Serena Stanford

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the sprawling estate, two luxurious Mercedes-Benz cars pulled up to the grand Stanford's mansion. The cars were impeccably clean and polished, and their sleek lines shimmered in the fading light. Two imposing bodyguards emerged from the first cars, and with a brisk nod to each other, they made their way to the last car. The car's door opened with a soft hiss, revealing Marcus and a Serena. “We're finally home," Marcus said, his voice tinged with a hint of excitement.

Serena, on the other hand, was visibly anxious, nervously rubbing her hand. Sensing her apprehension, Marcus took her hand in his and spoke confidently, "It's gonna be okay. Dad isn't angry anymore." With a deep breath and a forced smile, Serena tried to calm her nerves as they both emerged from the car.

The sound of their footsteps echoed through the entrance hall. The opulence of the surroundings was overwhelming, with intricate chandeliers and ornate decorations adorning every corner of the mansion. The air was filled with a sweet fragrance of fresh flowers, and the sound of classical music played softly in the background.

Serena couldn't shake off her nervousness. She was worried about facing her father, who had been angry with her for a long time. Marcus, sensing her unease, squeezed her hand gently and led her inside.

As Serena approached the main door, she braced herself for what awaited her on the other side. With a sudden push, the door swung open and there he stood - her father, the Great Raymond Stanford. He is the CEO of Standford Co-Operation, a company that ranked third in the business industry worldwide. His powerful presence commanded attention and respect, and Serena couldn't help but feel a twinge of nerves as she met his gaze.

Serena studied her father expressionless face, trying to determine whether he was pleased or displeased to see her. This uncertainty only served to make her more nervous, and she began to second-guess everything she had been told by Marcus .

Suddenly, Raymond's face broke into a warm smile, as he extended his arms towards Serena, eagerly waiting for her to come into his embrace. His eyes beamed with love as he looked at his daughter, who was visibly emotional at the sight of her father. Without hesitation, Serena rushed into his arms, feeling the warmth and comfort that only a father's hug can provide. “my princess,” Raymond whispered, his voice filled with happiness . At that moment , nothing else mattered to Serena except the love and safety of her father embrace .

Serena's eyes were moistened with tears as she hugged Raymond tightly, seeking his forgiveness. "Please forgive your imprudent daughter. I'm so sorry," she said, her voice choked with emotion. Raymond pulled away gently and looked into her eyes, his own expression softening as he saw the pain and regret in her face. He reached up and wiped away her tears with his thumb, his touch gentle and comforting.

"I forgave you a long time ago, Serena," he said, his voice soothing. "I knew you were just blinded by love. You made a mistake, but you've learned from it. That's all that matters." His words were kind, but there was a hint of bitterness in his voice as he spoke the last sentence. "If I hadn't forgiven you, then I wouldn't have given that prick the opportunity to invest in his company," he added, his tone turning sharp. It was clear that he still harbored some anger towards the person who had caused Serena so much pain.

Raymond's gaze lingered on his daughter, taking in every detail from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes. His heart clenched with pain as he noted the stark differences between the Serena he remembered and the one standing before him. Her hands appeared to have been through a rough journey, with bruises and marks marring her skin. Her hair hung in disarray, with no sign of recent care or attention. Raymond couldn't help but wonder when was the last time Serena had taken the time to visit a salon.

Raymond muttered bitterly, "Lord knows how much pain you've been through in that house."

From behind, Marcus revealed the shocking news: "Serena was pregnant." Raymond's hands dropped from Serena's cheeks as he stormed off to his room in a fit of anger. Serena and Marcus were left stunned and perplexed, wondering what he could be up to. However, their questions were soon answered when Mr. Stanford, Serena's father, came down the stairs holding a pistol, his expression inscrutable. Serena's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at her father, trying to make sense of what he was up to.

Raymond's fists clenched as he bellowed, "Guards!!!" The sound reverberated through the spacious living room, sending a shiver down serena's spine.

"What's going on, Dad?" Marcus asked, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger.

Raymond glared at him, his face twisted with rage. "I'm getting rid of those bastards who made my daughter go through hell," he said, his voice low and menacing.

At that moment, a guard entered the room, his footsteps silent as he approached Raymond. He bowed respectfully, his eyes trained on the ground.

"Get the cars ready," Raymond ordered, his voice booming through the room. "I'm going to make that scumbags pay for what he did."

The guard nodded, his face Impassive, and quickly left the room to carry out his orders.

Marcus, in a panic, lunged forward to snatch the pistol away from his father, desperate to prevent him from making a grave mistake. But Raymond was too fast for him, deftly sidestepping Marcus's attempt and keeping the weapon firmly in his grip.

“Stop it, dad! Don't do this," Marcus pleaded, anxiety creeping into his voice.

"Don't you dare try to stop me," Raymond growled.

Serena was in a state of utter distress, her whole being shaking with fear . Tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision as she tried to compose herself. She knew the true nature of her father and feared for the safety of the entire Archer family. She couldn't shake the feeling that if he wasn't stopped soon, the entire Archer family would be gone in a matter of hours.

The guard appeared and informed Raymond that the car was ready. "Watch over your sister. I will be back," Raymond instructed Marcus before exiting the living room. Serena rushed out, calling out to her father, desperate to stop him from making a terrible mistake.

The guard opened the door, and Raymond was about to enter the car when Serena stopped him. "Dad, please. Let them be," she pleaded, her voice full of emotion. Raymond glared at Serena with a mixture of anger and pity.

"I'm doing this for you. Why are you trying to save the person who made your life a living hell?" Raymond raised his eyebrows. "Don't tell me you still have a soft spot for him?"

Serena shook her head, and wiped her tears filled eyes "I don't want to stain your hands with the Archer's blood," Serena took a deep breath, her voice firm and resolute "I'm the luckiest person to have a father like you, but this is my fight. Rick caused me so much pain and deserves to pay, but death is a much worse punishment. So please, dad. Let me handle Rick."

With a fierce determination laced in her voice, Serena looked at her father in the eyes and said “ I will make Rick pay , and he will regret ever messing with Serena Stanford “.