My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 998

[Evans' residence]

Maximus drove home after dropping his daughter off. He was exhausted. As soon as he arrived, he parked in the driveway. His father, Magnus, was watching from the living room and immediately noticed that Maximus looked stressed or irritated.

"Maximus…" he called out from the couch.

"Hey, Dad. What’s up?" Maximus asked, carefully controlling his tone.

"That’s what I was going to ask you. You don’t look too great… What’s on your mind?" Magnus asked calmly.

"Oh, this? Just some things I need to drop off for the Palmer and Evans girls," Maximus said as he approached and greeted his father.

"Come with me to the study. We need to talk," Magnus said, sensing that his son wasn’t telling him everything.

Once they were in the study, Magnus poured them both a drink. He handed a glass to Maximus before taking a sip of his own.

"I think you need this," Magnus said.

"Do I really look that bad?" Maximus asked before downing his drink in one gulp.

"A little. So? What’s going on?" his father asked, intrigued.

"A lot… But one thing in particular."

"And that is?"

"There’s something I haven’t told you… It’s about one of my sons," Maximus said, deciding to just lay it all out.

"Who? Lucius?"

"Well… I was going to tell you about that too. But no, it’s not Lucius."

"Then who?"

"Paul."

"Ah, I see! What about our blonde kid?"

"Well… Paul… Paul isn’t my biological son," Maximus admitted, pouring himself another drink.

Magnus barely reacted. "Hmm? And that’s a problem?" he asked as if it were no big deal.

Maximus was surprised by his father’s reaction.

"No, it’s not a problem. I’ve known for a year and was hoping I’d never have to bring it up, but… his real father showed up," he said with obvious frustration.

"Hmm… And what do you plan to do?" Magnus asked, trying to understand his son’s thoughts.

"You know, I’ve learned from our own situation. You only started treating me like your son when I was already an adult. I handled it well because my so-called father turned out to be a piece of shit.

"But you… You were different. You spent your whole life unable to be there for me. I don’t want to do the same and end up with Paul hating me," Maximus admitted, feeling guilty.

"Well, after fifty years of not being a father, suddenly having you and all your kids has been… enlightening.

"Think about it—I get to see what it’s like raising a little kid with Maurice. Paul shows me what it’s like to deal with a teenage playboy. Laura gives me a glimpse of a young woman becoming a mother.

"And Lucius… Well, I haven’t officially met him yet. I saw him earlier, but I wasn’t sure what to say—especially when I noticed the girl I assume is his girlfriend sneaking into his room."

"Amanda?"

"Is that her name?"

"Yeah. They met at university. I think they just started dating."

"Well, let’s see how that story unfolds. But I have to admit, your son has good taste. She seems like a nice girl."

"Yeah, she’s really sweet. On our flight back—since Moriarty stayed behind and only the three of us returned—she made the whole trip feel lighter. Apparently, her father is a famous doctor in Spain. I think her mother is Hesperian, but her father isn’t. I didn’t quite get all the details. What I do know is that she’s hiding from him."

"Wow… Your son sure likes complicated girls. Reminds me of someone I know. And don’t even try to deny it," Magnus said with a teasing grin.

"Magnus…"

"It’s the truth! By the way, where’s Diana?"

"She went to Japan. But she’ll be back tomorrow."