Chapter 0376
“Tell me something…” Alden called out as Peter began to walk away.
“What?” Peter replied, pausing.
“How did you survive? I still can’t believe you’re here,” Alden said, struggling to wrap his head around everything that had happened.
“That’s something Theodore can explain better than I can, Peter said with a shrug. “I don’t remember much. All I know is that I woke up in a hospital after a long time. According to the doctors, I was close to death on several occasions, but that old man,” he said, gesturing toward Theodore in the distance, “refused to let me die.
“The people responsible for all this couldn’t go unpunished. Theodore believed that my friend Bartz and I would eventually take revenge on Frank Levett. What he didn’t anticipate was how many years it would take for me to recover enough to be where I am now. Even so, I don’t think it’s wise for me to reappear in Frank’s life. If I do, it’ll only be a matter of time before everyone else finds out, and that could make things… complicated.”
“Where do you live now?” Alden asked, his curiosity piqued.
“I live in Piran, Slovenia. For a while, I considered staying in Valentia, but it only frustrated me. It felt like I was supposed to remember my life there, but nothing felt familiar. So, I decided to leave Valentia and settle in Piran. It’s a picturesque place, similar to Valentia in some ways. I’ve been living there for about seven years.”
“Do you have a family? Did you start over?”
“No, if you’re asking whether I have a wife and kids, I don’t. As far as I know, you and Serenity are my only children. As for her… I’ve never considered stepping into her life, especially after so many years. She must be a teenager by now, and there’s no reason for me to disrupt what she already knows.”
“Are you leaving here?”
“Yes. I just wanted to meet you, and now I have. If you ever need me, you know how to reach me. I might stay for a week or two at most. Long trips exhaust me, and some of the aftereffects of my injuries tend to flare up.”
[Ushuaia, one week later]
“So, what are you planning to do with this girl, Alden?” Peter asked, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
“I don’t know!” Alden exclaimed, his frustration evident. “I just wanted to get her away from her father.”
“She’s a minor. You could end up in serious trouble if she doesn’t go back home. I understand the situation, but right now, it looks like we’ve kidnapped her. According to what I’ve found out, she’s the daughter of an influential oil tycoon. That’s a problem.”
“He’s a heartless man! He won’t let me marry her or even be with her because I don’t have the same financial status as he does,” Alden said bitterly.
Peter’s calm expression darkened. Though he hadn’t been a part of his son’s life for years, hearing that someone judged him over something so trivial angered him deeply.
“Alden, I need to take care of something. For now, stay at the house I’m staying at. It’s heavily secured, and no one would dare come near. I’ll be back tonight, and we’ll figure out what to do then.”
Alden nodded. Grace had fallen asleep after crying herself out. Peter glanced at the young couple. To him, they were just kids. His son was still a schoolboy, naive and inexperienced. Maybe it was the place, the people, or the environment, but Alden didn’t have the cunning Peter had at his age. By the time Peter was Alden’s age, he was already a man who took care of himself–life had forced him to grow up quickly.
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Chapter 0376
+25 BONUS
With Alden, things were different. His innocence and lack of foresight had brought him to this point. Peter could help and protect him now, but he couldn’t shield him from everything. He needed to prepare Alden for the world, and that couldn’t happen in this place.
As Peter left his son at the house, one thought lingered in his mind: Grace’s father looked down on Alden for not having wealth. The world hadn’t changed; financial status still dictated everything. If money was the issue, it was an easy fix. Peter drove to the office of Sanford Martin, the man behind Alden’s troubles.
When he arrived, Peter stepped out of his luxurious car, drawing the attention of the staff. Despite the severe injuries from his past, he still carried himself with a commanding presence and elegance. The only evidence of his accident was a limp that required him to use a cane.
Peter approached the reception desk, where the receptionist stared at him, stunned by his striking appearance.
“Good afternoon. Is Mr. Martin available?” Peter asked in flawless Hesperian.
“Yes, he’s here. May I ask who’s looking for him?” the receptionist asked, her interest evident.
“Tell him Mr. Palmer is here to see him,” Peter replied politely.
The receptionist quickly went to inform her boss and returned, giving Peter access.
Sanford Martin assumed it was the boy he had threatened earlier, perhaps coming to grovel or beg for mercy. Confident in his position, Sanford sat behind his finely crafted oak desk, ready for whatever confrontation awaited him.
Peter entered the office with a measured gait, his elegance and composure striking. As soon as Sanford saw him, his expression shifted to disbelief.
