“Peter,” Dr. Hill said gently, “as I’ve told you, I can’t share what my patients tell me. But tell me—what happened after that?”“Maximus sent his men, and they caught me off guard. They beat me to within an inch of my life. My brother was out of control. He took Mary with him again. For obvious rea
“Peter, is that why you don’t want to see her?”Peter turned to look at Dr. Hill, his expression distant as he tried to organize his thoughts. After a pause, he spoke.“I’ve always known she didn’t love me. Every thought, every memory, every glance she gave me was a reminder of what I wanted and cou
While Peter wrestled with the chaos in his mind, his son Alden was preparing to ignite a war—not just against Frank, but also against Lucius, his own cousin. It was a battle where neither would escape unscathed, and yet both young men were continually underestimated by their fathers.For Alden, the
Serenity was inconsolable, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to comprehend that the children were no longer with them. Paul sat in silence, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He didn’t say a word, but the anger and helplessness etched on his face made it clear the
Marcus, after gearing up, left the warehouse. Maximus had grabbed two guns. He wasn’t sure about Marcus’s plan, but one thing was clear—this man was nothing like the one he thought he knew.Marcus had always been rational, cold, and level-headed. But now, he was acting impulsively, and that terrifie
Frank’s men didn’t know how it happened, but within minutes, they were overpowered by a group of rugged-looking men speaking Hesperian with a distinct accent.“These were the guys guarding the old man?” one of the ten intruders asked.“Apparently.”“I thought they’d be more of a challenge…”“Same he
Marcus ended the call and returned to his preparations. The fury in his eyes burned brighter than ever, his face devoid of any trace of humanity. The thought of losing his son—just like in the past—sent ice through his veins. He would do whatever it took to bring him back.“Marcus, my friend! It’s b
Marcus leaned back, his tone calm but laced with menace. “Let’s get one thing straight: no one is going to hear you. No one will come to save you. We’re at the edge of the city, far from anyone who could help. And even if, by some miracle, you escaped, there are men outside this building waiting to
[A few months earlier ]It was nighttime. Alden was out of town, and Serenity couldn't sleep. Her belly was still round with pregnancy when she noticed Peter sitting alone in the garden. She decided to join him—as long as he was okay with her company.He had recently woken up, and to him, nearly eve
Valerie approached, one last time, one of the most important women in her life in Valeria.Emma Fiore—the woman who had taken her in almost like a daughter. While they had grown close during the three years Valerie was married to Maximus, their bond went far beyond that. They were family.Emma had c
After that hug, Valerie walked over to Laura, Serenity's sister, with whom she'd developed a bit of a bond."Laura and beautiful Adele—I wish you both all the success in the world… You must finish your studies and use your degree. You're living proof that it's possible—and that's exactly what your l
The day had finally come—the Bartz family and the newly formed Palmer-Bartz family were leaving for Hesperia.Without meaning to, the three families found themselves gathered once again at the airport.Marcus was saying goodbye to Peter, who, due to his memory loss, only held onto the memories of th
While Valerie packed up their things for the move back to Hesperia, Peter was driving with Celeste and their little girls toward Willowcombe.He was taking her to see how the renovations on the house—where they'd soon be living—were coming along.Celeste was in the back seat with the girls, tending
Valerie was packing clothes into the suitcases, though she kept drifting off, thinking about the reason they'd come here in the first place.At first, everything had seemed simple—quick even. Within a few months, they'd be back in Hesperia. But it had already been over a year.Things hadn't gone as
After Maximus said goodbye to Pierre, he went back into the mansion and headed straight to his son's room. Paul was lying on his bed, facing away from the door."Paul, can I come in?" Maximus asked gently."You're already in, Dad… Are you here to scold me for something that happened years ago?" Paul
"That's right. I'd like to speak with him alone, if you don't mind, Mr. Evans.""I think you're misunderstanding something. Letting you into my home doesn't mean you get to decide whether I'm in the conversation or not. Still, I'm trying to be reasonable—and if Paul wants to speak with you alone, on
Not too thrilled about it, Paul left his room and headed toward the garden, where a man was already waiting for him—one who didn't look his age. And to be honest, the resemblance between young Paul and the man was unmistakable.As soon as he heard footsteps approaching, the man—already sipping a cup