[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
Back when Valerie waited for her husband, she strolled through the plaza filled with high-end stores, searching for furniture to fill their enormous mansion. Suddenly, the task brought a flood of memories. Her life with Maximus had been hell at the beginning and later just lonely. The few moments of
As Maximus, Marcus, and Valerie continued their tense conversation, Alexia Levett arrived at the hotel in her usual dramatic fashion. Stepping out of her sleek sports car, she handed the keys to the valet with a haughty air, her red, form-fitting dress leaving little to the imagination. Knowing that
“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