Chapter 0533
+25 BONUS
Peter quickened his steps, and when he finally reached the same stair as Valerie, he hesitated for a second before the sight of her hazel eyes overwhelmed him. Those eyes had stolen his breath so many years ago, and now they drew him in once more. Without a word, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
Tears streamed down Valerie’s face as she melted into his embrace. Peter, too, felt the sting of emotions, remembering the warmth of her body and the scent of her hair, now golden instead of its former chestnut hue. Her transformation only accentuated the beauty of her eyes which still captivated him.
Valerie felt like she was in a dream, unable to believe what was happening. It was surreal, like one of those strange dreams she often had. Her senses were overwhelmed by the familiar scent of citrus and fresh breeze–a fragrance she had tried to remember for years but had slowly faded from her memory. Now, he was here, tangible and real. For a moment, she forgot everything. The man who had stolen her heart so long ago stood before her, and all she could do was sob.
Peter, unable to hold back, let his own tears fall. Holding her again, knowing he would have to let her go, broke him. It was a bittersweet moment–a poignant reminder of a story that had never reached its proper ending. He was overcome by the melancholy of something lived but forever lost.
The embrace lasted far longer than any normal hug. In that moment, time seemed to stand still. Nothing else mattered; no words were exchanged because the warmth they shared spoke volumes. Peter searched her eyes, desperately hoping to find the same spark he had once seen there.
When they finally pulled back, both had tear–streaked faces. Valerie’s nose was red as she covered her mouth, her emotions a whirlwind of pain and joy. She laughed and cried simultaneously, unsure whether her tears were of happiness or sorrow. Peter gently wiped the tears from her cheeks with his long fingers. Valerie, in turn, placed her trembling hand on his face, and Peter leaned into her palm, remembering how soft her hands had always been.
Conflicting emotions filled the air: happiness, anguish, anger, and sadness. Finally, Valerie broke the silence.
“Why? Why, Peter? Where were you? What happened to you? Tell me! I mourned you! I grieved your loss! I wanted to die with you, to leave this world with you…” Her voice cracked, trembling with emotion.
“Mary… My Mary,” Peter began, his voice strained. “So many things happened.. I…”
“I was so scared,” she interrupted. “After you left, life wasn’t easy. So many nights, I held back tears just so I wouldn’t hurt Serenity… And now you’re here. You’re alive! Why? Why didn’t you look for me?”
“Can we talk somewhere more private?” Peter suggested, glancing around. “I don’t think standing on these steps is the most comfortable place for you… or your babies.”
Valerie nodded and instinctively took his hand, just as she had when they used to walk along the shores of Galea. She led him to her husband’s study. Peter recognized the space immediately–it was almost a replica of Maximus’s old office. Some habits, it seemed, never changed. Valerie gestured for him to enter first, then closed the door behind her.
The sight of him standing there overwhelmed her. Without thinking, she reached up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
Peter was taken by surprise. For a moment, he felt uneasy but couldn’t resist kissing her back. After more than 20 years, he once again tasted the warmth of her lips and felt the rhythm of her breath against his. He tightened his arms around her, deepening the kiss. It wasn’t just a kiss–it was the release of decades of repressed desire.
But before things went any further, Peter gently pulled away, his forehead resting against hers.
“Mary,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you. How much
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+25 BONUS
Chapter 0533
I’ve wanted you. God, I want to make you mine right now. But I can’t. Not here. Not in this house. You… You belong to my friend. I can’t do this to him.
“Forgive me… Forgive me for not coming home that night. forgive me for not bringing you the pizza I promised. Forgive me for not measuring the danger of my old life. Forgive me for not being there when Serenity was born. And forgive me for the tears I caused then… and the ones I’m causing now.”
Peter paused, his voice breaking. “That day, I tried to save myself. The last thing I remember was thinking of you. The last thing I saw was your beautiful face–those squirrel cheeks I always kissed. The thought of leaving you alone tore me apart. I jumped out of the car, but I didn’t account for the consequences.”
