Chapter 0449
Chapter 0449
“I spent a long time in intensive care. The truth is, my recovery took several years. By the time I could speak and was aware of myself, five years had already passed. I was like a baby–couldn’t talk, couldn’t walk. My body was atrophied from so much time in bed. I almost lost a hand, and when I finally managed to walk, I had to use a cane for a long time.
“I spent two years in rehab. Theodore, that grumpy old man, has been like a father and friend to me. He took care of me diligently. As far as I know, my biological father left a lot to be desired. I don’t remember him, but from what I’ve been told, we didn’t have a good relationship. Honestly, I can say Theodore is my father. Even though these days we act more like friends, he’s been the father I might have been denied in my past life.”
Marcus just listened, imagining the hardships his friend had endured. He didn’t have the words to describe how he felt at that moment. Peter was like a younger brother to him, someone he had grown fond of during the time they spent together. When he met Lucius, Marcus thought he’d found someone to fill the void Peter had left, but he quickly realized Lucius’s bad intentions. That was when, in the past, he’d had to teach that young man a harsh lesson.
“I think all the pain from rehab can’t compare to the pain of knowing I don’t remember anything. When I finally woke up, not only did I need help with everything, but my mind was completely blank. Theodore tried to give me a full explanation of who I was, but to be honest, I never managed to recover any memories. At least not until yesterday…”
“What? What do you mean by that?” Marcus asked, intrigued.
“Yesterday, I met someone, Marcus. I went out with her. She’s an amazing woman, and somehow, she made me remember two things. First, my brother and I wanted a dog when we were kids, but we never had one. Then, I remembered the taste of cinnamon coffee. I don’t know where that memory comes from, but I know I like my coffee that way.”
Marcus felt uneasy. He knew only one person who made coffee like that–Mary. That memory had to be from when she and Peter were together. She probably made him the same coffee she now made for Marcus.
“Ah, but they’re just two memories. My past life is much more than that. Honestly, I prefer not to dwell on it. Since I left that hospital, I’ve been making new memories, and I don’t feel frustrated about the past.”
“What are you saying?”
“I know what’s going through your head, Marcus. I know you’re married to Mary, now Valerte Mary Hunter. I know you took care of her and my daughter, who, as I now know, wasn’t mine–she’s Maximus’s, my brother’s. That’s something I’ll always be grateful to you for.
“I know you have a son with her. His name is Jonathan, and he’s friends with my grandson, Ethan,” Peter said with a slight sigh. “When I found out my grandson and your son went to the same school, it caught me off guard. But by then, it was inevitable–they were already friends. I don’t have the heart to separate them, so I rarely go to the school to avoid running into her.
“Thanks to Ethan, I learned your son fractured his foot. He’s been out of school for almost a month, and those are the only days I’ve been able to take my grandson to school without a problem.
“Believe me, Marcus, I don’t intend to come back and disrupt your life or Mary’s. You’re a family–you’ve been married for a long time. I have no intention of getting her back. Any memory I might’ve had of her is gone. I’m deeply grateful that you and Maximus are supporting Alden. He’s my biological son. I met him a little over five years ago when his mother contacted my lawyer, Darío Rizzo. Do you remember him?
