My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 1126

"Dad…" said Laura, standing from her seat and raising her glass. "You are the best father life could have given me—or any of us. I know your youth wasn't easy, and every piece of advice you give us comes from something you lived through.

"I love you. And I love that Diana is in your life, because in the end, you needed to be happy. You needed someone who could love you with the same intensity only you know how to give.

"Thank you, Diana! Thank you for coming into my father's life and being the perfect woman for him—and for us. Welcome officially to the family! Congratulations—I know you're going to be a wonderful mom!"

Everyone applauded. Who better than Laura to say those words to her father? She had once been the forgotten girl, the rejected one, but now she was an important part of the world Maximus had once dreamed of as a child.

"Maximus, you're a remarkable man, and if Laura said that, then I know it's true.

"I haven't been in your life much as a daughter, but in the few moments life has given us together, I've seen for myself what an extraordinary man you are, and that anyone can change for the better. I love you, Dad…" said Serenity, lifting her glass.

Paul and Maurice—two young boys—raised their juice glasses, wanting to toast to their father's obvious happiness. Since they'd seen him with Diana, they had to admit he didn't resemble the man they once knew.

"Daddy… Maurice and I love you. You're our dad, and you take care of us with so much love and kindness. It's clear you're happy with Diana, and we're happy with her too."

Maximus listened to the short but meaningful words from his children, and he couldn't help but feel proud of the decision he once made—the best decision of his life. Leaving behind the meaningless life he had, to chase the dream of building a real family and a true home.

Because what was the point of owning a mansion if that place couldn't be called a home? But now, with his wife, his children, his father, and their pets, that huge house was finally a real home.

After a few more toasts, the party carried on until nearly midnight, when Maximus and Diana headed to the airport for their sweet honeymoon.

It would be the third time Maximus went through something like this. He tried not to think about the past, but it was hard not to. With Mary, everything had ended in disaster—it had been the beginning of the end.

With Alexia, there wasn't even time for a honeymoon. He married her as soon as Lucius was born, and from there, it had been twenty years of pure hell.

At the time, that hell had felt like a marriage—not a great one, but a "normal" one. Now, he knew it had been neither.

He looked at the woman sitting beside him in the back seat. She was still wearing her beautiful wedding dress.

He took in every detail. Right now, she was fast asleep. Her pregnancy wasn't yet visible in her belly, but her face… for some reason, it glowed with a special light—and that didn't go unnoticed by Maximus.

When they arrived at the airport, he got out of the car and helped his wife down. Then, without hesitation, he lifted her in his arms and carried her up the steps of the private jet that would take them on their honeymoon.

Strangely enough, the destination haunted him—Santorini.

What was it about that place that wouldn't leave him alone? He didn't know. But when Diana had chosen it, he simply said yes, thinking enough time had passed and the past would stay where it belonged.