Celeste, still dressed in her elegant gown, was preparing coffee in the small kitchen while Peter waited in the cozy living room. Spike, her old and wise cat, noticed the presence of a stranger in their home. Emerging from the bedroom, the feline approached Peter with a watchful gaze. With slow, del
“I don’t think so,” Celeste said with a laugh. “Look at us—we’ve been talking for hours, and I’m not bored at all.”Her words lingered in the air, creating a comfortable warmth between them, one that neither had felt in a very long time."Really? You don’t find talking to me boring?” Peter asked, ra
Peter stood face-to-face with Marcus Bartz, the man’s presence a stark reminder of a past he had tried to bury. The good mood Peter had arrived with vanished instantly. A chill coursed through him as he understood what this visit could mean. His previously relaxed demeanor shifted—his dark eyes now
“Don’t worry, Theodore. Everything’s fine,” Peter replied with a faint smile.Theodore poured the coffee and exited, aware of the tension in the room. As he closed the door, he silently cursed the timing of Marcus’s visit. It seemed cruel that on the very day Peter had taken a rare step out of his s
"I spent a long time in intensive care. The truth is, my recovery took several years. By the time I could speak and was aware of myself, five years had already passed. I was like a baby—couldn’t talk, couldn’t walk. My body was atrophied from so much time in bed. I almost lost a hand, and when I fin
“After my ‘death,’ he gave Alden my last name, and, well, the rest is history. Alden wants to know more about me, but unfortunately, neither Theodore nor I can tell him much beyond what we know. That’s why he reached out to you, but with so much work, that idea has faded. Now he’s set on reviving Pa
“Marcus, I’m not blaming you for marrying her. I understand perfectly. You both thought I was dead, and I can’t blame you for making her happy. In my current condition, I couldn’t do that. Life decided it this way—don’t blame yourself for it.”Peter’s words made Marcus feel a lump in his throat. The
After a few minutes, Marcus left the Palmer mansion. Peter sat in his chair, his mind a complete mess. He couldn’t understand how he had managed to stay stoic in such a situation. Deep down, he knew it was only a matter of time before everything blew up in his face. What he didn’t know yet was wheth
“Well, I don’t, Serenity. My life changed completely when I found out I was going to be a father. One day I was a broke kid, and the next, I was managing absurd sums of money, getting paid, and changing diapers.”“Sorry…” Serenity murmured, her tone softening."Sorry… what?" Alden asked, raising an
Alden and Serenity exited the Palmer Group building, the tension from their earlier “altercation” significantly eased. Serenity felt more comfortable around him now, while Alden, with his trademark charming smile, continued to catch the admiring glances of every woman they passed in the hallway. Ser
Maximus sighed. “Emma, I know I’m inexperienced. I’ve avoided hiring anyone because my younger kids have spent years in boarding school. I didn’t want them to be raised by nannies anymore. Besides, my eldest is 15, and Maurice is 8. They’re not little anymore.”“I’ve been thinking… I want to come ba
Maximus returned home after a long day, his thoughts weighed down by the countless decisions he had to make. As he walked through the house, he noticed his younger children quietly doing their homework at the dining table. Laura, as always, had stepped in to keep them on task. When he found her rest
“Peter… What else are you planning to do?”“Nothing. Just wait. My time, and Marcus’s time, is coming. He and I will have to pay for what we’ve done. But that, dear brother, won’t affect you,” Peter said, placing a hand on Maximus’s shoulder.“Damn it, Peter! What the hell are you going to do?” Maxi
“What kind of nonsense is this? Of course, I loved Mary! I still love her!”“Do you? Then why did you let Marcus take her? If you loved her, why didn’t you fight for her?”“Because it was what was best.”“For who, Peter? For you? For her? For Marcus? Because it sounds to me like you sacrificed your
Maximus arrived in Slovenia, where Peter’s driver was already waiting to take him to his brother’s grand estate. As they approached the enormous house, Maximus couldn’t help but admire its majesty, but he chose not to comment.“I hope your visit is short and that you’re not here to punch me in the f
After Maximus left for the airport, Alden began showing Serenity around the various floors of Palmer Group. Though Serenity typically carried herself with poise and confidence, she found herself faltering every time Alden looked her way. There was something about his presence, his composed demeanor,
“Serenity, at the office, I’m not your dad—I’m the boss,” Maximus said, frowning slightly as he downed his coffee in one gulp.“I know, Maximus! Now let’s get going, or I’ll be late for my first day as your assistant.”“Miss Bartz, today is your induction day. No one starts working without completin