My Love Until the Last Goodbye by Alut

Chapter 0468 Peter returned has soon as Eliya had resumed her duties at the Swiss estate. The drive back felt endless; he yearned to see his family, but more than anything, he longed to see Celeste. During his tin Switzerland, she hadn't reached out to him not a single message or call.

He understood this as her subtle rejection of his offer, but strangely, he wasn't upset. On the contrary, it pleased him. It showed she wasn't just any woman; she had a quiet strength and character that intrigued him even more.

As Peter's car pulled into the mansion's driveway, the first to greet him was Ethan. The boy had paused his gwith Chester and was now sitting on the front steps, waiting eagerly. When the driver opened the car door, Ethan sprang to his feet, his excitement bubbling over.

"Grandpa! You're back! You're back!" Ethan shouted, bouncing around Peter.

"Hello, my little one!” Peter said, ruffling the boy's hair. "How have you been? How was your week?" "Good, Grandpa! I'm back at school now. My friend John is wearing a funny little boot, but he's back too." Hearing John's nmade Peter pause briefly, reminding him exactly who the boy's parents were. He smiled and replied, "That's wonderful. Are you feeling more at ease now?" "Yes! I have to be a good friend and take care of him. We can't do too much, but I'm glad he's back! Oh! And in a week, we have the Fall Festival at school. We're doing a play! We've been practicing a lot." "Wow! I leave for one week, and so much changes!" Peter chuckled.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you about the play! Miss Celeste is helping us rehearse, She says it's going to be amazing. Students from other grades will cto watch, too!" Ethan explained, gesturing wildly with his little arms.

"Really? And how is your teacher?" Peter asked, trying to sound casual.

"Miss Celeste? She's great!" Ethan said enthusiastically. "She looks prettier every day. This week, she was especially beautiful. She kept smiling to herself-we think she likes someone! John says that's how his mor looks when she sees his dad." "Does she, now?" Peter asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Yep! We think she's in love. She's so pretty and always smells like roses. John and I decided that when we grow up, we'll be her boyfriends." "Ethan!" Peter exclaimed, taken aback.

"What's wrong, Grandpa?" "When you grow up, your teacher will still be much older than you." "Oh, right... I didn't think about that. Well, then I guess she won't be our girlfriend." Peter rolled his eyes but couldn't help feeling a twinge of jealousy. His grandson saw Celeste daily, while he had only his memories of her. Lucky boy. Still, he couldn't shake Ethan's words; “We think she's in love." Could it be true? He needed to see her-had to.

"Ethan, tellabout your play. What's it about?" Peter asked as they walked inside.

"Well, I'm a dwarf, and John is Prince Charming. We're doing Snow White." "That's a classic!" "Miss Celeste said the sthing! A classic!” +25 BONUS Chapter 0468 "Did you finish your homework?" "Yesterday! Dad said I had to finish it early." "Good boy, Ethan. Look what I brought you." "Wow! A magnet! I'll put it with the others. Is it from Switzerland? Did you go far away?" "A little far, but the flight is short," "When I grow up, I want to travel as much as you, Grandpa Theodore, and Dad do. It must be so fun to meet so many people!" Peter smiled at his grandson's innocence. The boy didn't yet understand how challenging strips could be- like the one he had just returned from.

"Ethan, have you seen Grandpa Theodore?" Peter asked as they reached the grand hallway.

"Yeah, Grandpa Theodore pickedup from school and then locked himself in the study." "Thank you, my boy. Now go play with Chester in the backyard. Is your dad home?" "Nope, he's at work." Peter entered the study and found Theodore seated behind the desk, reading documents with a focused intensity. "Theo, I'm back," Peter said, stepping inside.

"How did things go with that woman?" Theodore asked, barely looking up.

"How do you know I went to see her?"

"I've been by your side for over twenty years. I know when you'ren lying. That That sudden, unplanned trip? It had to be about her. It must've caused trouble, and you went to fix it.

Peter sighed heavily and leaned against the chair back. “Theo, I don't know what to do with her. At first, 1 thought it would be easy to get rid of her, but every tI see her, I just see a vulnerable woman who couldn't hurt anyone." "A vulnerable woman?" Theodore scoffed. “So vulnerable that you're standing here, unsure what to do. Don't you think it's all an act to manipulate you?" "That's why I couldn't wait to leave that damned place..." "Do you wantto take care of this little problem for you?

Peter stared at Theodore. His friend, calm and methodical, adjusted his reading glasses as he reviewed a document. For a moment, Peterm forgot who Theodore truly was. What Peter considered a massive dilemma, Theodore treated as another task to check off his to-do list Peter knew that if he handed the situation over, Theodore would handle it swiftly and effectively. But something deep inside him-his conscience, perhaps- refused to let him. There had been a twhen Peter acted out of pure bitterness and pain, losing himself in the process. Now, he couldn't bring himself to make the smistakes again.