°SERENA° He paused, turning slightly. “None of your concern.” “I’m the one who was kidnapped. I’m the one who suffered. I have the right to know!” Adrian’s gaze snapped to me, his eyes cold and unforgiving. “Yeah, none of which would have happened if you hadn’t been fucking stupid enough to get in a car with anyone.” The words hit me like a slap. I felt my chest tighten, the sting of his accusation cutting deeper than I wanted to admit. But I refused to let him see the hurt. “They were my classmates,” I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady. “Fucking classmates,” he scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. “I’ve already given a videotape to the cops,” he continued, his voice sharp. “They’ve been arrested. I’m going to confirm their identities and ensure they’re punished. Or... do you want me to let them walk free?” His words jolted me. What kind of question was that? “Walk free? Throw them in a damn jail to rot,” I replied firmly, my voice carrying a bitternes
°ADRIAN° She turned to look at me, her eyes wide, glinting like two startled orbs. I couldn’t help but smirk at her reaction. “You mean?” she asked, the shock still etched across her face. “We’ll stay here. Tim will pick you up and drop you off,” I replied. For a second, she mulled over my words, and then I saw it—a devilish smile lighting up her face, a glint of mischief sparkling in her eyes. “You did this for me.” It wasn’t a question. “No,” I denied instantly. “Yeah…?” she dragged, her voice teasing, her expression all too knowing. “Yeah.” There she was again, grating on my nerves with that infuriating smugness, like she had me all figured out. It annoyed me to no end how she always hit home, like she could read my every move. Deep down, though, I couldn’t lie to myself. Maybe… just maybe, it was because of what she’d said about the long travel. I didn’t know why, but the next day, I found myself asking Timothy to secure this apartment. Why the hell was she influencing
°SERENA° “You just don’t get it, do you?” I asked, a bitter smile tugging at my lips, devoid of any warmth. No one ever does—and maybe that’s just how it’s meant to be. But knowing that doesn’t make it hurt any less. The ache sat deep within me, sharp and unrelenting, a raw wound I couldn’t reach to heal. Adrian—of all people—had made this decision for me without hesitation, without so much as considering how it would unravel what little I had left to hold onto. Why is it that someone else always gets to decide what’s best for me? Why is it that my life, my choices, are never truly mine? It’s always the men in my life. First, my father in name, and now my husband in name. "Ah, what a similarity," I murmured bitterly, the words barely a whisper, but heavy with truth. The two most important men in anyone’s life—and yet, to them both, I’m nothing more than a tool. The tears I had so desperately tried to suppress betrayed me, slipping silently down my cheeks. My chest ti
°SERENA° "I have a surprise for you." "For me?" I asked, genuinely surprised. Adrian didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he wheeled himself closer, stopping just a foot away from where I stood. His intense gaze dropped to his legs, and instinctively, mine followed. My heart skipped a beat. My eyes widened in shock, my breath catching as I saw what he wanted to show me. "You... how?" I whispered, barely able to process the sight before me. Adrian, the man who had been confined to that wheelchair for so long, was now moving his legs. Small, tentative movements, but undeniable proof that he was doing it. His smile was smug, almost triumphant, his tone dripping with satisfaction. "Yes," he said, his voice filled with a determination I hadn’t heard in weeks. "I can move my legs on my own now. And I know it’s only a matter of time before I stand and walk." For once, I didn’t mind his cockiness. It wasn’t misplaced. No, it felt earned. Deserved. "I’m so happy for you, Adrian," I s
°ADRIAN° “Ah, that’s it,” the doctor said, peeling away the last layer of white bandage from Serena’s arm. I watched silently from across the room, my arms crossed, face stoic. She sat still, her eyes filled with awe, fixed on the doctor’s hands as if the process required her full attention. When the last piece of gauze was removed, I caught a glimpse of the faint scar running along her skin. Proof of how well she could handle herself. Not that she’d admit it. For the past week, she’d been… quiet. Too quiet. No snark, no backtalk, no challenging every damn word I said. Just heading out in the mornings with Timothy, coming back in the late afternoons with him. She was behaving. Being good. And I should have felt relieved at that, but…I hated it. “It’s healing well,” the doctor said, snapping me out of my thoughts. He sounded so damn cheerful. “No more bandages needed. I’ll prescribe something for the occasional pain, but other than that, you’re good to go.” “Thank you,
°ADRIAN° "Are you perving at me?" I froze, caught entirely off guard by her question. Her tone was dry, laced with sarcasm, but she still hadn’t turned to face me. The stirring resumed, slow and steady, as though she hadn’t just accused me of… whatever that was. "Excuse me?" I finally managed, my voice sharper than intended. "You're staring," she said matter-of-factly. "What else should I call it?" I scoffed, rolling the chair a little closer, the movement deliberate. "I wasn’t staring. I came for water." Her head tilted slightly, pointing toward the fridge. "I think the water is on the other side." I narrowed my eyes at her back, irritation bubbling under my skin. Her indifference had always grated on me, but this… this nonchalant deflection was worse. I wheeled closer to the fridge, opened it, and took out a bottle. I let the water flow down my throat, the coldness feeling odd against the hot, burning sensation in the kitchen. "Why are you making that?" I asked
