While Leonard and Peter were reconciling as father and son, trying to leave the past behind, Catherine reluctantly had to put on a kind face. She kept thinking that if she didn’t maintain a cordial relationship with her grandson’s future wife, she’d have to say goodbye to spending time with her grea
Peter hurried past the table where Maximus and Alexia were talking, searching for a secluded spot where no one could overhear or interrupt him.“Marcus, what’s going on? Your email in the middle of the night caught me off guard.”“Peter, there’s something I need to tell you…” Marcus said, letting a
“Catherine, Mary, please, let the authorities do their job. I’m tired… It’s better for everyone this way,” Albert said, struggling to breathe steadily.“No, Grandpa! You didn’t do anything wrong! It was all your friend’s fault!” Mary sobbed uncontrollably.Standing at a distance, Alexia observed the
After what felt like an eternity of driving, Peter arrived at the emergency room. Philip Hill was already waiting for him. As Peter opened the passenger door to help Mary out, Philip stepped forward and said urgently:“Your grandmother filled me in on everything. Come on, let’s not waste any time!”
Peter ended the call with Catherine and stepped into the room where Mary was sitting. His heart sank at the sight of her tear-streaked face—the same face that had been glowing with happiness in his arms that very morning.“My love, I’m here now! Everything will be okay,” Peter said, pulling her into
Peter and Mary stayed at the hospital that night. Exhaustion eventually overtook her, and she would drift off to sleep, only to wake up minutes later crying again. Peter was deeply worried; he didn’t want his beloved to spiral into the same despair she’d faced two months ago.“Please, my love, you n
Maximus, feeling uncomfortable after seeing Peter and Mary together, decided it wasn’t the time or place to speak with her. Instead, he headed to Alexia’s room.“Alexia? Can I come in?” he asked, knocking lightly on the door.When he got no reply, he opened it to find Alexia sitting with her face bu
By midday, the priest arrived to officiate the mass. The gathering was small, intimate, meant to give Albert Preston a dignified farewell. After the service, Catherine and Leonard would accompany his body to the crematorium. Mary had been gently persuaded to stay behind; her health and the baby’s sa
“Oh, I see. That’s what’s been on your mind?” Marcus asked gently.“Yes, back then Catherine forced us to come here. Maximus and I made a pact to get along, and it worked—at least until Alexia arrived,” Valerie said nervously.“My love, you should’ve told me. We could’ve gone somewhere else,” Marcus
The next day, Valerie and Marcus shared the news with their children about taking a week off for a trip to unwind. The past few days had been stressful, and they needed a break. To their surprise, both Serenity and John flat-out refused to miss school. Serenity explained that she had already missed
After kidnapping Serenity, Leonardo and Lucius fled to Davos in the Swiss Alps. It was the ideal place to rest and strategize, not to mention the seat of the World Economic Forum. Their choice wasn’t random; Leonardo already had a plan. With the money secured and the truth about his relationship wit
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