“I gave it to my daughter. She didn’t want me to leave, so I promised her I’d come back soon. That means we need to work faster than usual—I don’t want to be here more than a week, two at most.”“Marcus, you have a daughter? You didn’t mention this last year! She must be a baby.”“It’s a long story,
After Peter’s death, the Palmer family descended into utter chaos. While Peter hadn’t been the one running the family, what he represented to each of them triggered a cascade of emotional reactions.Grandma Catherine fell into a deep depression. The once strong, proud matriarch slowly became a shado
In one of the gardens of Cambridge University in London, a refined 20-year-old walked confidently toward his economics class. His stride was abruptly interrupted by the ringing of his phone. Searching through his backpack, he answered the call.“My son, I need you to come home!” came the voice of a
Serenity lay on her bed, scrolling through her social media feed when a notification popped up—an email from Maximus Palmer. A sharp pang shot through her stomach, but it quickly dissolved into anger. That bastard actually dared to write to her? How could he? What gave him the nerve?[Hello Serenity
Maximus sat in his study, the image of Mary’s tear-streaked face lingering painfully in his mind. He felt a pang of guilt—he had barely seen her again, and he had already caused her to cry.“Maximus, you’re an idiot,” he muttered to himself.Lost in thought, his attention was drawn to an email notif
Alexia sat in the master bedroom, going through her meticulously detailed nightly routine to preserve her youthful appearance. Creams, applicators, and various other products were scattered across the vanity. As she looked into the mirror, she felt a strange tightness in her chest. Time was slipping
[Present day]After Marcus opened his heart and confessed to Valerie that knowing she had met with Maximus made him jealous, he felt both embarrassed and relieved. It was one of the outcomes he had anticipated when her ex-husband learned of his existence, but he hadn’t been sure how to handle it. Th
[The past]Audrey had just turned 18, and during her birthday party, she met Maximus Palmer. That night, Maximus arrived at the celebration alone—a rare occurrence, as he usually attended such events with Alexia to maintain appearances. However, an argument over something trivial had erupted before
The man saying goodbye felt every step grow heavier and heavier. His family was here, and he was leaving them behind to go to a place far away.This time, he wasn't leaving alone—but he would've much rather stayed. He knew that this family needed him… and he needed them just as much.When it was 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