“We need to talk!” Seraphina insisted as she eyed the two bodyguards who had tried to prevent her from entering earlier.“How did you even know to find me here?” Serena shot back, ignoring Seraphina's demand and rude tone. She felt uneasy about the fact that Phinawas aware of her location.Seraphina let out a snicker. “Let’s just say I have my ways. You really didn’t think I trusted you, did you? I knew deep down that you would let me down somehow.”“Are you really that desperate?” Serena asked, her eyebrows knitting together in displeasure.“You can say that, but honestly, I don’t care,” Seraphina replied with a shrug.“Fine, but we’re not having this conversation in front of my mother’s ward. Lead the way,” Serena said firmly.Before long, they found themselves seated in the hospital's cafeteria, a good distance away from prying eyes and ears. Both of them wore shades to avoid being recognized, trying to keep their conversation private.“How could you possibly turn down my request w
The man stood up and adjusted his robe, pulling it tighter around him. He then offered both Serena and Seraphina seats before settling back down in his own chair.“I apologize that you had to meet me and my friends in such a situation,” he said to Serena, his tone surprisingly polite.Serena simply nodded her head in response. All she really wanted was to get through this meeting quickly so she could leave and put this experience behind her.“Would you like me to offer you anything to drink or eat?” he asked in a courteous manner. She thought about nodding her head in refusal, but decided against it, feeling it might come off as rude. Instead, she replied, “No, thank you.”She was a little taken aback by his calm demeanor. She hadn’t expected him to possess even basic manners, but he did. It seemed that sometimes, you really shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.Maybe before she leaves, she could gather the courage to ask him the question that she was so eager to ask.Why were there s
Serena stepped out of the building, her bodyguards closely following her as she made her way to her car. Just as she was about to get in, Seraphina suddenly stopped her in her tracks.“Thank you,” she said, her voice a bit shaky. Serena couldn’t quite see her expression because Seraphina was looking down, but she could feel the honesty in her words.The sight of Seraphina, usually so full of confidence and always looking for a chance to insult her, now appearing vulnerable didn’t amuse Serena at all. “I have a question for you, though,” Serena said, her tone serious. “Now that you’ve gotten what you wanted, are you really going to move on completely? Or rather, Are you sure you will?”A small smile flickered on Seraphina's lips as she thought about her answer. “I want to move on, and I know that eventually I will, but I can’t deny that it’s going to be really tough. I’m worried that it might be too challenging for me, but I’ll do my best to make it happen.”Serena couldn’t help but
Serena gently wiped away the tears that had gathered in her eyes, letting them fall down her cheeks. “Oh Frederick,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.She found herself questioning why she was feeling such a wave of emotions. After all, she was fully aware of his feelings for her. Yet, alongside the storm of emotions swirling inside her, there was a sharp pain in her chest. It felt as if a tiny needle was being pushed through her heart, causing a stinging ache that she couldn't ignore.Clutching the letter tightly against her heart, she murmured softly, “I’m so sorry, Fred.”—-------Two days had gone by since Frederick had left, and Serena felt an increasing sense of urgency. She had tried to call his number several times, but each attempt ended in disappointment as it never connected. She really needed to talk to him, and the worry gnawed at her.Determined to find him, she chose to wear a pair of stylish pants paired with a light floral chiffon top. She grabbed her Chanel
“"Frederick!” Elene called out as she stepped into his office, her voice filled with surprise as it echoed. “Wow, that was a pretty short trip you just had. Did everything go smoothly?”Frederick, who had just settled into his chair, turned to look at Elene. “Of course,” he replied, but a small sigh escaped his lips, hinting at his fatigue.Elene couldn’t help but notice how tired he looked. “You really look exhausted. Why did you come here instead of just going straight home to rest?” she asked, concerned creeping into her voice.“Why? Do I not have the freedom to come to my own office anymore?” he retorted, resting his hand on his head and closing his eyes for a moment, clearly overwhelmed.Elene rolled her eyes slightly, trying to lighten the mood. “What’s going on with you? You know that’s not what I meant at all. But seriously, you really should drink a lot of water and take some time to rest.”She poured him a cup of water and offered it to him, which he accepted gratefully. “A
Serena hurried back into the room, clutching a small bowl filled with cold water and a soft napkin in her hands. When she entered, she found Frederick lying on the bed, his eyes squeezed shut and his brows knitted together in discomfort. Without wasting a moment, she rushed to his side, settled down next to him, and dipped the napkin into the cool water.After squeezing it out just enough to avoid dripping, she carefully placed the damp cloth on his burning forehead. The chill from the napkin seemed to penetrate his feverish skin, startling him awake. His eyes flew open, and he grasped Serena's hand tightly.“It’s me, Frederick. It’s me,” she whispered softly, looking deeply into his eyes, which were filled with confusion and pain.His breathing was quick and uneven, making her heart race with worry. After a moment, he released her hand with a weary sigh and sank back onto the bed.Serena continued to press the cool napkin against his forehead, gently massaging his skin with the so
Frederick made his way down the stairs to meet a figure who was comfortably seated on one of the plush couches. As the figure turned to face him, Frederick's initial reaction was one of surprise, but that quickly shifted to a look of disapproval.He had come down with the expectation that it would be her because of the way Anika had strongly insisted him to come down himself yet he still felt a twinge of doubt about it.“I'll let you two be,” Anika said softly, giving them a moment of privacy as she walked away.The person seated was Mary Sullivan. Her once pale skin had taken on a warm tan, and her dark hair was now interspersed with several strands of white. Wrinkles marked her face and body, a testament to the passage of time, and she wore a sleeveless, long dress that highlighted her age.With a smile, she rose from her seat and said, “Oh, Frederick, it has been so many years since I last saw you. Don't you think you should give your mother a hug at least?”Frederick let out an
“But don’t worry, my son. That’s why I’m here—to save you from her clutches. I will make sure that snake doesn’t touch a single penny of your money from now on. She has to go,” Mary declared, a hint of satisfaction lacing her words.Slowly, Frederick turned to face her, his expression hardening. “You knew? You haven’t forgotten, so you’re clearly aware—that Serena had my child?”“I only did what was necessary to protect you from her. If I hadn’t stepped in that morning when she came to our house to tell you, Frederick, who knows where you would be today? That’s why I will keep reminding you, dear. I am the reason you’ve achieved so much in your life,” she replied, her tone dripping with self-importance.In a sudden burst of anger, Frederick’s hand clenched tightly around a glass vase, and with a swift motion, he smashed it to the floor. The sound of shattering glass echoed in the room, and Frederick felt the sharp sting of pain as blood began to seep from the cut on his hand where th
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