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Chapter 0692
Peter spent a few days in the hospital, giving Maximus a chance to see the many sides of his brother. The toll on Peter was obvious, both physically and emotionally.
Meanwhile, Theodore had already returned to Valentia. Seeing his friend and ally in such a fragile state, he knew what needed to be done. Regardless of Peter’s condition, he couldn’t waver–it was something Peter had entrusted him with, and failure wasn’t an option.
Maximus, however, struggled to understand Theodore’s reluctance to proceed with the operation. At least the concerned brother had succeeded in having Dr. Hill, a seasoned physician, take on Peter’s case. Despite her extensive experience, it was her first time treating someone with Peter’s condition.
Peter, on the other hand, was increasingly aware of how much time he had spent in Valentia. In moments of clarity, he worried about the promises he had made to Celeste, telling her he’d return quickly after tying up some business. The truth, however, was far more complicated.
Part of him wanted to stay–lost in memories of Mary, as if his presence in Valentia could somehow help her should she need him. But the logical part of him wanted to leave, knowing the longer he stayed, the worse things could become. Dr. Hill was doing all she could to help him, but the operation was inevitable.
Meanwhile, Valerie found some peace at the clinic. Seeing her babies on the ultrasound had reassured her, though she couldn’t shake the frustration of not being able to see Serenity and John. No matter how many times she requested a visit, they never came.
This often left her anxious, though she tried her best to manage it. She immersed herself in books, took long walks through the clinic gardens, and occasionally lost herself in the music she was allowed to listen to.
The playlist authorized by Dr. Hill contained all of Valerie’s favorite songs, a collection she had curated over the years. One sleepless night, a particular song began to play, flooding her with memories.
It was a melody tied to her husband, Marcus Bartz. Whenever Marcus couldn’t sleep, he would listen to Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 by Chopin. He had once shared its significance with her, explaining that as a child, his mother would play it to help him fall asleep.
Remembering those moments with Marcus was bittersweet. She hadn’t been able to speak with him in so long, nor had she met their children in person.
Valerie had to admit that, no matter what people said about him, she still loved Marcus. It hurt to think her husband might truly be a killer. She couldn’t stop wondering, ‘Why? What were his reasons?‘
“Marcus, you have no idea how much I miss you right now I wish this was all a nightmare, and I could just wake up in Hesperia… wake up by your side,” Valerie said aloud.
That night, she cried for what felt like an eternity. She longed for her life in Hesperia–her home, her belongings, the familiar streets of her country. She missed afternoons eating ice cream with her husband and children.
The cycle of revenge they had plunged into had only grown messier with time. If they had processed Peter’s death differently, neither of them would be in their current situation.
If there was one thing Valerie had come to understand in recent months, it was that she and Peter were never meant to be. What they had shared when she was 18 and he was 25 was fleeting, and it ended. Years later, when she was 23 and he was 30, it still wasn’t meant to be. It had been a beautiful romance, a lovely time, but fate had made it clear–twice–that they weren’t meant for each other.
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