Serena P. O. V.Every time I got a phone call from my father, my body would freeze. Even from afar, he always managed to bring out the terror that terrified me.I shouldn't be afraid of my father, but that's what I always experienced.It was also what made me reluctant to go home. If there was nothing urgent, I wouldn't go home. Besides, Father wouldn't look for me either. He rarely even calls me. Whenever he calls, it's only for important matters. He wouldn't call me just to ask how I was doing.I took a deep breath before exiting the room and heading for the phone booth. Dad has a loud voice. Without a loudspeaker, other people can hear his voice. So I would rather not disturb my colleagues.“Serena Alexander!” Dad preceded me to ask how he was doing. Of all the people who knew me, he was the only one who called me by my full name, as if to emphasize that I lived under his authoritarian rule.In his eyes, I was Serena Alexander, who had to obey his every whim. I could never be the S
Serena P. O. V. On Thursday night, the city park witnessed our meeting. Harry and Sarah, my close friends, engaged themselves in a workout routine, but I focused my eyes only on Leopold. Mr. Raymond was teaching fitness, while I longed for a moment of passion with him. Maybe after this workout, Leopold will invite me to his house. The longing for passionate nights with him continued to grow. Although it had only been four days since I returned from the Maldives, his presence made me a maniac in bed. Leopold's busy schedule makes meeting difficult, but I'm determined to get him to San Francisco. This Thursday night wasn't just about exercise, but the chance to be with Leopold at the gym. I missed every moment with him. With my heart pounding, I approached Leopold, who was lying relaxed on the bench. The terrifying fitness equipment above him made me frown in horror. Leopold was lifting tens of kilograms, his expression reflecting both flatness and power. “What?” he asked, his eye
Serena P. O. V. Leopold held my hands above my head. He presses them down, so I can't do anything. I wanted to touch his body, but Leopold emphasized that tonight he was in charge of me. His lips crushed mine, while his big body pressed against mine. The friction made my pussy even more impatient to feel Leopold's cock. There's still the restrictive clothing, and I've never hated these leggings as much as I do now. I managed to free my hands from his grip. Leopold didn't disapprove when I undressed him rushing. He also took off my clothes, although it was a bit difficult to open the narrow sports bra. I could only laugh when I heard Leopold grumble. When there was no more fabric obstructing my skin, Leopold laid back down on me. His tan skin felt warm against mine. With all my might, I pushed his body until he was on his back, and I climbed on top of him. “I want to be on top. I would like to prove the results of the exercise were right or not,” I said impatiently, my breath caug
Serena P. O. V. “Sir, can I have WFH's permission tomorrow?” I asked. I lay on my side, looking at him expectantly. Leopold ruffled the hair that had fallen over my face and tucked it behind my ear. “Okay.” I grinned. “Thank you,” I said happily, pecking him. After I regained my senses, Leopold's words rang through my mind again. This time, I allowed myself to think about it. There was an uneasy feeling entering my heart, and I was too late to prevent it. “What did you mean by that?” I asked. Leopold looked at me with a furrowed brow. “When you say that, I hope the pill works well.” I held my breath as I saw the change in his facial expression. Leopold didn't answer right away. I could see the conflict on his face. “You think I'm setting you up?” Because I was so emotional, I didn't realize I had used a lofty tone. “Not like that.” Leopold took a deep breath. “I can't bear to have to deal with the baby business anymore.” This time, he completely occupied my attention. “Ba
Serena P. O. V.Ever since I was little, I haven't been close to my father. Only my mother loved me. However, my mother died when I was ten years old. A year after my mother died, my father remarried. I felt even more ostracized in my home. My father only cared about Hardin, my older brother, who had been determined to follow his career in the military since childhood. My stepmother only cared about Mario, my stepbrother.Me? No one cared about me.My stepmother isn't the evil stepmother type like in dramas. She just didn't care about me. Occasionally, in public, she would show her concern for me. It was at my father's behest.In my family's eyes, I was invisible.So I didn't understand why he insisted that I show up at every event he held.“Want to back out?” I glanced at Leopold, who was driving beside me. “If I could, I would have done it a long time ago.”Leopold chuckled. “Do you want me to drop you off at your house or come with me to the hotel?”I got goosebumps at Leopold's
Serena P. O. V. Cold sweat poured down my body as my feet in white high heels treaded the hotel ballroom towards the elevator that would take me to the restaurant where the event was taking place. I ran my palms over my dress, trying to deal with the sweat soaking my hands. “How do I look?” I stood before Leopold, asking him to give me an objective assessment. “Honest?” Leopold shook his head. “This isn't you.” I let out a long breath, staring at the dress I was wearing now. A plain, white, silky dress didn't reflect me at all. The length of the dress is up to the ankles, with a spaghetti strap style. The chest had a low-cut style, so I had to lift the dress up several times to cover it. “But I can't lie. You're always beautiful in any outfit.” Leopold smoothed my long black hair down to my waist. He ran his long fingers down to my ears, where I wore simple gold earrings. “Thank you.” I hug his waist, looking up at him with admiration. Tonight, Leopold really showed his authorit
