Chapter 0278
+25 BONUS
Maximus returned home, utterly drained. He walked in quietly, knowing all the staff were already asleep. Heading down the hallway, he noticed the light on in his wife’s root. A surge of anger flared within him–he was sure that if he faced her now, he might actually strangle her. He took deep breath, exhaling it in a long, weary sigh.
Before reaching his own room, he stopped by the bedroom shared by his younger children. Paul and Maurice preferred to sleep together to avoid feeling lonely. Maximus sat on the edge of Paul’s bed and picked up a photo from the nightstand. It was of all of them, taken four years ago. Maurice was still a baby, and everyone was smiling
even Alexis, holding the tiny Maurice in her arms. ‘We were a family,‘ he thought.
No matter what, Maximus had always wanted to provide a family for his children. Now that he knew the truth, it tore him apart. He regretted never truly appreciating his beautiful daughter. The thought of Paul not being his biological son broke his heart. Paul, lost in his own little world, always made time for his father. “You’re my children, no matter what. You’re mine,” he thought, standing up and quietly leaving their room.
At the far end of the hall was Laura’s roof. His reserved, well–behaved daughter who never caused trouble. It was Inconceivable to think she could forgive him. He had never seen her as his daughter–only as another mouth to feed. That much was obvious. Lucius was right; he was an idiot, blind to what was right in front of him. It was the same mistake he had made with Mary, and he only realized it when she was gone.
Maximus hesitated at Laura’s door, his hand resting on the doorknob. He just wanted to see her, his quiet, lonely girl. The one he had never given a chance to be his daughter Finally, he gathered the courage to turn the knob and step inside, only to find her bed empty, the window wide open.
“Laura?” he called out, his voice uncertain
Laura hadn’t been able to sleep that night. She had gone to the kitchen for some milk and was now sitting at her little garden table, gazing at the night sky in search of sleep
“Dad! What are you doing here?” she exclaimed, startled to see him.
Laura was not used to her father entering her space. She racked her brain, trying to remember if he had ever visited her room before, but no such memory surfaced.
“What are you doing out here? You’ll catch a cold!” Maximis said, his tone a mix of worry and awkwardness.
“Don’t worry, Dad. I couldn’t sleep, so I wear for some mil,” she replied softly.
Maximus looked at his daughter. She wasn’t a little girl anymore, but her sweetness and gentleness reminded him of a small damsel. His heart ached. She had grown up alone without a nurturing mother or a protective father. ‘No wonder she’s so quiet,‘ he thought.
“Hey… I was thinking… If you’d like, tomorrow we could go to the movies together. What do you think?” he offered.
Laura’s eyes widened in surprise. She turned to him, and her gaze filled his heart.
“Really, Dad? You’d go to the movies with me?” she asked, smiling brightly.
“Of course, if you’d like to,” Maximus said, locking eyes with her.
She lowered her gaze, feeling shy under his intense look. He noticed and realized he couldn’t keep behaving this
way.
“Laura, I know I haven’t been the best father, and I want tosk for your forgiveness… Please, forgive me, my
#25 BONUS
Chapter 0278
daughter,” Maximus said, his voice trembling as he knelt before her.
“Dad. You don’t have to ask for forgiveness, I lanow you’re strict because that’s who you are. But don’t feel guilty
I still love you,” she said, hesitantly cupping his face before pulling him into a hug
She had hesitated, but seeing her father so vulnerable gave her the courage to embrace him. As her heart raced, he began to cry, overwhelmed by the gesture. It was the first time Laura had seen him like this. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if he had been deialding, but there was no alcohol on his breath–just his usual scent of mint and citrus.
“My little girl! I’ve been so unfair to you! I left you all alone, I was never there for you. I don’t deserve your love. I don’t deserve to be called your father,” Maximus said, holing her tightly and kissing her forehead and hair.
“Dad, I’m not here to judge you. I know your life is complicated, and you carry a heavy burden. You barely have time to live. I know your relationship with my mother isn’t easy, but I love you both,” Laura said, her eyes radiating kindness and understanding.
“Forgive me, my little girl! Forgive me for being such a terrible father!” Maximus cried, tears streaming down his
face.
“Dad, don’t cry anymore. Tomorrow, we’ll go to the movies, okay? But please don’t cry–it’ll make me cry too,” Laura said, looking into his tear–filled eyes.
That night, father and daughter sat on the floor for a long time. Laura comforted him until he calmed down. When the chill in the air grew too much, they went back inside. Laura lay down in her bed, and Maximus tucked her in with a blanket. She snuggled against his arm, and he gentlystroked her hair, memories flooding back of when she had been a baby. His little girl was no longer a baby–she was nearly 18, a young woman now.
