Chapter 0612
Maximus felt powerless as his thoughts spiraled. His mother–his beloved mother–had been destroyed by the man he had once admired as a role model. Clenching his fist, he slammed it down on the coffee table, imagining it was Leonardo beneath him. But blaming the man who had an affair with his mother wouldn’t bring her back, nor would it turn back time.
“Damn it! Do you know I dedicated my entire life to that damn family’s company?” Maximus said, frustration dripping from his voice.
“I know. You were Leonardo’s pride and joy–or so it seemed in public,” Magnus replied, meeting his gaze.
“Leonardo always demanded the best from me, while Peter lived a carefree life. It’s clear now… he already had a plan,” Maximus said, realization dawning-
“What do you mean? What plan?”
“Leonardo was planning to disown me. He just used me to Help with the company. In the end, I’m just waiting for him to take everything away from me. Didn’t Peter tell you that?”
“I see now what Peter meant when he left something for you.”
“What?” Maximus asked, surprised.
“Yes. Peter told me I was the only one he could trust for now. He didn’t have all the pieces, but he knew the information he had was crucial. However, he wasn’t sure if he could trust you–not after your wife gave the order to have him killed. He couldn’t risk showing up and relying on you. The proof he needed was for you to come here, to my home. I waited for months. I even thought you’d never come, especially after Alexia Levett died.”
“Wait–so you know about the files?”
“Not just that. He left something for you. He told me to give it only to you. He said, no matter what, you’d keep your word. If you showed up here, it meant you were a man of conviction and would know what to do with the other part of the information. He couldn’t say the same about his friend Marcus.”
“Marcus Bartz?”
“Yes. I was shocked to learn one of them survived. I always thought Frank had wiped them all out.”
“Well, he didn’t. Marcus’s alive and kicking. And now there are more Bartzs on the way he has a young son and two more children on the way.”
“Well, well. Your grandmother must be rolling in her grave” Magnus said with a dry laugh.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Why would you say that?
“Your grandmother, Catherine–well, she wasn’t really your grandmother–but she and Leonardo were the ones who benefited most from the Bartzs‘ downfall.”
“Why?”
“Why, Maximus? Because if Frank’s massacre left no one standing, the shareholdings she was the executor of would go entirely to the Palmer family. And since the Prestons were no longer in Valentia, the company would have been completely theirs, without any obstacles.”
“Are you even listening to yourself? The company was already the Palmers‘.”
“No, you’re wrong there. Your grandmother knew she’d eventually have to turn over the inheritance to the Bartzs They were the majority shareholders. Peter told me that Marcus was still alive and in contact with the Palmers-
1/2
Chapter 0612
specifically, you. But since Marcus never returned to Valentia, his role in the board meetings was negligible compared to the decisions being made.”
“Sorry, but none of this is making sense to me anymore,” Maximus said, shaking his head.
“Maximus, to sum it up: the Palmer conglomerate doesn’t exist. It should’ve been called Bartz Group. Your grandmother changed the name after the Bartzs entrusted her with their shares. She wanted to buy them, but the Bartzs refused to sell. They agreed to let her rename the company from Bartz to Palmer, but they never stopped being the majority shareholders.
“The bad reputation the Bartzs had? That was all a lie. The truth is, the Palmers of the past were nothing but white -collar criminals, just like Frank Levett. You and Peter grew up believing they were the good guys, but the reality is that the Palmers orchestrated everything to make the Bartzs look like criminals. And, of course, Marcus’s uncle’s ambition didn’t help matters.”
“Are v
you telling me the Palmers are criminals?” Maximus asked, disbelief and anger coursing through his voice.
“Yes, the Palmers of the past were criminals. But I can see that cycle ended with you and Peter Though, let’s be clear–you’re not a Palmer by blood. Your sister would have been, but since she was never born, the only true Palmer left is Peter.”
