My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

After finally agreeing to let Paul have some contact with his biological father, Maximus had a lot to think about. There were conversations he needed to have with Laura and Lucius, but for now, he didn't know how to shake the anxious feeling settling in his chest.

Without much thought, he pulled out his phone, searched through his contacts, and called someone. He waited, hoping they had some free time to talk.

"Hello? Maximus?"

"Serenity..." Maximus exhaled, relieved to hear her voice.

Right now, he wanted everything and nothing at the same time. He didn't want to think, even though he knew he had to.

"Maximus! What a nice surprise!" Serenity said, genuinely pleased.

She rarely spoke with him. Even though they both knew they were father and daughter, Maximus had always left that role to Marcus. As much as it hurt to admit, Marcus Bartz was Serenity's father. And he... he was nothing more than what Pierre was about to become for Paul. Nothing.

"Are you okay, Maximus?" Serenity asked, picking up on his hesitation.

"Hmm? I was wondering if you were free for a couple of hours... or even just a few minutes?" he asked, sounding unsure.

"Well, I just finished up some wedding details I needed to take care of. I have to go for my final wedding dress fitting. Do you want to come with me?"

"My mom and dad took the twins and John out to run some errands while I got some rest earlier, and they haven't come back yet. They just called to say I should head over now. If you want, you can pick me up, and we can talk on the way."

Maximus felt a weight lift from his shoulders. "Of course! How soon should I be there?"

"I'm ready now, so I'll just wait for you," she replied casually.

"Alright. I'll be there in fifteen minutes," he said, exhaling in relief.

"See you soon, Maximus."

It didn't take him long to reach the Bartz house. When Serenity greeted him, she had a bright smile and a noticeably round belly.

"Hello, my girl! How are you? How's the baby?"

"We're doing great. She and I are both perfectly fine."

"Wow! That's exactly what I like to hear," Maximus said, relieved to see that her pregnancy was going smoothly.

Serenity looked at him closely. "Maximus, what's wrong? You look pale."

"Let's go. I'll take you to your fitting, and I'll explain on the way."

She didn't push him further, but she could tell something was weighing on him.

"How have you been, sweetheart? I know I've been absent lately, and haven't been in touch as much just...wanted to give you your space. I know the wedding planning must be overwhelming."

"Well, Alden has been handling most of the banquet planning to take some of the

load off my shoulders," she said with a small laugh.

"Oh! And thank you for the dress! I know it might have sounded strange to some

that I wanted to use parts of that dress, but for me, it meant a lot.

"I know you and my mom had a complicated history-to say the least. I can't begin to put myself in her shoes. But if she was able to forgiveyou, then who am I to judge? Besides, if you two hadn't met and married, I wouldn't even exist in the first place."

"Serenity, believe me, when I sent you that dress, I wasn't thinking about the past.

I just knew that the right person to decide what to do with it was you-our daughter."

"Thank you, Dad. Really, that meant a lot to me."

Shortly after, the car pulled up to an elegant boutique in the center of Valeria.

Serenity's fitting appointment was already set, so Maximus helped her out of the

car and only had to wait a few minutes before his eyes lit up.

"Well? How do I look?" Serenity asked, grinning from ear to ear.

"You look... breathtaking! My girl, you look beautiful," Maximus said, his voice thick with emotion.

"There are just a few adjustments left, here and there, but it's almost done. It'll be delivered tomorrow," Serenity said, admiring her reflection. She was happy with how it had turned out-her dress carried details from both of her mother's wedding dresses.

"You look stunning, sweetheart. Everyone is going to love it. Though I think Alden might just have a heart attack," Maximus chuckled, pulling her into a hug.

"Alright, let me change, and then, Maximus, I'm all ears," Serenity said, heading back to take off the dress.

"I'll be waiting."

"Just give me a few minutes..."noveldrama