My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

"She just fell asleep. Can you check her diaper?"

"Of course, love. Let's make sure this little angel has everything she needs for a cozy nap," Angela said, disappearing inside with the tiny version of Amanda.

Once the siblings were alone, Lucius took Laura's hand and led her deeper into the garden.

"This place brings me peace... Angela tends these roses with so much love," he said, showing her the massive rose bushes that lined the walls.

"Lucius... I know you've decided to leave," Laura blurted out, unable to keep Serenity's secret any longer.

"That big mouth of Serenity..." Lucius said calmly.

"She told me because she thought I needed to know. I get why you wouldn't tell Dad, but me? Aren't I your favorite sister?"

"You are! Don't get jealous. But Serenity was the only one who could help me with this."

"Why Hesperia?"

Lucius took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"Amanda once said she spent part of her childhood in Hesperia. Said it was a beautiful place. Her happiest years were there, with her mother, in a place called Foxridge."

"And that's where you're taking Amanda?"

"Yes. I want my daughter to grow up where her mother was happiest. I don't want it to just be her childhood-I want it to be her life... until she tells me otherwise."

"And you? What do you want?"

"This. I want my daughter to grow up happy."

"But what about your happiness?"

"My happiness is wherever she is."

"I know it's early to ask this, but... have you thought about the fact that one day, she might want a mom?"

"When that day comes, I'll figure it out. But until then, her only mom will be Amanda-her real and only mother. I'll never lie to her. She'll always know the truth. That her mom once said we were irresponsible, acted like rabbits, and would probably feed her candy for dinner..."

"Lucius!"

"What? Those were her words!"

"Lucius... seriously. What do you plan to do in a foreign country? You don't know anyone there. And you've got a baby."

"I plan to live,

memorie aura. If I stay here, I s of a life that's goneel.net belongs to .nexet

die a every day. I drown in

won't ever come back." Confent

"Brother..."

"Don't worry. I've done this before. I know how it goes."

"But this time, you're not alone. You've got a whole new life in your arms."

"It's fine. I've already asked Serenity to help me find a nanny-just until I settle in.

And hey, you can always come visit."

"It won't be the same..."

"I know. But please, let me go. Trust me, I'm heartbroken. Every memory of Amanda kills me a little. But if I stay, it'll only get worse. I need start over. I don't expect it to be

easy it'll be a challenge, fonet

but want

to do it. I need to rebuild from the

ground up. And I don't want anyone else here putting their lives on hold for me."

"No one's putting their life on hold..."

"Are you sure? Remember Peter's wedding? Your wedding? Dad's not at peace. Even Paul and Maurice left for France to be with Pierre. Everyone's putting things on pause thinking it'll help me feel better-but it doesn't. I just want to be treated normally."

"Is that why you came to the Moriarty family?"

"Yes. Anthony doesn't baby me, and Angela-she's always Angela. But at home,

everyone looks at me like I'm fragile. I hate that."

"Lucius, I don't think anyone meant to do that..."

"I know. That's why I never said anything. But I need to go. Please, just support me the way Serenity did."

"Just promise me one thing—if at any moment, at any time, you feel like you can't do this, you'll come back. Please."

"Alright. I know my limits—even if I don't yet know hers."

"Okay... Let's go see your little angel, because if you're leaving soon... Wait- when are you leaving?"noveldrama

"Tomorrow."

"WHAT? Lucius!"

"Come on, let's go inside. You should spend today with her."

"But what about Dad? And everyone else?"

"They'll find out... eventually. I talked to Dad this morning."