Mary stood on the balcony of the room she had slept in for the past three years. She didn't want to turn on the lights; the darkness of the night would hide the tears rolling down her cheeks.'This is over! I can't go on like this. I can't take it anymore,' she thought as she stared straight ahead.
Mary was exhausted from all the crying. As she put on her pajamas, she saw a large bruise on her stomach, caused by the blow her husband had landed earlier that day. A tear rolled down her cheek, but she chose not to think about it anymore. This wasn't the first time it had happened, so seeing her s
Mary lay down, trying to calm herself and find the right words to tell Catherine that divorce was the only viable option for her marriage. Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a new text message.[How did you like yesterday's scene?You know, this isn't the first time. We do it once or twice a day; your
After what felt like a long journey, the ambulance finally arrived at the hospital. Mary was pale and unconscious. One of the paramedics said, "She has lost a lot of blood. Let's hope we can still do something."Another said, "We have to. She's so young, she can't die like this.""I don't know what
As Maximus, Emma, and Catherine waited in a private room for news about Mary's condition, Catherine couldn't help but remember how the girl had come into their lives five years ago. Much of this information was unknown to Maximus.Mary had been 17 years old when she was suddenly forced to leave her
After dinner, Catherine and Albert went to the study to discuss the troubling matter at hand.“Albert, I’ve reviewed the information your lawyer sent us. Unfortunately, I don’t have good news. Your supposed partner ran off with millions and offended one of the most prominent families in your country
Mary got up from the bed and hurried out, thinking that maybe she could still find her grandfather. Unfortunately, he had left the mansion several hours ago."Mary, my dear, where are you going?" Catherine asked."I'm looking for my grandfather!""Sweetheart, your grandfather left last night. He onl
After several days at the mansion, Catherine had to leave on a trip for some family business. This time, she couldn't take Mary with her, so before leaving, she said:"Mary, I'll be gone for a few days, but you won't be alone. Emma will stay with you. If you need anything, you can ask her.""Yes, Gr
"So that was her final wish?" Maximus asked, surprised."Yes. That’s exactly why I’m here and not at the movies looking for your son." Pierre’s words made it clear—he knew Paul’s every move."Alexia—my wife—caused a lot of harm. To my children, she’s been dead for a long time. So why would you sudde
"Mr. Maximus, has that refreshed your memory, or do I need to continue detailing the real events?""Mr. Legrand, I don’t understand… What exactly is your interest in Alexia—my wife?""Well, I have something of great importance to tell you. Actually, two things, Mr. Evans."First: I regret to inform
Two days before Serenity and Alden’s wedding, Maximus was wandering through the exclusive boutiques in Valeria, trying to find the perfect gift for his daughter and nephew. No matter how hard he thought about it, he had no idea what to buy.Since Lucius’s arrival two days ago, Laura and the kids had
Being in the park with his now-adult daughter brought back so many memories. He thought about her early interactions with her mother. He remembered how hard it had been to earn Valerie’s trust, how difficult it had been just to get her to let him near Serenity. His wife had been strong, independent,
Marcus looked at his daughter and couldn’t help but hug her. Without her noticing, he wiped away a tear of nostalgia."Hey, Dad?""What is it, sweetheart?""Do you and Mom really want to go back to Hesperia?""Hmm? The truth is, this country is beautiful, but just like there are good things, there a
Serenity had decided to spend the six days leading up to her wedding at her parents’ house. She felt like she needed it—she knew they would be leaving after the wedding, so without hesitation, she had spoken to Alden about it.Her now-husband understood completely. And although Marcus still intimida
Maximus watched as his two children interacted. It was clear they had always been close—Lucius had always played the role of the protective older brother.On the other hand, Amanda was taken aback by how different Sebastian was around his sister. The shy, reserved guy she knew was nowhere to be seen
After that conversation, Laura felt a little better. She lay down and fell asleep next to her daughter. It was past 11:00 p.m. when the door to her room opened. Feeling someone’s gaze on her, Laura woke up with a start—but then she realized who it was.Standing in front of her was someone she had mi
Laura looked in the mirror and saw the man she had once loved still standing there. She couldn’t stop herself from crying. She drove away, and as soon as she found a quiet spot, she pulled over and broke down."Why, Adrian? Why?! You left us! You forgot about us!" she cried out, her voice shaking as