Chapter One Hundred And Thirty One

Chapter One Hundred And Thirty One
Serena’s Pov

I kept staring at the text from Killian for a long time, my fingers tapping against the desk as if they could drum away the thoughts running through my mind.

“Sort what out exactly?” I said again as I thought about his text.

I so much wanted to ignore it. I wanted to pretend I hadn’t seen it. But no matter how much I tried to push it out of my mind, the words kept replaying in my head.

I sighed and leaned back in my chair. If I told Adrien about it, he would definitely be upset. He didn’t like it when Killian came up in conversations, and honestly, I didn’t blame him. But if I told him, he would probably want to come with me or ask too many questions, and that would only make things complicated.

No, I couldn’t do that to him. He had been nothing but supportive, trusting me when the entire internet was filled with chaos over Killian’s drama. The least I could do was not make him worry about this.

So, I picked up my phone and typed a short text to Killian.

“I’ll be there.”

Then I hit send before I could change my mind.

The rest of the morning, I tried to focus on work, but concentration just wasn’t happening. I signed documents, reviewed reports, and approved budgets, but all of it felt mechanical. My mind was already two steps ahead, trying to imagine what Killian really wanted from me.

Was it to apologize? To beg again? Or was this another one of his mind games?

By the time the clock struck 1:30pm, I had already packed my bag and Bridget came in with a few files for me to sign.

“Ma’am, these need your signature before the end of the day,” she said, setting them down gently.

Then I quickly signed them without reading much. 

“Bridget,” I said as I handed the last one back to her, “I’ll be leaving early today.”

Her brows lifted slightly. “Is everything alright, ma’am?”

“Yes, everything is fine,” I replied with a polite smile. “Just a personal errand.”

She nodded, though I could tell she wanted to ask more questions. “Okay, ma’am. I’ll take care of things here.”

“Thank you.”

I grabbed my purse and walked out of my office, heading out of the company. As I got into my car, my heart was already racing, though I tried to keep my breathing steady.

The drive to Killian’s mansion wasn’t long, but it felt like an hour. The entire time, my thoughts kept moving between calm and chaos. 

“It's just going to be a short meeting and nothing more,” I said to myself.

When I finally pulled up in front of the tall black gates, a wave of memories hit me so hard that I had to pause for a moment before stepping out.

I used to live here.

This place wasn’t just a building to me once; it was a home.

I could still remember how I would drive through those gates after work, and before I even parked, Theo would run out to greet me, shouting Mommy is home.

Killian would often stand behind him with that smug but loving grin, pretending he wasn’t waiting for me even though I always knew he was.

Those were the good days before everything changed. Before trust was broken and love turned into disappointment.

I exhaled deeply and walked to the door. My reflection stared back at me through the glass panel; calm on the outside, but uneasy inside. I raised my knuckles and knocked twice.

And the door opened almost immediately. There he was; Killian Blackwood.

He looked different since the last time I saw him. Still looking handsome and confident, but there was something softer about his expression. His lips curved into a slight smile as his eyes scanned my face like he was trying to read me.

“Serena,” he said, his tone low.

“Killian,” I replied simply.

For a few seconds, we just stood there, neither of us speaking. Then he stepped aside and gestured with his hand. 

“Come in.”

I hesitated for a brief moment before walking in. The smell of the house hit me instantly; the faint scent of his cologne mixed with polished wood and memories. Every inch of this place reminded me of what used to be ours.

As I stepped into the living room, my eyes moved across the space. Everything looked the same; the dark velvet couch, the glass coffee table, the tall bookshelf against the wall. Even the family photos were still hanging, the one with me, Killian, and Theo, all smiling like nothing ever went wrong. He must have intentionally put it up.

A lump formed in my throat. I swallowed hard and blinked away the sting in my eyes.

But Killian noticed. “Don’t get all emotional,” he said softly, almost teasing. “After all, you don’t love me anymore, right?”

I turned my head and glared at him lightly. “You’re right. I don’t. So let’s not make this awkward. What did you call me here for?”

He walked a few steps closer, his hands in his pockets, with that faint smirk still playing on his lips. 

“Can’t I invite my wife over without a reason?”

I raised an eyebrow. “You mean your ex-wife.”

He chuckled quietly, shaking his head. “You’re so stubborn.”

“Killian,” I said firmly. “Just say whatever it is. I don’t have the time or patience for your games.”

Then he studied me for a moment, then sighed. 

“Fine. It’s something important. Something you might have forgotten.”

I frowned. “Forgotten?”

He nodded. “Yes. Something in Theo’s bedroom.”

My brows furrowed deeper. “In Theo’s bedroom? What could possibly be there?”

He tilted his head, his expression unreadable. 

“You’ll understand when you see it.”

I hesitated, watching him carefully. I didn’t trust him, not even for a second, but curiosity began to creep in. What could be in Theo’s room that he thought was so important?

Then I folded my arms across my chest. 

“Alright then. Lead the way.”

He smiled faintly and turned towards the hallway. 

“This way.”

As I followed him, my heels clicked softly against the marble floor. Each step brought back another flash of memory, which was Theo’s laughter echoing down the corridor. The nights I would sneak into his room to tuck him in again, even when he was already asleep.

When we reached Theo’s door, Killian paused for a moment and looked at me. His expression was calm, but there was a glint in his eyes I couldn’t quite read.

He opened the door and stepped aside for me to enter.

I looked around the room, feeling my heart twist. It looked just as it always had; small, warm, and filled with Theo’s things. His little bed was neatly made, his toys stacked in a corner, and the curtains drawn halfway open, letting in the soft afternoon light.

Then I turned to Killian, looking confused. “So, what’s this about?”

He closed the door behind him and smiled slightly. “Something you forgot, Serena.”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached for the lock, turned it slowly, and the sound clicked through the quiet room.

That’s when I realized that he had just locked the door.

My eyes widened slightly as I looked at him. 

“Killian, what are you doing?”

He leaned against the door and smiled faintly.

And at that moment, I knew something was wrong.