Chapter 0833
1Peter’s P.O.V]
I was lost in the final image of Mary–the last time I would see her.
After a long conversation, I had finally brought her back to the apartment. She was exhausted. We had walked and talked for hours in the park, and now, her swollen feet were proof of it.
When we arrived, I took her to the bedroom, lying down beside her. Gently, I placed my hand over her belly, feeling the warmth of the little life growing inside her.
My daughter.
In my mind, I spoke to her.
‘Serene, my love… I don’t know what fate has in store for us, but I know you’ll grow up to be a strong, kind woman. You’ll be an incredible mother one day–I know it because Marcus will raise you well. He’ll guide you, protect you. You’ll never be alone, because your mother will always be by your side.
‘No matter what happens, my little one, you have to be strong. Every day of your life, I’ll be proud of you. Always.‘
A deep sense of peace settled over me as I rested my head against Mary’s stomach. Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.
The alarm on my phone woke me minutes later.
Carefully, I pulled a blanket over Mary’s body, making sure she was comfortable.
Leaning in close, I whispered into her ear,
“Mary… I love you, and I always will. But in this life–and in every life–you and I will never be together. Take care of yourself, my beautiful little mouse.”
And then, I left.
When I arrived at the Palmer Group meeting, I greeted most of the attendees.
I spotted my father, my grandmother, and Maximus.
But there was someone else.
Someone who hadn’t been here before.
“What are you doing here, Marcus? I thought you weren’t coming.
Marcus smirked. “Mmm… Hello, Peter. To be honest? That conversation we had earlier worried me. So, I hopped on a flight and–well, here I am.”
None of this made sense.
He wasn’t supposed to be here.
J
I still didn’t know what was happening.
Was this the present, and my memories were just a dream? Or was this the dream?
The meeting started without issue, though I could feel Maximus’s stare burning into me. And into Marcus.
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Pure hatred in his eyes.
It was strange.
Because in twenty years, he and I would actually get along.
Life had a way of changing people. It forced you to mature to see things differently. And somehow, somehow, Maximus and I had become what we never were before.
During the meeting, Marcus made a few changes.
Maximus, of course, hated every second of it.
But there was nothing he could do.
Marcus practically owned Palmer Group.
I studied him for a moment.
He looked… tired.
Worn down.
But strangely, I knew he would look better in twenty years.
A lot of that had to do with living with Mary.
It made me happy to know they would end up together. That they would heal each other’s wounds.
That he wouldn’t die alone, like he always feared.
When the meeting ended, I stepped out of the boardroom, intending to talk to Maximus.
But Marcus intercepted me.
“Peter, can you give me a ride to my hotel? I didn’t bring my car, and Frederick is handling other business. Since I knew you’d be here, I figured we could continue our conversation from this morning.”
I hesitated.
“Marcus… I—”
“Come on. I feel like having a drink with you.”
I swallowed. “Mary’s at the apartment, waiting for me…”
I knew what he was thinking.
That I was falling back into old patterns.
That the suicidal thoughts from my past had returned.
And he wanted to keep me close.
But I couldn’t take him with me.
I knew what was going to happen.
I didn’t understand how things were unfolding like this–but I couldn’t risk it.
“Peter?”
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I blinked. “Yeah?”
“Will you take me? Come on, I didn’t bring security, and Frederick is far from here. With your brother in the room,
I think I’m safer anywhere but Palmer Group.”
I sighed.
I had no choice.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
When we reached the parking lot, I hesitated.
Something felt off.
I scanned the area.
Checked my car.
Walked around it twice.
Something wasn’t right.
“Do you notice anything strange?” I asked, my voice low.
Marcus frowned. “What?”
“My car. Does anything seem… off?”
Marcus squinted at it. “No…? It looks fine.”
I took a deep breath.
I knew this feeling.
And I had learned to trust it.
“You know what? Let’s take an Uber.”
“What?”
“We’ll go to my apartment–but we’re not taking this car. I don’t trust it.”
“What are you saying?”
I shook my head. “Just trust me. Walk with me, I’ll explain later.”
Marcus sighed but followed.
We called for an Uber, which arrived quickly.
As we got inside, I felt something shift.
I was delaying the inevitable.
But only for now.
I knew I was going to die today.
But it would be on my terms.
Marcus stared at me, confused.
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Chapter 0833
“Peter, what was that back there?”
I exhaled, watching the city lights blur past the window.
“Marcus, I told you this morning. And I’ll tell you again now. Something is going to happen today. I don’t know how. I don’t know why. But I know it will.”
Marcus sighed. “Your nightmare? That’s what’s got you acting like this?”
“Yes.”
“Peter, relax. It was just a bad dream. Those things don’t come true.”
But even as he said it, I checked my watch..
The time was running out.
Then-
The driver glanced at us through the rearview mirror.
His eyes were cold. Calculating.
“Which one of you is Marcus Bartz?”
I froze.
This was it.
My time was up.
And suddenly, I understood.
It was never about me.
It was always about Marcus.
Because of the things we had done.
Because of the life we had lived.
I saw the gun before he even pulled it.
And in that moment–I chose.
I looked the driver straight in the eye.
“I am.”
A gunshot rang out..
A sharp, deafening buzz filled my left ear.
Everything went dark.
A warm liquid covered my face.
I heard more shots–distant, muffled.
And then-
Nothing.
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Just silence.
Chapter 0834
