hapter 0328
Chapter 0328
+25 BONUS
Maximus watched as Marcus forcibly dragged Mary away. He wanted to go after them, but he stopped himself, uncertain of how his interference might impact her. The lock in Marcus’s eyes was all too familiar–it was jealousy, pure and corrosive. Maximus recognized it because he had been consumed by the same emotion once, years ago, when Peter had been involved.
The memories rushed back, as vivid as if they had happened yesterday. Mary had spent two weeks at Peter’s house after the disastrous “anniversary” dinner where everything had gone irreparably wrong. Her physical wounds were healing, the bruises slowly fading, and she seemed calmer, more at ease. That house, where she had once lived for nine months, now felt like a sanctuary to her.
Being near the sea brought her comfort. Life in that home had been hectic–work, classes, and outings with friends had kept her busy. She had rarely had the time to enjoy the ocean, but now she swore that as soon as her wounds fully healed, she would dive into the water and let wash away her pain.
Peter, meanwhile, worked from home, leaving only when absolutely necessary. He didn’t want to leave Mary alone. She wasn’t fully recovered, and the thought of coming back to an empty house or, worse, finding her gone, haunted him. He feared she might decide to return to Maximus.
Maximus, on the other hand, had been relentless in his attempts to contact Peter. His threats and curses came daily via phone calls and messages. Peter had been forced to replace his phone to put an end to the harassment. He wasn’t naïve–he knew Maximus could find him if he truly wanted to. The lack of action only proved that Maximus wasn’t seeking reconciliation; he simply wanted control.
One day, Peter and Mary ventured into the center of Galea for a leisurely stroll. Mary seemed brighter, more lively. She was smiling again, snacking on street food, and sipping beer. Peter dared to hope that she was reclaiming the light that had once drawn him to her, the same light he had fallen in love with.
But that fragile peace shattered in an instant. As they walked through a narrow street near the town center, three black SUVs surrounded them. A group of burly bodyguards emerged, forming a perimeter. Behind them was Maximus–the ever–powerful Maximus who had come to retrieve his wife,
In a matter of seconds, Mary was forced into one of the SUVS. Peter was restrained by two massive guards as Maximus approached him, his fury palpable. His patience had run out. He didn’t love Mary, but the humiliation of her fleeing with his brother was intolerable.
The punishment was swift and brutal. Maximus unleashed his rage on Peter, beating him mercilessly in the street. Peter suffered two broken ribs, a fractured clavicle, and a shattered leg. It wasn’t about Mary for Maximus
it was about settling an old score. This was payback for the beating Peter had given him when they were younger.
That day cemented what both brothers already knew: there would never be reconciliation between them.
Now, as Maximus drove toward the dusty Palmer mansion, the weight of those memories bore down on him. He realized he had done to Peter what Marcus seemed capable of doing now. He had locked Mary in the mansion back then, surrounded by guards and under constant surveillance. Though he hadn’t laid a hand on her, the control he exerted was its own form of violence.
Maximus knew Marcus wasn’t above such measures. He also knew some unsettling things about the man- enough to fear what he might be capable of when pushed to his limits.
As these thoughts churned in his mind, his phone buzzed. Gancing at the screen, he saw the name of the caller. He eased off the accelerator and pulled over to the side of the road to answer.
“Hello?” he said, his voice heavy with anticipation.
+25 BONUS
