Chapter 239 Together

Chapter 239 Together
THIRD PERSON’S POV.

“I honestly don’t know how to thank you,” Serena smiled at the mirror as Steven helped balance the necklace on her neck. “If you hadn’t gone hiking that day, I probably wouldn’t have been standing here.”

“I’ve had more adventures this last week than I have in my entire life, I’m happy I could help and I’m glad to be a part of your journey, Serena.”

“You must visit me once I’m properly settled back in Monterra, okay?” Serena giggled, turning to face him.

Steven’s eyes moved from her eyes and slowly settled on her lips, “I’ll never forget you Serena Gregory,”

Serena’s lips crashed into his before the words even left his mouth and he kissed her back.

Warm and passionate in a way that ignited every nerve in his body.

She pulled back after a while and smirked, “I’ll see you around Steven.”

And just like that, Serena Gregory walked out the door, and outbid his life almost as quietly as she had walked in.

Trisha had sent a car to pick her up, that she knew, what bae hadn’t expected however was for the car to be heavily guarded.

Apart from the driver, three other armed men were in the car waiting when she got to it.

She dialed Trisha’s number immediately, “Why are there heavily armed men in the car you sent me?” She asked.

“This is your first time in Monterra since you were kidnapped. I’d be a fool to let anyone harm you under my watch.”

Serena giggled, “Thank you Trish, I’ll see you soon.”

Through the ride back to Monterra, she kept repeating only one prayer, and that was not to bump into anyone she knew.

Especially Damian.

But one thing about Monterra, prayers barely got answered, especially not when men like Damian were involved.

~ ~ ~

Serena wore her mask tightly against her face as she weaved through the crowd of masked partygoers. Trisha was currently presenting an award on stage, but she had texted Serena the table number where she should wait until the presentation was over.

Barely had she taken her seat when a familiar figure caught her attention.

Damian.

Her pulse lurched.

Heat flooded her body so suddenly that she almost forgot how to breathe.

She looked away immediately, praying he hadn’t seen her.

Then, against her better judgment, she looked back.

He wasn’t just looking in her direction anymore. He was walking toward her.

Her stomach dropped.

There was no way he could have recognized her beneath such an elaborate mask…

But then again…

This was Damian.

The man who could pick her out in a room filled with hundreds of people simply by the way she walked.

Panic seized her.

Without another thought, Serena shot to her feet and disappeared into the crowd.

“Hey!” Damian called after her.

She didn’t stop.

The sound of hurried footsteps behind her only made her run faster.

Her eyes darted frantically around the ballroom until she spotted the ladies’ restroom.

Perfect.

She slipped inside, slammed the door shut behind her, and quickly locked it.

Her chest rose and fell violently as she leaned against the door, struggling to steady her breathing.

“It’s okay…” she whispered to herself. “He didn’t see your face.”

Slowly, she walked toward the sink.

Her trembling fingers reached for the lace mask covering her face.

She pulled it off which ended up being a big mistake.

The bathroom door exploded inward with a deafening bang.

Serena spun around.

Damian stood in the doorway. His chest rose and fell almost as violently as hers.

His gaze landed on the mirror…

Then on her reflection.

Every ounce of color drained from his face.

“I knew it…” he whispered, his voice cracking. “I knew it was you.”

Instinctively, Serena turned away, trying to cover her face again.

It was too late.

Damian crossed the room in hurried strides and gently—but firmly—caught her wrist before she could reach the mask.

His fingers trembled as he pulled it away completely.

“Why are you hiding from me?” he asked quietly.

Only then did Serena notice the faint smell of alcohol on his breath.

“Are you drunk?”

A humorless laugh escaped him.

“Maybe.”

His eyes never left hers.

“I thought you were dead.”

His hand lifted almost hesitantly before brushing against her cheek.

The touch was featherlight.

As though he were terrified she would disappear if he pressed any harder.

“I can’t believe you’re actually standing in front of me,” he breathed. “You’re alive…”

His throat tightened.

“But… how?”

“I’m not here to answer your questions.”

Serena tried to move around him.

He stepped aside just enough to avoid trapping her, yet remained between her and the exit.

“Where are you going?”

“To finish what I came here for.”

“Serena…”

His voice broke.

“I know I hurt you beyond forgiveness.”

She didn’t answer.

“I know I don’t deserve another second of your time. But don’t you think I deserve to know why everyone buried you while you’re standing here alive?”

She laughed.

It wasn’t amused.

It was hollow.

Painful.

“Maybe you would’ve known…”

She finally looked him in the eye.

“…if you had attended my funeral.”

The words landed like a physical blow.

Damian staggered back a step.

His lips parted, but nothing came out.

The silence stretched painfully between them.

Finally…

“I couldn’t.”

His voice barely rose above a whisper.

“I couldn’t watch them lower an empty coffin into the ground knowing the last thing I ever did was destroy the woman I loved.”

