Chapter 56 Max’s Apology

Book:Alpha's Rise and Luna's Love Published:2024-6-4

As time passed, Maggie continued to share stories and laughter with Mrs. Jenkins and the shop’s customers. Surrounded by flowers, love, and the blooming life within her, Maggie’s spirits soared, interweaving her fate with the charming blossoms and the future awaiting them.
“I’ve always felt that one thing the world can’t do without is flowers. They make us feel the warmth and hope of life,” Maggie said gently.
Mrs. Jenkins agreed wholeheartedly, “Indeed. I chose to open a flower shop because I hoped the beauty of flowers could dispel the darkness in my heart and brighten my hopes.”
“Darkness and hope… Mrs. Jenkins, have you also experienced pain, needing the healing embrace of flowers?” Maggie noticed Mrs. Jenkins often gazing at her belly with a distant look, sparking her curiosity.
Carefully guessing, she inquired, “Is it related to the babies?”
There was a touch of sorrow in Mrs. Jenkins’s voice. “Over twenty years ago, my granddaughter, who had been hoping for a long time, finally became pregnant. But she and the child both vanished…”
“That’s heart-wrenching,” Maggie sympathized, heaving a heavy sigh.
Maggie was moved by Mrs. Jenkins’s vulnerability, her heart resonating with the older woman. As an orphan, Maggie had gone through numerous hardships. In Mrs. Jenkins, she found solace and love. She cherished the time spent in the flower shop, finding happiness and fulfillment there.
Maggie tenderly embraced Mrs. Jenkins. “Mrs. Jenkins, I’m an orphan too, and I’ve always longed for a family and a sense of belonging. Despite the years of hardship, I’ve been lucky to have my orphanage sister Alisa’s support and caring people like you by my side.”
Mrs. Jenkins hadn’t felt the warmth of a hug in a long time. She’d been lonely, constantly seeking family, rebuilding hope amid disappointment. Maggie’s warm embrace brought her spiritual relaxation and comfort.
“You’re a good child, deserving of happiness,” Mrs. Jenkins’s eyes glistened with moisture.
“And you deserve a warm embrace, Mrs. Jenkins. If you’d like, you can consider me your granddaughter.”
“Really? Maggie, you know, being with you always makes me feel at home. You often remind me of my own family.”
“It’s my honor, Grandma.”
Excitedly, Mrs. Jenkins held Maggie’s hand. “Good child…” She noticed Maggie’s large belly. “Twins growing fast-aren’t they challenging for you?”
Maggie shook her head. “I’m taking good care of myself, no challenge at all. I just hope the babies come into this world healthy. They are our continuity. By the way, Grandma, your elegant demeanor perfectly conceals your age. Even the strongest roses can’t compare to you as they age.”
With a warm smile, Mrs. Jenkins chuckled lightly and replied, “Oh, dear, I’m quite old now, so old I can’t even remember the years.” Despite the weight of the past and the passage of time, Mrs. Jenkins found solace and a new sense of purpose in her bond with Maggie.
At that moment, the phone rang. Mrs. Jenkins motioned for Maggie to stand and answer the call at the counter.
After a while, Mrs. Jenkins covered the receiver with her hand and looked at Maggie. “Maggie, listen, this call is from the police station. The caller wants to apologize to you.”
“Police station?” Maggie stood up quickly. “Is there an emergency?”
“Don’t panic, dear. This call is a man’s confession,” Mrs. Jenkins handed the phone to Maggie. “I’m Max, and you have every right to decide whether to answer.”
A series of memories flashed before her eyes-the heartbreak and betrayal from the days of Max and Linda haunted her like it was just yesterday. Maggie gently placed her hand on her belly, feeling the presence of the baby and finding tranquility within.
Maggie’s heart raced, her hands trembling slightly, as she picked up the phone. The voice on the other end sounded serious and formal.
“Hello?” she said, her voice trembling.
“Hi, is this Maggie?” the officer asked in a professional tone. “I’m calling from the police station. We wanted to inform you that Max has turned himself in and has cleared the debt on your credit card.”
