“Would you like something to drink?” he asked politely.“What are you getting?” she replied cheerfully.“An espresso,” he answered flatly.“Oh, I can’t handle coffee that strong! I’ll have a white hot chocolate and a cheesecake.”Maximus signaled the waiter, who came over to take their order. While
Laura was the second child of Maximus and Alexia. She had straight blonde hair, eyes that shifted between shades of gray and green, and an oval face with delicate, rosy cheeks that accented her pale, porcelain skin. She didn’t share any noticeable features with Maximus or the Palmer family. Laura wa
[The past]The next morning, Marcus set off toward Florentia, with a specific destination in Lunavalle in mind. It had been years since his last visit, but today he felt the urge to stop by the Bartz family mausoleum. The last time he’d been there, Peter had accompanied him.Marcus had several bouqu
[The past]Alexia had arrived in Paris full of dreams—dreams of a future with a man 20 years her senior. As a young woman, she believed life would be kind, that they would live together and enjoy a bright future. Gabriel, on the other hand, hadn’t expected her to cling to him so intensely. After mon
Lucius walked into Laura’s room unannounced. She was sitting on the balcony, headphones on, listening to music. She had heard the sound of an argument coming from their father’s study but chose to lose herself in her music and the view before her. She didn’t even notice her loving brother enter.“My
The weekend flew by quickly. It was Sunday afternoon, and the three Bartzs stood anxiously at the airport, awaiting the arrival of little John and his nanny, Camille. After picking them up, they would head to collect Emma Fiore, who had finally agreed to live with the Bartz family. Though Emma was a
[The past]After leaving the cemetery, Marcus drove toward a destination he didn’t particularly enjoy visiting: Catherine’s mansion. Despite everything that had happened between them, he owed the woman respect. She had cared for him, saved his life, and never once wavered or considered disconnecting
[The present]Monday had finally arrived. Marcus was set to assume his role as Director of Finance at Palmer Group. Alexia had spent the entire weekend trying to dissuade Maximus from following through with what she called a “stupid idea.” However, Maximus knew he couldn’t refuse Marcus’s placement.
“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