Peter spent a few days in the hospital, giving Maximus a chance to see the many sides of his brother. The toll on Peter was obvious, both physically and emotionally.Meanwhile, Theodore had already returned to Valentia. Seeing his friend and ally in such a fragile state, he knew what needed to be do
While Valerie and Peter wrestled with memories of their pasts, the world outside continued to move forward, and things were beginning to fall into place.In Valentia, great fanfare surrounded the much-anticipated arrival of the young judge, Anthony Moriarty. At just 40 years old, he was assuming one
While events, both expected and unexpected, were beginning to unfold in Valentia, life in the Maldives remained peaceful. One thing was clear: Laura’s pregnancy was nearing its end. Despite having medical services on the island, any complications would require leaving for better care, which could po
After at least two hours, the medics still hadn’t arrived. Serenity called again, but the news wasn’t good.Apparently, the patient with the broken foot now had a compound fracture. The two paramedics had gone with him, and it wasn’t clear if they’d come back. The person left on the island had no ex
After helping deliver Laura’s baby and contacting medical services, Alden called Maximus. When Maximus saw Alden's name on the caller ID, he answered immediately.“Alden?”“Uncle… I just wanted you to know… your granddaughter is here!”“It’s a girl?”“Yes! She’s a beautiful baby girl. Laura’s restin
"Well, well! This is some of the best news I could’ve gotten… Though it’s clear Frank Levett Jr. still has significant political power.""Not for much longer, I think. I know it’s hard to keep up with things from in here, but recently a new magistrate—Judge Anthony Moriarty—was appointed to the gove
A week had passed since Laura had given birth. Little Adele was bright-eyed and alert, captivating everyone. The adults took turns caring for her during the night, but Emma and Alden were the most experienced when it came to handling babies.Alden’s mind kept drifting back to when he became a father
"Fine. But only because the baby had a rough night.""Sure, sure! Whatever you say. Even you don’t believe that.""Alden!""Hey…""Mmm?" Serenity mumbled, already half-asleep."I love you.""We love you too," she murmured.The response snapped Alden out of his thoughts. He wanted to ask her what she
Maximus had come to understand something important—so much of what makes a family strong lies in its core: the father and the mother. He'd seen it with his own eyes, experienced it with his father, and once with his grandmother. After a long, yet somehow short, time lingering around the table, the
After several hugs and a strange sense of emptiness, Lucius and Amanda left the house. Lucius started driving, knowing he still had to get home—he hadn't said goodbye to his siblings, his father, or the grandfather he'd just met.Time was ticking. Through the rearview mirror, he caught a glimpse of
The week had flown by, and Lucius and Amanda were getting everything ready to head back to New Zealand. Their time in Valentia had been amazing. This visit had given them a lot of good memories, but it was time to return to university.Maximus and the others were hoping they could visit during the
After Ethan gave a masterclass on how to hold a baby, it was the grandparents' turn. Marcus, not wasting a second, held little Isabelle in his arms. The moment he looked at her, he knew—she was the spitting image of his daughter, the same baby girl he had met just over two years ago. "Hello, prince
After finally finishing all the paperwork and preparations for the creation of PBE Group, Maximus and Peter drove from Florentia to Valeria. Both men were determined to get there—after all, their daughter, so to speak, had just given birth, and it was essential to meet the family's first granddaught
A couple of hours after that awkward conversation, Alden, Serenity, Isabelle, and Laura were on their way home. After all the advice from the OB-GYN and the pediatrician, the new little family was finally heading back.Serenity was filled with mixed emotions. In her arms, she held her baby—yes, her
The next day, Serenity had her check-up. Little Isabelle stared intently at her mother, those big, beautiful eyes locked onto her face. Serenity couldn't stop admiring her.She was completely in love with the tiny angel in her arms. Looking at her, she couldn't help but remember how she and the man
They barely made it to the car before they were already pulling up to the place where Adrian was now living. When they arrived, Laura was surprised by the location. It wasn't bad, exactly—just not the kind of place she could ever picture Adrian choosing for himself.It made her think his financial s
"Is it far from here?" Laura asked, a bit concerned."Not really. I could actually walk, but honestly, with the crutches, it's kind of uncomfortable—and risky.""If you wait for me, I'll say goodbye to my sister and give you a ride. I'm guessing it's on the way, so...""No! No, you came to see your