SERENA’S POV“Oh, Kaihly. I know you would have a great time with Caden. The man is a gentleman and you share the same interest with him. He also came from a family of wealth. He is a perfect fit for you, dear.”Kelly and I looked at each other as we listened to our mom tell Kaihly the things she didn’t have any interest in. “Damn. I don’t think my twin is liking what she said. Mommy should stop telling her about dating or she wouldn’t want to work with Caden,” Kelly whispered at me, both of us watching Kaihly, who had a poker face on as she typed something on her laptop.“That man didn’t come here for love, Mom. And I am definitely not interested in dating someone right now. I don’t even know if I like men, what more on dating them,” Kaihly rebutted, making Kelly and I burst out laughing.We had been watching them argue about Caden Garcia, the man my mother introduced to us. He arrived at exactly 4 in the morning and was currently resting in the guest room right now. It was already
GRAY’S POVI left my penthouse later than I usually did. The celebration last night ended past midnight. I stayed not because I enjoyed the company of my employees, but because Kole and Marco went to the same bar that Mr. Mitchell and Ms. Rowans chose. They arrived fifteen minutes after Serena left. They got invited to our table and unsurprisingly got along with Serena’s team. I only stayed there for the drink, to be honest. I wasn’t even speaking to anyone—including Lina, the plus one that I told Serena last night. She was one of Aerah’s friends who had been following me around for years now. She was a good woman, and when I said good, she was far from doing the things that my sister usually did. She was with me last night because I foolishly followed Kole’s advice—which was to look to other women instead of liking Serena. I had no plans on pursuing Kelsey Robins like what he suggested. I ended up noticing Lina, which was a foolish decision, too, as the woman only got her heart
SERENA’S POV I did not expect Caden to be here, but I was definitely not mad. He wasn’t disturbing me, anyway. And this was a great opportunity to show him what was it like inside the Moore Estates. He would have an idea of what kind of environment he was about to face once he successfully bought one of the major shares. “How did you know where my office was? Did Kaihly tell you?” I asked Caden as I signaled him to sit on the visitor’s chair as an offer. We decided to go back to my office instead of staying in the hallway for so many reasons. Caden had the visuals to attract anyone who would see him, so he could be a distraction if we passed by some of the employees’ workplaces. And of course, I would not have them stay in public where people could hear what we were gonna talk about. I was sure Caden didn’t come here just to see me. He was here to discuss something about what we had talked about earlier. “I happened to be in the same elevator as Gray Moore, so I took the chance to
SERENA’S POV A jealous Gray Would surely entertain me. I had not seen him jealous in the years that I had known him. Not even once. Making him jealous meant proving that I was becoming an effective flirt and I would get to enjoy how messed up he could be at the same time.That was like hitting two birds in one stone. I discovered that I tend to have fun whenever I see him perplexed and affected by what I always did.“I am up for everything you wish to happen, Ms. Serena Ambers. As long as you have a valid reason and we’re doing it the right way.”I cracked a laugh.“The only valid reason that I can tell you is my husband and his family ruined my life. What we’re doing right now doesn’t even equal to what they did to me before. I at least want to be even—or punish them more.”The corner of Caden’s lip turned up. My mother mentioned that she had paid Caden a great fortune to participate with us, but to be honest, I didn’t think Caden agreed to team up with my family just because of the
SERENA’S POVI tapped my fingers on my table, my face resting on my palm. It had been thirty minutes since I left Gray’s office, and what he answered me still lingered in my mind.What does he mean he had no idea when did it start? Is he playing with me?How can a person not know when did they start liking a person? Is that even possible?I had to leave his office because an executive passed by and had to talk to him. I didn’t want to be a disturbance so I went back here. Caden left just a few moments ago, so I was alone here since I asked Miranda to take care of the lunch that I promised the team. I had paperwork waiting for me, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus so I just let myself fool around, figuring out what the Gray’s answer meant. I tilted my head on the side, my forehead knotting. No matter how much I thought of it, I could not understand it still. If I were to recall when was the time that started I liking him then, I could still narrate every thing about it. It wasn’
GRAY’S POVI should have advised my secretary to not let anyone in my office while Serena was here. I knew it was working hours, but I did not have the energy to talk to anyone aside from her. She left and I could not think of other reasons to make her come back. I just knew she would not believe me if I said it was about work-related stuff. She did not seem to like my answer to her last question, too, so I had zero hopes of seeing her again for the rest of the day. She might have an interest in me, but it was evident that she valued herself more. As she should. It was the only right thing to do.If she did not want to come back here, then I would go to her instead. Her office was just near mine, and I heard the man named Caden already left. I had all the means to go there and talk to her again.“Ahm, are you going somewhere? Where are you going? We can go out together since… I am also about to leave. Please wait for me.”I instantly ceased walking. Shit. I almost forgot that Lina w
