Maximus held the coffee-stained jacket in one hand as he stepped into the car waiting for him. The driver began the trip to the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid. During the ride, Maximus tried to check his emails, but every time he attempted to focus, the image of the girl he had just met crept back into h
After hanging up with her daughter, Valerie felt a tightness in her chest. It was as though she could sense something was wrong, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. At first, she thought it was because Serenity was traveling to Spain, but after seeing her on the video call, perfectly happy and sa
Marcus exited the emergency area, accompanied by an officer. He wore an uncomfortable neck brace and was being escorted to a private office to give his statement. As someone of prominence, he was kept away from prying eyes and curious onlookers.Walking alongside the officer, who barely came up to h
Marcus sat down, his patience already wearing thin as he waited. The door to the pediatrician’s office finally opened, and the doctor stepped out. Upon seeing Marcus, the doctor’s face registered immediate recognition.“Mr. Bartz! Are you feeling alright? Do you need assistance?” the doctor asked, c
[The present]Maximus arrived at his hotel and took some time to rest before preparing for his evening meeting. After going over the details, he found himself thinking about the gray-eyed woman who had stirred something unfamiliar in him. Unable to resist, he decided to send her an email.-[Subject
Maximus opened the email and read the girl’s response. Once again, he found himself surprised. Not only did she know who he was, but she was also confidently proposing to work for him. It seemed his reputation as a “cradle robber” hadn’t reached her ears—a relief, though her boldness made him skepti
[The past, Hesperia]"Mr. Bartz, you found me. What do you want? The last time I saw you, you were very clear—you couldn’t help me any more than you already had. I’m immensely grateful to you; thanks to your help, my daughter and I are still alive. But ever since Peter died, I swore I’d have nothing
[The present, Westhaven]“That pizza was delicious!” Valerie said, feeling content with a full belly.The two of them stepped outside to sit at the small garden table.“Love, I noticed you were very quiet during lunch,” Marcus said, intrigued. “That’s not like you—you’re usually talking non-stop!”“
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
"Well, Laura, things aren't that simple... but I'll figure something out. And with all this, what are you doing at the hospital? Who's taking care of Adele? Is something wrong? Is someone in your family here? Are you okay?""Wow... That's a lot of questions. But yeah, everything's fine. Emma's watch