Novels by lady.serene

CelesteThe docks were quiet when I arrived.The kind of quiet that didn’t feel peaceful — just hollow. The kind that made every sound echo too loud. Tires crunching over gravel, the low hum of engines idling somewhere in the dark, the faint slap of water against the pier.A few patrol cars were parked along the stretch, their red and blue lights washing over the fog like slow-moving ghosts.Nicholas’s car was easy to spot — sleek black, tinted, the kind that didn’t belong anywhere near rusted shipping containers and salt-stained wood. He stood near the barrier tape, coat collar turned up, speaking with one of the investigators. Theodore was beside him, gloved hands folded neatly behind his back, his calm at odds with the scene around us.Nicholas noticed me as soon as I stepped out of the car. His expression was grim, eyes shadowed by fatigue and something heavier — pity, maybe.“Celeste,” he said quietly. “I wish there’d been another way to tell you. But you needed to see this yours

CelesteThe scent of antiseptic had started to fade from the room, replaced by something softer — the faint sweetness of the flowers Amara had insisted on bringing every morning. A few days had passed since everything changed, and for the first time in years, I could breathe again.Almost.Sebastian was propped up against his pillows, sunlight spilling over the edge of the curtain and washing his skin in gold. The bruises along his temple had lightened, the bandage on his arm replaced with clean gauze. He looked better — stronger — but still fragile in ways that broke me to see.He looked up as I entered. “You’re early,” he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.“I wanted to check your vitals before the doctor comes.” I tried to keep my voice light, teasing, the way he liked.He chuckled softly. “You’re not my nurse, Celeste.”“I might as well be,” I said, adjusting the blanket over his lap. “You keep pretending you’re fine when you’re not.”“I’m better than fine.” His eyes softened

CelesteFor a heartbeat, no one spoke. The words hung in the air like fragile glass — beautiful, dangerous, waiting to break.Sebastian’s gaze met mine, and though he said nothing, his eyes told me everything. Are you sure? they seemed to ask. I didn’t know if I was. But when I looked at Amara, sitting so small and wide-eyed beside his bed, I realized that there were no perfect moments for truth. Only the ones that mattered.And this one mattered more than anything.I knelt down in front of her, brushing a curl away from her forehead. “That’s right.” My voice trembled, but I kept my smile gentle. “He was far away for a long time, but not anymore.”Amara blinked, confused. “Not anymore?”Sebastian’s voice came next — quiet and rough, but full of warmth. “She means me, sunshine.”Her little mouth fell open. “You’re… my daddy?”“Yes,” he whispered. His hand trembled slightly as he reached toward her. “I’m your Daddy.”Silence. A single, fragile heartbeat.Then Amara gasped, the sound ca

CelesteThe morning light crept across the hospital floor, soft and pale, spilling over Sebastian’s bed.I hadn’t closed my eyes all night. My body was exhausted, but my mind—my heart—refused to rest.He remembered.Even now, the thought felt fragile, unreal. Every time I looked at him, I half expected to wake up and find it gone, like some cruel dream. But when he turned his head toward me, his eyes still found mine the same way they used to—steady, knowing, and impossibly full.He remembered everything.The night in the bar. The morning after. The promises we never got to keep. And most of all—Amara.I drew a quiet breath, watching his chest rise and fall beneath the white sheets. He looked better this morning. Color had returned to his face, and the weak smile he gave me when he caught me staring nearly undid me.“Morning,” he said, voice still rough from sleep.“Morning.” I smiled faintly, fingers tightening around the cup of coffee I’d been nursing for an hour. “You’re supposed t

SebastianDarkness.It’s all I can see.It stretches endlessly, swallowing everything — sound, color, memory. But beneath it, somewhere deep, there’s a faint echo. A heartbeat. Slow. Unsteady. Mine.Then—A flash.Laughter.Soft, breathless.Her voice.“Sebastian…”It’s distant, like a whisper under water. I reach for it, but it slips through the dark. My body feels heavy, pinned down by invisible hands. I try to move, but the world around me doesn’t exist yet. Only fragments.The smell of rain.A woman in a white dress at the bar.A single tear glistening on her cheek.Then another flash — headlights, screeching tires, a shout. My chest tightens as pain rips through my ribs. The memory burns bright for a second before fading again into nothing.I don’t know how long I’ve been here — drifting between the past and the present, between life and something else. But then I hear her again.Softer this time. Closer.“Please… wake up.”Her voice trembles, and that sound… it cuts through the

CelesteThe sound of the heart monitor was the only thing keeping me from falling apart. That steady, rhythmic beeping — proof that he was still here.Sebastian looked so still, so unlike himself. The man who once commanded every room he entered was now lying motionless beneath the pale hospital lights. Machines hummed softly around him, and my own heartbeat seemed to sync with his.I reached out, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. His skin was warm, but too pale. “Sebastian,” I whispered. “Please… wake up.”I’d lost him once before. I couldn’t lose him again.And then—his fingers twitched. It was small, barely there, but enough to send my breath catching in my throat.“Sebastian?” My voice broke. I leaned forward, almost afraid to hope. “Can you hear me?”His eyelids fluttered open slowly, like it took everything in him to do it. His eyes searched the ceiling, then me. Confusion, pain, and something unspoken flickered there. The machines hummed louder for a moment, the so

