My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

After thinking it all through, I knew I couldn't leave her alone. If something happened to me, all my wealth would go to her. My children would never be left unprotected, and she would never have to worry about money again. But that wasn't enough. I didn't want to leave her alone to raise our children by herself. For them, for her, and for myself—I had to survive this.

Now I finally understood where she had learned to make that cinnamon coffee I loved so much. The thought lingered in my mind as I was wheeled out of the room, and just before we passed through the door, I heard her say, "Remember that we love you!"

For the first time in my life, I was going into surgery with a room full of people-people who weren't doctors or nurses-waiting and hoping for me to make it out alive.

"Dr. Wagner..."

"Yes, Mr. Palmer?"

"Tell me the truth... What are my chances of making it through this?"

"You'll be fine. You'll see everything will go well."

"Dr. Wagner, I know that when you say that, it means you're worried something could go wrong. Just tell me what are my real chances of surviving?"

I watched as Dr. Wagner took a deep breath. He looked at me, hesitated for a moment, and then finally said:

"Peter, I'd rather not talk about percentages. Everything will be fine. Do you know what the difference is this time?" "That I'm older?"

"No, Peter," he says with a small smile. "The difference is that this time, you have an entire family waiting for you. And I know that scares you. Years ago, only Mr. Vanetto was there. Back then, whether you lived or died didn't really matter to you. But now... I trust that, for them, you'll do everything you can to make it out of this."

"I just want to know what I'm up against."

"Peter, like always, you have a 50/50 chance. Everything could go perfectly well... or it could go dangerously wrong. So stop overthinking it and let me do my job."

"Alright... I know you won't tell me anything else, just like every other time..."

"Exactly. Now relax and let us work. You know business and numbers-I know brains and surgery. So trust me."

A few minutes passed, and I watched as the nurses attached several wires to my chest. They placed something on my finger and nose. I could faintly hear the doctor's voice:

"Try to rest, Peter. Leave everything in our hands."

Then, suddenly, I opened my eyes.

A strange warmth surrounded me.

I was holding someone in my arms.

I buried my nose in her hair—

But it didn't smell like roses.

She wasn't Celeste.

A cold shiver ran down my spine. I bolted upright, my heart pounding in my chest. That's when I realized—

I was completely naked.

And so was she.

My hands started to shake. I turned to look at her, and my breath caught in my throat.

It was Mary.

What the hell was happening?

No.

No, this wasn't real.

This couldn't be happening.noveldrama

I jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, my pulse racing. But the moment I looked in the mirror-

I almost had a heart attack.

Shit.

I saw my reflection.

It was me.

But not me now.

It was young me.

Where was Celeste?

Where was my family?

What the hell had just happened?

This had to be a dream. That was the only explanation. I had been in the operating room-I shouldn't be here Something was seriously wrong.

"Peter? Are you okay?"

I heard Mary's voice from the other room.

Panic gripped me.

I couldn't be here.

I didn't belong here.

"Peter, what's wrong? I saw you

jump out of bed and run to the

vel

bathroom, but now I hear you net

I pacing back and forth," she said, her voice

laced with concern.

My hands trembled as I gripped the doorknob.

Should I open it?

Or should I stay inside and figure out what the hell was going on?

This was a nightmare.

It had to be.

"Peter, please tell me you're okay. We have a gynecologist

appointment today. If you're not feeling well, we can ask the doctor to check on you too. Do you want me to call your father and let him know you won't make it to the family meeting?"

My voice was unsteady as I asked, "Mary... What day is it?"