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 P. O. V. Life is fucking kidding me. Out of all the people in the world, why am I meeting him here? And, to make me even more incredulous, he introduced himself as Serena's uncle? He must be kidding me. I know him as Frederick. He's one of Amanda's clients at the tax office. I met him when I picked Amanda up after she claimed to have met her client to discuss the annual tax report. Frederick was there, looking very familiar to Amanda. At first, I thought the closeness was just professional. I never suspected Frederick. There was nothing that made me suspicious. On another occasion, when I accompanied Amanda to a year-end event held by her office, I met Frederick again. He was not alone. He came with his wife and two teenage children. So, I wasn't the least bit suspicious of their closeness. Until I found a message on Amanda's cell phone, which finally exposed all her lies. Frederick had been secretly having an affair with Amanda for several years. He was the man who ma
Serena POV I don't know who started it, but as soon as it was just me and Leopold in the closed hotel elevator, his lips immediately kissed mine. Maybe I was the one who wanted this kiss. Or possibly, it was Leopold. I don't know, because as soon as his lips kissed mine, all the things that were weighing on my head suddenly fell away. It was as if someone pressed the shutdown button in my mind, and everything disappeared. Only Leopold's kiss remained. As soon as the elevator opened, Leopold immediately pulled me across the corridor. He was in such a hurry. So was I. It was as if something were time-critical, and the only way to save myself was to make love with Leopold. “I need to be inside you now,” Leopold whispered. His voice was hoarse with lust. Leopold opened the bedroom door hurriedly. He pushed me in and closed the door with his foot before carrying me to the bed. I undressed Leopold with haste and considerable difficulty. Lust made my hands tremble, making it difficu
Serena POV “Serena Alexander!” The high-pitched, heavy voice was enough to startle me.There was only one person who could make my heart stop suddenly.I turned around and found my father waiting in the office lobby. He wasn't alone; there were bodyguards accompanying him wherever he went. When I was in school, I had to play slippery like an eel with my father's bodyguard, whom he assigned to guard me.“You go ahead. My dad's here,” I whispered to Sarah. I had just returned from having lunch with her.Sarah left me while I took a step toward my father. After my sudden departure from last weekend's event, my father had called me, but I had ignored him.It wasn't until the next day that I picked up the phone. And he got even angrier when I told him that I was already on the road to California.I didn't expect my father to come to me so soon. “Afternoon, dad.” I greeted him and gave him a quick hug, but he responded coldly.“You're coming home with me.”“Dad, I'm working. My break is o
Leopold POVThe soft vibration of the cell phone broke the silence of the night, ruining the softness of my sleep. As I opened my eyes, the realization quickly crept in that I was still inside Serena's room.Slowly, I tried to move away without disturbing Serena's deep sleep by my side. I squirmed softly, freeing myself from her warm caresses and trying not to disturb the tranquility that was shading us. Luckily, she was still in her peaceful world.However, when a string of unfamiliar numbers kept demanding my attention, I finally could no longer avoid the call. Although, in truth, I would have preferred to stay asleep in a peaceful dream. However, there was something urgent on the other side of the phone. There was no choice but to respond. “Hello?” I greeted her, trying to mask the confusion and stiffness in my voice.“Good evening. Is this Mr. Leopold?” The voice on the other end sounded formal, despite the faint rumble in the background. “Right, this is Leopold.”“I'm represent
Serena POV The truce with my father only seemed to float in the air briefly, without a solid foundation. It didn't take long for the silence to break, like cracked glass getting worse. My father infiltrated my life again, unexpected or permission. His face revealed disbelief, breaking through time and space and dragging me along in a familiar stream of darkness. This time, like part of a never-ending drama, my father forced my way. I, a spectator without a seat and without a choice, must obey the rhythm he sets. Obstacles were inevitable. I couldn't escape, even though my heart protested. The leather seats of his car swallowed my body, enveloping it in heavy silence. The eyes of the personal bodyguard implied a forgotten, bitter story, a silent witness to the pressure that had returned. “Dad, where are we going?” I asked, bitterness hidden behind doubt. Father looked at me, cold and emotionless. “Dinner. Is this how you dress when you go to the office? You look rumpled, as if yo
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