[Hesperia, 15 Years Ago]Catherine’s health had been steadily declining, and the last time Leonardo had seen her in good spirits was over two years ago, shortly after Marcus Bartz had visited her. Catherine was perpetually distressed about the life her granddaughter might be living. Despite her best
[Hesperia, 15 Years Ago]Following his failed attempt to bring Peter’s daughter back to Valentia, Leonardo had no choice but to face his mother. Catherine had summoned him, demanding he visit her as soon as he returned. What she didn’t know was that Leonardo’s supposed retreats to Nepal lasted only
Valerie froze as Serenity’s voice broke the tension in the room. Turning to face her daughter, she tried to compose herself, wiping her hands on a towel to buy a moment. Marcus’s sharp gaze moved between the two women, sensing the undercurrent of unease.“They want us to go to Palmer Group,” Marcus
Marcus arrived at his office and asked his shared assistant if Maximus was in. He had personal matters to discuss with him. The assistant only shook her head no, avoiding even standing up. The dangerous aura radiating from Marcus was enough to keep her glued to her seat. Normally a calm and kind man
After a long drive to pick up both of his daughters, Maximus arrived at Palmer Group. When he pulled up, the valet opened his car door. Normally, these routine actions went unnoticed, but today, Maximus took in every detail. He knew that by returning everything, it would soon be clear who would assu
Maximus quickly tore open the envelope, and like Valerie, felt a heavy weight press against his chest. The envelope was eerily similar to the one he had once presented to his ex-wife when he sought answers about Peter’s daughter. As he unfolded the report, his face turned ghostly pale. It was the sa
Before Marcus could say more, another blow landed—this time from Maximus. Blood began streaming from Marcus’s nose.“Never! Do you hear me, Bartz? Never speak to my daughter like that again! Do I make myself clear?” Maximus roared, teetering on the edge of losing control.“Enough!” Valerie screamed,
Serenity was devastated. She had never felt such betrayal in her life, and what crushed her the most was that it came from her own home—from her mother. The realization tore her apart.Valerie tried to approach her daughter again, but Serenity rejected her. Laura, calm and patient, stepped in.“Don’
“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