My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

"Oh really? If she were such bad news, why are you here looking for her? Could it be that you're scared she'll report you for stealing the money her mother left her?"

Lucius watched as the man's face went pale. Hayward clearly hadn't expected his daughter to tell her husband everything.

"My wife, thankfully, doesn't need you. She's got me and I can assure you she'll never lack anything, especially not the most important things. She gets that from me in abundance: love, affection, care, and protection."

"So I'm politely asking you to leave and not come back. Because if you do, believe me, what you'll face won't be pleasant."

Hayward saw something in Lucius's eyes that made him deeply uneasy. He didn't know what it was, but he gave them one last cutting glare before turning away- though not without a final warning.

"She'll only bring you suffering, just like she did with me from the day she was born."

"The biggest tragedy in Amanda's life is you-not being able to appreciate the last thing your wife gave you. But then again, what do you know about love, when the only reason you kept your daughter around was for her money?noveldrama

"Just so you know, if I wanted to, I could help my wife get everything back. But I'd have to deal with scum like you. She's told me all about your sorry existence I didn't know how true it all was, but now that I see it for myself, the reality's worse than what she described.

"Go away, sir. Don't come looking for her again. Don't worry about your precious inheritance—my wife doesn't need that cursed money. She and I know how to work. Plus, my family has plenty of income, which puts us far above you.

"I thought—foolishly—that hearing he'd be a grandfather might change something

in him. I regret thinking that. I should've trusted what my wife told me."

"You arrogant little punk..."

"You got that right—I'm arrogant, and anything else you want me to be. So don't bother coming up with excuses to get to know me better."

While all of that was happening, Amanda felt the baby moving restlessly. She knew she was passing on her anxiety, so she took a deep breath and motioned to Lucius that it was time to go.

When Lucius saw how pale she looked, he stopped the argument, ran around the car, and immediately drove her to the hospital.

"What are you feeling, babe?"

"Lucius, just take me to the hospital... I think the baby's coming."

"What?! The baby's coming?! But you're only seven months along!"

"I know! But I've been feeling weird all morning, and now it's worse."

"Alright, baby... hang on! We'll be there in ten minutes..."

Lucius drove like a man possessed to the hospital. When they arrived at the ER,

he carried his wife inside in his arms, even though she was trying her best to act strong.

When he couldn't think of anything

else to do, he called Angela

Moriarty the one person who always knew how to handle moments like this. It made him think of his late mother, though he knew she probably wouldn't have given the best advice. Still, the situation brought her to mind.

"Lucius? What's going on?" said Angela while helping Valentina with her homework.

"I'm... I'm at the hospital..."

"What? What happened?"

"It's Amanda... I think the baby's coming..."

"Lucius! Okay, okay-calm down! I'm on my way right now. Did you call your dad?"

"Huh? No... no, you were the first person I thought to call..."

"Okay, okay, I'm heading there now. Tell me where you are and I'll be there soon. Call your family-they need to know. I'm leaving right how," said Angela, signaling Valentina's nanny to take care of her.

Lucius could've called his family, but over time, he'd formed such a strong bond with Angela that she felt more like an older sister-or a young mom-so naturally, he called her first, not his father. '