SERENA’S POVDoes he think that I would let him talk to me right now right after I saw him with that model? I refused to be one of the women that he could run to any time whenever he was sick with his other girls.How dare he talk to me right after he complained that he was just one of my men? Damn him. I would not let him manipulate me. I was not one of the women who was so obsessed with him. I would be more than willing to dump him right here.“I know what you’re thinking right now, Serena, and I swear that I am not guilty nor doing something like that—”“I did not ask, Mr. Moore. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go ahead. I still have to talk to my secretary.”I passed by him and never looked back. I did not even glance at the model that was just behind him, watching us act like we were freaking lovers.Oh, we used to be, Ms. Model. The man you liked right now had a bad family background. They were all a suspect in an attempted murder almost three years ago.With that in my mind, I s
SERENA’S POVWho does she think she is? If she thought that I would back down just because people believed that she was the good one between the two of us, then she was wrong. I did not give a flying care even if her fans would come to me and say mean things online.I would be more than willing to ruin her image because of what she did just now.But I was not that evil, so I would let this pass. Who knows if her modeling career is the only life she had, right? I would not take that from her… at least not now. She was not crossing the line yet. Her insecurity did not even meet Aerah’s attitude.At least this woman still had class inside her because she was not causing any scene. Her voice was so low that only the three of us could hear what she was saying.People would think that we were having a girly talk here, to be honest.“You bitch. I’ll remember what happened today and what are the things you said to me. I’ll make sure you’ll regret all of these,” she stated for the last time, f
SERENA’S POVI felt lightheaded as Charles continued carrying me. The only hope that I had with me right now was the fact that Gray would be with us anytime soon. How dumb it was to feel like this when I was the one who ran away from him before I got kidnapped.I was the one who put us all into this.“Jane, I have to stop carrying you for now. Aerah Celine will guide you while I protect the three of us from any person who might come to us. This will be quick. Gray and the backups will be here anytime soon…” Charles whispered to me, making me open my eyes amidst the gunshot that I was hearing around the building.I was comfortable being carried by him, as my injured leg could not take it anymore. But hearing that this would be over soon, it was as if the motivation to get through all of these that I thought had left my body made me agree to what he said.My silent nod was his cue to put me down carefully. The moment that my feet felt the solid ground immediately had me gasp in pain. Ae
SERENA’S POV My lips seemed to be experiencing draught due to dryness, my bruised leg was numb, and I was damn well sure that I had lost a lot of blood during my whole stay in this building. It had been so many hours since Hazel told me those things. She said that she would finish me and I would not be able to leave this place alive. During my hours of stay here, I had a lot of time to think of what she told me. I even came across thinking of the things that I wanted to tell not just to my family but also to Gray before Hazel decided to kill me. It was so heavy in my chest to even think that I would not have the chance to talk to Gray after learning all of those things, but somehow, while I stayed all alone here for I did not know how many hours, there was a time that I accepted that this would be my end. That I would die without achieving the justice and happiness that I deserved. I did not know what Hazel was waiting for. Is this her way of killing me? To let me have an infection
GRAY’S POVIt had been a day since Jane went missing. Because of this happening, we paused everything that we were about to do during the whole team building. To be fair to the other employees who had been so excited about this out-of-town activity, I gave them all a budget to stay on a nearby island where they could enjoy things without interruptions.There were only a few of us left here, and when I said few, only Jane’s relatives and mine were present. Including the police officers that we contacted, of course.“Look for my daughter in all the corners of this island and the nearby ones. It is so impossible for her to be missing in this small place. I need you to find her.”The woman whom they called Victoria, the mother of the love of my life sat at the end of the table with a wine glass in front of her. Just like what they described her, she had a strong facade because of her sharp features which no one dared to talk about while she was speaking.I did not know if I was the only o
