"Well, thank you! That's a compliment, and I'll take it," she said, smiling."Now that your father isn't here and you've just turned 18, what do you plan to do?""Well, for now, I can't do much. But when all of this is over, I want to take my things and…" She paused as a thought crossed her mind. Ma
"No, how could I? That's your cake!""Yes, but I'm offering it to you.""No, I can't accept!""Come on! If you don't eat, then I won't either!""You know that's blackmail, right?""No, it's just a show of affection!""What a way to show affection!""Come on! It won't hurt!"Seeing how insistent she
“Maximus, please, don’t take my daughter away from me! Please!”Maximus woke up suddenly from his brief nap and immediately grabbed his wife’s hand to wake her up. It seemed like she was having a nightmare.“Mary, wake up! Calm down, wake up, everything’s okay!” he said, gently shaking her.She open
Suddenly, a deep sense of sorrow washed over him, and he began to feel short of breath as he remembered how just a few weeks ago, she would be waiting for him in the living room with a big smile, saying, “Maximus, dinner is ready! Come on, get comfortable, and let’s eat!”Her broad smile made him fe
Maximus carried Mary in his arms, who had fainted at the sight of him. He felt a deep sense of guilt for his wife's reaction. Before, when she saw him, she would flash a wide, ear-to-ear smile. Then that smile faded into a look of submission, which later turned into anger or indifference. Today, her
Mary ran with all her might and finally spotted Peter's Lamborghini. Though Emma tried to catch up, Mary was faster and had a head start, so the housekeeper could only watch as she got into the car, unable to see who was driving."Let's go, Peter! I'm sure Emma is already alerting Maximus," Mary sai
-Major Flashback-That July 17 had come to an end, and Maximus returned with a girl, eternally grateful for giving him one of the best days of his life.“Mary, I had a wonderful time today, but I need to check my emails, so I won’t be having dinner. You can join Emma. I’m heading to the study.”“Sur
“So, what can I get you to drink?” she asked, taking off her jacket and revealing her collarbone, adorned with a mole that had always driven Maximus wild.“What about you?” Maximus asked, moving closer to her, whispering from behind and grabbing her by the waist.“Maximus!” Alexia responded, a littl
After a few emotional minutes at Peter’s final resting place, Marcus Bartz gently urged Valerie to leave. The security team had signaled that someone was loitering nearby—a risk Marcus couldn’t afford.“My beloved Valerie, we need to go. It’s dangerous to stay here,” Marcus said, his eyes scanning t
After half an hour of driving, a convoy of three SUVs arrived at the entrance of Flavian Cemetery. From the lead vehicle stepped the striking couple, returning to Valentia after what felt like an eternity away.The man took the woman’s hand and helped her out of the SUV. A bodyguard handed them the
[In Ambervale, two decades later]In a private hangar at Flameco Airport in Eterna, a strikingly beautiful woman with long blonde hair descended from a sleek private jet. Ahead of her was a tall, commanding man with sharp, rugged features, his face partially covered by a neatly trimmed beard and a p
In Ambervale, two months had passed since Albert’s death, and Agent Count had finally uncovered key information related to Albert Preston’s arrest.“Mrs. Catherine, can we meet? I have something I believe will interest you. I’ve sent part of it to your email, but it’s imperative you see the rest in
Peter and Mary arrived home in Galea after their long journey. Mary was still fragile, so Peter had instructed the staff to provide her with all the help she might need. Agnes, ever attentive, had prepared a delicious meal, knowing the expectant mother needed nourishment. She felt it was her duty to
Maximus arrived in Valeria and went straight to see Alexia. He knew it wouldn’t be easy to face her anger, but he hadn’t expected to find her in loose clothing, her eyes and nose red from crying. When his gaze fell on her swollen belly, he felt like the most miserable man alive. She was the mother o
As Marcus learned of Albert Preston’s death, Catherine retreated to her bedroom, carrying the urn holding the ashes of the man who had been her last love. Meanwhile, Peter lay on the bed, gently stroking Mary’s hair. The soothing motion had helped her relax enough to sleep, so Peter remained still,
Marcus Bartz had just settled into a luxurious house along Coravela’s Arcfield Boulevard, overlooking the beach. The property offered stunning ocean views and was fortified with state-of-the-art security systems.It was a sprawling house for a man living alone, and his sudden arrival didn’t go unnot
Hours later, Catherine, Leonard, and Maximus returned to the mansion with Albert’s ashes in a beautiful white onyx urn. Catherine held it as if her life depended on it, her grip tight, her expression stoic. She longed to retreat to her room, where she could grieve in private. Life, it seemed, had de