Snapped out of her thoughts, Celeste shook her head. “No, of course not. I’m sorry, I just got distracted. Let me finish up a few things, and if you’d like, we can leave a little earlier. I wouldn’t want you driving back to Westhaven too late.”She walked away to check in with a colleague, disappear
"These days, if I like something, I go for it. If someone interests me, I let them know. And to be honest, this hasn’t happened to me before—not until yesterday. It’s no secret: I like you, Celeste. You’re a beautiful woman, and I’m genuinely interested in getting to know you."This morning, when I
The drive wasn’t particularly long or short. They arrived at Celeste’s building, and once again, Peter accompanied her to her apartment door. She turned to him, hesitating for a moment before asking:“Would you like to come in?”Peter looked at her, a soft smile forming on his lips. “Would you mind
Peter understood her unspoken message and stopped holding back. His hands caressed her back with reverence and patience, slowly moving to the knot that held her dress in place. Untying it, he let the fabric fall, revealing her pale, soft skin. He took a moment to admire her, his eyes filled with ten
Hours after leaving Celeste’s apartment, Peter’s private jet touched down at a secluded airport in the Swiss Alps. From there, he drove toward Appenzell, the picturesque town where Alexia was staying. As he navigated the winding roads, he decided to call Alexia’s doctor.“Dr. Stephenson, I need to s
Alexia’s icy blue eyes widened, their color deepening with intensity. Her voice dropped to a threatening tone.“Don’t you dare touch my family.”Peter leaned back beside Alexia, draping an arm around her neck and lifting her head slightly to rest against his chest. The scent of his cologne enveloped
Peter rose from the bed, leaving Alexia frozen in place, her mind reeling from what she had just seen and heard. The images Peter had shown her spoke volumes—of all the people who could have sought vengeance for her actions, she had fallen into the hands of the worst possible person. The Peter she r
[Florentia, Valentia, 12 years ago]Peter lay on the divan in his study, eyes closed as he tried to conjure the image of the woman in the photograph. Her smile was radiant, her hazel eyes captivating. He wondered how she was doing. What had become of their daughter? What would he say to them when th
“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