CHAPTER 4

Serena's POV

The black car door shut softly behind me, cutting off the storm. It was so different from the cold, wet night outside—warm air wrapped around me, with a faint smell of leather and cedar. My chest heaved as I stared at the fuzzy image of myself in the tinted glass with my shaking hands on my lap. There was still rain water clung to my hair, dripping down onto the expensive seat, but no one scolded me. No one told me to sit straighter, look prettier, or stay quiet. For a moment, the silence inside the car felt heavier than the storm.

Adrian sat across from me with his back straight and his hands on his knees in a loose way. Dark and steady, his eyes never wavered. It was like he could see into parts of me that not even I could see. Nathan fixed his glasses and looked over a file that appeared out of nowhere. As he looked at me, his eyes were sharp but thoughtful. Leo sat next to me, and his big smile made the air feel warmer. He wrapped another coat around my shoulders like it was the normal thing to do to keep me safe.

I couldn't say anything. My body was still shaking from leaving the life I had just left behind. My throat was tight. My mind screamed that none of this was real.

The car drove through the city, taking me past places I knew too well and that reminded me of a woman I no longer wanted to beMy eyes burned as I stared out the window, but I couldn’t look for long. Nathan's voice, which was cool but sharp, broke the silence first.

“You’ve been living as Serena Cross for three years.” His words weren’t a question. They were a statement carved in stone. “That ends tonight.”

I jerked and turned to face him, but my voice was rough. "And what does that mean?"

Adrian leaned forward a little and narrowed his eyes. “It means Serena Valehart's life begins. As our sister. The daughter who should have never been lost in the first place.”

My heart jumped painfully in my neck. “I don’t understand.”

“You don’t need to yet,” Leo said gently, reaching to tuck a wet strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was light, careful, like how you would handle something fragile. “Just know that you’re not alone anymore. Never again.”

My chest tightened, hot tears threatening to fall, but I blinked them back. I didn’t know these men. I didn’t know if I could trust them. But for the first time in years, I didn’t feel invisible.

The estate came into view long after the city lights faded. As the iron gates opened, I gasped for air. The house stretched out like a dream, with tall windows filled with golden light, gardens sparkling in the rain, and fountains frozen in mid-splash. As the car slowly moved down the long driveway, I leaned closer to the window and stared.

Even though I lived in Damian's mansion for three years and was surrounded by money, it always felt like a prison to me. The cold glass walls never warmed up, and the big rooms stifled my voice. But this place… felt alive. I didn’t know why. Perhaps it was the way the windows glowed, or the way warmth seemed to come from everywhere.

When the car stopped, Adrian was the first to step out, his presence commanding even in silence. Nathan followed, pulling his coat tighter as he glanced at me eagerly. Leo was last, and he ran out like he was taking me to his favorite playground.

I hesitated at the door, my fingers gripping the handle. My chest rose and fell too fast, fear and awe battling inside me at the same time. Leo leaned back in, and extended his hand. “Come on, princess. This is home.”

Home. That word again. My heart twisted. Slowly, with trembling fingers, I reached for his hand.

Inside, the mansion was filled with soft light. The marble floors sparkled, paintings covered the walls, and chandeliers hung from the ceiling. But it wasn't the wealth that shocked me; it was how warm it was. The servants bowed when they saw me, but not with the sneers I was used to seeing. Their words were soft and respectful, and their faces were friendly.

Adrian led the way to a study, its shelves full of books, its desk neat and polished. He moved carefully as he took out a folder and slid it across the desk toward me. “This is yours.”

My hands shook as I looked down. Inside were documents I couldn’t fully understand at first glance, because they were filled with numbers too big to seem real. Shares. Properties. Holdings under the Valehart name.

“This—” My voice broke. “This can’t be—”

"Yes, it is." Adrian’s voice was steady, leaving no room for doubt. “You own billions now, Serena. You own a piece of the empire that is rightfully yours.”

The room tilted. My knees weakened, and I grabbed the edge of the desk to steady myself. My entire life, I had been made to feel small, unworthy, useless. Now, in seconds, I was given something I could never have imagined.

Nathan’s voice cut through the air, firmer and colder. “Damian Cross will hear of this soon enough. And when he does, he will fall. I’ll see to it that he leaves the marriage with nothing but regret.” His eyes sharpened as they met mine. "I will repay him in full for every insult and humiliation he made you pass through."

A shiver ran through my spine, not of fear, but of something like relief. Someone was standing for me. Someone was saying words I had whispered only in my heart.

Then Leo walked up to me, grinning as he wrapped his arms around me, spinning me around once like I didn't weigh anything. “You hear that? You’re not just a forgotten wife anymore. You’re my sister. My only sister.” He pulled out his phone and took a photo of us together before I could say anything, and tapped quickly. Seconds later, his smile widened. “And the world knows it too. Posted. Let them all see who you are.”

My heart raced, and fear shot through me. "You can't–people will-–”

“Let them,” Leo said firmly, his eyes locking on mine with rare seriousness. “You’ve hidden long enough. From today, you walk into the spotlight.”

Something inside me cracked, but it wasn’t pain this time. It was warmth. Real and unbelievable warmth.

I stood in that study, the papers heavy in my trembling hands, Nathan’s promise echoing in my ears, Leo’s laughter still ringing like music, and Adrian’s steady gaze holding me together.

I couldn't stop the tears from running down my face. My voice broke as I whispered, “Why? Why are you doing this for me?”

Adrian’s answer was simple, but his eyes softened with something fierce. “Because you are ours.”

Nathan fixed his glasses and spoke in a low but sure tone. "Because you deserve better."

Leo hugged me tighter, his laughter softening into something tender. “Because you’re my sister. And I love you already.”

My knees gave way, and I sank into the nearest chair, burying my face in my hands. For the first time in years, I cried without shame, without fear of being mocked.

I wipe my tears just as Adrian’s phone buzzes. His face quickly turns serious, and his eyes flash with danger. He looks at Nathan and Leo before turning to me. “Damian knows already.”