[Willowcombe, Present Day]The morning sun streamed through the curtains of Celeste’s bedroom, gently waking her. Strangely, she didn’t feel the usual chill, and Spike’s small body couldn’t be responsible for such warmth. Her eyes widened as she remembered who was lying behind her. A sharp pang hit
“Celeste, the investigation I conducted uncovered something that shattered both Maximus and me. We always thought our parents’ marriage was perfect—Maximus idolized it and wanted to emulate it in his own life. But behind closed doors, it was a different story.“My father abused my mother, both physi
“Now that I know I’m going to be a father again, I want you to understand that I won’t let these problems reach us,” Peter said, his tone resolute. “I’ve told you all this because my actions triggered a cascade of events, and I think you deserve to know the truth.”Celeste looked at him, her eyes a
“I know! But I was consumed by hatred for so long. I wasn’t thinking clearly…” Peter’s voice faltered.“Peter…” Celeste’s voice hardened. “You’re dangerous—to me and to our children. I feel like I don’t even know the man standing in front of me. I think you should—”“No, Celeste, don’t say it,” Pete
Maximus sat with a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid swirling in his hand as he stared into the fire. Drinking had become a habit he turned to whenever frustration overwhelmed him. The revelations from Folder 4 had upended his life: he wasn’t Leonardo’s son, and nothing he had devoted his life to—n
Maximus didn’t want to admit it, but Leonardo had been right. Alexia was impossible to please. Everything he did seemed to provoke her wrath, just as Mary’s presence once had provoked his. The similarities unnerved him.Without realizing it, he had parked outside Matthew’s house. His loyal assistant
Maximus’s face turned pale, a mixture of disbelief and anxiety washing over him. He couldn’t believe there was detailed information about the man who was his real father.“How? There’s information about him?” Maximus asked, his voice tinged with incredulity.“Yes,” Frederick confirmed. “To be honest
Valerie sat in her room, unaware that Serenity wasn’t home or that John had returned from school. She only realized how much time had passed when Camille entered to call her for dinner. Today had been overwhelming, a whirlwind of emotions pulling her in every direction. Anxiety churned in her chest
“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