My Love Until the Last Goodbye by Alut

Chapter 0196 [The present] +25 BONUS The private jet carrying Marcus Bartz touched down in Madrid at midnight. His eyes blazed with fury and malice, his mind racing with countless thoughts throughout the flight. He wished the plane could fly faster, but then he scolded himself-he knew it was nighttime, and his daughter was safe at Regina's house. She wasn't the problem. The problem was Maximus Palmer.

Seething with rage, Marcus had contacted Frederick mid-flight, instructing him to find out where the despicable man was staying. The mere thought of his daughter potentially falling into her uncle's clutches filled him with disgust. He would do whatever it took to prevent the Palmer family from discovering Serenity's true identity. Just imagining that man viewing her as another one of his conquests made Marcus's stomach turn.

He couldn't bear to think how Valerie would feel if something like that happened. His daughter, the child he had brought into the world with such love, raised with such care-it was unthinkable. No, it wouldn't happen. Serenity would never end up like Valerie, whose innocence and youth had been tarnished by Maximus. Marcus swore that, even if it meant eliminating him, history would not repeat itself. Not with Serenity. Not while he was there to protect her.

As soon as the plane landed, Marcus disembarked. It was obvious he had thrown on a coat in haste before leaving, he wasn't dressed in his usual formal attire. There was no tto waste-he had to keep his daughter out of that wretched man's reach.

"Marcus, over here!" Frederick called, pointing to the car waiting to take them to Maximus's hotel.

"Did you find that bastard?" Marcus barked, his anger palpable.

"Yes, but you need to calm down. Don't do anything reckless!" Frederick replied, trying to reason with him.

"Reckless? Reckless is what will happen if I don't put that man in his place! He can do whatever he wants with anyone else, but Serenity is off-limits. She is NOT his to touch." "Okay, okay. But listen, Marcus-neither he nor Serenity knows about their connection. Calm down before you make things worse," Frederick urged, knowing all too well what Marcus was capable of when enraged.

"I am calm! If I wasn't, I'd be armed!" Marcus snapped.

"That's exactly what worries me. Please, Marcus, dont do something you'll regret." Both men climbed into the car and drove straight to Maximus's hotel. Frederick hadn't acquired the room number legally, but they had it nonetheless. The sound of hurried, heavy footsteps echoed through the quiet hallway as Marcus stormed toward the door. Without hesitation, he pounded on it with his fist.

Inside, Maximus was sound asleep, but the deafening knocks startled him awake. Irritated, he rolled out of bed with a scowl, storming to the door. As soon as he opened it, Marcus's fist connected squarely with his face.

"Maximus Palmer, stay away from Serenity! I'm warning you. She's not alone-I'm her father. And just +25 BONUS Chapter 01% like tonight, I'll break your face any tyou try to mess with my daughter. Leave her alone!" Maximus staggered back, clutching his face in pain. But when he heard Marcus's deep, furious voice, he straightened and spat, “What do you mean, Serenity is your daughter?" "She is my daughter! Leave her alone, or you'll see my fury firsthand," Marcus growled, his voice dripping with menace.

Maximus's tone turned sharp. "I don't know what you're talking about, but if what you're saying is true, then she's not your daughter. She's my niece. You just gave her your last name." "You son of a-!" Marcus lunged, but Frederick grabbed him just in time.

"Marcus, calm down! We can't let this escalate into a public spectacle!” Frederick pleaded. Then, turning to Maximus, he added, "Mr. Palmer, clearly there's a lot to discuss. May we cin? Otherwise, this won't end well.' Maximus, still rubbing his aching jaw, reluctantly stepped aside. He didn't want this scene splashed across the gossip columns, and what he'd just heard definitely required an explanation. Once the door for closed, Marcus stood rigid, barely containing his rage. He knew he needed to stay composed- Serenity's sake, and for Valerie's.

boss's Frederick spoke up, his tone steady. "Mr. Palmer, Miss Serenity Bartz Hunter is indeed my daughter, born to him and Mrs. Bartz. While it's true she is your brother Peter's biological daughter, Marcus legally gave her his name. I apologize for Marcus's actions, but you don't exactly have the best reputation with women her age." Maximus looked stunned, his voice barely above a whisper. “I... I didn't know." "Well, now you do," Frederick continued. "Miss Serenity traveled to Madrid to sell sof her photography, but she was never unprotected. Her security team saw her meet you but didn't think it was significant. However, yesterday, we saw her leave dinner with you in a concerning state." Marcus's voice boomed, cutting through the air. "What were you trying to do, Maximus? Seduce her? Add her to your collection of naive young girls? For God's sake, grow up! You're only two years younger than me!" "Shut up!" Maximus roared, his shand anger flating, “I didn't know anything! If Mary hadn't run away twenty years ago, she wouldn't even bear your name," "Don't you dare bring Valerie into this!" Marcus thundered. "She wouldn't have had to leave if your pathetic wife hadn't driven her away!" "What the hell are you talking about?" Maximus yelled, his confusion mounting.

"You heard me. You act like a sharp businessman, but you're nothing more than your wife's puppet," Marcus spat, releasing years of pent-up resentment.

"Gentlemen!" Frederick stepped between them, his voice firm. "This isn't going anywhere. What matters now is Miss Serenity. She doesn't know the full story, and it's not your place to tell her. That's Mrs. Bartz's job.

Both men froze, stunned into silence by Frederick's words. As much as O neither wanted to admit it, he was wanted to right. Marcus knew Valerie's sweet demeanor could vanish in an instant if provoked, and Maximus +25 BONUS Chapter 0196 realized that if he overstepped, he might lose any chance of reconciling with Mary.

"So what do we do?" Maximus finally asked, his tone calmer but still tense.

"We wait for Mrs. Bartz to explain the truth to Serenity," Frederick said. "In the meantime, Marcus, please don't do anything rash. You know how Valerie can be." Marcus clenched his jaw. "Fine. But hear me, Maximus-stay away from my daughter. Understood?" Maximus's icy glare was his only response as he thought bitterly, Is there anything this man hasn't taken from me? Chapter 0197