"Sister? What the hell? What sister? What are you talking about?""Maximus, your mother, my Martina, was pregnant by your father. But in a fit of rage, he caused her to miscarry. She nearly lost her life. After that, she almost fell into a deep depression. Your father, seeing her in that state, and
Late into the night, Marcus and Valerie had moved to the bedroom they had once shared a month ago. She couldn’t deny how much she had missed the warmth of her husband’s body. Having him there again made her feel safe, protected. Feeling Marcus’s large, strong hand resting on her belly caused the bab
Magnus returned to the living room, finding Maximus still seated, his face buried in his hands. His fingers massaged his scalp as if trying to stave off the onslaught of emotions and thoughts swirling in his head. Coming to the house of the man who claimed to be his father had only left him more fru
While Maximus traveled back from Germany, in Switzerland, Lucius was grappling with the only choice his mother was giving him. He refused, but every day she reminded him that she wasn’t well and that it would be better if he let her go.“Lucius, think carefully about what you’re doing, son… You’re t
“I already know all of this, Mom!”“No, you don’t know everything… Leonardo isn’t your father!”“What?! Say that again!”“You heard me. Leonardo isn’t your father. I have to be honest: at first, I thought you might be his. But I did a test before you were born and found out you were Maximus’s son. I
Maximus had returned from Germany, but his life had changed after that trip. The man came back with more questions than answers, and the only one who could provide those answers was in Slovenia.“Peter… you son of a bitch. Why the hell do I have to follow through with your stupid plan?” Maximus said
It was late Sunday afternoon. Laura had gone to her room after lunch, and the kids were holed up in their rooms, rushing to finish last-minute homework. Maximus had warned them that the punishment would be severe if they didn’t complete their assignments or missed any responsibilities at school. Mea
“You’re my biological father, so yes, I can tell you exactly what I see. Now, let’s take a look at what you’ve got here. Where are your scissors?” Serenity said, walking into Maximus’s wardrobe without hesitation.“Scissors?”“Yes, for your hair! When I was little, I used to cut Marcus’s hair. He le
“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