Chapter 0599
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At Dr. Baker’s clinic, Valerie sat in the waiting room, flipping through a magazine. She was startled when she noticed a familiar figure. Even after all these years, he still looked as youthful as the day she’d met him. His demeanor now seemed calmer, more relaxed.
Herb
heart skipped a beat. Could it really be him?
“Maximus, what are you doing here?” Valerie asked, glancing at the specialty sign on the wall.
A wild thought ran through her mind: maybe he was here because he had someone who was pregnant. Surely, he was still living his reckless life–especially now that he was a widower.
“Mary! It’s been so long.” Maximus greeted her, his smile lighting up his face.
“Hi, Maximus… Sorry, I’m just surprised to see you here this specialty.”
“Oh, I see!” he said with a playful grin.
“What’s going on? Are you going to be a father again?”
“No! No way. That ship sailed long ago. But I see you’re expecting again. How far along are you?”
“Six months.”
“Wow! The big day is getting close. Marcus must be over the moon–I haven’t seen him in a month.”
“I wouldn’t know. He and I are divorced…” Valerie admitted, her voice tinged with bitterness.
“Divorced? Why? You two always seemed so… Well, what can I say?”
“Nothing. Don’t say anything.”
“Fair enough. Well, I’m not becoming a father this time, but there is a baby on the way. I’m going to be a grandfather!”
“A grandfather?”
“That’s right! My daughter–she should be here any minute–is two months pregnant. And it looks like we have the same gynecologist.”
“I see…”
“Mary, what’s it like?”
“What’s what like?”
“The birth. The days leading up to it, the days after. I don’t know… Laura’s only two months along, but I won’t lie
I’m terrified of that day coming and not knowing how to help her.”
“Weren’t you there for your children’s births
“I was, but they never reached full term. After Lucius, Alexia opted for cesarean deliveries. Laura wants to go full term and have a natural birth…”
וו
“Sounds like you’re going to be busy. Trust me, I think it’s easier to run a company than to raise three kids on your own.”
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“Oh, it’s not that bad! I’m guessing you were never very involved in their upbringing.”
“Alexia would hand the baby off to the nanny as soon as they were born. And me? You know how work consumed me. I’d check on them at night, but obviously, they were never awake at that hour.”
“Wow. That woman clearly wasn’t born to be a mother…”
י
“I think it was my fault. I always tried to make things easier for her, but I didn’t realize that, instead of helping, T was breaking the mother–child bond.”
“Well, no use complaining now. You have a second chance with your grandchild.”
“I know, and I’m grateful. But now, with Laura’s pregnanc, I’m panicking. What do I do when she’s about to give birth? When the baby needs care? It’s been so long since I changed a diaper. I tried once, but I wasn’t very good at it. Honestly, in times like these, I miss Catherine. She would’ve had plenty of advice for me–tough as it might’ve been, but still helpful.”
“Come on! You’ve already raised your kids. You’ll figure it out as a grandfather.”
“Mrs. Bartz? It’s your turn,” the nurse called from the doorway.
“Oh, excuse me,” Valerie said, standing up. “I think we’ll need to update the name on the file–I’m Ms. Hunter now.”
“I didn’t know,” the nurse replied. “No problem, just let us know, and we’ll update it.”
“Hunter?” Maximus asked, raising an eyebrow.
“It’s my grandmother’s surname. Like I said, I’m divorced. It’s time to face life as it is now.
“And what does that mean?”
“Alone. I’ve done it before–completely alone and broke. Now I have my own business and two wonderful kids who both drive me crazy and keep me sane.”
“Your kids?”
“Well, them… and two bossy ladies. One is Camille, and the other you know–Emma.”
“Emma’s with you?”
“Yes. Marcus found her after some time. It wasn’t easy, but now she lives with me. Her sons work for one of Marcus’s many companies.”
“I haven’t seen her in ages. One day I came to the mansion, and she was gone…”
“Hmm, that’s not the version I’ve heard.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, but that’s a story for another day. I need to head into my appointment now.”
“Can I come with you?
Valerie gave him a skeptical look and smiled. “Why would you want to do that?”
“Moral support. Curiosity. I want to see what a six–month ultrasound looks like.”
“Maximus, it’s two babies.”
“Well, two babies, then. Besides, what else am I supposed to do sitting, here surrounded by moms–to–be? Laura
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texted me to say the driver’s stuck in traffic, but she’ll make it in time for her appointment–right after yours, I
assume.
“Alright…” Valerie said with a chuckle, gesturing for him to follow.