°SERENA° It’s been quiet. Agonizingly quiet. I stand in the kitchen, stirring absentmindedly. I could just focus on cooking, mind my own business, but no—I have to steal glances, searching, wondering. Is he looking? Why do I care? I don’t know. My days follow a rhythm—wake up, make breakfast, leave lunch in the fridge, attend classes, come back, lounge around, make dinner, eat together, sleep. Rinse and repeat. Except lately, something’s changed. It’s been days since Adrian last taunted me, no sarcastic remarks, no smug observations. He’s unnervingly quiet, and I find myself worrying—not for my sanity, but his. The first real shock came when I was lounging on the couch, munching on my favorite chips, lost in some show. I started choking. A proper, full-on coughing fit. If I had died right there, it wouldn’t have surprised me. But guess what? Adrian got me water! The spoiled son of the richest man in the city got me water. I still haven’t recovered from the shoc
°ADRIAN° It was a simple question. Very simple one, if you ask me. But she’s taking her sweet time. What does a girl her age even wish for? Clothes, bags, shoes, jewelry… At least, that’s what I thought—until I heard her. “I want to stargaze.” The answer left me perplexed. I snapped my head toward her, only to find her lost in thought. There was a soft smile on her face, her eyes unfocused, staring at the side of the table as if the stars she wished for were right there. Her fingers twirled the spoon absentmindedly, and for some reason, I didn’t want to pull her out of her daze. “On a high mountain, in a little tent, a sky full of stars twinkling... and we’d cook over a fire, just like my grandma and I used to…” She added the last part quietly, her voice carrying an emotion I couldn’t quite name. This girl never ceases to amaze me. I ask about her wish, and it’s stargazing. “Why do you ask?” she finally murmured, breaking out of her daze. I wanted to know her wish becau
°ADRIAN° It was a simple question. Very simple one, if you ask me. But she’s taking her sweet time. What does a girl her age even wish for? Clothes, bags, shoes, jewelry… At least, that’s what I thought—until I heard her. “I want to stargaze.” The answer left me perplexed. I snapped my head toward her, only to find her lost in thought. There was a soft smile on her face, her eyes unfocused, staring at the side of the table as if the stars she wished for were right there. Her fingers twirled the spoon absentmindedly, and for some reason, I didn’t want to pull her out of her daze. “On a high mountain, in a little tent, a sky full of stars twinkling... and we’d cook over a fire, just like my grandma and I used to…” She added the last part quietly, her voice carrying an emotion I couldn’t quite name. This girl never ceases to amaze me. I ask about her wish, and it’s stargazing. “Why do you ask?” she finally murmured, breaking out of her daze. I wanted to know her wish becau
°SERENA° It’s been quiet. Agonizingly quiet. I stand in the kitchen, stirring absentmindedly. I could just focus on cooking, mind my own business, but no—I have to steal glances, searching, wondering. Is he looking? Why do I care? I don’t know. My days follow a rhythm—wake up, make breakfast, leave lunch in the fridge, attend classes, come back, lounge around, make dinner, eat together, sleep. Rinse and repeat. Except lately, something’s changed. It’s been days since Adrian last taunted me, no sarcastic remarks, no smug observations. He’s unnervingly quiet, and I find myself worrying—not for my sanity, but his. The first real shock came when I was lounging on the couch, munching on my favorite chips, lost in some show. I started choking. A proper, full-on coughing fit. If I had died right there, it wouldn’t have surprised me. But guess what? Adrian got me water! The spoiled son of the richest man in the city got me water. I still haven’t recovered from the shoc
°ADRIAN° "Are you perving at me?" I froze, caught entirely off guard by her question. Her tone was dry, laced with sarcasm, but she still hadn’t turned to face me. The stirring resumed, slow and steady, as though she hadn’t just accused me of… whatever that was. "Excuse me?" I finally managed, my voice sharper than intended. "You're staring," she said matter-of-factly. "What else should I call it?" I scoffed, rolling the chair a little closer, the movement deliberate. "I wasn’t staring. I came for water." Her head tilted slightly, pointing toward the fridge. "I think the water is on the other side." I narrowed my eyes at her back, irritation bubbling under my skin. Her indifference had always grated on me, but this… this nonchalant deflection was worse. I wheeled closer to the fridge, opened it, and took out a bottle. I let the water flow down my throat, the coldness feeling odd against the hot, burning sensation in the kitchen. "Why are you making that?" I asked
