Chapter 23 **Chapter 23: Overly Involved Ride Home p> “Mr. Thorne, my colleagues have finished their dinner. I’m heading back to the police station now. Allow me the honor of escorting you, at least to the main highway.” The officer’s words brought a wave of relief to Serena. She curled
Chapter 22 **TITLE: Terms Were Unspoken by Mark Twain** **Chapter 22: Stay Hidden p> Stay Hidden. With a deliberate calmness, Nathaniel returned the documents to the safe, the heavy door clanging shut as he locked it, just seconds before the police officer arrived. “Mr. Thorne?” Officer Philips greeted him, the
Chapter 21 **Chapter 21: The Safe p> The Safe. Serena stood frozen, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if seeking comfort from the very fabric of her clothes. Her heart raced like a wild animal trapped within her chest, each beat echoing her silent plea, ‘Please, don’t tell the
Chapter 20 **Chapter 20: The Study p> The Study. Serena pressed her hand against her chest, her heart racing as if it might burst free. “God, no,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, a fragile plea echoing in the silence. Unbeknownst to her, she had already spent a disorienting fifteen
Chapter 19 **Chapter 19: The Basement p> The Basement. The plan had been meticulously crafted, and now it was time to put it into action. Serena and Alice had decided to make their way into the grand Kline mansion after six o’clock that evening. To ensure everything went smoothly, Alice
Chapter 18 **Chapter 18: The Blood Type p> Serena found herself lost in a whirlwind of thoughts as she navigated her way back to the heart of the city. The hum of the engine was almost soothing, a stark contrast to the chaos swirling in her mind. Suddenly, her phone
Chapter 17 **Chapter 17: Two Kinds of Pain p> “Please remain seated here, Miss Kline,” the correctional officer directed with a tone that was both authoritative and indifferent. “Your father will be brought out shortly.” Serena nodded, her heart heavy, and settled into the unforgiving metal chair positioned in front
Chapter 16 **Chapter 16: Mother’s Will p> “Ah, lovers don’t need to be etched together, just like friends don’t have to be. Let’s create our own cherished moments,” Alice said with a warm smile, gently squeezing Serena’s hands as if to transfer some of her optimism. Serena’s lips curled into
Chapter 15 **What Cannot Be Erased p> “Here you go, Bestie. You really need a hearty broth,” Alice said cheerfully, as she placed a steaming bowl of freshly prepared ramen in front of Serena. The rich aroma wafting from the bowl was intoxicating, and Serena could tell that the broth
Chapter 14 **Chapter 14: Prognosis p> Prognosis. It had been over four long months since Nathaniel received the devastating news about his mother’s diagnosis—a terminal illness that loomed like a dark cloud over their lives. He simply couldn’t wrap his mind around it. Having lost his father at such a
Chapter 13 **Terms Were Unspoken by Mark Twain p> **Chapter 13: Something Off p> Something felt distinctly off. Alice grimaced as she absorbed Serena’s words echoing from the living room of her apartment. She cradled her coffee cup, taking a slow sip, and shook her head in disbelief. “So, that’s
Chapter 12 **Chapter 12: The Last Time p> Four years past. “Honey,” Nathaniel whispered softly, turning his gaze toward her, “If fate blesses us with a daughter, I hope she embodies everything that you are… gentle, compassionate, and with that unique way of perceiving the world p> Serena’s laughter danced
Chapter 11 **Chapter 11: Comfortable p> Comfortable? Serena felt as if her heart had leapt into her throat when she bolted upright in bed. The sudden realization that Nathaniel was lounging beside her sent a jolt of panic through her. “Nathan! Why are you here? And why am I here?”
Chapter 10 **Chapter 10: A Change in Weather p> A Change in Weather. It was Nathaniel. The moment the rich, intoxicating scent of his cologne enveloped her, a familiar ache pierced through Serena. It was a fragrance that once brought her comfort, now it felt like a cruel reminder of
Chapter 9 **Chapter 9: The Gala p> The Gala. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce tonight’s recipient of the prestigious Industry and Economic Excellence Leadership Award, Mr. Nathaniel Thorne, the esteemed CEO of NC Pharmacies and Kline BioSolutions p> The room erupted in applause, a wave
Chapter 8 **Chapter 8: Unofficial Blacklist p> The term “Unofficial Blacklist” echoed in Serena’s mind as she embraced Alice in the sterile confines of the operating room. “I think you made the right choice,” Alice said softly, her voice filled with warmth and reassurance. The two friends held each other
Chapter 7 **Chapter 7: The Collins p> The Collins. Nathaniel sank deeper into his chair, his fingers pressing firmly against his temples, as if he could physically will away the chaos swirling in his mind. He exuded the kind of magnetic charm that made him the envy of boardrooms and
Chapter 6 Resigned. Serena stayed in her office for some time. She did nothing work-related. Instead, she reached out for her old friend, Xavier Dorian. Unfortunately, Xavier’s phone didn’t ring. It had probably been two years since they last contacted each other. So, she searched for Xavier’s social media and
Chapter 5 Six years ago. “Serena Kline, please be mine. I promise to love you for the rest of my life,” the young Nathaniel Thorne said, kneeling before Serena at the College of Science. Serena, although coming from a wealthy background, never had full confidence in herself. She was beautiful,
Chapter 4 The Invitation. “Do you remember Milona?” Alice asked on a Saturday morning. “Our batchmate in college p> “Of course, we used to have lunch together,” Serena answered calmly. She and Alice were having breakfast. “She’s inviting us to her birthday at the Golden Dragon Palace later, at six