My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

[Pierre's House]

Paul and Maurice had finally arrived at Pierre's home. After a long period of contemplation, Paul had finally agreed to live with his biological father.

He still remembered the nerve-wracking moment when he brought it up with Maximus. The young man had been a bundle of nerves, unsure of how his father would take the news.

To his great surprise, Maximus had agreed without resistance. He had known this day would come eventually and had already come to terms with accepting the reality.

Blood calls to blood-that's what had happened with Serenity and Marcus. Even though Marcus had resisted letting Serenity live with Maximus, in the end, their blood ties had pulled them together. This situation felt almost identical.

To Paul and Maurice's surprise, Pierre was nothing like what they had imagined. He was kind, engaging, and genuinely interesting.

He always found ways to strike up a conversation with them. Even though they had only been in France for a few days, Pierre had made the most of every moment to ensure they felt welcome and comfortable.

Pierre was the kind of man who, thanks to his education, could talk about anything. This fascinated Maurice, who never stopped asking him questions.

The two boys had planned to stay with Pierre for a month. Paul wanted to go, but he didn't feel comfortable going alone he needed his younger brother by his side, and Maurice was happy to join.

Pierre had no problem welcoming them, caring for them, and being what he had never had the chance to be before: a father. For the first time, he felt responsible not just for himself, but for two curious, lively boys who now took up all his attention.

He had never known this kind of responsibility, but seeing them wandering around the grand house filled him with a strange sense of peace.

"Mr. Legrand, there's a phone call for you," the butler said, approaching the man in the garden with the boys.

"Yes, who is it?" Pierre asked.

"Pierre... how are my sons?" Maximus asked, his voice tense.

"They're doing great. They're out in the garden right now. Would you like to speak with one of them?"

"No, I just wanted to make sure they were okay."noveldrama

"I told you, Maximus. They'll be fine."

"Thank you for agreeing to take them both."

"There's nothing to thank me for. I should be the one thanking you for giving Paul the chance to come here."

Pierre couldn't help but feel some empathy for Maximus. He knew this wasn't an easy situation, but Paul had sought out space, and Pierre wasn't going to miss the opportunity to get to know him.

Living with the brothers, who were clearly very close, didn't seem like a bad idea. Their presence brought life into the vast, quiet house.

Pierre's life had become monotonous. As a member of French royalty, settling down had bored him. But he had come to accept that part of his life. Having company, especially from two curious boys who were genuinely interested in his story, felt refreshing.

He still remembered his last conversation with Maximus-he had been painfully aware that the man wasn't in a good place. Maximus had been devastated by the sudden death of his daughter-in-law, a loss that shattered the perfect image of the Evans and Palmer families.

[Two Months Earlier]

"I assume you know why I reached out," Maximus said seriously.

"I have an idea. But last I heard, Paul didn't want anything to do with me."

"Well, I'm not exactly sure what changed, but after everything we've been through lately... he's expressed interest in meeting you."

"I like the idea-though I don't love the reason behind it. I suppose Paul's just trying to get away from everything that's going on."

"I know. Honestly, I can't blame him. They're still young, and I've been neglecting them. If I'm being honest, I'm tired of pretending everything's fine when it's not-especially seeing my eldest son fall apart."

"Maximus, I can't even imagine the pain you're going through. But if you allow Paul to come stay with me, I promise I'll take good care of him."

"Paul doesn't want to go alone. He wants to bring Maurice-my younger son. That's his only condition."

"I don't see why not. If it makes him feel better, I have no objections."

"Good. Then we just need to figure out the logistics and get them to you as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Maximus. Truly, thank you for this opportunity."

"There's just one thing I ask..."

"Go ahead."

"I know your world must be fascinating-you probably have a million stories to tell and things to share. But if, for any reason, Paul decides not to come back after the time he's set, please tell me.

"I don't want the day to come and suddenly realize my sons aren't coming home."

"I would never do that. You have my word. If either of them wants to stay longer, I won't stop them—but before any decision is made, I'll make sure they speak to you first."

"Thank you, Pierre."

That brief conversation was all it took. Maximus and Pierre had agreed on how things would work out for the boys-two kids about to experience a world they'd never had access to before.

And that was fine, especially given the current situation in Valeria with Amanda's death and the birth of Maximus's baby.

It wasn't that Maximus didn't love

his children. But the atmosphere had turned somber, and yes, at times he felt like he wasn't giving them enough attention. So when Pau came to him and said he wanted to see Pierre, Maximus gave it serious

thought. After a few days of

reflection, he called Pierre, and

together they reached an

agreement.

In the end, the two fathers, without any drama or conflict, decided what was best

for the boys. Only time would tell what the future held—and whether they would return to Valeria.

[Present Day]

"Well, Pierre, if they're doing okay... I didn't mean to interrupt their time. I just wanted to know if they arrived safely and if everything's fine." "Everything's fine, Maximus. I'll keep you posted if anything comes up."

"Thanks, Pierre."

With nothing more to say, the call ended, and both men returned to where they were needed.

Pierre headed back to the garden where the boys were learning to play tennis on

a sunny afternoon, while Maximus returned to Diana and his newborn son, Vincent.