°ADRIAN° “Ah, that’s it,” the doctor said, peeling away the last layer of white bandage from Serena’s arm. I watched silently from across the room, my arms crossed, face stoic. She sat still, her eyes filled with awe, fixed on the doctor’s hands as if the process required her full attention. When the last piece of gauze was removed, I caught a glimpse of the faint scar running along her skin. Proof of how well she could handle herself. Not that she’d admit it. For the past week, she’d been… quiet. Too quiet. No snark, no backtalk, no challenging every damn word I said. Just heading out in the mornings with Timothy, coming back in the late afternoons with him. She was behaving. Being good. And I should have felt relieved at that, but…I hated it. “It’s healing well,” the doctor said, snapping me out of my thoughts. He sounded so damn cheerful. “No more bandages needed. I’ll prescribe something for the occasional pain, but other than that, you’re good to go.” “Thank you,
°SERENA° "I have a surprise for you." "For me?" I asked, genuinely surprised. Adrian didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he wheeled himself closer, stopping just a foot away from where I stood. His intense gaze dropped to his legs, and instinctively, mine followed. My heart skipped a beat. My eyes widened in shock, my breath catching as I saw what he wanted to show me. "You... how?" I whispered, barely able to process the sight before me. Adrian, the man who had been confined to that wheelchair for so long, was now moving his legs. Small, tentative movements, but undeniable proof that he was doing it. His smile was smug, almost triumphant, his tone dripping with satisfaction. "Yes," he said, his voice filled with a determination I hadn’t heard in weeks. "I can move my legs on my own now. And I know it’s only a matter of time before I stand and walk." For once, I didn’t mind his cockiness. It wasn’t misplaced. No, it felt earned. Deserved. "I’m so happy for you, Adrian," I s
°SERENA° “You just don’t get it, do you?” I asked, a bitter smile tugging at my lips, devoid of any warmth. No one ever does—and maybe that’s just how it’s meant to be. But knowing that doesn’t make it hurt any less. The ache sat deep within me, sharp and unrelenting, a raw wound I couldn’t reach to heal. Adrian—of all people—had made this decision for me without hesitation, without so much as considering how it would unravel what little I had left to hold onto. Why is it that someone else always gets to decide what’s best for me? Why is it that my life, my choices, are never truly mine? It’s always the men in my life. First, my father in name, and now my husband in name. "Ah, what a similarity," I murmured bitterly, the words barely a whisper, but heavy with truth. The two most important men in anyone’s life—and yet, to them both, I’m nothing more than a tool. The tears I had so desperately tried to suppress betrayed me, slipping silently down my cheeks. My chest ti
°ADRIAN° She turned to look at me, her eyes wide, glinting like two startled orbs. I couldn’t help but smirk at her reaction. “You mean?” she asked, the shock still etched across her face. “We’ll stay here. Tim will pick you up and drop you off,” I replied. For a second, she mulled over my words, and then I saw it—a devilish smile lighting up her face, a glint of mischief sparkling in her eyes. “You did this for me.” It wasn’t a question. “No,” I denied instantly. “Yeah…?” she dragged, her voice teasing, her expression all too knowing. “Yeah.” There she was again, grating on my nerves with that infuriating smugness, like she had me all figured out. It annoyed me to no end how she always hit home, like she could read my every move. Deep down, though, I couldn’t lie to myself. Maybe… just maybe, it was because of what she’d said about the long travel. I didn’t know why, but the next day, I found myself asking Timothy to secure this apartment. Why the hell was she influencing
°SERENA° He paused, turning slightly. “None of your concern.” “I’m the one who was kidnapped. I’m the one who suffered. I have the right to know!” Adrian’s gaze snapped to me, his eyes cold and unforgiving. “Yeah, none of which would have happened if you hadn’t been fucking stupid enough to get in a car with anyone.” The words hit me like a slap. I felt my chest tighten, the sting of his accusation cutting deeper than I wanted to admit. But I refused to let him see the hurt. “They were my classmates,” I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady. “Fucking classmates,” he scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. “I’ve already given a videotape to the cops,” he continued, his voice sharp. “They’ve been arrested. I’m going to confirm their identities and ensure they’re punished. Or... do you want me to let them walk free?” His words jolted me. What kind of question was that? “Walk free? Throw them in a damn jail to rot,” I replied firmly, my voice carrying a bitternes
°SERENA° Agony. Pure, unrelenting agony. Every inch of my body felt like it had been drained of life, each limb weighed down as though gravity had doubled. Even my eyelids resisted, heavy with exhaustion, but I forced them open. A decision I regretted immediately as the harsh light above stabbed my eyes, blinding me momentarily. Blinking rapidly, I adjusted to the brightness and let my gaze wander. The white walls and curtains confirmed I was in a hospital room. My left arm was tightly bandaged, and I didn’t need to guess—it was broken. My eyes drifted downward, catching sight of a familiar figure slumped near my bedside. My heart skipped a beat. Adrian. The heartless guy, he came for me… A small, involuntary smile tugged at my lips as fragments of last night filtered back into my mind. The memories made my cheeks burn with equal parts of embarrassment and shame. Oh God! I have given my very first kiss to him! That too under the effects of drugs, it's really embarrassing. St