My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

She was still holding her bridal bouquet-hadn't even had the chance to toss it. And even if she had, there would've been no one to catch it, since the whole wedding had been so secret and closed-off.

Mary walked behind him, trying to catch up. She didn't understand why he was so upset.

"Mary, there's no need to move your things into my room. You'll keep sleeping in your own. And don't even think about pulling any tricks to sleep with me, because then you'll really see what I'm like," Maximus said, not even turning around, his voice cold as ice.

The image of Mary standing there in her wedding dress, her face covered in tears, hurt Maximus now. It made his chest tighten. There was a strange pain in the pit of his stomach.

"Idiot! Go to her! Turn around! Don't leave her there!" shouted the present-day Maximus-but his past self didn't see or hear him.

Suddenly, the scene shifted. He was in Mary's room. They were newly married. She'd heard from Catherine that there was going to be a big company anniversary party.

Mary had asked Emma to help her pick out a dress. She wanted to look like a proper wife-worthy of the company president.

Out of all the dresses, she'd chosen a pale pink one. It wasn't flashy or too modest-it just hugged her elegant shape and curves perfectly. It was strapless, nothing over the top, but Mary made it shine like it was made just for her.

"You're not going to the party with me. No matter how expensive your dress is... you'll never be good enough for me. I'm going with Alexia," he told her, pulling a box from his dinner jacket. "Look-I bought her these jewels. They'll look perfect on that gorgeous woman. You're just a 19-year-old girl.

"I don't know what you were thinking. You're not even old enough to wear a dress like that. Stop embarrassing yourself. You disgust me, Mary."

The present-day Maximus was being dragged from one cruel memory to the next. It was torture. A nightmare. And no matter how hard he tried to wake up, he couldn't. Each scene was worse than the last-until the final one, where he caught her in his office, finding him and Alexia in a moment of wild intimacy.

Suddenly, he woke up.

He was alone, in his office. He looked at the time and date on his phone. He had finally woken up-from the hell he had thrown Mary into.

Now he understood what Grandma Catherine meant: "Beauty doesn't grow in hell." That's why Mary had tried to take her own life.

Maximus picked up his phone, throat tight, and decided to do what he'd been putting off ever since she left the hospital. He looked up the number and called. fo

"Pick up, pick up, pick up..." he whispered, his voice filled with panic.

"Hellooo...m... Who is it?" Mary

answered, her voice groggy fromet

sleep. Is that you, Peter? Please, let me sleep... I'm fine, I had dinner and took my meds on time... Mmm..."

Hearing her voice made his heart race-it felt like he was having a panic attack. His hands started to shake. He wanted to hang up, but it was too late now. If he didn't say anything, he'd look like an idiot. He already felt like one-but he didn't want to make it more obvious.

"Mary..." he finally said.

"Peter, let me sleep... Please... We'll talk tomorrow..." she mumbled, half-asleep.

"Mary, it's not Peter..." said Maximus, gritting his teeth, trying to stay calm.

Her eyes flew open. Sleep vanished in an instant. A chill ran through her body, and her hands started to tremble.

"Maximus! What time do you think it is? I was sleeping! What, didn't you look at the clock?"

"I know what time it is! I'm sorry, it's just..."

"Maximus, what do you want? My eyes are already closing. I took meds for my wound and they knocked me out..."

"Mary... I just wanted to talk to you. I wanted to hear your voice..." Maximus said, feeling the full weight of his guilt.noveldrama

"Maximus, come by whenever you want and we'll talk... but let me sleep now," she said, pleading.

The call ended.

Maximus sat there, stunned. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.