My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 1124

Meanwhile, in one of the many rooms of Magnus's house, Diana was surrounded by the women of the Palmer and Evans families—her sisters and her mother.

Each of them gave her their best wishes as they buttoned up the delicate pearls on her wedding dress.

Valerie hadn't been able to attend the ceremony. She also felt it was time to start setting some healthy boundaries around certain relationships. Still, she made a video call where she shared how happy she was for the couple. She had also designed a beautiful choker for Diana, featuring a sapphire in the center, which Serenity had helped fasten.

The elegant piece, designed by Valerie, carried a deeply personal meaning—one only she fully understood.

For Diana, at the time, it had just been about listening to a woman who needed to be heard. But for Valerie, Diana had been a lifeline in her darkest moments.

"Valerie, what you gave me is beautiful. I can't even imagine how much it must've cost. You really didn't have to."

"It wasn't a bother at all. It's my way of thanking you for what you did for me—and also a way to say sorry for not being at your wedding."

"Well, if that's the case, you should skip our gatherings more often," Diana said with a grin.

After a quick chat and everyone's well-wishes, Diana and her mother stayed in the room alone. It was time for a long-awaited mother-daughter talk.

"My girl… You look beautiful. Your dress, your veil—everything you're wearing makes it all feel real. It's been hard for me to picture you away from us, but I know this is where your real happiness begins."

"Mom…" said Diana, her voice tinged with emotion.

"At first, I wasn't really on board with your relationship. I mean, the man's a lot older than you.

She wasn't old—nearly 29—and like any woman her age, she'd had boyfriends before. She held some fondness for them, sure, but none of them compared to Maximus—and that was obvious.

Maximus gave her a kind of security that no young man could offer. He was mature—and how could he not be, being almost 28 years older than her?

Diana knew Maximus was the love of her life. She was fully aware of their age difference, but she had made her choice—to be with him for as long as life would allow.

How could she not love a man she'd met when he was broken? How could she not love the man who showed her a different way of looking at life?

Diana walked steadily toward the altar, where Maximus and his imposing figure were already waiting.

When she arrived, her father took her hand and placed it in Maximus's, saying, "I give you my daughter. My flower, my beautiful little girl. Take care of her, love her, and respect her for the rest of her life."