"Calm down," Angela murmured gently, her palm light on his tense shoulder. Nate turned his gaze to her, uncertainty flickering in his eyes."We are your family, Nate, not your enemies," Ara reminded him, her voice tinged with hurt. He acted as if their presence was a threat to his very existence. So much mistrust and grudges for his own parents. Sera had sensed there was some distance between him and his parents, but she hadn't expected the rift to be this wide. The room was strung tight with tension. Mrs. Serrano expressed her hurt openly, her eyes locked on her son with silent pain. Mr. Serrano, on the other hand, remained stoic, indifferent on the surface. But Sera knew better than to believe that. He was hurting too.The guilt twisted inside her. Had she broken a family? "Did Dave inform you?" Nate questioned, his expression had softened a bit. "I... I asked him to call," Sera cut in, offering a nervous smile. Nate glanced at her, his expression unreadable. Ignoring the knot in
A gunshot echoed, ripping through the stillness. Before anyone could understand anything, Armando collapsed to the ground, grunting in pain. Chaos erupted instantly as Nate walked in, carrying a pistol. His eyes were wild with fury, cold with intent. Death dancing in their depths as he locked his gaze on Armando, the air around him thick with dangerous intent.Sera had never imagined that one day his arrival would bring her such overwhelming relief. He wasn't alone. Dave, Rio, and a squad of his men trailed in behind him, guns blazing. Bodies hit the ground in rapid succession, dropping like flies in a storm of bullets. Sera's breath hitched as he finally turned his gaze upon her. He looked older, like he had aged decades in a single day. Like he had burned through hellfire to get to her. One day. Only a day had passed, and yet it felt like a lifetime. Time inside this hell had twisted, stretching suffering into eternity. The thread of control snapped as she watched him coming clos
Sera desperately tugged at the hem, covering as much of her skin as she could, but it was never enough. "Get up," Armando ordered. Sera stood slowly, her face burning with shame and humiliation."Here," Armando offered her a glass of wine. "I don't drink," Sera refused, looking everywhere but at him. "Take it." There was steel in his voice."I told you I don't dri..." Her words were cut off by a harsh slap, snapping her head to the side."I am not Nate, who lets you talk back. I won't tolerate your tantrums. One more 'no,' and I’ll chop you into pieces," Armando hissed, his eyes catching the blood trailing from her split lip without a hint of remorse."Now. Take it," Armando shoved the glass into her trembling hand, some even spilled onto her dress. She held the glass but didn't drink from it. Her cries Taking a sip, Armando retreated a few steps, checking her out. "You can meet Dyson whenever you like, but there will be conditions," he put forth, his lecherous gaze slithering ov
Sera, steeling her nerves, followed the driver into the looming mansion. She crossed the threshold she wasn't meant to and walked in through the giant oak door. Her eyes found Armando at once, standing in the center of the hall. A slow smile spread across his face the moment he saw her. "I trust the trip to my home wasn’t too troublesome for you," Armando said with a light tone, approaching her. Sera didn't return his smile. "Where's my brother?" she asked instead. Armando wasn't fazed by her clipped tone. "I can see you're very eager to meet him. Don't worry, I'll take you to him myself," Armando answered, standing a few steps short of her. "Why don't you get some rest first?" "No need to pretend. I know I am just a pawn for you. If you really cared, you wouldn't have put the condition," Sera replied, not interested in his pretence. Amando smirked. "I can't decide if you're smart...." Armando began, narrowing his eyes as he leaned in, "Or just stupid enough to walk into the de
"I thought she was just your mistress," Gloria remarked, accusation heavy in her voice. His jaw tightened, a muscle ticking beneath the skin. His eyes rose to meet hers, sharpened to a blade’s edge, laced with disapproval. Her composure faltered visibly, but she regained it. "All I am saying is.....if Armando is willing to support Sera and Dyson, then you should let him. It's not that he has any evil intention towards them. Just think about it, there's no other way anyway," Gloria stated, her voice low and coaxing. Armando had told her everything. Gloria didn't care about Dyson, but the opportunity to drive Sera away from him was far too good to waste. Armando can kill them both for all she cares. She just wanted to separate them by any means possible. "Let me tell you this one last time, Gloria, I don't care about your suggestions. Your opinions are worthless to me," he remarked and continued, "If you enjoy breathing, then stay out of our affairs."Nate didn't have the patience
"I can't see any other way. Waging war against them would risk Dyson's life," Dave insisted. "Why is his location not found yet?" Nate demanded instead, his glare sharp enough to lance through his flesh. Dave looked away briefly. "Dyson’s being held somewhere completely off the grid. We traced every possible lead, even tracked Armando's phone, but it was useless. It’s like he vanished Dyson into thin air," Dave answered, brows furrowed. Armando had used every ounce of power he had to keep Dyon hidden. "So, you're telling me that I've hired a bunch of useless fools who can't do a damn thing right?" he gritted out, his eyes now narrowed in strong disapproval. "They are doing everything they can but...." "Trying isn't good enough. It's been five damn days," Nate spat out, unmoved. Efforts meant nothing to him; results were what they wanted. Dave let out a sigh. "That's why I am saying. Sera can help us. I'll have her armed with all safety measures..""Sera isn't going anywhere," Nat