She watched as they fastened string lights overhead, giving an impression as if the sky was decked with jewels. The garden had long been swept clean, ready for the wave of decorations to follow. The staff had already wheeled out the barbecue grill sets, their gleaming surfaces looking almost too pristine to ever be used. She was told no party had ever taken place here, as Nate wasn't fond of them. It was the first time the estate was hosting a celebration, and even the staff were bursting with excitement. They were working enthusiastically to make it a memorable day for everyone. Even Sera was enjoying her work. To her surprise, it wasn’t as hard as she had imagined.“You really didn’t have to go to all this trouble," Freya’s voice came from behind, startling Sera. She spun around to find her standing there, smiling.Sera returned the smile as she stepped closer. “It isn’t me, it is Nate.”Freya frowned lightly. “That’s strange. Nate told me it was you.” "Well, it's his money and hi
Sera handed Freya a cup of herbal tea before accompanying her on a quiet night walk. Gentle gusts of breeze, carrying the dewy scent of tuberose, drifted along the pavement as they headed toward the Moonlake garden."....I would sneak out of the orphanage at night, and Ara would have to cover for me...she has always been a sweetheart and I a troublemaker," Freya shared with a nostalgic smile on her face. How fast the time had flown. It felt just like yesterday, they were messing around in their orphanage. "Sounds like a perfect team to me," Sera replied, enjoying her childhood stories. "We are," Freya said softly. "I protected her from bullies, and she protected me from myself." A quiet ache stirred in Sera’s chest, a longing for a friendship like theirs bloomed in her heart. She had Hannah, but the girl was so much younger, and there were countless things she couldn’t confide in her. "She is very kind and loving," Sera agreed wholeheartedly. Honestly, she had received more warmth
He wasn't hardwired for this. Fuck! Staying away from her was torture. The most excruciating kind. From his helpless heart to his primal instincts—every fiber of him begged to close the distance. He felt like a starving beast pacing in chains. Chains he had put on himself. He held back, even though it burned him not to be able to love her, to keep her in his arms through the cold night. He tore his gaze away from her as she fussed over the kittens in the garden, oblivious to his presence, and walked towards his car. The fact that she appeared happier and brighter without him pressed against his chest like a thorn. Angela had been right. While he made his life all about her, she didn't even care if he existed or not. The thought hurt him more than any bullet, but he couldn't blame her for that. In truth, he was almost certain that his death would mean little to her… far less than the agony he felt simply from not seeing her for too long."You seem to be under a lot of stress,' Dave
"Mom and Dad would be so proud to see you, Dyson. You're doing so well," Sera encouraged her brother with tears in her eyes as he tried to reach for the spoon she held in her hand. He had begun to move, even if only a little, but the very fact that he was trying filled her with hope that he would soon recover completely. Patrick had put his heart and soul into treating him. If not for him, it might have taken Dyson longer to respond to the treatment. She couldn't help but feel guilty. He was an amiable person with a kind heart, but Nate's brutal attack on him had left her shame-faced. A week had passed, but she couldn't even gather the courage to call him and ask after his health. He must be hating on her. She was snapped out of her thought as Dyson gripped the spoon. Sera smiled. "Very good," she praised, happy. In response, his lips quirked in a half-smile. He could hear her and was trying to respond. He hadn't begun talking yet, just some incoherent mumbles, but the doctor had as
"You sent for me?" Sera asked. Her gaze absently drifted around to take in the heap of ash overflowing the tray, the cold coffee cup left untouched. Nate turned, smoke curling from the half-burned cigarette resting between his fingers. The shadow underneath his eyes spoke of battles lost to sleep. He masked the melancholy clouding his face and motioned toward the chair. “Take a seat.The formal edge in his voice struck her as foreign, almost distant. Choosing to ignore it, she lowered herself into the chair across from him just as he crushed the cigarette into the ashtray. She lowered her gaze, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. The memory of their last encounter lingered heavily in the space between them. He settled down behind the desk. The gentle breeze drifting in through the open window carried the faint scent of flowers. "It was Gloria who sent you the video," Nate revealed. Her head snapped up to meet his gaze. A faint frown tugged at her brows as she murmured, "Gl
"This! This is what I hate the most. You don't..you can't let me see breathing. And then you claim you love me. What kind of love is yours that I feel more suffocated than alive?" Sera yelled, shaking with rage. She didn't even remember the last time she felt free. "I love you, that's why I am protec..""You're not protecting me, Nate. Let's get this clear first..." Sera cut him in, then jabbed a finger into his chest and continued, "You are protecting your own interest, your madness. He knows I am taken by you. You yourself made it utterly clear to him. He has kept his distance from me. It's your rotten mind that sees lust in every interaction between a man and a woman." She didn't mince her words and put it bluntly. Nate clenched his jaw. "You've no idea how beautiful you are, Sera. Men would kill to be near you, and...and it drives me insane thinking anyone else could have your attention.” His insecurity lay bare. She radiated it from within, every movement and glance filled wit