My Love Until the Last Goodbye by Alut

Chapter 0959 Feeling his father's embrace, Lucius didn't know how to react. His first instinct was to pull away, but something strange washed over him-a warmth he hadn't felt in years Memories flooded his mind: Maximus hugging him as a child, playing with him, fixing his tie, saying goodbye when he left for London-even though it had been against is will.

He fought against that feeling, resisting the embrace. But for the first tin as long as he could remember, the constant fear that had lived inside him seemed to fade. And just like that, the wall he had built around himself crumbled.

Tears spilled down his face.

"How can you love me?" Lucius's voice broke. “For years, all I did was push you to the edge, remind you how much better Leonardo was as a father, how much better Frank was... I breathed, I lived just to make your life miserable. Maximus, I haven't even called you Dad in years. How can you lovewhen everything points to the fact that I don't deserve it?" Maximus let out a breath, his voice filled with quiet certainty. "Lucius, the day you beca father, you'll understand. No matter how much trouble your kids give you, no matter how difficult they are, you never forget that they're yours." He let out a small, tired chuckle. "And let's be real, you were a teenager. You were easy to manipulate. Just like Anthony Moriarty once said, 'You're a pain in the ass.' But you're my pain in the ass." Lucius let out a weak, breathless laugh through his tears.

"Now that you're here, I don't want you to keep hiding. I don't want you wandering around alone when you have a family waiting for you. You have a father who doesn't know how to ask for forgiveness-for all the things he let happen, for all the times he failed you. You have, and always will have, a father who doesn't care about the headaches you've caused. A father who would be happy if you decided to cback. And if not..." Maximus finally released him, his hands still on Lucius's shoulders. "At least I'll be at peace knowing you're okay and in good hands." Lucius wiped his face quickly, still struggling to process everything. "Do you have pictures of Adele? Can I see her?" Maximus's face lit up. "Oh, I have tons of pictures. Videos too!" He quickly pulled out his phone, scrolling through his gallery. "Look, she's a little ball of energy, and she's only six months old." Lucius took the phone and played the videos, watching his baby niece babble happily. In sclips, Laura appeared, holding Adele close. And then, unexpectedly, a video showed all his siblings together. His chest tightened at the sight of them-smiling, laughing, happy.

But what really stunned him was seeing Maximus himself, rolling around in the grass with Maurice, playing like a man who had never let life harden him.

His fingers hovered over the screen as another face caught his attention. "Who's that woman? She's in a lot of these." Maximus hesitated for a moment. "...Her nis Diana. Diana Mendez. She's my partner." Lúcius's expression darkened. "So that's it? You just forgot about my mother? Just moved on like it was nothing?" His voice was laced with bitterness, but as soon as he said it, he exhaled sharply. "Never mind. What's the point of even bringing it up? You and my mother only stayed together for appearances." Maximus's gaze softened. "I loved your mother. I still love her, in a way. I know Alexia had her flaws-her temper, her selfishness, her cruelty-but I loved her anyway. Things between us weren't always how you 1/2 +25 BONUS remember them. There was a twhen we were happy." Lucius's lips pressed into a thin line, “It's hard to believe that, Maximus. I never saw it." "I know," Maximus admitted, "None of you did. But it's the truth. And I made a mistake protecting her from her own actions. One of those mistakes was what happened with your uncle Peter." He sighed heavily, "She never took responsibility for what she did. She never understood the consequences." Lucius's hands curled into fists, his mind still spinning. But instead of lashing out, he inhaled deeply. "I want to see my siblings. I want to see Laura and her daughter. But let's get one thing straight-I'm not coming back. I'm staying here, I've lost too much talready, and I'm finally getting somewhere with my studies. I won't throw that away," Maximus studied him carefully. He wasn't winning this battle-not entirely. But this was already more than he had hoped for.

"Fair enough," Lucius hesitated for a moment before lowering his voice. "And... there's something else." Maximus raised an eyebrow, "What is it?" Luciu's seemed to struggle with the words, but then, as if sunseen force made him soften, he finally admitted, "I'm... starting a relationship with someone.'

A slow, knowing smile spread across Maximus's face. "Oh see... Well, you and this girl are welcto visit whenever you want. The only thing I ask is that we don't lose contact. You're my son, and I love you. Your siblings ask about you all the time, and honestly, I never know what to tell them anymore." Lucius rubbed the back of his neck. "...Her nis Amanda Hayward. I'd have to see if she'd even want to cwithto Valentia." "Take your time," Maximus said. "The only thing that matters is that we don't lose contact." Lucius nodded slowly, his mind still reeling. But then another thought hit him, something that had been bothering him for a long time.

"...Do you know anything about my mother?" His voice was cautious, almost wary. "The last time! saw her...I was drugged. After that, I have En. no idea what happened to her. I've asked Anthony Moriarty, but he always dodges the question or changes the subject."

Maximus's expression turned serious. "All I know is what Anthony told me. She's in France. He says she's in good hands, and that I shouldn't worry." His gaze softened. "Seeing you here, knowing you're safe, I have to believe the sgoes for her. Anthony is a man of his word." Today's Bonus Offer