Chapter 0224
Valerie and Marcus made their way down to the garden for Breakfast. The housekeeper had already set the table, and Serenity sat sipping her coffee, visibly uncomfortable. She felt awkward about arriving home earlier than planned, knowing her mother would sense that something had happened–even if she wasn’t prepared for the truth she was about to learn.
“My
ly little girl! How are you, sweetheart?” Valerie exclaimed, opening her arms to embrace Serenity.
“Mom! I’m fine! I’m sorry for coming back without warning!”
“Sweetheart, you never have to apologize for things like that. I’m just so happy you’re horne. Now we just need John, and we’ll all be together.” Valerie hugged her daughter tightly, showering her with kisses.
“Dad, sit down! Let’s have breakfast. It’s been years since we all did this together,” Serenity said with a smile.
“Like when you were the only one spoiled rotten?” Marcus teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Come on, Dad!”
“Alright, let’s eat. But I’ll have to leave soon with Frederick You two have a lot to talk about.”
was
Breakfast was peaceful, and the family’s joy at reuniting filled the air. Although Serenity’s early return unexpected, it brought an opportunity for conversations that had long been postponed–conversations Valerie needed to gather her courage to begin.
“Well, my two beautiful ladies, I have to go. I’ve got some work to take care of, and the day is short. I’ll see you both at dinner. Serenity, listen to me–your mother loves and adores you. To us, you’ll always be our little girl. Got it?”
“Yes, Dad! I love and adore you both, too!”
“See you tonight, sweetheart. Don’t skip meals, and don’t tire Frederick out too much–he’s not as young as he used to be,” Marcus said, chuckling as he kissed Valerie goodbye.
In Serenity’s mind, one thing was clear: her parents loved each other deeply, and she couldn’t have asked for a better family.
Once Marcus left the house, Valerie sipped her coffee, mustering the courage to speak. She knew it was now or
never.
“Serenity… my love, your father told me you met a man named Maximus Palmer.”
“Yes, Mom! But we didn’t do anything wrong. We just talked–that’s all. He seemed… like a very lonely man.”
“Serenity, sometimes people reap what they sow. He’s no exception. That man isn’t good, and I don’t like that he interacted with you,”
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“Mom, that’s exactly what Dad said! But why can’t you just be clear with me? Why don’t you tell me what’s going on? How do you two know him?” Serenity asked, frustration creeping into her voice.
m
“Serenity, I need you to calm down and listen to me. What about to tell you isn’t easy for me. It’s something I thought I had closed the door on, but now I see that’s not the case.”
“Mom….”
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“I know Maximus. I know his family. And while I can’t say every member of the Palmer family is evil, they let ambition rule their hearts. When ambition outweighs love, they won’t hesitate to destroy anyone in their way.”
“How do you know them, Mom?”
“…I was 17 years old when your great–grandfather Albert and I fled to Valentia. He had been accused of embezzlement on a massive scale and didn’t have the money to pay back the debts. He turned to the Palmer family for help. Back then, I didn’t know anything about them.
“When we arrived here, I was young, innocent… and, frankly, very naïve. I believed in love at first sight and thought everyone had good intentions. That was my downfall. The Palmer family helped us, but the price we paid was steep. Catherine Palmer, the family matriarch, took us. Then your grandfather left, and I never saw him again until his death–just as I’ve told you before. But the real story lies in what happened to me.”
Valerie paused, steadying herself before continuing
“At the end of it all, I ended up living in Maximus Palmer’s house. Catherine had two grandsons. I lived there for a little over a month, enough time for me to start falling for Maximus. I was inexperienced, and he was handsome. I’d never been close to any man besides your grandfather, so I became infatuated with him.”
“Mom… did you and he…?” Serenity asked hesitantly.
“Yes, Serenity. Maximus and I had a relationship. At first, it wasn’t official, but I was drawn to him. When he suddenly proposed, I was so enamored that I said yes without thinking it through.”
“Mom, you married him?” Serenity said, wide–eyed. “But I’ve never heard anything about that. Everyone only knows him as Alexia Levett’s husband.”
“Thanks to Alexia, my marriage to Maximus was a nightmare. I endured humiliation, physical abuse, and emotional torment. Though, in fairness, I stayed because I was scared. His family was caring for your great- grandfather, and I thought if I defied them, Maximus might hand him over to the police. That fear kept me there.”
“Mom, how old were you? How could this happen?”
“I was almost 19 when I married your…” Valerie stopped herself, the truth about Serenity’s paternity poised on the edge of her lips. “You’re older now than I was when I made that terrible choice. After three years in that hell, I hit rock bottom. I tried to end my life. That finally made the Palmers take notice. But by then, I had already decided to divorce Maximus. My nerves were shattered. I wasn’t the sweet girl I’d been when I arrived. I was angry, volatile, and desperate to escape.
“After the divorce, I clung to the people who cared for me. Your father–Peter–helped me so much. He even confronted Maximus once, but it didn’t end well. Maximus beat him so severely that Peter was hospitalized for weeks. As for me, Maximus locked me in his house for days before disappearing
“Maximus took everything from me, Serenity. He crushed my spirit. But your father, Peter, helped me heal. He gave me the happiest four months of my life before his tragic death. You know that story–I’ve never hidden it from you. But after he died, his family turned on Marcus, fighting for what little was left. Alexia threatened to kill both you and me. That’s why we fled. Marcus didn’t know the full story, but with Frederick’s help, he gave us the greatest gift anyone could’ve given us: freedom.”
“Mom…” Serenity whispered, tears streaming down her face.
Serenity struggled to reconcile the charming man she’d met in Madrid with the monster her mother described. How could the man who seemed so polite and lonely have been her mother’s tormentor? Her heart ached for Valerie, who had endured so much.
The more she thought about it, the more certain she became. Maximus had recognized her in Madrid–she was
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Chapter 0221
sure of it. But what difference did his remorse make now? There was no undoing the harm he’d caused.
Serenity reached across the table, taking her mother’s hand Now, she understood why Valerie had always been so cautious, especially about her daughter’s relationships. Her mother’s fears weren’t just about protecting her- they were born from years of pain.
