“I’m sure they did. But one thing I’m confident in is my very effective persuasion techniques.” Alden leaned in and began tying the man’s hands with duct tape.Though Alden looked composed, he remembered Theodore’s lessons: never get overconfident. This was one of the first times he would have to do
At the airport, Alden and the children were escorted by a driver and a team of guards. A private jet was already waiting for them, prepared to take them anywhere they wanted.As they boarded, Alden found bags of clean clothes, hot food, and blankets ready for them. Once the children were fed, cleane
As an intense battle unfolded elsewhere, Valerie and Peter found themselves admitted to the Rosaria psychiatric hospital, each grappling with their own demons and unresolved issues. Though they were physically close, they felt worlds apart. Days passed uneventfully for the most part, and Peter, who
"I grew up fearing and hating my father, and I can say that now. But my daughter doesn’t have to feel that way. Her father wasn’t the best person, but I can’t judge the demons that brought him to that point.”“Did you ever imagine going back to Maximus?”“No, never. I could never go back to him. He
Valerie cried for several minutes. It was painful for her to admit that, all this time, she’d carried guilt—a guilt rooted in her past with Peter. He had been an honest man in the end, but Valerie’s heart was too wounded. She hadn’t been able to love him the way he wanted.After his death, she lived
"Since Marcus came into my life—despite how different we were—he's always demanded more of me than I thought I could give. He’s always believed in my abilities, never limited me, always taught me something new, and constantly pushed me to be better."When we saw each other again, Marcus accepted Ser
This day had started as a glorious one for Frank Levett. He was finally becoming the owner of Palmer Group—a feat comparable to buying one of the biggest designer clothing chains or something like that, without spending a single cent.What Frank hadn’t counted on, however, was that by taking the bus
After a long journey—hours that felt like days and days that seemed eternal—Alden boarded a flight with the children to the UAE. They were already expected there by Serenity and the others.This was where Alden, or Theodore, stayed whenever they visited the country. The security measures in place we
The man saying goodbye felt every step grow heavier and heavier. His family was here, and he was leaving them behind to go to a place far away.This time, he wasn't leaving alone—but he would've much rather stayed. He knew that this family needed him… and he needed them just as much.When it was Pa
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