Chapter 0688
Maximus sat on the couch in Peter’s hospital room, his thoughts heavy with worry. Diana had gone home for the night; she needed to rest and prepare for work the next day. When Peter stirred and opened his eyes, Maximus immediately got up and approached him.
“Maximus… What am I doing here?” Peter asked groggily, his voice weak.
“You weren’t feeling well at home, so we brought you to the hospital,” Maximus replied, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Another one of those damn headaches, wasn’t it?” Peter said, frustration clear in his tone.
“Yes…” Maximus hesitated before continuing. “Peter… they told me what’s going on with you.”
Peter sighed and looked away. “And now you’re worried, aren’t you?”
“Of course, I’m worried! Peter, this is serious!”
“I’m fine! Wagner always blows things out of proportion,” Peter insisted, dismissing the concern.
“Don’t be so stubborn! You need psychological care and the surgery-
“No!” Peter cut him off, his voice firm. “I’m not ready to go through that again. I’ve barely managed to hold on as it is.”
“Peter, this isn’t optional. You have to get the surgery!”
“You don’t know what I’ve been through…”
“No, I don’t,” Maximus admitted. “But I’m here now. I can help you. You’re not alone, brother. Let me take care of you. I couldn’t do it in the past, but this time, I won’t back down.”
Peter’s expression softened briefly before his brow furrowed again. “What’s going to happen with Mary?”
“She’s fine. She has people taking care of her. You don’t need to worry about her anymore.”
“And Celeste? She’s still in Slovenia. I don’t want her to find out about my condition. She doesn’t need more on her plate, especially when she’s still recovering.”
“Peter, she has a right to know.”
“No! I don’t want to burden her.”
Maximus’s patience snapped. “If something happens to you, it’ll be worse than a burden! You’ll break her heart!”
Peter’s face crumpled, and he muttered under his breath,” should never have met her… I should never have gotten close to her. All I’m going to do is ruin her life.”
“It’s too late for regrets, Peter,” Maximus said, his tone firm but not unkind. “You need to get the surgery, follow treatment, and get out of this mess we’ve all ended up in.”
“There’s not much time left…” Peter murmured.
Maximus narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean by that? What haven’t you told me?”
“Didn’t Magnus tell you?”
“No, he didn’t. What was he supposed to tell me?”
1/2
Chapter 0688
Peter hesitated before explaining. “We’re waiting for someone–Anthony Moriarty, the court judge, to gain government approval. Once he does, things will start moving.”
“Who’s Anthony Moriarty?”
“Magnus knows him. Apparently, the Levetts have unresolved matters with him. If we bring all the dirt we’ve collected on the Levetts and the Palmers, Moriarty won’t hesitate to take action.”
“How do you know that?”
“Magnus is a close friend of Moriarty, and the Moriarty family used to be close to the Bartzs. Back when the Bartzs were at their peak, the Moriartys were nobodies. It wasn’t until Anthony’s father stepped up that the family gained prominence–right after the Levetts started falling apart.”
Maximus frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?”
“I didn’t think it was necessary. And… I couldn’t trust you.‘
Maximus’s chest tightened at the blunt admission. “You can trust me now. Tell me everything. Don’t hold anything back.”
Peter rubbed his temples, visibly drained. “I can’t give you the full picture. My memories come and go, Maximus. I can’t rely on them, and you can’t rely on me. That’s why I’m telling you to talk to Magnus. He knows more.”
Maximus’s frustration boiled over. “Peter, I need to know your whole plan. I can’t keep dealing with bits and pieces. I know you’re trying to get Marcus out of prison. If you want to use Alexia to negotiate, then say so, and we’ll do it.”
“Did I ask you to do that?” Peter asked, his eyes narrowing in confusion.
Maximus’s silence was met with a look of exasperation from Peter, whose frustration was palpable. The mix of disjointed memories and erratic decisions was clearly taking a toll. Maximus couldn’t ignore the signs any longer -Peter desperately needed help.