Serena P. O. V.Soon, Mario joined the table, and he came with his freestyle. He casually pulled out a chair from another table and sat next to me.The only positive thing about dad and Aunt Mary's marriage was Mario's presence.He could always break the tense atmosphere with his carefree nature. I was worried when Mario entered the special military academy for naval soldiers because his nature didn't match the institution he was about to enter.I don't know if Mario wanted that life or if he couldn't go against his father's orders. But when I saw my little brother's smile today, I still found the Mario I knew.“Leopold, where do you know Serena?” asked Aunt Mary. Her voice was soft, her expression stern, and her style elegant, as if to show that she was the wife of an air force general.Leopold cupped his hands on the table. His large body sat up straight, his eyes glaring. “We work in the same office. Serena works in my new office.”Leopold's answer made Dad's face harden. He was st
Serena P. O. V. My father could not postpone this trial. Although I avoided it, in the end I had to face his anger. Isn't this what I did purposely? Provoking my father's anger by bringing Leopold to this important event. So, I couldn't be absent. I deliberately held my chin high, trying not to be affected by my father's intimidation. The old Serena would have shriveled up under her father's pressure. However, I had already left the helpless Serena behind. In return, I would fight for my life, even if it magnified my war with my father. “You really don't respect your parents?” Dad scolded me as soon as we got outside the restaurant, away from the people chatting inside. I refrained from rolling my eyes at his accusation. “Who is he?” The person my father was referring to must be Leopold. “My boyfriend.” Father's breath hitched as he held back his emotions. “You've never been able to take care of your own life.” I flinched, instantly defensive about his accusation. But he did
Leopold POV Five years have passed quickly, but it feels like only yesterday that I first met my chatty wife. Although we have faced various problems, both small and big, in our relationship, we have always tried to find solutions together. The first three years were a tough test for us. From minor arguments that led to days without talking to a big problem when my branch companies almost went bankrupt because of the actions of my trusted people. At that time, I was forced to leave Serena and our baby in America to deal with issues in various countries. Our relationship almost broke down, and Serena almost asked for a divorce because my busy schedule made her feel neglected, especially when she had the baby blues. Once, when Serena cried and angrily asked for a divorce over the phone, it felt like the world was crumbling before my eyes. Luckily, Serena's family was there to help take care of my son and boost her morale. I can never thank my father-in-law enough for being so unders
Serena POVAfter the blessing, it was time for the after-party in another hall. The night was peaceful, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves and the distant sound of crickets chirping. The tranquility of the evening enveloped everything in a sense of calm and serenity. We both stepped into another hall that had been prepared for the after-party. The party was a blast! The decorations were spectacular, with Mickey and Minnie Mouse balloons, a Cinderella castle centerpiece, and a life-sized cutout of Goofy. The music playing in the background added to the magic of the evening, with classic Disney tunes filling the air. Leopold really went all out, and I felt like a kid again. I couldn't wait to join in the fun and celebrate in this enchanting setting. It was the perfect choice to bring fun and magic to our special moment.Colorful lights hanging from the ceiling have decorated the hall, creating a magical atmosphere just like in Disneyland. The decorations were stunning: colorful b
Serena POVI can hardly believe it. Today, I got married at 23 to a 37-year-old man. He's not just any man. He's Leopold, the former CEO of my workplace and also my former one-night stand.During the proposal that came so suddenly and the surprise wedding outfit fitting, Leopold surprised me again. He calmly stated that he had already arranged our wedding with his family.My mouth dropped open, and my mind raced. I almost shouted, “What?!” But I could feel a tremor of excitement creeping up inside my chest.Speaking of Leopold's family, they all came all the way from Sweden to California.At first, I was afraid they would reject me. I was worried they'd make a big deal about Leopold siding with me to be my guardian and my father's successor. However, they welcomed me warmly. Leopold's mother was so considerate. That beautiful woman gave me a lot of advice on how to be a good wife and told me how to divide my time fairly between my husband and children. I may not have fully believed