SERENA’S POVIt was like a long dream. A dream that I wish I did not remember at all for the sake of saving my heart from all the pain that I already felt for the past years when I could not remember anything.It was just the same. Remembering everything or not, I would still end up hurting.I remembered all the things that happened now. From my childhood up to the night that I got into an accident—or perhaps, an intentional one that made me forget half of my existence.How could Gray do that? That night, Hazel told me that it was Gray who asked her to kill me. Right after sleeping with her in our house, that was what he did to get rid of me.But there was something wrong. There was something that wasn’t connecting to what she was saying in my memory.If Gray really tried to get rid of me, why didn’t he sign the divorce papers? Why did he act like he was so in love with me? Things like that were not adding up at all. Was Hazel trying to trick me that time? Was that a real thing and sh
SERENA’S POVIt was so stupid of me to even try standing up and turning my back on him. The ache in my chest was pushing all my stupidity to keep going and leave this man. I didn’t know where to go and how would I come back, but I kept on walking away even though I was screaming inside because of pain.I did not want to be with him right now.I had the advantage when I was walking away as Gray seemed to be not in his right thinking right now. He had only called my name, but the words I said seemed to strike him so much that he couldn’t even move to follow me.I started running away even though the sharp wood that was attached to my leg was stabbing me in every step I took. I couldn’t find the way out of this mess, but I was lucky enough that I didn’t hear his footsteps near me.“Damn it,” I whispered as I held on to my knee to support my body. I was gasping for air as I stopped and looked behind me, relieved that I was all alone on my way back.“How stupid can you be to let yourself b
SERENA’S POV How did he get here? I believed he was also busy looking for the treasure that we had to find. Why did he even come here? I meant, it wasn’t like I did not want someone to find me, but I was expecting Landon or the other employees to find me!“Fuck, what happened?” He ran toward me in haste the moment his eyes landed on my bloody legs. It already felt numb, so I did not notice that he was referring to it immediately. I did not speak, instead, I just watched him worry about me while my mind started roaming around what had happened today. I never spotted Gray talking to Hazel, not even just for once ever since this day started, but seeing that woman follow him around like a dog just fucking made my chest abnormally in pain. I was slowly regaining my memories day by day, and I felt like I was close to the part where both of them would betray me. And no matter how much I wanted to learn the truth, every memory that I would remember just made my heart ache even harder. I re
GRAY’S POVI could not take my eyes off my wife when I saw her walking toward the seashore wearing only nothing but a two-piece. The last time I saw her wearing one was years ago, and we weren’t really close at that time.“Stop being a creep, man. You’re staring at her too much.”I blinked twice to pull myself together. Perhaps I might be looking like a creep right now as I continued admiring my wife even if I was meters away from her. How could I not? She was so gorgeous and I was sure I wasn’t the only one appreciating her beauty.They had been walking around the beach together with her secretary and her other friends, taking pictures together like there was no tomorrow. I didn’t follow her, of course. I wanted her to enjoy this vacation with little to no interruption of her activities.“Too bad you won’t be seeing her be a sporty woman today, man. Why did you even ask them to move the schedule for the beach volleyball? It would be lit,” Marco inquired with curiosity, watching my wi
AERAH’S POV “Did you see that, Mom? What the hell is going on between them? I thought Gray was avoiding that woman already? What is happening, and why has your son been clinging to that woman since this morning? He didn’t even stay in our cottage when we ate breakfast…” I eyed the two of them as they walked away from the crowd. Couldn’t my brother think properly? He knew that we hated that woman, yet he was still doing this shit and kept neglecting what we were telling him. The person that I paid to spy on him told me that my brother was rarely with Serena, and seeing how he was acting right now just made me think that the bastard was lying to me. “Are they in a relationship now, Mrs. Moore? Gray is so unbothered with our presence. He hasn’t talked to me since we came here. What do I do, Mrs. Moore? Huh?” Hazel inquired, her voice slightly shaking for an I did not know reason. Is she threatened that Serena Ambers, who shared the same face as Gray’s ex-wife, was probably going out w
SERENA’S POVSince we could not waste time, we only did a few hours of resting before proceeding to the activities that were prepared for today. I guessed this was what Landon was telling me a while ago.All of us changed into the shirts that were provided for each team. Our team wore pink shirts, while Gray and his team wore white. I couldn’t imagine how dirty it would be after all the games that we were about to play.“Catch the duck for the first game? You wouldn’t force me to play that, Miranda. Over my dead body,” I whispered as I listened to the host announce the first activity. I would rather stay in our room the whole day than have myself roll on the sand trying to catch a duck while blindfolded. “It is for men only. We are not allowed to join yet, so it would be Landon, Caden, and the other men in our team as well. We’re just gonna sit here to support them…”I felt relief in my chest as I heard the words. The hosts started reading the mechanics. If I understood it right, eac