He swallowed hard.

“I kept seeing your face.”

He laughed bitterly.

“You begging me to believe you.”

Another breath.

“You crying while I chose someone else over you.”

His eyes glistened.

“I wasn’t strong enough to stand beside your grave pretending I’d earned the right to mourn you.”

Serena folded her arms tightly across her chest.

“So instead you stayed home.”

“I punished myself.”

His eyes dropped to the floor.

“I barely left Crowne Manor after you died.”

He looked back at her.

“Oscar practically dragged me here tonight because he said hiding wasn’t bringing you back.”

His smile was heartbreaking.

“I never expected…”

He shook his head.

“I never imagined I’d actually find you.”

“So what?” Serena snapped. “Am I supposed to feel sorry for you because you finally realized what you lost?”

“No.”

His answer came instantly.

“I would never ask that.”

He stepped closer, but carefully this time.

“I deserve every ounce of hatred you have for me.”

His voice cracked.

“I failed you.”

“I failed our marriage.”

“I let my pride become louder than your voice.”

“I trusted lies over the woman who had never once stopped fighting for us.”

He closed his eyes briefly.

“And I’ll regret that for the rest of my life.”

Serena looked away before he could see the tears threatening to gather.

“Trisha told me you’ve gone back to the underworld.”

She scoffed. “I guess a leopard never changes its spots.”

Damian frowned.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

She met his eyes again.

“Drugs.”

“Trafficking.”

“The same blood-soaked empire your father built.”

“I heard you took it all back.”

Damian stared at her in disbelief.

“No.”

His voice was firm.

“You’ve got it completely wrong.”

“Then explain it.”

“I didn’t rebuild that empire because I wanted power.”

His jaw tightened.

“I rebuilt it because of you.”

Serena frowned.

“How exactly does trafficking women and flooding the streets with drugs help me?”

“It doesn’t.”

He exhaled heavily.

“Which is exactly why I never intended to continue it.”

He held her gaze.

“The night you disappeared… I discovered Horace’s real plan.”

“He never wanted Gregory Enterprises.”

“He wanted what Gregory Enterprises could become.”

“He planned to turn it into the largest drug distribution network in Monterra.”

Serena’s expression slowly changed.

Damian continued.

“Everything suddenly made sense.”

“Your mother.”

“Your grandfather.”

“The accidents.”

“The poison.”

“The murders.”

“They were never random.”

“They were obstacles.”

His eyes darkened.

“I knew the moment Horace became CEO, Gregory’s shipping routes would become the perfect cover for moving narcotics across the country.”

“So I made sure he wouldn’t be the only king in the game.”

“I rebuilt my father’s network.”

“Not to expand it.”

“To get inside it.”

“To intercept shipments.”

“To steal buyers.”

“To cripple Horace before he even got started.”

He looked almost disgusted with himself.

“I sacrificed my own name because I couldn’t let yours become synonymous with drugs and human trafficking.”

His eyes softened.

“I couldn’t let your grandfather’s legacy die like that.”

Silence filled the restroom.

For the first time since seeing him…

Serena hesitated.

She searched his face.

The guilt.

The exhaustion.

The grief.

None of it looked rehearsed.

None of it looked fake.

“I thought I’d lost you forever,” Damian whispered.

“So did I.”

His hand slowly rose again.

This time…

She didn’t stop him.

His fingertips brushed her cheek.

His thumb wiped away a tear she hadn’t realized had escaped.

“I searched every hospital.”

“Every morgue.”

“Every forest.”

“I stopped sleeping.”

“I stopped living.”

His voice cracked completely.

“I don’t deserve another chance.”

“I know that.”

“But if there’s even the smallest place left in your heart where I still exist…”

His forehead rested gently against hers.

“…please don’t disappear again.”

Serena closed her eyes.

For weeks…

She had imagined this moment.

She had imagined screaming.

Slapping him.

Walking away.

Instead…

She found herself standing perfectly still.

Because beneath all the anger…

Beneath all the betrayal…

There was still love.

Bruised.

Broken.

Almost unrecognizable.

But alive.

Slowly…

She lifted a hand and rested it against his chest.

“I still haven’t forgiven you.”

“I know.”

“And I don’t know if I ever fully will.”

“I understand.”

“But,” She inhaled shakily. “I believe you’re finally telling me the truth.”

Relief crashed through Damian so suddenly his knees almost gave way.

Without another word he cupped her face slowly, giving her every opportunity to pull away.

She didn’t.

Their lips met slowly, softly, tentatively.

Not like two lovers picking up where they left off but like two broken people discovering that, somehow, after everything, there was still something left worth saving.

When they finally pulled apart, Serena rested her forehead against his once more.

“Let’s take Horace Gregory down.”

Damian nodded without hesitation. “Together, and this time” His voice hardened. “We will make sure we finish it.”