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
Marcus and Valerie arrived home, and true to his word, Marcus didn’t let the dress last long. He pulled her close, showering her with kisses and caresses, leaving no space for the lingering tension of the evening. After their passionate moment, Valerie fell asleep in his arms, but Marcus’s restless
After the couple left the bar, the atmosphere between the remaining two shifted dramatically. The cordiality they had shown each other evaporated. It was clear they’d been forcing themselves to get along, but for Maximus, being around Alexia was enough to give him a headache.“Maximus, did you alrea
After Valerie brought Marcus back from the garden, the two of them returned to the bedroom. During dinner, the new bed for the master bedroom had been delivered and set up, so tonight, they wouldn’t have to sleep on the floor. She hugged him, running her fingers through his unruly hair. Valerie love
The next morning, Maximus left for the Valeria airport, where the jet waiting to transport him was already prepared. Unlike other trips, this time he was alone. There were no young women accompanying him—a stark contrast to his usual habit of using long trips as an excuse to dazzle some unsuspecting
Serenity had been born from a tragic love story. Her early years were tough, though she was too young to remember most of it. As she grew older, one constant memory stood out—Marcus. To her, he had always been her father. Even though her mother, determined to keep Peter’s memory alive, had shared pa
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