Frederick looked deeply into her eyes as she returned his gaze. There was no hint of doubt or pretense in her expression. She truly meant what she said.Feeling a rush of emotions, she looked away. She was afraid that if she kept staring into his eyes, she might either melt right there or take back her words. Why did the weather suddenly feel so hot?“I’m sorry,” she whispered softly. “I really think this is better for both of us. And don’t worry about Troy—”“I don’t understand you,” Frederick interrupted, his frustration growing. “Why are you holding back so much? Why can’t you just accept—”“I’m not holding back. It’s just not right,” she replied firmly.“It’s not right that I love you and want us, along with our son, to live together?” he pressed.“It’s not right for you to just come back into my life after such a long time, especially after everything that has happened. You expect me to just be okay with it? I’m not okay with it, whether it’s about me or my son,” Serena said, her
He thrust into her with an unrelenting force, showing no mercy. His movements were rough and far too fast for her to handle. She could feel him hitting her womb repeatedly, creating a mix of both torture and pleasure that left her breathless.Desperate to calm him down, her hands reached down to his thigh, but he quickly grabbed her wrists and pinned them tightly above her head.“Frederick!” she cried out as she reached her orgasm for the second time. Even though there was pain, her body trembled beneath him, caught in a whirlwind of conflicting feelings. Part of her found enjoyment in the wildness of it all, but she didn’t like the way he was treated her.Without warning, he pulled out and released her hands, but he didn’t give her a moment to think it was over. Instead, he lifted her up and turned her over, positioning her warmth against his manhood as he knelt on his knees and slid back into her without hesitation. The suddenness of it took her breath away, and she felt a mix o
“Her health is getting worse, I'm afraid. But I promise you that we are doing everything we can.”The doctor said, sitting across from Serena in his office. She had just returned from visiting her mother, and the weight of the situation was heavy on her heart.Serena let out a deep sigh upon hearing the doctor's words. “I really appreciate all your hard work, doctor. I truly do. But I must ask you to please try even harder. I can't bear the thought of losing my mother right now.”After a short discussion with the doctor, Serena stepped out of the office, her mind racing with worry. She made her way to her mother's ward, pausing for a moment to gaze through the small, transparent glass window on the door. Her heart ached as she silently prayed for her mother to stay strong and recover quickly. Serena felt deeply indebted to her mother and wanted nothing more than to repay her for all that she had done.For being there when her world came crumbling down upon being pregnant with Troy,
Serena got back to the mansion and proceeded to the kitchen. She hadn't had breakfast and with the nonsense that occurred at the hospital, she definitely needed to eat.It was noon so she was sure Frederick was away. He was always around only at nights. She knew he wasn't always busy, a billionaire like him could sit down and do nothing all week yet his net worth would increase by millions at the end of each day.Yet why he was only home at nights was a mystery to her. But for this period, she understood his absence. There was probably a lot of reviewing to do because of their time away in Korea.Serena quickly tied an apron around her slim waist and began slicing the carrots, spinach, peppers, and other vegetables she had taken out of the fridge. Since Anika hadn’t come down yet to see what all the noise was about, Serena figured she must not be around.Maybe it was for the best that Anika wasn’t there. This way, Serena could whip up something special for her as a little thank-you
Frederick stood in front of the large glass walls of his office, staring out at the busy streets below, where cars were moving swiftly and pedestrians hurried along the sidewalks. Some hurrying to cross the road and the sign of red on the traffic lights.The towering skyscrapers around him seemed to touch the dark, heavy clouds that were gathering in the sky, signalling that a storm was likely on its way.But despite the chaos outside, his thoughts were drifting elsewhere, tangled in a web of worries and concerns. Suddenly, he heard the door behind him swing open, jolting him back to the present moment."I don’t want to be disturbed right now, so leave," he commanded, his voice resonating through the spacious room without him even glancing back to see who it was. "I'm afraid I can't do that," came a confident reply.It was Elene. At first, he had thought it might be his personal assistant, but he quickly realised that Elene barging in without knocking was her usual style, so he shou
“Where are we headed, Anika?” Serena inquired, glancing over at her friend as she settled into the passenger seat. The two of them were side by side, the anticipation in the air palpable.Anika beamed with a hint of mischief in her eyes. “It’s a surprise.”“From who? Frederick?”“Let’s just say it’s from me for now,” Anika replied playfully.Serena nudged her gently, a smile spreading across her face. “I know it’s from him.”“Wow, great job ruining the surprise!” Anika feigned annoyance, but her laughter betrayed her.Serena chuckled. “Well, it’s my surprise, isn’t it?”“Oh, I bet you’ll be so thrilled. I can’t wait for you to see it,” Anika said, her tone teasing.As they drove on, their banter continued, weaving through light-hearted jabs and laughter. The road stretched ahead, and with each passing moment, Serena’s curiosity grew. “Anika, come on, just give me a hint! Is it something I’ll love?”“Maybe. Or maybe it’s something that will make you question my taste,” Anika replied,
