Chapter One Hundred And Thirty Eight

Chapter One Hundred And Thirty Eight
Serena’s POV

“Adrien, stop it,” I laughed softly, swatting at his hand as he tried to fix a loose strand of my hair. “You’re making a scene.”

“I am not.” he murmured, smiling that lazy smile that still made my stomach flip. “But maybe it’ll make the interns realize love enhances focus.”

I rolled my eyes, adjusting the files in my arms. “You sound like you’re selling a seminar.”

He chuckled. “Only if you’ll be the case study.”

We reached the glass doors of the company, our reflections side by side. I hadn’t realized how natural it looked now, his arm resting around my waist, my hand lightly pressed against his chest as we walked. The stares didn’t bother me. I even love it now. 

“You’re distracted,” he said quietly as we neared the lobby.

“Just tired,” I replied, forcing a small smile. “It’s been a long week.”

Adrien stopped walking, turning me gently toward him. “You sure it’s that?” His eyes searched mine, always too perceptive for comfort. “You’ve been distant since the last meeting.”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, but he didn’t look convinced.

“Serena.... His voice softened. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but then I saw him.

Killian.

Standing by the elevator, his suit wrinkled, a bouquet of white lilies trembling in his grip. For a moment, I thought I was imagining him again, like one of those bad dreams that liked to show up when things were finally quiet.

“Serena,” Adrien muttered under his breath, his arm tightening around me.

Killian’s eyes lifted the instant he saw us. I saw the tremor in his jaw, the way his shoulders sagged with something like defeat. He took a hesitant step forward.

“Serena,” he breathed out, his voice cracking. “Please. I just need to talk.”

Adrien’s tone turned cold. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“I’m not here to fight,” Killian said quickly, his voice desperate. “I just, please, let me talk to her.”

My chest tightened, but I didn’t move. I’d seen that face too many times, remorse, tears, promises that crumbled like glass the moment I tried to believe them.

He stepped closer, clutching the flowers tighter. “I’m tired, Serena. I can’t sleep, I can’t think straight. I know I don’t deserve another chance, but I swear to you, I didn’t mean to hurt you that night. I didn’t mean the last attack. I wasn’t trying to.....
His voice broke. “I wasn’t trying to force you.”

The air felt right.

Adrien’s hand was still on my waist, but I could feel the tension running through his body. His eyes were burning into Killian, warning him not to say another word.

I finally spoke, my voice calm but cold. “You think saying that makes it better?”

Killian’s throat bobbed. No, but, please listen. I didn’t want to touch you like that. I was drunk, angry, stupid. I didn't....

“You tried to force me... I cut in, my voice rising just enough to make people nearby turn their heads. “You bruised my arm and called it love. You wanted to own me again, not love me.”

“I was out of control,” he said, voice shaking. “But I swear, Serena, I know now, I was wrong. I lost everything because of my pride. Because I didn’t trust you.”

Adrien took a step forward, blocking me slightly. “You had already said enough the last time you saw her. Don’t embarrass yourself more than you already have.”

“Please,” Killian rasped, ignoring him. His eyes were locked on mine. “Serena, just look at me once. I’m begging you.”

I wanted to walk away. Every part of me screamed to turn around, to leave him standing there with his guilt and his flowers and his pathetic excuses. But my feet stayed rooted for a second longer.

He stepped closer, holding out the lilies with trembling hands. “These were your favorite,” he whispered. “You used to say they smelled like peace.”

I stared at them. The same flowers he’d once thrown at me in anger. The same scent that once meant comfort now smelled like regret.

“I don’t want your flowers,” I said flatly.

“Then what do you want me to do?” His voice broke again. “You want me to crawl? To beg? I’ll do it, Serena. I’ll do anything.”

“Stop,” I said sharply, my patience snapping. “Stop saying my name like you still have the right to.”

His expression twisted with pain. I’m trying to make it right.

“You can’t!” My voice cracked. “You can’t erase the nights I cried myself to sleep. You can’t erase what you said, what you did. You can’t erase the way you looked at me like I was filth.”

People had begun to whisper around the lobby, but I didn’t care.

“You made me hate myself,” I whispered. “And I’m done letting you drag me back into that darkness.”

Killian took a step closer, shaking his head. “I love you, Serena. I always will.”

Adrien’s voice was a quiet thunder. “Step back.”

But Killian didn’t. His tears fell freely now. “You belong with me. Not with him. He’s using you to get at me. You think he really loves you?”

Adrien moved between us fully then, his hand resting against my lower back protectively. “Watch your mouth.”

Killian’s eyes darted between us, broad and broken. “He’s not yours. He's not us.”

“There’s no us,” I said quietly. “Not anymore.”

The elevator behind him dinged, the silver doors sliding open. For a moment, it felt like the universe was holding its breath.

I shifted slightly, tugging Adrien’s hand gently. “Let’s go.”

He nodded and turned me toward the elevator, his hand warm against mine. I didn’t look back. I didn’t want to see Killian’s face anymore, not his pain, not his apologies.

But then his voice came again, soft, cracked, almost childlike.

“Serena....please don’t go.”

I froze for half a second, my heart betraying me with a flicker of pity. I could feel Adrien watching me, waiting for me to choose, to walk forward or turn back.

I inhaled deeply. “I already did,” I whispered, more to myself than to him.

I took a step toward the elevator, trying to leave everything behind, the memories, the bruises, the nights filled with regret.

But before I could move, something small brushed against my knee.

I looked down.

A little hand was gripping the hem of my dress.

And then I heard it.

“Mum, please don’t go!”

His tiny voice caused me to stop off track.