Maximus watched as Marcus forcibly dragged Mary away. He wanted to go after them, but he stopped himself, uncertain of how his interference might impact her. The look in Marcus’s eyes was all too familiar—it was jealousy, pure and corrosive. Maximus recognized it because he had been consumed by the
Marcus had dropped Serenity off at home and immediately called Frederick, desperate for any news about Valerie. His guilt was consuming him—he knew he’d failed her. He should have stayed by her side, should have defended her rather than letting his anger and jealousy take over. He understood why she
Maximus was utterly taken aback when he saw the name on his phone screen. Of all the people who could have called him, he hadn’t expected her. The surprise was overwhelming, but without hesitation, he answered. Tonight, of all nights, he needed to hear her voice.“Maximus? Maximus Palmer?” said a fa
As the bus pulled into the station near midnight, Valerie stepped off, feeling a hollow ache in her stomach. When she stormed out of the hotel, she hadn’t known where to go. Home wasn’t an option—not in the state she was in. A hotel felt too risky; she couldn’t predict how far Marcus might go to fin
After hanging up with Diana, Maximus headed to the old mansion. Once there, he wasn’t in the mood for anything other than taking a bath and sleeping—it had been a long day. He was lying on his old bed when the light of his phone pulled him out of a half-sleep. An email with encrypted files had just
After nearly being strangled to death by her husband, Alexia shockingly returned to the mansion. It was clear that many things were about to change drastically. A few hours earlier, Leonardo had made it clear that he wouldn’t help her at all. Lucius had only advised her to leave the house and find s
For the first time in years, Marcus felt an anxiety attack creeping in. With no other option, he called Frederick. It was late at night, but like Matthew, Frederick knew his bosses well and had been expecting the call, though it was clear from the delay that something was wrong.“What’s going on, my
After narrowly escaping death at the hands of her husband, Alexia climbed into her car and sped away, desperate to reach civilization. Her spirits lifted when she finally saw the glow of city lights in the distance. Inside the car, she cursed Maximus relentlessly. He had always fallen for her tricks
“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