“And what does that damned family have to do with this?” Maximus snapped.“Everything, Maximus. Absolutely everything.”“Take a seat and pay close attention to what I’m about to summarize,” Frederick began, pulling out several files and organizing them on the table.[File No. 1]“This folder contain
[Willowcombe, Present Day]After speaking with Matthew, Peter knew what he had to say to Celeste. She needed to hear the whole truth, no matter how painful it was. As far as Peter saw it, this was the only way to convince her to come back to him and leave the country. It was a gamble—she could eithe
Peter smiled as he watched Celeste, now so calm and seemingly at peace. She looked more relaxed than she had earlier in the day. He guessed that, like him, the day had given her time to settle her emotions and find some serenity in the comfort of her home.Amazingly, Celeste devoured three slices of
Peter saw the determination in Celeste’s eyes and knew this was his one and only chance. The woman standing before him wasn’t someone he could deceive or charm with empty words. She was strong, resolute, and unwilling to settle for less than the truth.“Celeste, I want you to know that I deeply regr
Peter could hear the absurdity in his own words as they hung in the air. It struck him like a slap in the face. Every time Mary called, he dropped everything to help her, escort her to therapy, or be her sounding board. Celeste was right—he hadn’t truly let go of his ex. Even if their relationship w
“Alright, alright. This is as far as you can go. We’ll take her inside. Please wait in the waiting room. We’ll update you as soon as we can,” the doctor instructed.Peter held Celeste’s hand tightly as they wheeled her away, but as the stretcher moved farther, her grip slipped from his.Hours passed
That night, Peter behaved as he always had in the past. Celeste felt a swirl of confusion but kept her emotions guarded.“Peter, it’s late. You should go. I need to rest, and I need to call my work tomorrow to tell them I won’t be in this week. I’ll be praying they don’t fire me,” Celeste said as sh
Upstairs, he found a bedroom equipped with specialized medical equipment. Lying in the bed was a blonde woman whose serene face took his breath away. He froze, recognizing her instantly.As if sensing his presence, the woman’s eyes shot open, meeting his. Those unmistakable, beautiful eyes confirmed
“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