My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

Marcus just watched his wife, her eyes locked on the shore, her hands clutching the urn with quiet strength.

He understood this moment was crucial for her. She needed them as a family- but she also needed to do this alone.

Marcus, Serenity, John, Alden, Ethan, Isabelle, and the twins watched as she walked like a little girl seeing the ocean for the first time.

"Dad... I want to go with Mom..." John said, seeing her head toward the sea.

"We'll go in a little while. Right now, we have to let her say goodbye to her grandfather..."

"Okay..." John said, watching his mother wade into the water.

"Will she be okay?" Serenity asked, concerned.

"There's nothing she can't handle... She needs to do this alone. Look at her. The woman walking out there-that's not Valerie the wife, mother, and grandmother. That's Mary Preston, the young girl who once promised her grandfather they'd come here..."

"Dad..." Serenity said, trying to grasp his words.

"Come on. Let's sit by the shore and wait. Let's let her do what she needs to do, and when she's ready, we'll show her we're here for her," Marcus said, fully understanding what his wife needed.

He had once done the same-gone to say goodbye to his Valentina and their child. Peter had accompanied him. That farewell gave him peace. That goodbye allowed him to keep going, at least in that part of his life. At the time, the only thing that kept him alive was the thought of avenging the family that had been taken from him.

Now, he felt free. Now, when he remembered his wife and son, he didn't feel pain —he felt grateful. He hadn't gotten the chance to meet his child, but during the pregnancy, he had loved both his wife and unborn son like no one else.

Today, Marcus had everything he wanted and needed by his side. He knew Valentina would have wanted that. Watching him die a slow death from grief wouldn't have been е something she would've supported. Especially since she had always been a free spirit-someone Angela Moriarty reminded him of. She had that same essence.

In the end, their nephew had fallen for someone very similar to his aunt—and that was reflected in the kind of man Moriarty turned out to be. Even if he seemed tough and cold, Marcus knew deep down he had a good heart.

While all these memories passed through Marcus's mind, Valerie stood in the ocean, feeling the calm rhythm of the waves. When she felt she was in the right spot, she opened the urn, held it firmly, and closed her eyes.

A strange, beautiful feeling washed over her—as if her grandfather were there, holding her in a warm embrace.

"Grandpa... I'm finally here. I finally made it here with you. Today, I'm letting you go. Yes, Grandpa, I'm letting you go. This time I'm not

asking you to watch over me, I'm not asking you to protect me-I just

want

you to rest. It's time for you to rest...

"You, Grandma, and Mom-you all deserve to rest. I'm okay now. Life has given me the chance to find a good man-his name is Marcus Bartz, and I love him with all my heart.

*I know I can't fool you. For a long time, I was confused. For years, I kept wondering... What would've happened if I'd stayed with Peter? Would it have worked out? Would it not? You know the answer... Only you know what my heart truly held.

"Today, I can tell you with full certainty-I made the right choice. Marcus is the love of my life. He's the man I want to spend the rest of my days with... and I hope that's many, many years.

"I want to live by his side, I want to love him and be loved by him. I want to see my children grow up—all of them. I want the chance to see my grandchildren grow too. Because yes... I already have a granddaughter. You're great-great- grandparents now.

"I never found out what happened to my father or my aunt—and I hope I never do.

I think that if they had shown up, they would've only brought chaos into my life.

"I hope life gave them enough to pay

for what they did to you. I hope s enough to

whatever they gained

1.nnoveldrama

buy whatever happiness they sought-and that they don't carry guilt in their hearts," Valerie said, letting go of all the tears-of nostalgia, sadness,

loneliness-everything she'd carried for years.