Chapter 0789
“I need to talk to Alden. He needs to be here. If anyone should be by Peter’s side right now, it’s him and his grandson, Ethan.”
Maximus exhaled heavily, his voice laced with determination.
“I’ve been thinking about this a lot, Celeste. I don’t care if Peter has to forget us. What matters is that he lives. He’ll still be here, and we’ll still be in his life. And now… he won’t be alone.
“He has you.
“It caught me off guard to find out, but you’re going to have two beautiful children together.
“He already has Alden and Ethan. He has his best friend, Theodore. They would never abandon him. And neither will I. We will all be in his life. If he has the surgery, we have the chance to create new memories with him.”
Celeste remained silent.
The weight of everything was pressing down on her.
She thought back to the days Peter had spent with her. He had never once shown signs of being sick. But now she realized–Peter never let anyone see what was going on in his head.
“Celeste,” Maximus’s voice softened. “Peter is living in a limbo. I’m sure you’ve noticed how his moods shift- how sometimes he’s present, and then suddenly, it’s like he’s somewhere else.
“His mind is constantly drifting between the past and the present.
“Do you remember the couple that walked out of the courthouse with us? That woman–she was someone important to him in the past.
“When Peter had his accident, Mary was pregnant. That is the time period he remembers the most. His mind is
stuck there.
“Every time you see his mood change, it’s because he’s going back to that moment in time.
“He thinks he’s there.
“He believes things that are no longer true. The memories come in waves, and they confuse him. But when they pass… he comes back. The Peter you know returns–the one who knows what he wants, the one who knows who he is.”
Celeste’s stomach twisted as she listened.
“I can’t even imagine how terrifying this must be for him,” Maximus continued. “Seeing you pregnant. Knowing he could lose everything he’s lived through.
“He’s scared, Celeste. He doesn’t want to relive what happened fifteen years ago.
“But if he doesn’t go through with the surgery… he’ll leave you alone.
“He’ll leave two babies without a father.
“He’ll leave behind a son and a grandson.”
Maximus reached for her hand, his voice breaking.
“Celeste… please. Talk to him. Help me convince him to get the surgery.
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Chapter 0789
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“I know I’m asking a lot, but please–don’t leave him alone.
“I know this is overwhelming. I know he’s said and done things that may have hurt you.
“But I also see how much you care about him.
“It’s obvious to me that you have feelings for him.
“Look at yourself–you’re carrying his children.
“You’re giving him something he’s never had before–a chance to be a father from the very beginning.
“Yes, he has Alden, but he met him when Alden was eighteen. Peter missed out on his childhood–he never got to raise him.
“You and Peter both deserve a family. You deserve a fresh start.
“And if he loses his memories… we will all be there for him. We will all help him rebuild.
“We’re a family now. And that will make all the difference.
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“Please, Celeste. Help me. Don’t let him go through this alone.”
Maximus’s voice broke completely.
Tears ran down his face.
Celeste looked at the man sitting beside her, and for the first time, she saw how terrified he was.
He didn’t want to lose his brother.
And the truth was… neither did she.
She couldn’t deny it anymore.
She loved Peter.
There were still so many things they needed to work through. But none of it changed the fact that she loved him.
He was the father of her children.
And she wasn’t going to lose him.
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