Serena walked back and forth in her room, her finger nervously between her teeth. Every now and then, she glanced out the window, hoping to see Frederick arriving, but each passing moment brought her more disappointment.Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. “Come in,” she called out, already knowing it was Anika. As Anika entered, Serena could see the worry etched on her face.“Are you still waiting for him?” Anika asked, her concern evident in her voice. Serena paused her pacing and turned to face her friend.“Don’t worry about me, Anika. You really should get some sleep,” she replied, trying to brush off the concern.Anika let out a sigh, clearly not convinced. “I feel like I should be the one telling you that. I really doubt Frederick will believe everything the internet says, so why are you letting it bother you so much?”“But it’s true, Anika. I really did meet with Arlo,” Serena said, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and uncertainty.“But there really wasn’t anyt
“Get your hands off me this instant,” Arlo shouted, struggling to break free from Frederick's tight grip on his neck.But Frederick remained unmoved. “For Christ's sake, I didn’t insult the boy, so fucking let me go!”Frederick finally released his hold on Arlo but warned him in a low, menacing voice, “I don’t want to hear my son's name come out of your filthy mouth again”“And about this?” Frederick said, slamming a file down on the table in front of Arlo. “You better clean up this mess.”Arlo hesitated for a moment, eyeing the file suspiciously before he picked it up and opened it. Inside were photos of him and Serena that had gone viral, along with more photos.“Where did you even get this?” he asked, pausing to let out a laugh. “You really think I’m behind this shit, don’t you?”Frederick leaned back into his chair, his anger still clearly visible on his face. “You care too much about your reputation to get caught up in a scandal, so you probably didn’t start this. But now, it’s y
It was a beautiful wedding day, set in a charming open area surrounded by tall, swaying palm trees that gently rustled in the warm breeze. The sun shone brightly, casting a soft glow over the small gathering of finely decorated chairs and tables. The decorations were simple yet elegant, perfectly complementing the serene atmosphere. White linen draped gracefully over golden chairs, each adorned with delicate sprigs of greenery and small white flowers, adding a touch of nature to the setting. A golden arch stood at the front, decorated with flowing white fabric and clusters of vibrant blooms in soft pastel colours. The small tables were dressed in light-coloured tablecloths, each holding a single vase filled with fresh flowers, bringing a pop of colour to the scene. Flickering candles were placed on the tables, ready to light up as the sun began to set, casting a warm and inviting glow. Steadily, the guests began to find their seats, creating a cozy atmosphere filled wit
SIX MONTHS LATER “There has once again been a notable increase in the stock sales of the F&S corporation, which is currently in partnership with the well-known Te-Sumi company. The stocks are rising at a remarkably fast pace, and it is advisable for anyone interested to—”The driver lowered the volume of the radio as the passenger he was carrying wanted to make a phone call.Seated behind him was Mr. Te-Sumi, accompanied by another man who was the one making the call. After finishing his conversation, the man turned to his boss, Mr. Te-Sumi.“I believe we don’t need to attend the meeting anymore, sir,” the man said confidently. Mr. Te-Sumi raised an eyebrow, indicating that he was curious and wanted to hear more about this statement.“Mr. Sullivan has finally woken up. With that, there’s no longer a need for us to meet with the board to discuss the idea of bringing in a new chairman,” the man explained, a hint of relief in his voice.Mr. Te-Sumi nodded in understanding. “I see your p
Serena slowly opened her eyes to find herself staring at a bright white ceiling. A delicate chandelier hung gracefully from above, casting soft light around the room. She felt the tightness of an oxygen mask over her face, and a wave of dizziness and nausea washed over her. Confusion filled her mind as she wondered, where was she?It was obvious she was in a hospital ward, the sound of a beeping monitor beside her providing a rhythmic backdrop to her thoughts. She attempted to sit up, but her body felt heavy and unresponsive. What had happened to her?As she lay there, still and quiet, her memories began to flood back. She recalled the terrifying moment when Elene had her in a chokehold, while Frederick desperately tried to save her. She remembered they were talking a lot, but Serena could barely hear them as she struggled to break free from Elene’s tight grip. That was when Elene shot her and she collapsed.She attempted to lift her body once again, but it felt impossible. “Troy?
