My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

"Mr. Maximus, has that refreshed your memory, or do I need to continue detailing the real events?"

"Mr. Legrand, I don't understand... What exactly is your interest in Alexia-my wife?"

"Well, I have something of great importance to tell you. Actually, two things, Mr. Evans.

"First: I regret to inform you that Alexia Levett passed away two days ago. Her wish was finally granted her heart couldn't take it anymore, and she lost her life.

"There was no funeral. She was cremated, and her ashes now rest in the Legrand family urn.

"Second, and the real reason I came to see you: I am absolutely certain that you know one of your children isn't biologically yours. Am I correct?"

Maximus clenched his jaw. "Mr. Legrand, I'm still processing the first thing, and now you're already jumping to the second?" he replied, not bothering to hide his irritation.

"Maximus Evans, it seems you've suddenly remembered that your wife didn't die in that accident... And that one of your children isn't actually yours," Pierre said in a dangerously smooth voice.

"Where are you going with this?" Maximus asked, unfazed.

"Mr. Evans, I just want you to know one thing-I am Paul Evans's biological father," Pierre said without hesitation. "Now that Alexia is gone, I want to meet my son. And you know as well as I do that I have every right to do so."

Maximus narrowed his eyes, his tone turning even colder. "Mr. Legrand, let me ask you something. If you truly are Paul's father, as you claim, then where have you been all these years? Because as far as I'm concerned, I've been the only father my son has ever known."

"You may have been the one to donate the sperm to my wife, but I-I-am the one who has cared for every single one of my children. Maybe not in the best way, but they have never, never, lacked anything.

"So tell me, what makes you think I will allow you to come here and disrupt his life?"

Pierre raised an eyebrow. "So you did know that Paul isn't your son?" he asked, genuinely surprised.

"Of course, I knew!" Maximus snapped. "But there was never a need to drag that painful truth into the light. My wife and I made mistakes, but I didn't think it was necessary for those mistakes to blow up in our children's faces."

"You're wrong, Maximus. I never had the chance to raise my son. Alexia prevented me from being in his life 16 years ago, and even on her deathbed, she still tried to keep me away from him."

Maximus let out a short, bitter laugh. "Don't be ridiculous, Pierre Legrand. Your family is one of the most

powerful in Versailles. Don't try met

tell me you couldn't have done something if you truly wanted to. Or was it that you were too busy living your freedom? And by the time you looked back, you had no wife, no children, and couldn't even manage your family's business?"

"Mr. Legrand, let's not pretend. You knew you were Paul's father. Anyone with eyes can see that my son looks exactly like you. But don't come to me playing the victim."

"Why didn't you look for him? Why didn't you come when he was a baby?

"Shall I tell you why? Because back then, you were too busy chasing adventures. Don't try to tell me you loved my wife-because if you had, you would have left behind that reckless life you led.noveldrama

"And now? Now that you look back and realize you have nothing-no wife, no heir, no control over your own company-now you come looking for your son?" Maximus leaned forward, his gaze like steel. "Tell me, Mr. Legrand. Do you want a son? Or are you just looking for an heir to run your business while you continue your life as you please?"

Pierre's fingers twitched slightly-a small tell that Maximus had struck a nerve. But he quickly composed himself. "Mr. Evans, you seem very well-informed about my life," he said with a touch of irony.

"But this time, your assumptions are wrong.

"Yes, I'll admit—my life has been full of excesses. But I don't need to explain that to you.

"The truth is, Alexia spent her last days with me. I searched everywhere for a cure, but in the end, her heart simply couldn't take it anymore." Pierre's voice softened slightly, laced with sincerity.

"I begged Alexia to let me meet my son. I always knew she had gotten pregnant, but she never let me near him. And no—I didn't stay away as a favor to you. I did it for her."

Maximus scoffed. "A favor? What favor?"

Pierre exhaled, his expression

darkening slightly. "I loved her,

Maximus. As much as you

did—maybe even more. She was my friend in university. We were

together all through college, as

friends. After that, we went our

separate ways. She never knew my true background."

"When she got pregnant with Paul, I told her I wanted to accept my son. I was willing to accept her too. But she refused-because, according to her, you loved her and she couldn't just end her marriage."

Pierre's jaw tightened. "Now I know the truth. Her father and grandfather had her under constant threat. She begged me not to seek out my son. And on her deathbed, she asked me to wait-not to approach him until he was an adult and could process the truth better."