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
While Serenity spent the day with Maximus and Laura at the Bartz estate, Marcus, Valerie, and John were having breakfast and getting ready to head out for a little excursion. Despite being a child, John was mature—not the kind of mature that involved making deals or hacking computers, but the kind t
-Meanwhile, Maximus was spending the day with his two young ladies. As they walked ahead of him, he observed them closely. Serenity and Laura couldn’t have been more different. Serenity was extroverted, always on the move, always looking for something to do. From the photos he’d seen, she clearly h
Lucius, after seeing his father walk away and realizing his sister was trying to prevent a fight, softened his expression and turned to look at his beautiful little sister, who was still holding a bowl of popcorn.“Hello, beautiful,” Lucius said, smiling as he gently stroked Laura’s cheek.“Hi, big
Serenity drove home, her backpack safely holding the photographs Maximus had given her of her father. She had a bright smile on her face. She hadn’t attended classes that day, but she’d spent a wonderful day with her cousin and uncle. She imagined that this was what some of her days could be like in
'Is she my husband’s new mistress?'Alexis had been unusually quiet lately, which was odd for her. She was known to be a force to be reckoned with, both in the business world and in her personal life. Audrey was the one exception—Alexis hadn’t done anything to her yet, mostly because the girl’s well
The weekend passed quickly, and Marcus didn’t bring up Maximus again in front of Serenity. He regretted losing his temper and realized that Maximus’s actions were deliberate provocations. He resolved not to let his frustration spill over onto his beloved daughter again—it was something he wouldn’t a
“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