Chapter One Hundred And Thirty Nine

Chapter One Hundred And Thirty Nine
Serena’s POV

My heart stopped.

That voice...

Slowly, I looked down, and my breath caught in my throat.

There he was.

Theodore.

His small hand was clutching my dress tightly, eyes wide and wet, his lips trembling as he looked up at me. For a second, I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. The noise in the lobby faded until all I could hear was the frantic pounding of my own heart.

“...Theo?” My voice came out barely a whisper, fragile and disbelieving.

He nodded quickly, his chest rising and falling fast, as if afraid I’d disappear again. “Mum,” he sobbed, the word cracking in half, “You’re alive. You’re really here.”

My knees buckled. The files in my arms slipped to the floor as I dropped, gathering them into my arms before my mind could even catch up. His tiny body trembled against me, warm and real and alive.

“Theo, baby, it’s you.... I choked out, my fingers brushing through his soft hair. “Oh my God, you’re here.”

He clung to my neck, sobbing into my shoulder. “They told me you were gone. I prayed every night, Mum. I told God I was sorry, that I’d be good if He brought you back.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them. I cupped his little face, pulling back just enough to look at him. He looked taller, thinner, his cheeks not as full as I remembered. My baby. My little boy.

Behind him, I heard Killian’s voice break.
“Theodore....

Theo’s tiny shoulders stiffened. He turned slightly, his eyes darting toward his father, confusion flickering through them. Then he looked back at me, gripping my arms tightly. “Don’t leave again, please,” he whispered. “Please, Mum.”

Adrien’s hand hovered near my shoulder, his expression soft but cautious. “Serena, he said quietly, almost respectfully, as if reminding me that the whole building was watching.

But I couldn’t move. I couldn’t look anywhere else but at my son.

Killian took a hesitant step forward. Theo, let your mother....

“Don’t!” I snapped, the word cutting sharper than I intended. My arms tightened protectively around Theo. “Don’t you dare come near him.”

Killian froze, pain flashing across his face. Serena, please. He’s my son too...

“Your son?” I repeated, my voice trembling, a bitter laugh spilling out. “You let him grow up thinking his mother was dead! You let him grieve me, Killian!”

He ran a shaky hand through his hair. “I didn’t know what else to do. You were gone, and I...

“You didn’t want to know!” I cut in, anger replacing the tears. “You hated me so much that you erased me from his life. You couldn’t even tell him the truth!”

Theo pressed his face into my shoulder, his little fists clutching my blouse. “Mum, please stop fighting,” he whimpered.

My chest tightened painfully. I softened immediately, hugging him closer. “Shh, I’m sorry, baby. I’m not mad at you.”

Adrien’s voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp as he addressed Killian. “This isn’t the place, Killian. Let her go. Let them both go.”

Killian’s expression twisted in anguish. “You don’t understand, Adrien...

“No,” Adrien cut in coldly. “I understand perfectly. You destroyed her. You don’t get to destroy her again.”

Killian’s jaw clenched, but his voice came out hoarse. “I just want my family back.”

I rose slowly, still holding Theo’s hand. My voice was steady now, but each word felt like a knife. “You lost that right the day you stopped believing in me.”

He flinched.

Theo’s teary eyes darted between us, confused. “Dad, why are you crying?”

Killian swallowed hard, his lips trembling. “Because I thought I lost both of you forever.”

I turned away. I couldn’t bear the sight of his tears anymore, not when I’d cried enough for both of us.

I crouched beside Theo, brushing his hair gently. “Listen to me, sweetheart,” I said softly. “You didn’t do anything wrong, okay? None of this is your fault.”

He sniffled. “Are you mad at Daddy?”

I hesitated, then shook my head. “I’m not mad at you or Daddy. I just.... I exhaled shakily. “I can’t go back to what it was, Theo. I can’t.”

His little lips quivered. “But can I come with you? Please?”

My throat closed up. I wanted to say yes. God, I wanted to. But I looked at Killian, and the anger, the heartbreak, the betrayal came flooding back.

“You’ll stay with Daddy for now,” I managed to say. “But I’ll visit you, I promise. And we’ll spend time together, just you and me. Somewhere safe.”

Killian frowned. “You can’t just take him from me.”

“I’m not taking him,” I said firmly, meeting his eyes. “I’m protecting him. There’s a difference.”

Theo squeezed my hand tighter. “You promise you won’t disappear again?”

I smiled through the tears. “I promise.”

Adrien reached out then, placing a gentle hand on my back. “We should go, Serena.”

Killian’s voice trembled behind us. “You’re really walking away again?”

I turned slowly to face him. “No,” I said quietly. “I’m finally standing where I should have been all along.”

He looked shattered. “Serena...

“Don’t.” My voice broke, but I didn’t waver. “Don’t call my name like it still belongs to you. You had your chance, Killian. And you ruined it.”

For a long, painful moment, none of us spoke. The silence was thick enough to choke on. Then Theo reached out, tugging on my sleeve again.

“Can we go now, Mum?” he whispered. “I’m hungry.”

That single word, Mum, felt like both a wound and a miracle.

I nodded, brushing his hair back. “Yes, baby. We’ll go.”

Adrien’s hand found mine, steady and sure, grounding me. I held Theo’s smaller one with my other hand as we turned toward the elevator.

Behind me, Killian’s voice cracked one last time. “Serena, please.... I’m begging you. Don’t take him away from me.”

I didn’t answer.

Because this time, no amount of begging could rewrite what he’d done.

The elevator doors slid open again with a soft chime. I stepped inside with Adrien and Theo, feeling the weight of every eye in the lobby on us.

For once, I didn’t care.

I had my son back.

I would ensure he stays with me no matter the cost.