Maggie’s eyes widened in surprise, and her breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t help but feel a wave of relief and disbelief. Max, the man who had brought her so much pain, was finally taking responsibility for his actions.
“Oh… I see,” Maggie managed to say, her voice trembling. “Thank you for letting me know.”
The officer continued, “He’s requesting to speak with you. Are you willing to talk to him?”
Maggie hesitated for a moment, her mind filled with conflicting emotions. She knew she needed closure, but she also feared reopening old wounds. Finally, she made up her mind.
“All right,” she replied, her tone firm yet somewhat apprehensive. “Put him on.”
After a brief pause, Max’s voice came through the phone, filled with desperation and regret. Maggie listened to his words, her heart clenching, and her hand holding the phone tightened involuntarily.
“Maggie, it’s me,” Max choked out, his voice trembling with emotion. “I… I don’t know where to begin. I’m so, so sorry for everything I’ve done to you. I’ve realized my mistakes, and I can’t bear the guilt anymore.”
Tears welled up in Maggie’s eyes, and she took a deep breath to compose herself. She hadn’t expected to hear such sincerity in Max’s voice, especially after all the pain he had caused her.
When she left him, she no longer felt the burning anger and resentment. Instead, she had a sense of calm and forgiveness, a feeling rooted in the love and support she had found in the arms of those who truly cared for her.
Maggie responded calmly, “I appreciate your apology, Max. But I’ve moved on and found happiness without you. I hope you can find your own path to redemption. Goodbye.”
She gently hung up the phone, feeling a weight lifted from her shoulders. It was then that she realized Aldrich’s unwavering support had played a crucial role in her recovery. Grateful for his presence in her life, she decided to call him to express her gratitude.
When the call connected, Maggie’s voice carried warmth and sincerity. “Aldrich, I just wanted to say thank you. Everything you’ve done for me and the way you’ve been there for me… it means the world to me.”
Aldrich was taken aback. “Dear Maggie, why are you suddenly thanking me? It makes me want to finish my work as quickly as possible, to get back to you, to be by your side.”
Maggie recalled Max’s apology over the phone. “I know that justice will never be absent, but without your help, Max and Linda wouldn’t have recognized their mistakes so quickly and faced the consequences they deserved. I would still be wandering in the darkness. Thank you, Aldrich. You’ve become the light in my life.”
Aldrich’s voice carried a tender reassurance. “Maggie, this is something I promised you long ago. You don’t need to thank me. I’ll protect you forever, stand by your side.”
Maggie’s gentle laughter came through the phone. “Aldrich, I just called Mrs. Jenkins ‘grandma,’ and we’ve established a new kind of relationship.”
Suddenly, Maggie’s voice was cut off, and Aldrich felt as though his heart had been struck with a heavy blow. He quickly stood up. “Maggie? What’s happening? Are you okay?”
However, all he heard from the other end was heavy breathing, followed by the sound of the phone shattering on the ground.
Aldrich’s heart raced in his chest, and his instincts screamed that something was terribly wrong. He immediately called the security personnel assigned to Maggie but was met with unsettling silence. As he realized he couldn’t reach anyone, panic filled his heart.
Aldrich was consumed by worry, understanding that Maggie might be in danger. His blood surged through his powerful muscles, urging him to destroy anything that could harm her.
Just then, Charlie burst into the room, his face etched with concern. He held a report and spoke urgently yet steadily. “Alpha, we just received word of a rogue attack in the East Twelfth Street area, where Maggie’s flower shop is located.”
Aldrich’s eyes widened in shock, and his thoughts connected the dots rapidly. The pieces of the puzzle had fallen into place, and a fierce protective instinct surged within him. Without wasting a moment, he and Charlie left the room, their determined strides filled with purpose.
As they made their way to the flower shop, the streets blurred around them, adrenaline fueling their actions. Aldrich’s senses sharpened as he searched for any signs of danger, his wolf instincts coming to life.
Beneath his seemingly calm exterior, his heart roared in a frenzy, desperately trying to establish a mind link with Maggie. But there was no response, not even a flicker. Panic slowly crept up in Aldrich’s heart.