°ADRIAN° What the hell is happening? I know I should stop her. I know this isn’t right. But for a fleeting second, I couldn’t. I froze, caught in the chaos of her desperation, her pain, her heat. The metallic taste of blood snapped me out of it. Her blood. My stomach twisted, and my fucking heart sank like a stone. She’s drugged, I reminded myself, forcing clarity through the storm in my head. This wasn’t her. This wasn’t Serena. It was the drugs—clouding her judgment, stealing her control, and leaving her vulnerable in ways I couldn’t bear to see. I will not let her do something she'll regret later. I broke the kiss, grabbing her shoulders gently but firmly, grounding myself and her in the same motion. "Serena, stop," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "This isn’t you. You’re not thinking clearly." As I pressed lightly on her left shoulder to keep her steady, an ear-piercing scream tore from her lips, freezing my blood. I pulled back instantly, my eyes darting to
°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
°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
°ADRIAN° A lot of work needed to be done. When I came back, I didn’t expect my company to be untouched. But I wasn’t prepared for this level of change either. All my employees—gone. Evelyn and Victor had filled every corner with their snakes. They even had the audacity to assign me an assistant. As if I would fucking accept that. The first day was chaos. I had to step up, tear everything apart, and bring back my most trusted people. But the task was far from complete. Timothy and I had been working ourselves to the bone, rebuilding this place into something I could trust again. Because once I have control here, reclaiming everything else will be easy. But even amidst all this, there’s been a nagging feeling in the back of my mind. A pull. A ridiculous urge to go home. To see my little gold digger. I’ve been away before. But not like this. Not this long. Not this far. I usually handle myself well, but this? This is proving to be tough. At first, I thought sh
°SERENA° “Then let me help you.” What on earth? “And by doing what?” I stepped back instinctively, putting some distance between us. I can't explain why, but his closeness is doing something to me. “Anything you want,” he said, that maddening arrogance lacing his tone. “You don’t even know how to cook,” I pointed out. “That’s why we should order something until you can cook.” I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could, my stomach betrayed me with a loud grumble. A slow, devilish smirk stretched across his face. Stupid. "Fine." ___ Evening came, and he had already ordered enough food to last three days. I saved some from the afternoon, and all it needed was reheating. So instead of cooking, I chose to lounge on the couch, munching on my cocoa cakes. And then, an over-handsome, heartless—okay, maybe not heartless, more like emotionally blocked—man decided to show up in front of me. I immediately sat up straight, trying to figure out a way to leave with
°SERENA° The world hasn’t stopped spinning. I could still hear the screech of tires echoing in my skull, my hands trembling as they curled into Adrian’s shirt—fisting the fabric like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. We could have died. The thought slammed into me, knocking the breath from my lungs. We could have been crushed. We could have— A shiver crawled down my spine. I squeezed my eyes shut, sucking in a shaky breath. Focus, Serena. You’re okay. He’s okay. My grip on Adrian loosened just as he shifted, his head snapping toward the window. I followed his gaze. The van. It was already gone. I flinched when he moved. His hands were already unclasping his seatbelt, his entire body wound tight, sharp-edged, ready to do something. Panic surged through me. No. Without thinking, I reached for him, grabbing his sleeve before he could step out. "Where are you going?" My voice wavered, breathless, but I tightened my grip. I didn’t care if I sounded
°ADRIAN° Silence stretched between us—not suffocating, but oddly comforting. Her words still echoed in my mind. "I'm not leaving." I didn’t know what she meant. Maybe I didn’t want to. But for once, I wasn’t searching for answers. Instead, I shifted, moving beside her and leaning back against the wall, stretching my legs as I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. She didn’t question my distance. Didn’t try to fill the quiet with unnecessary words. I was grateful for that. Because none of this was supposed to happen. I had played out a hundred ways this night could end. But not this. Not standing in front of the girl who once saved me—only to find out she was Serena. Not kissing her. Fuck. I kissed her. And I could still taste it. The sweetness of her lips—faint, like chocolate melting on my tongue. The way her breath hitched when I pulled her closer. How she responded—hesitant at first, then something deeper, something raw. I closed my eyes, bu
