Chapter 0388
After kidnapping Serenity, Leonardo and Lucius fled to Davos in the Swiss Alps. It was the ideal place to rest and strategize, not to mention the seat of the World Economic Forum. Their choice wasn’t random; Leonardo already had a plan. With the money secured and the truth about his relationship with Lucius no longer a secret, he could finally cast off the weight of Alexia Levett’s blackmail. She had played her last card, leaving him free from her manipulative grasp and the exorbitant payments that came with it.
“Father, what’s the next step? It feels like everything’s fallen apart, but you seem so calm,” Lucius said, his curiosity evident.
“Lucius, my son, I’m an old sea wolf. Do you think I wouldn’t have stopped things if I hadn’t wanted them to play out this way?” Leonardo replied, sipping the amber liquid from his glass.
“You’re leaving me intrigued. Explain,” Lucius demanded, his skepticism growing.
“Patience, son. I’m waiting for someone who’s going to help us,” Leonardo said with a faint smile, his tone unnervingly calm.
Leonardo had once been a model son during the glory days of the company. As an exceptional CEO, he was widely recognized for his tireless work and the remarkable growth of Palmer Group under his leadership, despite his youth. Alongside his wife, he basked in Valeria province’s admiration. But when Catherine stripped the family of what was rightfully theirs, it deeply wounded his pride. Everything he had sacrificed for, even neglecting his family, was now in the hands of two families who had never contributed to its success or endured its hardships. It felt absurd to him.
Much of his resentment was directed at Maximus. At first, Leonardo had felt ashamed of his affair with Maximus’s ex–girlfriend. But over time, it turned into a form of silent revenge, continuing his illicit relationship with her out of spite. His anger over losing control of the company blinded him to the dangers of allowing Alexia into his life. He hadn’t expected her to become pregnant, let alone be unsure of the child’s paternity.
Following Peter’s death and Lucius’s birth, Leonardo spiraled into depression. It was only through Matthew’s help that he managed to recover. Yet, all his suffering, in his mind, traced back to Maximus and Mary. Though he knew it was irrational, he blamed them for everything. If the Preston family hadn’t appeared, and if the last of the Bartzs wasn’t still alive, Palmer Group would have remained solely theirs, as it was meant to be.
Lucius watched his father sip his cognac, staring out the window with a faint, unsettling smile. He couldn’t discern what Leonardo was planning, but it had to be significant–otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to provoke the Bartz family.
“Mr. Palmer,” the butler interrupted, breaking the silence.
“Yes?” Leonardo responded with a sly grin.
“There are visitors in the reception hall. Mr. and Miss Brown.”
“Perfect! Send them in. I’ll meet them in the main sitting room,” Leonardo said, walking toward the expansive living area.
“Who are they, Father?” Lucius asked, confused.
The Brown family was a prominent household that had diversified its businesses over the years, taking inspiration from the Palmers. The family patriarch, Alex Brown, had been a close friend of Maximus’s. But what brought Alex to Leonardo now was the dishonor Maximus had inflicted on his sister, Audrey Brown, who was visibly three months pregnant.
“Alex! What a pleasure!” Leonardo greeted, spreading his arms in a warm gesture. “I’m glad you could make time
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Chapter 0380
for this meeting.
+25 BONUS
“Hello, Mr. Palmer. I had to set my work aside–you know very well why,” Alex said, glancing at Audrey.
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