Umupo na kaming lahat at nagsimula na. Doon ko na rin napansin ang napakaeleganteng set up ng lamesa para lamang sa dinner na ito. The table was a masterpiece of elegance. The long dining table was draped in a luxurious white tablecloth that flowed gracefully to the floor. A delicate table runner in a soft, shimmering gold ran down the center, catching the light in the most enchanting way.Ang bawat place setting ay maayos na nakaayos: puting dinner plates sa ibabaw ng elegant na charger plates. Ang cutlery, shiny at polished, ay nakaayos ng maayos—mga fork sa kaliwa, at knives at spoons sa kanan. Ang mga baso, crystal clear at kumikislap, ay nakalagay sa itaas ng mga knives—water glasses at wine glasses, bawat isa ay naka-set na maayos. Ang mga napkin, naka-fold sa magandang hugis at nasa silver napkin rings, ay nagbibigay ng dagdag na sophistication.The ambient lighting was perfect, with dimmed chandeliers and softly glowing candles creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. Gentle,

Allison convinced me to join the dinner, and so I did. I already informed Enzo na pupunta ako, as well as Maxine. Napatawag pa nga si Maxine sa sobrang tuwa dahil tinanggap ko ang invitation niya. Si Enzo na rin ang susundo sa akin mamaya at sabay kaming pupunta sa bahay nila Maxine. Alas otso ang dinner kaya nang mag-sais ay naligo na ako. Binilisan ko na ang pagkilos at baka kami ay ma-late sa dinner. Nakakahiya naman kung agaw atensyon ang pagdating namin. Balita ko’y nandoon rin daw ang ibang mga pinsan ni Gael, at kasama rin ang kapatid na babae ni Maxine. Ofcourse, hindi mawawala ang presensya ni Gael sa dinner na iyon kaya kailangan kong paghandaan ang pagpunta ko. Tonight’s dinner is special, and I wanted my outfit to reflect myself. I’m wearing this gorgeous white dress that makes me feel like I’m walking on a cloud. It’s off-shoulder, with a sleek one-line collar that frames my shoulders perfectly. The fabric is soft and stretchy, hugging my curves just right and falling i

I tried. I tried telling him the truth about the past. I was willing to tell him everything already. Tungkol sa naging sakit ko, sa pagbubuntis ko, at sa rason kung bakit tinanggap ko ang perang inalok sa akin ng mama niya. Because after all, I’ve realized that he deserves to know the truth. Gusto kong aminin na lahat sa kanya so we could both live in peace. At para makamit niya na rin yung peace of mind niya. But he didn’t let me explain. At ang mas masakit pa ay inisip niyang nagpabuntis ako sa iba when in fact, siya lang ang lalakeng nakagalaw sa akin. At sa loob ng pitong taon na magkahiwalay kami, wala akong ibang minahal na iba. He was the only person that I loved. Tama nga lang ang desisyon ko na iwan siya noon dahil kung sinabi ko na sa kanya noon ang tungkol sa pagbubuntis ko, baka hindi niya ako paniniwalaan at hindi niya matatanggap ang batang nasa sinapupunan ko. This may be selfish but I’m still thankful na hindi na nabuhay si Nathaniel. I don’t want him to get hurt by

I’m not drunk. Yes, I drank alcohol, but I’m definitely not drunk.I lied when I said I needed rest. The truth is, I want to know more about her past. If she doesn’t want to answer my questions about our past, then I’ll find a way to learn about what happened back then.When I met her again at the engagement party, I didn’t know how to feel. I wanted to be angry. I wanted to show her that I am happy now, that I was able to live happily even though she left me. I wanted to show that I am already more successful than her. But I couldn’t. It felt like the seven years I spent trying to forget her were wasted because the moment I saw her again, what I felt was relief knowing she’s doing so well and that fate allowed our paths to cross again.I couldn't sleep that night because my mind was filled with unanswered questions. I know it’s not right, especially since I’m about to marry Maxine, but I still find myself wanting to understand why Michaela left me.As soon as I entered her room, I was

“Gael, anong ginagawa mo rito?” He looked at me straight to my eyes. “You really don’t care, do you?”“If this is about our past again, please, kalimutan mo na ‘yon. Gael, you’re getting married already! Hindi na mahalaga kung ano ba ang nangyari.”Bigla niya akong nilapitan. “Michaela.” Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang braso ko. “I need to know the truth so I can live in peace.” His expression suddenly changed. It became soft, and calm. Malayong-malayo sa Gael na nakausap ko kanina. Malayong-malayo sa Gael na nakaharap ko kagabi. At this moment, parang kaharap ko ang Gael na nakilala ko seven years ago. The soft, sweet, and gentle Gael na sobrang minahal ko. I was about to answer him nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng elevator. Mabilis kong inalis ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa mga braso ko saka nagmamadaling lumabas. Hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili ko. Shit. Akala ko tuluyan ko nang naibaon sa limot ang naging nakaraan namin. I didn’t see this coming. I wasn’t prepared. Halos twent

Hindi ko siya iniwan. I was left with no choice. I had to choose myself over him. I had to be selfish at that time. Hindi ko intensyon na iwan siya nang walang paalam. Mahal na mahal ko si Gael at hindi naging madali para sa’kin na gawin iyon pero kailangan. I gulped, my heart was racing so fast. He pinned me on the wall sabay sarado niya ng pinto. Lalong nagwala ang puso ko sa kanyang ginawa. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng mga binti ko. He’s trying to catch his breath. Alam kong pinipigilan niya lang ang kanyang sarili na saktan ako o sigawan ako. Nakatingin lang ako sa dibdib niya. Wala akong lakas ng loob na mag-angat ng mukha dahil hindi ko yata kakayanin na makipagtitigan sa kanya. I would met by his deadly eyes. “Michaela,” tawag niya sa pangalan ko. “Minahal mo ba talaga ako? Or you were just after my family’s wealth?” Napakunot ako ng noo’t labag man sa kalooban ko’y inangat ko ang mukha ko para makita siya. “What the hell?!” singhal ko. “What made you think na pera niyo ang