°SERENA° I couldn't process what was happening. One second, Adrian was telling me he would never love, his voice so hollow it made my chest ache. His tone—detached, almost cruel—had made it clear that I didn’t matter to him. And the next— His lips crashed against mine. The force of it sent a sharp gasp from my lungs, my entire body seizing in shock. His grip was unrelenting, fingers digging into my waist as if anchoring himself to me. His lips moved with raw urgency, stealing breath, stealing thought—stealing everything but the sharp, intoxicating awareness of him. It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t gentle. It was desperate, almost punishing—like he was branding himself into me in a way words never could. The taste of him—dark, heady, laced with the remnants of bitter wine—spread across my tongue, and my senses drowned in him. His scent was everywhere, intoxicating—a mix of rain-dampened fabric, something woody, something unmistakably Adrian. I froze, my mind spiraling in the sh
°ADRIAN° "I was never meant to leave that place alive." The words spill out before I can stop them, raw and unfiltered. A truth I never dared to say aloud. The room is too small, too suffocating, and yet, for the first time, there’s nowhere to run. No darkness to retreat into. Serena is watching me. But I don’t meet her eyes. Because if I do… If I do, I might see something I can’t bear— Pity. Horror. Or worse—understanding. And I don’t deserve that. Not after everything. "I was five when my mother died." The words scrape my throat, sharp and jagged. I’ve buried them for so long, convinced myself they didn’t matter anymore. But now they’re here, clawing their way out, refusing to stay silent. "They told me it was an illness. A weak heart. Something unavoidable." A fucking lie. A beautifully packaged, carefully spun lie. Because I remember her. I remember how she’d stroke my hair, humming lullabies in the softest voice. How she’d press kisses to my f
°ADRIAN° "Yeah. When I was little. I don’t remember much, but I do remember a garden. A huge one, filled with flowers of every kind. And… there was a boy. He was locked up. Or something." The moment the words left her lips, my world tilted. I froze. My breath stilled. My pulse thundered so violently it rattled inside my ribs. No. No, it couldn't be. But my body knew it before my mind could catch up. My skin prickled, my chest tightened, and something deep—something buried—something I had spent years trying to silence rose to the surface with a force that shattered through me. She’s that girl. Fuck, she’s that girl. The one I searched for. The one I never stopped looking for. The little girl who saved me. Air turned thick, lodging in my throat like something immovable. I felt it pressing down on my ribs, squeezing, suffocating. My fingers curled into fists at my sides as memories I had forced myself to forget came rushing back with brutal clarity. The cold, e
°SERENA° I was overwhelmed. Completely, utterly, and helplessly overwhelmed. Adrian had always been unpredictable, but this… this was something else entirely. Why? Why would he do this? Why would he go to such lengths—just for me? I had expected many things from him—sarcasm, teasing, that insufferable smirk he wore so well. But never this. Never something so thoughtful, so unexpected, so… breathtaking. It wasn’t just that he was walking—though that alone was enough to shatter me in the best possible way. It was everything else, too. The effort behind it. The way he had taken something impossible and turned it into reality. The way he had done it for no other reason than me. My mind struggled to process it, my heart too full to contain what I was feeling. How could someone like him—someone who pretended not to care—do something so perfect? And why… why did it make me want to cry? I blinked rapidly, but the tears spilled anyway, my chest tight, my throat aching. I fel
°SERENA° When Adrian said he had a surprise for me, I didn’t expect we’d be driving for nearly half an hour. Not that I was complaining—okay, maybe just a little—but could he at least hint at where we were going? The suspense was killing me. Worse, I was trapped in a car with him, my traitorous mind running laps around itself. Because, let’s be honest—Adrian Royce was impossible. One moment, he was the sharp-tongued, commanding force of nature who shut down an entire room of powerful, greedy relatives. And the next? He was just a man—mysterious, unreadable, but a man nonetheless—sitting beside me in this car, acting as if he hadn’t just declared war on half his family. And worse? I was staring. Not obviously! Just… a little. His fingers drummed against his thigh, his jaw absurdly sharp under the dim glow of the dashboard. He had this perpetual look of someone who had seen too much, but his eyes… God, his eyes carried a weight I didn’t know how to decipher. You’re doin