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
Once Maximus and Mary left the wedding hall, they arrived at the mansion. Mary felt unsettled by the deathly silence during the drive. The only thing Maximus had said was that the honeymoon was canceled.When they got to the mansion, Maximus stepped out of the car first and hurried inside without ev
Maximus had come to understand something important—so much of what makes a family strong lies in its core: the father and the mother. He'd seen it with his own eyes, experienced it with his father, and once with his grandmother. After a long, yet somehow short, time lingering around the table, the
After several hugs and a strange sense of emptiness, Lucius and Amanda left the house. Lucius started driving, knowing he still had to get home—he hadn't said goodbye to his siblings, his father, or the grandfather he'd just met.Time was ticking. Through the rearview mirror, he caught a glimpse of
The week had flown by, and Lucius and Amanda were getting everything ready to head back to New Zealand. Their time in Valentia had been amazing. This visit had given them a lot of good memories, but it was time to return to university.Maximus and the others were hoping they could visit during the
After Ethan gave a masterclass on how to hold a baby, it was the grandparents' turn. Marcus, not wasting a second, held little Isabelle in his arms. The moment he looked at her, he knew—she was the spitting image of his daughter, the same baby girl he had met just over two years ago. "Hello, prince
After finally finishing all the paperwork and preparations for the creation of PBE Group, Maximus and Peter drove from Florentia to Valeria. Both men were determined to get there—after all, their daughter, so to speak, had just given birth, and it was essential to meet the family's first granddaught
A couple of hours after that awkward conversation, Alden, Serenity, Isabelle, and Laura were on their way home. After all the advice from the OB-GYN and the pediatrician, the new little family was finally heading back.Serenity was filled with mixed emotions. In her arms, she held her baby—yes, her
The next day, Serenity had her check-up. Little Isabelle stared intently at her mother, those big, beautiful eyes locked onto her face. Serenity couldn't stop admiring her.She was completely in love with the tiny angel in her arms. Looking at her, she couldn't help but remember how she and the man
They barely made it to the car before they were already pulling up to the place where Adrian was now living. When they arrived, Laura was surprised by the location. It wasn't bad, exactly—just not the kind of place she could ever picture Adrian choosing for himself.It made her think his financial s
"Is it far from here?" Laura asked, a bit concerned."Not really. I could actually walk, but honestly, with the crutches, it's kind of uncomfortable—and risky.""If you wait for me, I'll say goodbye to my sister and give you a ride. I'm guessing it's on the way, so...""No! No, you came to see your