Back in Lunavalle, Maximus had spent an entire week at his grandmother’s house, diligently caring for Mary. One morning, he had even surprised her by bringing her breakfast in bed.“This is delicious, Maximus! I never imagined you could cook!” she exclaimed.“Well, there’s a lot we don’t know about
At dawn, Mary awoke feeling cold. The warm embrace of Maximus was gone. She assumed he might have risen early to prepare breakfast for her, but a heavy feeling in her chest unsettled her. She dressed quickly and wandered through the mansion. She checked the kitchen, but he wasn’t there. No sign of h
“I understand. Where are you located?”“We’re in Lunavalle. I brought her here for a change of scenery, hoping it would help.”“I see. Give me ten minutes to find someone who can assist.”Those ten minutes felt like an eternity to Catherine. When Chris finally called back, he provided the contact in
In Valeria, Maximus and Alexia sat in front of the gynecologist, waiting as he reviewed the results of her tests.“Ms. Levett, Mr. Palmer, congratulations! There’s a baby on the way! Based on the results, you’re about nine weeks along.”“Maximus, congratulations! You’re going to be a father!” Alexia
Back in Valeria, Matthew messaged Maximus after seeing the speculation spreading on social media. When Maximus read the news, he immediately realized that Mary had likely heard about it too. Returning to Lunavalle was no longer an option.“Matthew, draft a divorce settlement and send it to my grandm
The Bartz family carried the infamous reputation of being part of the mafia, known for their ruthlessness toward enemies. While some of the rumors were true, much was exaggerated. Peter Bartz, the patriarch, had two sons: Lawrence Bartz and Francis Bartz, with Francis being the elder.In his old age
Maximus was stunned by how quickly the news had reached his grandmother Catherine, and even more so by her drastic reaction. He had never heard of the Palmer family being connected to the Bartz family, and now Marcus Bartz—a name Maximus thought was nothing but a myth—was being floated as a candidat
Peter woke early to prepare Mary’s things for her stay at the clinic. It broke his heart to see her like this, but he knew he couldn’t give her the help she needed. That had to come from experts, through therapy and time. Aurora, Mary’s closest friend, had insisted on being part of the process and w
Peter, understanding his son Alden’s intentions regarding Alexia, felt it was wise to stay close. Knowing how impulsive his son could be, he had no choice but to return to Valentia. He entrusted the arrangements to Darius Richards, who secured a central house in Westhaven and enrolled little Ethan a
Marcus chose not to interrupt his girls and instead went to tuck John in. Afterward, he headed to the master bedroom, took a shower, changed into his pajamas, and lay on the bed. The past few days had been exhausting.When he first entertained the idea of returning to Valentia, he never imagined it
“Serenity, he adored you. Even though he wasn’t your biological father, he loved you. If he had stayed with us, I know he would have loved you more than your real father ever could.”Valerie recounted every detail of her life with Peter. Serenity listened quietly, wishing that one day she might find
Serenity released her and nodded silently, her tearful eyes wide with anticipation.Valerie took a deep breath and began. “I told you I fell hopelessly in love with Maximus Palmer, but things didn’t work out. After my suicide attempt, I was discharged from the hospital and went to his grandmother’s
Valerie and Marcus arrived home after a short flight. She had been longing to get back and hug her children. As difficult as it would be, she knew she needed to have an honest conversation with her daughter. Just as she had opened up to Marcus, she now needed to explain everything to her daughter, l
When Alden saw how much his mother was suffering from the revelations, he nearly made the mistake of revealing that his father was alive. He had to bite the inside of his lip to stop himself, clenching his fists so tightly that his palms bore the marks. The pain was almost unbearable. After tucking
After Alden and Grace’s divorce, Grace decided to move to Spain. She had considered returning to Argentina, but her strained relationship with her parents made that impossible. Meanwhile, both Alden and Grace continued to receive unconditional support from Peter, who held Grace in high regard. Their
Alden was stunned. No one had ever spoken to him that way before. His mother had always been gentle, and Ignatius, who he had come to see as a father figure, was patient and understanding.“Take it or leave it! But make up your mind now,” Peter snapped, his tone tinged with exasperation.Alden ran t
After that long conversation, Theodore felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Alden, on the other hand, was in shock. What kind of man had his father been to endure something like this? The whole story sounded absurd, yet it had to be true—after all, the man standing before hi