A scoff slipped out from Elene’s lips. “After all these years, Frederick, it really took you this long to remember?”“You’ve changed so much,” he replied, trying to process his memories.“I had to change. It was necessary for me to stay close to you without raising any suspicions. Now, where were we? Ah, yes. I was about to ask you to leave peacefully, or else it won’t just be Serena who gets hurt.”Frederick let out a sigh. “I’m afraid I can’t do that. I can’t leave her.”Elene’s expression hardened, her brows knitting together in fury. “Oh, so you’re declaring war between us right now, are you?”“There won’t be any war, Elene. You need to let Serena go, and we can sort out whatever issues we have between us, like—”But before he could finish, a loud gunshot rang out, followed by a piercing scream from Serena. Elene had shot her in the other leg.“Serena!” Frederick shouted, sprinting towards her despite Elene now aiming the gun at him. Just as she was about to pull the trigger, Fred
After the reunion, Frederick turned to one of the men who had come with him and instructed him to take Dhoti and Troy outside for their safety until he could return with Serena.However, Dhoti was not on board with this plan. “I want to go with you. Serena is still somewhere in here and I can't just leave her behind,” she said, her voice filled with desperation and concern.“Sir,” one of the armed men called out to Frederick, “the rest of our team has arrived.”Frederick nodded in acknowledgment. “Make sure to inform them to carefully observe the entire building. Search every nook and cranny and ensure that everyone is accounted for,” he instructed the man, who then stepped away to communicate via a burner phone.Frederick then turned his attention to Dhoti, speaking earnestly, “I care for Serena just as much as you do– and I love her deeply. You have to trust me, Dhoti. I will bring her back safely.”Dhoti hesitated for a moment, weighing her options, but eventually nodded, albeit re
The room was cast in a soft, dim light, but the entrance remained shrouded in shadows. As the figure who had spoken stepped further inside, the first thing that caught Serena's eye was a striking head of red bobbed hair.That alone made Serena freeze on the spot, confusion setting over her as a sense of realisation and surprise washed her.As the light illuminated the person’s face, Serena confirmed it– Elene.Her eyes widened in disbelief, and her heart began to race uncontrollably. “It’s you?” she whispered, still grappling with the shock of seeing her.Troy pulled his mother closer to him, clearly frightened by the familiar face that had just emerged. Serena noticed his reaction and shot a fierce glare at Elene.“What have you done to my son?” she demanded, her voice laced with anger and fear.Elene simply smiled, a chilling expression that sent shivers down Serena's spine. “Oh him? Well, let me see how I can explain this. We had a little game, and he pissed me off, so I decided t
Serena slowly opened her eyes to the soft sound of a child sniffling, the unmistakable sound of someone who had been crying. The pain from the gunshot wound in her leg was still very much present, and she winced as she tried to push herself into a sitting position. This place was unlike the dark and terrifying environment where she had been held captive before. Instead, it was a small room that felt almost normal, featuring a bed, a lamp casting a warm glow, and a table with a chair tucked into one corner. As she looked around, she realised she found herself lying on the floor next to the bed. What struck her as odd was that she wasn’t tied up in any way, though the pain in her leg already made it impossible for her to escape. Perhaps that was the reason she had been shot in the first place.Once again, she heard the low sniffles and turned her gaze toward the bed. There, she saw a little boy with brown hair, curled up and crouched on the mattress. He was crying quietly, his small
Serena's GPS was being tracked, and Frederick wasted no time in following the signal to locate her. The FBI had already been alerted and were getting ready to offer any sort of assistance to Frederick.Frederick pressed down on the accelerator, weaving in and out of traffic as he sped down the highway, the screen in his car displaying Serena's location. His mind was racing, but he pushed aside any thoughts about who might be behind this or why it was happening. All that mattered was finding Serena before it was too late.Eventually, he arrived at a rundown old road that forced him to slow down due to the many potholes and bumps. The area around him was desolate, a perfect setting for something sinister like a kidnapping to take place. Deep down, he felt a mix of hope and fear, praying that Serena had remembered to take her phone with her and hadn’t left it behind somewhere. That phone was the key to tracking her down in this desperate situation.Suddenly, a figure stumbled into the
Serena pulled up to a deserted road and turned off the engine. Stepping out of the car, she looked straight ahead. This was the end of the road for her. In front of her was a bushy path, and she had no idea where it would lead.This was the path she was meant to take. The strange voice from the call she had received earlier instructed her to walk down this trail until she reached a building. Only then would she be able to save her son, Troy.Whoever had called her was the same person who had kidnapped Troy and Dhoti. They had already released Dhoti, which made it clear that the kidnapper was only interested in Troy. But why? This had to be connected to her in some way, but she couldn't understand the reason behind it.Serena couldn’t help but dig through her memories, trying to recall if there was anyone she had seriously upset in the past. However, no one came to mind.This could only mean that this person was likely connected to Frederick. Perhaps they were Frederick's enemy, and si