"After we got Alexia out, the missus was ready to leave. She didn't want to marry you anymore. She was heartbroken. Your grandma asked me to go tell the judge to wait, and when I came back, your grandma had managed to convince her to go through with the wedding. I don't know what they talked about,
The following morning, Matthew woke up with a pounding headache. He had spent the entire night trying to figure out how to end Alexia's contract without sparking a full-blown disaster. He knew very well that once he informed her, Alexia would lose control, and he dreaded being the one to deliver the
Mary woke up after a long nap, feeling relaxed. Peter had been right—the lavender oil had helped soothe her. Perhaps it was the change of environment, or maybe it was having Catherine and Peter close by. She knew she had to be strong and recover quickly so she could see her grandfather again. Whatev
He poured himself a glass of cognac and lit a cigarette, something he hadn't done in years. His neck ached, his head throbbed, and the alcohol only seemed to heighten the surreal fog settling over his thoughts. Suddenly, he began to see a familiar silhouette moving through his office. It was faint,
Maximus got up and took the first flight to Florentia. His wife had invited him to talk, and he wouldn’t let that opportunity slip by. Upon arrival, he drove as quickly as possible to Lunavalle. That particular day, the fields looked more radiant than ever. He was carrying a mix of emotions he could
“Of course, it is! You didn’t want to let go of Alexia—and I get it. I know you love her. But I also know you’d never let the company fall into Peter’s hands because of your strange rivalry. You can’t stand losing. But I’m not willing to stay in this game anymore. I don’t know how much more I’d have
After Catherine took Mary away from Maximus’s mansion, time continued its relentless march forward. Alexia was proving to be exceptional in many ways, outshining several of her colleagues at the office. This didn’t go unnoticed by her lover, who only briefly felt the absence of Mary at home.News of
A thought crossed Maximus’s mind. Could his grandmother be grooming Peter to take over if he failed to meet her ultimatum? Lately, that seemed like a possibility he couldn’t dismiss. Their last argument had revealed a side of her he had never seen before.“I need more pictures of this woman. I want
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