene in Alden’s vengeance. Yet he knew his indecision and complacency had allowed Alexia to wreak havoc, hurting many people along the way–most notably his brother, who had nothing to do with her schemes but paid the heaviest price.
“Dad?”
“Yes, my dear?”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. What’s important now is how we tell your brothers.”
“Dad, are you really going to tell them?”
“I have to. At some point, they’ll look for her. She may not have been close to them, but she was still their mother, and we all need to remember her for the few moments we shared.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
“For what, sweetheart?”
“For not leaving us alone…”
“I will always be here for you. Never forget that. Even the worst children will always have their parents‘ love, and you are far from bad. I will never stop living for you.”
Laura hesitated, then said, “Dad, you don’t need to explain yourself. I know there are times when the weight of everything feels like too much. I understand. If you need help at work, I can be your assistant or whatever you need so I don’t see you like this again.”
Maximus looked at his little girl–no, she wasn’t a little girl anymore. She was a young woman.
“Thank you, my love. For now, I just need you to be strong and help me with your brothers when the time comes to give them the news.”
“I will, Dad. We’ll get through this together, as a family.”
“I know we will, my dear Laura.”
7/2
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0397
After talking and walking for about an hour, Maximus’s phone rang. His sons were on their way. He and Laura went to greet them. By the time the car pulled up to the main entrance, both were already waiting.
Out stepped a tall, fair–skinned 15–year–old boy with wavy hair. Paul, dressed like a typical teenager in jeans and a loose shirt, had his ears covered by large headphones, seemingly lost in his world. Meanwhile, Maurice, an 8- year–old with wavy hair and features resembling Peter, jumped out and immediately ran to his father. Dressed in overalls and a long–sleeved shirt, Maurice’s energy brought a fleeting smile to Maximus’s face.
As he held his youngest son, Maximus couldn’t help but think about Alexia’s peculiar insistence on calling the boy “Peter.” Was it guilt for what she had done to his brother? Or was it some other inexplicable fixation?
The driver and staff began unloading the boys‘ belongings, but Maximus instructed them to send everything directly to the Palmer mansion instead. Both sons exchanged confused glances but followed their father inside.
