My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 1129

Laura thought she had control of the situation, but she hadn't expected Adrian to subtly turn the tables. Now it was him asking about the future of the two of them.

For a moment, she got lost in the good memories they'd shared, in moments that had belonged only to them. Things had been good. Not fake, genuinely good.

He'd find a flower by the side of the road, pick it, and hand it to her. And she'd keep it. She still did—she'd kept every single one he ever gave her, like little secret treasures.

"Laura?"

She came back to the present, smiled, and said, "Let's start over… I know it won't be easy. I don't know if my father or family will accept a relationship with you, but they're moving on with their lives, and I know they'll understand my decision."

"Really?"

"What?"

"You're giving me a chance?"

"Yes, Adrian, yes… I'm giving us a chance. The one and only. Because this—this isn't a game. Either it works or it doesn't," she said, placing her hand over his. He was looking at her in a way that made something stir inside her.

Adrian didn't say anything. He just took her hand between both of his and leaned in gently.

"I really want this to work. I want both of you by my side. I want us to be a family. I want it to be the three of us. Laura, you have no idea how much I want to see you both all the time, to be there when you need me. You don't know how much I long to wake up with you next to me, to go to bed knowing that at some point Adele will come crawl in with us because she wants to sleep by our side...

"I truly want a family life with you—something I never got to have. I want us to take this chance. I want it to work."

Laura understood the weight of what Adrian was saying. She knew his past. She knew that, in his family, everything was about appearances. Status was everything, and Adrian had just been another pawn on the board.

But now, seeing him play with his daughter, really being present in her life, making the most of every moment—she knew. He meant it. He really wanted to build a family. And she didn't need to dance around it anymore. She wanted a chance too—and this would be it.

Closing the distance between them, she rested her hand on the cold cheek of that man and took the first step in what would be many.

She pressed her lips to his. They kissed with the intensity only they understood, with the longing only they truly knew. Laura felt a shiver run through her body, a sensation she hadn't felt since they'd first started dating. Those butterflies in her stomach came back to life.

They both stood. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, continuing with a long, passionate kiss—one that hinted at more. But they had to stop. This wasn't the place. Maybe it was the right moment, but not the right place to get carried away.

"Laura…" he said, barely managing to pull away from her lips.

"Tell me…"

"I think I should let go of you, or I don't know what might happen—and your grandpa is watching our every move," Adrian said, feeling Magnus' stare.

"He's on the terrace smoking his cigar, isn't he?" Laura asked, a bit embarrassed.

"Yeah. And Matthew's with him."

"Damn it. Fine…" Laura sighed, resigning herself to the fact that this special moment would have to wait for another day—and another place.

After all, she understood this was the family's house, and they couldn't go sneaking around like two teenagers.

"You know something?"

"Tell me."

"I want to take you out! Let's go to dinner, or lunch, whatever you want…" Adrian said, looking her in the eyes.

"When?"

"Tomorrow, if that's okay with you… just tell me when, and I'll set everything up."

"You'll need to set it up for three…"

"Right… So?"