Chapter 80

Justin learned Serene recently enrolled the twins in a play school in a mall the Lewis’s owned in Hyacinth Bay. This was also where they met Kenny, Chester’s son. He also learned that since Serene’s return two years ago, she had been leading Ellis Inc. Under her leadership, she’s able to expand Ellis Inc’s network. A proud smile left his lips. Serene’s always been sharp and hard working. Her work ethics were impeccable, and it’s almost no surprise that she’s doing well in the business world.

He looked at the list of establishments she’s doing business with. He sneered as his eyes went over the list. None of the establishments she dealt with had anything to do with Rain International. The only large business she worked with were those the Lewis’s operated. Majority of the businesses she worked with were small independent restaurants. The hotels she supplied seafood for were three-star hotels or bed and breakfasts. She made sure their paths would not intersect.

She evaded him and stuck with the market that he ignored. Clever move, Serene. She did business within Hyacinth Bay under the Lewis’s protection, which was no surprise to him. He saw how tightly knit the two families were. Serene hid from him in plain sight for the past two years.

He tapped his finger on his desk in contemplation. Now that Serene knew he wanted to play a part in their children’s lives, it’s obvious Serene’s next move is to hide her children from him. The panic he saw in her face when he saw them the first time says it all. Of course, he would not let it happen.

This only meant he needed to work faster than she is if he wanted to keep them.

**********

Serene busied herself with painting the dress. A week had already passed, and she’d already completed half of the dress. Crystal picked the design closest to the sunset dress that she saw in the exhibit.

For this dress, it looked as if it’s made from a million flower petals. And she’s not wrong. She had painstakingly painted individual flower petals. The shadows around the flowers give it depth and a 3-D illusion. She looked like a flower sprite and the flowers followed her every move.

When Crystal sees the partially painted dress, she’s in awe. She admired Serene for her realistic painting style, and she had used the same technique for this dress. The thought of wearing a Felicity Pax masterpiece tickled her.

Seeing the effort, she put on the dress, Crystal insisted on taking Serene for lunch. Serene reluctantly agreed.

Serene felt nostalgic when she entered the famous Japanese restaurant in Hotel Le Grande. She and Justin ate at this restaurant countless times.

Her eyes scanned the place. Nothing had changed. It’s still the minimalist yet homey restaurant she knew. When she and Crystal were about to enter a private room, she heard a familiar, flamboyant voice.

“Shen, Baby!” Dylan called. His smile reached his eyes.

“Dylan,” she said, smiling back at him. Her eyes darted to the person behind him. Justin looked immaculate. His long hair combed and gathered on his back, his face clean.

“Honey, you’re here!” Crystal said, and walked towards Justin, then gave him a peck at the corner of his lips. Her red lipstick smeared on his face. “Ms. Pax and I were about to have lunch. Do you want to join us?” Her hands wrapped around Justin’s arms as she looked up to him through her fluttering fake eyelashes.

“OK,” Justin replied, which made Crystal’s jaw drop. She had expected him to decline. Since he declined her invitations for a meal in the past. She couldn’t hide her happiness from his acceptance and let out a small shriek.

The two stepped into the private room first, with Dylan and Serene tailing them.

“Ms. Pax, please order what you want,” Crystal said, smiling at Serene.

“Are you sure about that?” Dylan playfully asked. He remembered the last time he ate at this restaurant with Serene. Her orders almost filled half of the table. Serene rolled her eyes at him.

As they waited for their order, Crystal, who was in high spirit asked Serene, “Ms. Pax—”

“—call me Serene. It’s Serene Ellis. Felicity and Pax are my children’s names.” She smiled at Crystal.

“Serene,” Crystal corrected herself. “You seem to know Justin and Dylan well.”

Dylan choked on his drink from Crystal’s question, making him cough. Serene rubbed his back and gave him a tissue. The action drew Justin’s irk and cast his dagger looks at Dylan.

“We do. I knew Dylan from my side hustles in college. As for Mr. Rain, I’ve worked with Rain International before,” she answered. All her answers were safe and were the truth. Pieces of truth.

Crystal nodded her understanding. Then from out of the blue, she asked, “It must be hard getting pregnant with twins, huh?”

She smiled at the woman across from her. “I don’t know for some, but yes, it was for me. My pregnancy was risky. I was bedridden throughout the pregnancy. And to keep my babies alive, I had to do daily injections of blood thinners in my belly.” Many people had asked her about her pregnancy and so it’s almost automatic for her to say what she just said. But for the people whom she shared the table with, it was their first time hearing her struggle.

Dylan’s jaw dropped and looked at her with unmasked surprise. Crystal was the same. Justin sipped his drink casually and looked at her from the rim of his cup.

What Serene did not know was Justin’s cup almost broke from his grip. Every word she said stabbed him in the heart. He read about her condition from the file he had before but hearing her say it made the blow more painful. And she had to go through all these on her own. He wanted to kick himself in the ass for his stupidity back then. She suffered alone when he could have held her hand and accompanied her in her struggle.

“What are the daily injections for?” Dylan asked after getting over his shock.

“I had an autoimmune disorder which causes my blood to clot more than normal. If untreated, it would cut off oxygen supply to the placenta. This will lead to miscarriage,” she explained.

“So, are you still doing it now? I mean the injections?”

“No. I have tested when I was 6 months and another when I was 1 year postpartum, and my blood tests came out clean. So, I guess it only kicks in when I’m pregnant.”

“Wow! So how did you learn about it?”

“I almost had a miscarriage when the twins were 6 weeks gestation. My doctor had run all tests she could to see if I had some other condition that could threaten my pregnancy.”

Dylan hugged her. “Mama bear, you’re so brave,” he said.

“Can we stop talking about this now? We’re scaring Crystal,” she said, looking at the woman across from her. She looked pale and her eyes round as plates. Serene held her hand and comforted her. “Don’t think too much. Not all pregnancies are the same. Who knows, you’re one of those who could continue their lives unaffected by their pregnancy.”

“I hope so,” she answered in a soft voice, then looked at Justin.

Justin did not bother looking at Crystal. He wanted so much to lean across the table and shake Serene to her senses. How dare she insinuate he would let another woman have his child!