Chapter 0617
ady know all of this, Mom!”
“No, you don’t know everything… Leonardo isn’t your father!”
“What?! Say that again!”
“You heard me. Leonardo isn’t your father. I have to be honest: at first, I thought you might be his. But I did a test before you were born and found out you were Maximus’s son. If Leonardo had known, he’d have killed you. I thought he’d never develop feelings for you, but carrying you in my womb made me love you. I wanted to protect you at all costs. I paid the doctor who ran the paternity test when you were born, which is why Leonardo never doubted you were his son. But the truth is, you’re Maximus s child.
“I wanted to tell you so many times, but I didn’t have the courage. Especially not when I saw how Frank and Leonardo were grooming you to become the proud Palmer who would lead Palmer Group. I never understood why Maximus wasn’t seen as the head of the family. Peter was clearly out of the picture, so Leonardo was searching for someone to take over the business. That person was going to be you. But in the end, look at us–you and I ended
here together…”
up
“Mom, why did you let me grow up believing all that crap?
“Forgive me, Lucius! Forgive me! If I’d told you, it wouldn’t have just been me in danger. Surely, by now, you’ve realized what kind of man Leonardo is. Otherwise, you’d never have distanced yourself from him. I never wanted to tell you that bastard abused me… It’s something I struggled to accept. My God, I was Alexia Levett, the granddaughter of Judge Levett–can you imagine? Abused by my own father–in–law!”
“Leonardo is a damned monster! Damn it, Mom! You should have told me… That bastard deserves to die!” Lucius said, his frustration boiling over.
“Son… I know you. I know you’re capable of many things, but it’s not necessary. That bastard Leonardo–I know he’ll pay for what he’s done.”
“How can you be so sure? He’s still here, living in Switzerland, just biding his time…
“Lucius, trust me. I know that bastard’s end is near.”
“How do you know?”
“Peter…”
“Mom! Not this again. Peter is dead. He’s been dead for years…
“I already told you–he’s not dead! I know he’s not dead! I saw him! He’s the one who kept me in that house! He’s the one paying for my care! I’m sure he knew you’d find me I forced him into it–I pushed him too far!”
“Mom, I know your recovery isn’t going great, but the story about Peter–I can assure you it’s not true…”
“Lucius, don’t be so sure. Peter is out there, looking for something, and it’s not a peaceful life.”
“Mom… I promise you, no one will find you. And I swear, what Leonardo did won’t go unpunished…”
“Promise me, son, that you won’t let me fall into Frank’s or Leonardo’s hands. I’d rather be dead than face that… I want to dle peacefully.”
“Mom, not this again… You’re not going to die!”
Alexia had to admit that telling her son the truth felt liberating. She was freeing herself from a heavy burden. She’d done so much wrong in her life, and all she wanted now was to stop breathing, to escape the remorse that
172
Chapter 0617
haunted her. She remembered something Peter once told her in one of their rare conversations.
“Not all bad people are punished for the harm they cause, but you’ll never see them at peace. The ghosts of their
past always follow them. They’re never alone, never at ease They’ll leave this world carrying the heavy weight of their conscience–unless, of course, they’re completely insane.”