Serena POVI frowned as Renesmee stopped the car in front of a luxury boutique building specializing in wedding dresses. From afar, the sunlight reflected off the boutique's windows, giving off a hypnotizing impression of luxury. “Renesmee, what did we come here for?” I protested, my hesitant voice clearly audible in the afternoon breeze that swept through my hair. She said she was taking me somewhere nice, but it turned out to be this luxury boutique.She laughed lightly, her bright-green eyes flashing. “You're curious, aren't you?”Renesmee glanced at me with a mysterious smile on her lips as we walked into the courtyard of the boutique building in Beverly Hills.I sighed, knowing for sure that she had a plan behind all this. I knew this boutique, a place only the elite could afford. It belonged to a renowned designer who used to make clothes for top celebrities and the rich.“You're getting married?” I asked Renesmee as we entered the boutique building. The fragrant smell of fresh
Leopold POV I sat in the center of the living room that I had carefully designed. Nervousness struck, though I tried to hide it behind my broad smile. Tonight was the night I had been waiting for—the night I would propose to Serena, my true love, to become my wife.Looking around, I couldn't help but smile at all the simple designs I had prepared. I adorned the living room with vibrant roses, their fragrance evoking memories of Serena’s alluring presence. I deliberately chose colors to reflect the joy and happiness that we will share together as a married couple.I wasn't an interior designer, but I tried my best to create something special for Serena. The walls of the living room were full of photos of Serena that I had secretly taken. It brought back memories of the special times we had spent together. The shapes were mostly hearts, representing my deep affection for her. I might not care if some find it tacky. What truly matters is expressing my love for her.On the table were v
Serena POV I stared at him fiercely, my eyes shining with my newfound courage. “Maybe for you, it was a mistake, dad. But for me, it was the right choice. I love Leopold, and I will not leave him.”There were no more words from my father; there was only a pressing silence in the room. The debate over the terms of becoming part of the Alexander family would never end.After all, how could I sacrifice my love? I will defend my choice, no matter what.“I realized long ago that you never considered my presence. I struggled to find my own happiness. Then, when I found a man who accepted me sincerely, you suddenly asked me to break up,” I said disappointed.“Serena, I know what's best for you.” Dad growled as he squeezed the sofa.I shook my head. “You never knew about me, dad. All you know is the family image.”“When you regret your choice, don't come here. You're such an unreliable daughter!” He exclaimed loudly, startling Uncle Frederick, who had just entered the room.I may look wild t
Serena POV I sat on a comfortable garden chair, looking out over the rose garden in front of me. The air seemed to be guiding me to bring all the courage I had. Here I was, in the garden of my father's house, with my heart pounding. I had considered everything carefully beforehand, and now I needed to ask for his blessing.“Dad, I'm sorry I came without telling you first,” I said, trying to compose myself.He turned to me with a serious expression, his eyes staring intently at me. I knew he was going to ask me the gist of what I wanted to talk about. That's how my father was—always straight to the point.“What do you want to talk about, Serena?” He asked, his voice sounding stiff, as if reflecting how difficult it was for him to express emotions.I swallowed, trying to organize the words properly in my mind before speaking them. I wanted my father to understand; I wanted him to support me.“I've come to talk about Leopold,” I said slowly, trying to construct my sentences carefully s
Serena POVThe heat of the setting sun left an orange color on the western horizon, creating a dazzling silhouette of Leopold before me. But, even though he was there, a darkness filled my mind, filled with worries about Eloise that hovered in the back of my mind.Leopold gently touched my flowing hair, giving me goosebumps from his warm touch. However, underneath his gentleness, there was anxiety shackling my heart.“Babe, is something bothering you?” his voice hissed, easing the chaos in my mind.I looked up at him, searching for answers in his warm eyes. Our arms embraced each other, and I buried my head in his chest, feeling the calm beat of his heart. “I'm still thinking about Eloise. You know how close we were. It's painful to recall all the wonderful memories we created together.”“Can a loyal friend hurt her friend?” asked Leopold in a soft voice, but his words pierced my heart. “No,” I replied softly, letting the silence envelop us.For some people, it might be easy to sugge
Serena POV Silence stretched between us, only the rustling of plates and the soft sounds of songs from the restaurant's speakers trying to break the ice at our table.Renesmee was still looking intently at Eloise, as if trying to find an answer from that gaze. Meanwhile, Eloise was silent, trapped in her own world created on her phone screen.“I'm finishing it here and today, because I no longer want to deal with anything that involves Eloise,” Renesmee said firmly, her voice piercing the air with disconcerting certainty.I could feel the tremor of firmness in her intonation, as if she had prepared her plan well in advance.I looked at Eloise, attempting to catch a speck of emotion behind her rigid facial expression. My hand touched her arm, trying to grab her attention from the virtual world that was sucking her in. “What about you, Eloise?” I whispered softly, as if feeling the darkness that enveloped her mind.Eloise looked up, her eyes still glued to her phone screen, though the