A week after Lucius returned to London, he had already organized his affairs. He requested a leave of absence from university and ensured his businesses could be managed remotely. With everything in order, he prepared to return to Valeria. The idea of Bartz being at the company made him restless; he
“Lucius,” Bartz said in a disturbingly calm voice. “You said you’d help me, didn’t you?”“Yes… Just let me down… Everything hurts,” Lucius replied, his voice cracking with pain.“You’re just a kid, but you want to play adult games. Fine. I’ll give you your chance,” Bartz said, his tone almost patron
Maximus returned home, utterly drained. He walked in quietly, knowing all the staff were already asleep. Heading down the hallway, he noticed the light on in his wife’s room. A surge of anger flared within him—he was sure that if he faced her now, he might actually strangle her. He took a deep breat
Maximus had fallen asleep for several hours next to his daughter. When he woke, he carefully slipped out of Laura’s room, feeling a rare sense of peace. With this newfound calm, he decided to head to his study to tackle a task he knew wouldn’t be easy.It wasn’t unusual for Maximus to stay up late,
After realizing that she and Maximus wouldn’t be spending the day alone, Laura’s expression turned serious. Though her shyness remained evident in her eyes, she was clearly upset. A single tear slipped down her cheek. In her mind, there was no doubt—her father must be introducing her to a mistress h
Minutes later, Valerie appeared in the kitchen, still groggy. She found Marcus gazing out at the garden with a coffee cup in hand. Smiling, she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his firm yet warm back.“Good morning, sweetheart,” she murmured.“My l
Serenity looked up, momentarily unsure. Then she recognized him—Maximus. For a split second, she hesitated. He looked different today, much like Laura had thought. The man standing before her seemed nothing like the stern, cold figure she had briefly met in Madrid.“Hello, Maximus,” Serenity replied
After a ten-minute drive, Maximus, Laura, and Serenity arrived at the café Serenity had mentioned. The place reminded Maximus of the one he had visited with Mary on her birthday. The three of them took a table on the terrace—a charming spot surrounded by greenery, exuding a tranquil atmosphere. Laur
“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