[After Albert Preston's death]After hanging up with his father, Peter got into his car and headed home. Earlier that day, he had visited Valeria but had decided not to bring Mary along, worried the trip would feel too long for her. They had visited her gynecologist, where he learned the wonderful n
In Coravela, Hesperia, Marcus had just gone to bed after experiencing a severe anxiety attack. It was almost 4 a.m., and Frederick had to take him for a walk along the beach to help him calm down. Just as Marcus was beginning to drift into an uneasy sleep, the light from his phone caught his attenti
[Back to the present]Marcus Bartz stood at the base of the towering Palmer Group building, his sharp gaze taking in its impressive height.“All the things we’ve endured because of this damned place,” Marcus muttered to Frederick, who stood by his side.Frederick, ever loyal, nodded solemnly and rep
Maximus had been notified of Marcus Bartz’s arrival. The last time they had seen each other, they had nearly come to blows, stopped only by Matthew’s intervention. Today, Marcus’s appearance was calculated—dressed entirely in black, exuding an air of power and menace. But hearing of his arrival made
Marcus left the Palmer Group building, feeling great as he walked through that huge glass door. At last, he would begin his revenge against all those who had done wrong to him or his beloved Valerie. At last, he would get justice for Peter. He got into his truck and remembered that fateful day when
The atmosphere in Peter's home was suffocatingly tense. The Palmer family was determined to bury him in Florentia, but Peter’s final wish was to be laid to rest at the Flavian Cemetery, where his mother was buried. Marcus was equally determined to honor that wish, even if it meant revealing his true
[Back to the present]Marcus arrived at the plaza where Valerie was waiting for him, sitting on a bench and enjoying a delicious ice cream. Despite the years they had spent together, his wife never ceased to amaze him. She could go from being a poised, sophisticated woman to a playful, childlike ver
Maximus stood frozen, overwhelmed by the sight of Valerie—Mary. She was no longer the girl he remembered but a confident, elegant woman. The years had shaped her into someone radiant, and seeing her again stirred memories he had buried deep. The last image he had of her was etched in his mind: her t
Alden held Celeste tightly as she wept, her body trembling against his. It felt like a part of her was being ripped away. It had already been a week, and still, there were no signs of Peter waking up.The swelling in his brain had gone down, but for some unknown reason, there was no neurological act
"I was thinking we could grab some vanilla ice cream and sit somewhere to talk. Sound good?""Perfect."We stopped by an ice cream shop and bought a liter each.As expected, she devoured hers.I watched her for a moment before taking a deep breath."Mary… there’s something I want to talk to you abou
After a few minutes, I helped Mary into the car. As I closed the door, I noticed Agnes stepping outside to see us off, drying her hands on her apron.Seeing her there—knowing she would be one of the many people affected by my death—I walked over and pulled her into a hug."You stubborn old woman… I
She hesitated. "Well… when you put it like that… maybe."I exhaled, running a hand through my hair."I have to admit something. You’re my least favorite person in the world.""Gee, thanks.""But you’re also Mary’s best friend. And you’ve proven to be a good friend to her. So, I just want to ask one
As I stepped out of my room, I was immediately greeted by the loud, unmistakable laughter of Aurora. God, that woman still got on my nerves… And to think that at one point, Mary had actually suggested that she and I could be a couple. According to her, since we were both wild, chaotic, and loved par
After finalizing the last details of my fortune, I picked up the phone and called the one person who had the power to change my life forever."Peter?""Marcus…""What’s going on? You don’t usually call me twice…""Well… technically, you called me earlier…" I said, trying to sound casual."What’s wro
"I just remembered I have something urgent to go over with Marcus. I can’t put it off—it’s about the meeting. I completely forgot. I’ll talk to my father and the doctor to reschedule our appointment. Just give me until noon, okay? This is really important."Before she could respond, I turned toward
[Peter's P.OV]For a few seconds, I just stared at Celeste.She was just a girl—well, compared to me, she was.She was thin, her curly hair as messy as always, and she wore glasses that made her look even younger. There was an innocence in her eyes, a brightness untouched by the weight of life.I sm
Alden’s stomach dropped. "What do you mean by that?"Maximus hesitated before saying, "I’m sorry, Alden… Celeste… But we have to be prepared for the fact that he might not wake up.""He will wake up," Celeste said firmly, her voice trembling with emotion. "He promised me. You said it yourself—Peter