"What are you doing here?" Serenity looked at Lucas, surprised. As he got closer, she realized he seemed to have gotten thinner, his right hand still wrapped in a bandage."How's your hand?" Serenity thought of how Jackson had broken Lucas' hand earlier when he had taken her away. "I'm fine. It's nothing serious," Lucas said, making light of the matter. "What about you? It was hard to find this place. I couldn't find any clues until Jackson brought Mr. Smith here yesterday."Lucas was worried about her, and it was showing in his eyes. "Did he give you a hard time here?""No, he didn't." Serenity shook her head, but her expression changed as she thought about Jackson's behavior during the last few days she had spent with him.Lucas felt uneasy noticing the subtle change in her expression. He was unwilling to consider the possibilities that might become a reality."I'll take you away now," Lucas said, suddenly grabbing Serenity's hand in his left hand. "There's a very high level o
'What's going on?' Serenity wondered. "Unless I agree, no one can leave!" A cold voice said.Before Serenity could react, she heard the all-too-familiar voice and froze, realizing who had come. That was…. Jackson's voice!Standing behind Lucas, Serenity glanced up to see a tall figure standing not far away from them, and behind him stood a line of people. It felt almost like a trap. It was like he had been waiting all along, standing there."I was too careless," Lucas murmured coldly, looking at Jackson, who was not far away. "Did you deliberately bring Mr. Smith here? Just to lure me here?" If Jackson had not brought Mr. Smith here, it would not have been so easy for Lucas to find this place!Jackson did not answer Lucas. Instead, he pinned his gaze to Serenity. "Serenity. Are you going to leave with Lucas? Even after I promised to give you my all?"Serenity watched as Jackson approached, stepping closer to her. She sensed danger seeing the ice-cold fury in his eyes. There was
"Maybe," Lucas said without flinching.Jackson and Lucas, both powerful and influential men in Solaria, were confronting each other for Serenity. "If Serenity has no intention of staying, I'll take her away at all costs!" Lucas declared."Then I'll break your other hand as well." As Jackson spoke, he struck, his hand snatching out to grab Lucas' wrist.Lucas had been well-prepared, immediately dodging the attack. The two men fought, but Lucas was at a disadvantage. He was less agile because of his injured right hand.Jackson soon pinned Lucas in place, grabbing Lucas' hand. Jackson intended to break Lucas' uninjured left hand in his grasp. Just as he was about to break it, Serenity rushed forward and grabbed Jackson's hand with all her might. "Stop it! Don't hurt him again! Please!" Jackson had a sour look on his face. "And if I insist?""Must you break his hand? Does that really mean nothing to you?!" Serenity questioned, remembering what Jenny and Zeke had done to her. They
"I'll keep my promise, and you mustn't forget it, okay?"The little boy's voice had kept ringing in her ears. However, Serenity had completely forgotten about Luke and never recognized him. By the time she did, it was too late.With a thud, Serenity knelt on her knees. The two men were startled by her sudden action."What..." Jackson's eyes were incredulous. "What are you doing? Are you pleading for Lucas? I won't stop, even if you beg on your knees!"Serenity took a deep breath and stated calmly, "It's not about him." Her fear and hesitation suddenly faded away as she dropped to the floor."What happens between you and me should stay between us. Our affair is none of his business. You said you still love me, but it's too much to bear. So, Jackson… Set me free, please.""Set you… Free?"Jackson trembled slightly, his face dark. He would let her beg him for Lucas rather than letting her go!"Do you realize what you're saying?" Jackson croaked. Releasing his hold on Lucas, he tur
Jackson was head over heels in love with Serenity, but to her, their relationship was just a mistake. The woman he loved the most in the world was begging him to set her free. What could be more ironic than this?"Okay. I'll let you go." Jackson heard his own voice saying, "From now on, I'll have nothing to do with you!"His relationship with Serenity, whether like lovers or siblings, would cease to exist, just like two parallel lines that would never meet or intersect.***Lucas later took Serenity back to the rental house where she lived. Some corners in the house were gathering dust since Serenity had been away from home for a week. "Actually… You didn't have to get on your knees for Jackson," Lucas said. "I could've thought of other ways."Serenity gave a bitter smile, treating the situation as an eye for an eye. Jackson had fallen on his knees yesterday, begging her to love him. A day later, she was kneeling on her knees and begging him to set her free!"Thanks, Lucas,
There was a touch of bitterness in Serenity's smile when Lucas left. Just then, she remembered something. Her phone was still with Jackson.Jackson had taken her phone away when he had taken her to the mansion. She had not seen her phone again ever since.Serenity thought she would have to report the lost SIM card tomorrow. She would have to get a replacement card and a new cell phone. A replacement card would not cost much, but a cell phone might… Just then, there was a knock on the door, interrupting her train of thought. 'Is it Lucas? Did he come back?' Serenity stood up and opened the door, but to her surprise, it was Connor."Hello, Ms. Lewis. Here is your cell phone. Mr. Valor told me to give it back to you," Connor said, handing Serenity the cell phone.Serenity took the phone, and Connor left without saying anything else.Serenity returned to her room and turned on her phone, which was low on battery. There were many missed calls on her phone. Most were from Lisa, and so
It turned out that everything could change in an instant, just like when they had broken up. Only that time, Jackson was the one who had wanted to break up, but this time, it was Serenity who wanted to leave."Jackson. I should really forget you this time," Serenity murmured.***The next day, Lisa planned to meet Serenity at her place as soon as she got off work. When Lisa talked to her on the phone yesterday, Serenity said she was fine. Even so, Lisa was still a little worried about Serenity.When Lisa arrived at the parking lot and was about to pick up her car, a woman stood before her, stopping her from leaving. "You must be Lisa," the woman said, looking at Lisa with an arrogant face. She wore a brand-new luxury coat from the latest fall collection and exquisite makeup on her face. "Who are you?" Lisa asked, surprised."I'm Janet Hart, the person Terry wants to marry," Janet introduced herself, her eyes filled with disdain. "I heard you've been dating Terry for some time,
Lisa blinked her eyes. Then, she took out her phone and searched for Pacific Property online.Janet was frustrated by Lisa's reaction. Actions spoke louder than words. Was Lisa telling her that she had never heard of Pacific Property?Janet felt embarrassed. She thought Lisa would be intimidated when she told her about Pacific Property, but Lisa was searching for the company online instead. After reading about Pacific Property online, Lisa smiled and said, "Okay. I know who you are now. But you said the White family had chosen you as a marriage candidate for Terry. Which means you're not engaged yet, are you? Besides, it's the White family who had chosen you, not Terry. So you have nothing to do with him now."Lisa trusted Terry. She did not think he would marry someone like Janet. 'Maybe that's the power of love!' Lisa thought to herself.Janet gritted her teeth and glared at Lisa bitterly. Lisa was right. The arranged marriage was a negotiation between the Hart family and a mem